Essential Warlock #1
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeThis massive black-and-white collection reprints the early adventures of Adam Warlock, the artificial being created by the Enclave who becomes a cosmic guardian. It covers his original 1960s and 1970s appearances, including his battles with the evil High Evolutionary and the introduction of his dark future self, the Magus. Essential Warlock Vol. 1 gathers material from Marvel Premiere, Strange Tales, and Warlock's own series, presenting the foundational stories of this complex, soul-searching hero.
In "And Men Shall Call Him... Warlock!", Adam Warlock awakens on Counter-Earth after centuries in stasis, thrust into a world where the Hulk is a captive and the Man-Beast rules over the New-Men. As the Recorder stirs the cosmic enigma from his slumber, a shadowy figure escapes Soviet custody on Earth—only to question if freedom is truly his. Written by Gerry Conway and illustrated by Herb Trimpe, with inks by Jack Abel and letters by Artie Simek, this pivotal issue features a cover by Jim Starlin, whose iconic art sets the tone for a story that redefines a legend.
In "Crisis on Counter-Earth!" from Essential Warlock #1, the Hulk’s sudden arrival on a parallel world sets off a chain reaction when he’s captured by the Man-Beast’s New-Men, while the Recorder stirs Adam Warlock from stasis. Meanwhile, on Earth, Glenn Talbot’s escape from Soviet custody raises unsettling questions—was he ever truly imprisoned at all?
In "Death Watch!", the Thing and Spider-Man race against time to stop Thanos from using his massive space ship and the Soul Gem to ignite the sun and wipe out all life in the solar system. Trapped and placed in stasis with the Avengers, Spider-Man must summon every ounce of courage to free his allies, guided by the cryptic whispers of Chaos and Order. With Adam Warlock’s liberation imminent, the fate of the universe hangs in the balance as the heroes prepare for a final, desperate stand against the mad Titan.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Marvel Premiere #1 (1972), Marvel Premiere #2 (1972), Warlock #1 (1972), Warlock #2 (1972), Warlock #3 (1972), Warlock #4 (1973), Warlock #5 (1973), Warlock #6 (1973), Warlock #7 (1973), Warlock #8 (1973), The Incredible Hulk #176 (1974), The Incredible Hulk #177 (1974), The Incredible Hulk #178 (1974), Strange Tales #178 (1975), Strange Tales #179 (1975), Strange Tales #180 (1975), Strange Tales #181 (1975), Warlock #9 (1975), Warlock #10 (1975), Warlock #11 (1976), Warlock #12 (1976), Warlock #13 (1976), Warlock #14 (1976), Warlock #15 (1976), Marvel Team-Up #55 (1977), The Avengers Annual #7 (1977), Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 (1977)
Reprinted in Avengers vs. Thanos #[nn] (2013), Adam Warlock Omnibus #[nn] (2023)
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