<P> Starlin has admitted the character's look was influenced by Jack Kirby's Darkseid: </P> <P> Kirby had done the New Gods, which I thought was terrific . He was over at DC at the time . I came up with some things that were inspired by that . You'd think that Thanos was inspired by Darkseid, but that was not the case when I showed up . In my first Thanos drawings, if he looked like anybody, it was Metron . I had all these different gods and things I wanted to do, which became Thanos and the Titans . Roy took one look at the guy in the Metron - like chair and said: "Beef him up! If you're going to steal one of the New Gods, at least rip off Darkseid, the really good one!" </P> <P> Thanos' first appearance was in The Invincible Iron Man #55 (February 1973), featuring a story by Jim Starlin that was co-scripted by Mike Friedrich . The storyline from that issue continued through Captain Marvel #25--33 (bi-monthly: March 1973--Jan. 1974), Marvel Feature #12 (Nov. 1973), Daredevil #107 (Jan. 1974), and Avengers #125 (July 1974). He returned in an extended storyline that spanned Strange Tales #178--181 (Feb.--Aug. 1975), Warlock #9 - 11 (Oct. 1975--Jan. 1976), Marvel Team Up #55 (March 1977), and the 1977 Annuals for Avengers and Marvel Two - in - One (Thanos does not actually appear until the end of Warlock #9). He was also featured in a short backup story in Logan's Run #6 (June 1977) and had a small role in the Death of Captain Marvel graphic novel (April 1982). </P> <P> The character was revived in Silver Surfer vol. 3, #34 (Feb. 1990) and guest - starred until issue #59 (November 1991), while simultaneously appearing in The Thanos Quest #1--2 (Sept.--Oct. 1990) and The Infinity Gauntlet #1--6 (July--Dec. 1991). After an appearance in Spider - Man #17 (Dec. 1991), Thanos had a recurring role in Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1--42 (Feb. 1992--Aug. 1995). This was followed by crossover appearances in Infinity War #1--6 (June--Nov. 1992), Infinity Crusade #1--6 (June--Nov. 1993), Silver Surfer vol. 3, #86--88 (Nov. 1993--Jan. 1994), Warlock Chronicles #6--8, Thor #468--471 (Nov. 1993--Feb. 1994), Namor The Sub-Mariner #44 (Nov. 1993), Secret Defenders #11--14 (Jan.--April 1994), Cosmic Powers #1--6 (March--July 1994), and Cosmic Powers Unlimited #1 (May 1995). </P>

When did thanos first appear in the comics