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SW3D's Journal

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Adam Warlock Keys: What comic book key issues should be included in this set?

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SW3D

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Recently, the CGC has modified the Adam Warlock Keys Set by adding a number of titles where Adam Warlock has made an appearance (comic books which are mostly concentrated in the Bronze Age). Personally, I do not agree with these new additions, since the theme of the set is Adam Warlock Keys, meaning only those comic books which have key significance related to Adam Warlock should be included in this set. Which comic books you may ask? Well, although I am no comic book historian, nonetheless, I will offer my opinion about the keys which I feel have historical and canonical significance not only to Adam Warlock but to the greater Marvel Universe at large.

But the first question should be, "What defines a comic book key issue?"

Here is my definition:

Comic Book Key Issue: a Comic Book Key Issue is a comic book which has historical significance and marks a special event in the canon of a Character, a Title, a Publisher, or even a Genre. Such keys include but are not exclusive to: 1st Appearance(s); Origin(s), Death(s); the Return; 1st Costume; New or Altered Costume; Altered Physical Appearance; New or Altered Powers and Abilities; New Secret Identity or Alter-ego; Secret Identity or Alter-ego Revealed; Revelations, the 1st Professional Work of a Writer or Artist; Premiere Issue or 1st Issue of a Title Run, the Last Issue of a Title Run, Anniversary Issue; etc.

 

So, if I follow my definition, what are the comic books that should be included in the Adam Warlock Keys set? In order to determine this, I decided to research and reread all the comics which the CGC has included in Adam Warlock Keys set and some others that were not in the set (Thor 163 and 164 where the Cocoon makes a cameo appearance). I read not from the original sources, but from various reprints collecting many of Adam Warlock appearances in the Silver and Bronze Ages. I believe these reprints to be faithful to the source material. The books I've consulted are:

 

Essential Fantastic Four Volume 4

*Reprints Fantastic Four 66 and 67

Marvel Masterworks The Mighty Thor Volume 8:

*Reprints The Mighty Thor 163, 164, 165, and 166

Marvel Masterworks Warlock Volume 1: Reprints:

*Marvel Premiere Volume 1, Numbers 1 and 2

*Warlock Volume 1, Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

*The Incredible Hulk Volume 1, Numbers 176, 177, and 178

Marvel Masterworks Warlock Volume 2: Reprints:

*Strange Tales Volume 1, Numbers: 178, 179, 180, and 181

*Warlock Volume 1, Numbers: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15

*Marvel Team-Up Volume 1, Number 55

*Avengers Annual Volume 1, Number 7

*Marvel Two-In-One Annual Volume 1, Number 2

And after re-reading these collected editions, I also decided to include my own key comments which I believe merit inclusion and may have been overlooked by CGC graders and comic book historians. These additional key comments, denoted by me as "overlooked key comments", will follow the CGC key comments quoted from the CGC graded labels of the key issues listed. Other "overlooked key comments" will appear for issues which previously had no key comments; these examples can be considered overlooked keys. Please let me know if you agree or disagree, and preferably, with an explanation as to your opinion.

So here it its...

...The following is my list of those comic book keys which I believe should be included in the Adam Warlock Keys set, with a brief explanation of why they are comic book keys issues:

 

Fantastic Four Volume 1, Number 66

CGC Key Comments:

*2 part Origin of HIM (Warlock).*

*HIM does not appear.

*Should be modified to read, "Origin of HIM (Warlock)": contrary to popular belief, HIM's origin is not discussed in Fantastic Four 67, therefore, technically, it is not a 2 part Origin story.

Overlooked Key Comment:

*1st Appearance of the Cocoon.

Fantastic Four Volume 1, Number 67

CGC Key Comment:

*Origin* and 1st Appearance of HIM (Warlock) in cameo.

*Contrary to popular belief, HIM's origin is not discussed in this issue and should be omitted from the key notes.

Overlooked Key Comments:

*1st Incarnation of Adam Warlock: Officially, it is the first of three (3) Adam Warlock incarnations in the span of a decade. In this initial depiction, HIM is very much an innocent child-like being, pure of heart, with the urge to understand his purpose of creation and to gain knowledge of the universe at large; HIM can be considered neither villain nor hero.

*1st Appearance of HIM (Warlock) in the Silver Age.

Thor Volume 1, Number 165

CGC Key Comments:

*1st Full Appearance of HIM*

*Watcher appearance.

*Last 12 cents issue.

*Not to be confused as HIM's/Adam Warlock's 1st appearance; see Fantastic Four Volume 1, Number 67 for Adam Warlock's 1st appearance.

Overlooked Key Comment:

*1st Appearance of Thor succumb by Warrior Madness aka Berserker's Rage (2-panel Cameo last page).

 

Thor Volume 1, Number 166

CGC Key Comments:

*2nd Full Appearance of HIM (Warlock).

*Thor vs. HIM.

Overlooked Key Comment:

*1st Full Appearance of Thor succumb by Warrior Madness aka Berserker's Rage.

Marvel Premiere Volume 1, Number 1

CGC Key Comments:

*Origin of Warlock.

*Thor, Hulk and Fantastic Four appearances in Flashback.

Overlooked Key Comments:

*2nd Incarnation of Adam Warlock: HIM is given the name Warlock by the High Evolutionary and becomes a Messiah-like superhero.

*1st Costume Incarnation: a playful homage to Fawcett's Shazam which incorporates Captain Marvel's jagged lightning emblem and red and yellow colors.

*1st Appearance of the Soul Gem (green colored): this is first of the six (6) colored Soul Gems, aka Infinity Gems or Infinity Stones.

*1st Appearance of Counter-Earth.

*1st Issue of Marvel Premiere.

*1st Appearance of Warlock in the Bronze Age.

*Altered Physical Appearance: the first depiction of Adam Warlock without eyes; no explanation given (Note: Adam Warlock is frequently illustrated without eyes; this can be seen over the course of his appearances throughout various titles including his own, and with no explanation offered).

Marvel Premiere Volume 1, Number 2

CGC Key Comment:

*Warlock*

*Not a key note in my opinion; it should be omitted from the key notes.

Overlooked Key Comments:

*Warlock is given the first name Adam by a group of children on Counter-Earth, thus he is now known officially as Adam Warlock.

*1st time Adam Warlock uses the Soul Gem.

*New or Altered Powers and Abilities: Adam Warlock, through use of the Soul Gem, can devolve a sentient being.

*Altered Physical Appearance: Adam Warlock is once again illustrated with eyes (Note: Adam Warlock's eye color is undetermined as the colors of his eyes frequently change over the course of his appearances throughout various titles including his own, and with no explanation offered. The colors of his eyes have been depicted as blue, brown, black, white, red, and yellow. I speculate the variance in eye color may represent subtle changes in his energy levels, moods and emotions, or quite simply, for reasons unknown made by the artist or colorist).

The Power of Warlock Volume 1, Number 1:

CGC Key Comments:

*Origin of Warlock

*Letters from J. M. DeMatteis and Richard Pini.

Overlooked Key Comments:

*Premiere issue or 1st issue of Warlock's solo title.

*Story continuation from Marvel Premiere Volume 1: Numbers 1 and 2.

Strange Tales Volume 1, Number 178

CGC Key Comments:

*1st Appearance of Magus.*

*Warlock begins.

*Clarification is required: Technically, one can argue, this is the first appearance of the Magus (Adam Warlock's future evil self). And although I agree with that statement, however, if you read the story, it is more accurate and

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