Thanos first appeared in Invincible Iron Man #55, published by Marvel in 1973. That places it in the Bronze Age.
Why this issue matters
Jim Starlin's cosmic villain debuted here, a being obsessed with Death itself, decades before he became the connective thread across Marvel's biggest cosmic stories.
Invincible Iron Man #55 is also the first appearance of Drax, which is part of why the book carries the weight it does.
Key facts
Invincible Iron Man #55
- Character: Thanos
- Publisher: Marvel
- Cover year: 1973
- Era: Bronze Age
Before you buy or sell one
- Check it is a first print, not a facsimile or reprint. Newsstand and direct editions are priced differently too.
- Condition decides most of the value. Whether grading is worth it depends on the copy.
Other first appearances from 1973
More Marvel firsts from the Bronze Age
- Phoenix X-Men #101, 1976
- Black Cat Amazing Spider-Man #194, 1979
- Emma Frost Uncanny X-Men #129, 1980
- Mystique Ms. Marvel #16, 1978
- Wolverine Incredible Hulk #181, 1974
- Wolverine (cameo) Incredible Hulk #180, 1974
- Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler Giant-Size X-Men #1, 1975
- Punisher Amazing Spider-Man #129, 1974
Got a copy?
I buy key issues and whole collections across the UK, and I will tell you honestly whether what you have is the real first or a later printing. Send me photos of the cover and the indicia and I will come back with a straight answer, and a proper valuation if you want one.