Meet the Wonder Twins!

[SW3D]

AKA... Reunited and It Feels So Good!

 

AKA... "I'm Julius. And this is my brother Vincent. We're twins."

 

AKA... "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad."

 

Meet the Wonder Twins... no, not the Vulcan-eared, brother and sister duo Zan and Jayna from the Super Friends, but more like "I wonder what the hell I was thinking buying the same exact comic book I already own?"

 

Look at these two. Is it a case of double-vision? Can you tell them apart? They're both Marvel Premiere #1, featuring Warlock. They're both historical keys where "Him" is first named "Warlock" by the Higher Evolutionary; is given the vampiric Soul Gem containing a pocket universe; where Counter-Earth (Earth 616) is first created; and lastly Warlock becomes a fashion plate by creating a costume mash-up of Shazam, Conan the Barbarian, and the WWE. They're both graded 9.6 with White Pages. And they both carry the same pedigrees from Suscha News.

 

So what distinguishes them? How do I tell them apart?

 

If you take a good look... just one number! That's right... their CGC registration numbers sets them apart... but only by one little number. Isn't that amazing? They are in exact sequential order from one another. Just one itsy bitsy number separates these two from being exact dupes.

 

Obviously the previous owner sent them into the CGC for grading at the same exact time, and indeed they were graded one right after the other, both registering a CGC Grade Date on January 18, 2011... nearly two years to the day!

 

But how often do two such items go through the hands of different owners only to be reunited again?

 

I bought the first one through ComicConnect late last year in December 11th... and by sheer luck, a month to the day... on January 11th, while trolling on eBay looking for something else entirely, I found the second. I rubbed my eyes when I took notice of its registration number and something compelled me to cross-check against my copy. And to quote an overly referenced cliché... "And the rest is history."

 

I have nicknamed these bad boys "Julius" and "Vincent" (lifted from one of my favorite 80's films: Twins... a feel good classic I can watch a billion times!) And for all intents and purposes these are twins... albeit not Siamese or Conjoined. I vow they will never be separated again. They have found a good home and have become part of my permanent CGC collection, joining the "Brotherhood of Warlock" aka "Keys to the Kingdom Set": Fantastic Four 66, 67, Thor 165, Marvel Premier 2, and Warlock 10. And if ever that rueful day should come where I need to sell them... I will sell them as a "Twin Set" (I shed a tear thinking such sad thoughts).

 

But here's the "capper"... my natural curiosity led me to the CGC website once again, and I decided to check the registration numbers that sequentially precede and follow these two. And guess what? I found there is a third Marvel Premiere #1... in other words a missing triplet! Now I am determined to find that third brother. How?

 

I've searched and trolled the same sites looking to see if it is up for sale but my search has come up empty.

 

But I haven't stopped there... I went to the local police precinct and filed a "Missing Persons", but so far nothing.

 

I also checked the local orphanages but he wasn't there too.

And last night I walked the cold and barren streets, checking bus depots, back alleys, tenement buildings, and abandoned lots, all the while singing a favorite nursery rhyme...

 

"Oh where, Oh where, has my little Adam gone?

Oh where, oh where can he be?

He battles his future evil self, he's the best artificially created super being of all,

Oh where, oh where can he be?"

 

But seriously, I have a good mind to contact ComicConnect and see if they could tell me who may be the current owner and I'll do my best to talk him/her into selling that third MP1. Wish me luck!

 

Now... if you don't mind, I'm going to take Jules and Vincent on their strollers to the local supermarket, buy them some formula, and see if they can help me round up some real "twins"... or "puppies"... if you know what I mean.

 

Thanks for Reading and as always... Happy Collecting!

 

SW3D

 

See more journals by screenwriter3d

[MatMarvelV1]

Wow, someone found a real good batch of Marvel Premiere #1's. I know you've probably already done this, but you have checked the other users registered sets for every slot this could be in?

 

Good luck finding the lost triplet..

[kaholo1256]

SW3D - There is an amazing overwhelming feeling of jealousy, anger, awe, and joy all mixed into one. This is truly a a set of twins that i will forever be amazed by. Good luck on finding that third.

[surfer99]

Cool story and pics, thanks for sharing and good luck finding the third. You know, in your quest for duplicates of your favorite issues it makes me think maybe I should do that with some of mine. Nah, too many other great issues I could buy!

 

 

[SW3D]

MM,

 

I actually did check the other sets for Marel Premiere, and some are obscured, but I don't believe the missing MP I'm looking for is here.

 

Thanks for wishing me luck.

[SW3D]

K-man,

 

Believe it or not, there is only one CGC 9.8 for MP#1... only one is King of the Hill... the rest are 9.6's and lesser grades... so having two 9.6's is pretty good considering... let alone a third if I can find it.

 

SW3D

[SW3D]

S99,

 

Glad you liked the story... maybe one day i will follow-up with another entitled "Triplets".

 

There are tons of cool keys and vintage comics I want to buy as well, so buying dupes can seem rather ridiculous... but I was always fascinated by seeing a stack of dupe comics... like when a healthy batch arrives at an LCS or Newsstand and they're placed on the rack fresh and glossy, and I just want to grab them all!

 

Maybe I'm just a greedy .

 

SW3D

[Tnerb]

Nah, not greedy at all. It's just the way you collect. I wish I could get it in my head that 9.6's are just as nice to own as 9.8's, especially the older you get. I'd even be estatic if I could get a Daredevil #1 in a 9.2.

[SW3D]

Hey T,

 

You know me so well! Imagine having an entire wall of DD #1's from every grade between 0.5 to 9.8... wouldn't that be awesome! I think you mentioned you were considering doing that for your favorite New Mutants issue. I think that would be f*cking cool! You should go for it!

 

Believe it or not... 9.6's are just as nice as 9.8's... there's very little in terms of defects to differentiate the two. But truth be told... I'm happy to get my hands on any 9.2, 9.4, 9.6 from the Bronze, Silver and especially Golden Age. For the Copper and Modern Ages... yeah... gotta have 9.8's or better!

 

In this particular case... there is only one (1) lone 9.8 for MP#1 listed on the CGC census. Whoever the lucky owner is of that 9.8... I imagine he or she is sitting high on a throne looking down upon us... smiling. But at least my "twins" are second on the pecking order!

 

SW3D

[Silver Surfer]

Wow, someone found a real good batch of Marvel Premiere #1's. I know you've probably already done this, but you have checked the other users registered sets for every slot this could be in?

 

Good luck finding the lost triplet..

 

I think there is actually a 4th 9.6 Suscha copy of this issue, here's mine.

[Silver Surfer]

Bar code #8, where are you!

[SW3D]

Dear SS,

 

I think we should arrange a play date!

 

But seriously... may I ask... could you tell me where you found it? Ebay, ComicConnect or other?

 

Nice copy by the way... beautiful in fact!

 

Now I'm wondering how many of these Suscha News MP#1's exist... it's like they're everywhere.

 

SW3D

[Silver Surfer]

I bought my copy from Metropolis and the 4th copy is owned by a board member. I wish I held out long enough to get a copy with a better wrap but oh well.