There have been several iterations of Thanos’ search for the Infinity Stones over the years from Marvel’s Infinity Gauntlet to the MCU’s Infinity War. His motives vary wildly from one storyline to another, be it his noble wish to restore order to the universe or a quest to win the affections of Death. Contrary to what many comic fans believe, Thanos did not originally take the Infinity Stones (then known as the Infinity Gems) to impress Mistress Death; his real motive was far more selfish.
The Mad Titan, created by Jim Starlin, first appears in The Invincible Iron Man #55, introduced to Iron Man by Drax the Destroyer. Saturn’s moon, Titan, a peaceful place of science and art, was once home to Thanos and his brother, Eros. Unfortunately, even in his youth, Thanos longed for more. Using his scientific knowledge, Thanos creates deadly weapons, with which he attempts to usurp his father, Mentor. As punishment for his crimes, Thanos is exiled from his home. Not long after, Thanos returns with an army, wreaking destruction on his former home and killing millions. As readers know, this is only the beginning of a life of conquest, as Thanos’ hunger for supreme power grows.
In Infinity Gauntlet #1 by Jim Starlin and George Pérez, Thanos embarks on his quest for the Infinity Gems, which grant him immeasurable power. At the outset, it seems like a grand gesture to Mistress Death, with Thanos seeking glory “to be worthy of [her] love.” However, this may not be the full story. When Death asks him to eliminate half the universe’s population for her, Thanos convinces her that the Infinity Gems are the only way he can complete such a task. Already a powerful Titan with an army at his disposal, Thanos could easily leave an impressive trail of destruction in his wake, yet he pursues greater power—power that can only be gained through the Stones.
Thanos’ journey for the Stones begins when he is gazing into the Infinity Well belonging to Death. It is in the Well that he discovers the true extent to the power of the Stones, which would practically make him a god, even “mightier than Death herself.” With the Infinity Gems in his possession, Thanos rises above the laws of nature, able to bend reality to his will. It is through cunning that Thanos steals the Stones, and it is through cunning that he convinces all those around him that it is a tribute to his Mistress Death. As the Silver Surfer tells Doctor Strange: “Thanos [is] too arrogant to be anyone’s thrall.” Thanos’ love for Death is nothing more than a veiled lust for power.
Several recent representations of Thanos in comics and other media depict him as an antihero, working to create universal balance. However, at his core he is the Mad Titan, one who kills his own mother several times, and tortures his granddaughter, Nebula, until she becomes nothing more than walking death. His hunt for the Infinity Stones in the Infinity Gauntlet saga proves that Thanos is a particularly formidable adversary who doesn’t let anything or anyone—even Death—distract him from his goals.
