What do you think?
Rate this book
Marvel Masterworks: Warlock #1
Marvel Masterworks: Warlock, Vol. 1
As the 1970s dawned, Marvel Comics marched into a new era. An era whose heroes increasingly reflected the turmoil and social unrest of the time. And as Marvel’s heroic pantheon evolved, a newly christened hero debuted to herald that new era: Adam Warlock! Mixing super-hero action with equal parts social consciousness and allegory, writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane, in some of the most accomplished work of his career, launched Warlock on a wild ride across the cosmos to Counter-Earth! Hastened by the High Evolutionary to be the savior of this parallel planet, Warlock, armed for the first time with his soul gem, must do battle with the evil Man-Beast for the very planet itself! Featuring guest-appearances by Dr. Doom, Reed Richards and no less than the Incredible Hulk, this volume of never-before-collected stories is one you won’t want to miss, and you can bet your pet rock on that! Collecting MARVEL PREMIERE #1-2, WARLOCK #1-8 and INCREDIBLE HULK #176-178.
273 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2012
31 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,477 books271 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 1, 2019
I have always really liked the Warlock character even way before the Thanos and Infinity Gems storyline took over his story. The character seemed so different than your standard superhero. Nice collection of the beginning of this character with some incredible Gil Kane art. Very recommended
June 26, 2017
I suppose I am giving this 4 stars because I loved it as a kid. For a modern reader it may be too silly. For those of us who read Warlock in the 70s, he was already a somewhat cosmic character, created by Jack Kirby in the Fantastic Four. Later he graduated to his own series starting in Marvel Premiere 1 and then his own self titled magazine. Roy Thomas sets up a unique scenario for Warlock, with Counter-Earth. It is heavily steeped in 70s sensibilities and echoes of Jesus Christ Superstar. There are so many Christ parallels right up until the end, which has Warlock flying off to the stars for further adventures. The story wrapped up in Hulk 178 (after Warlock's comic was cancelled), which appeared in August 1974 cover dated comics, just 1 month before Starlin's exit on Captain Marvel. It's a good volume for 1970s Marvel / Warlock completists or fans of Gil Kane (sadly he doesn't draw all of the stories but does do most of the covers).
April 13, 2017
I've never read a Warlock story before, but I really liked this. The writing was a bit dated, and there's too much recap, but the messiah complex Warlock exhibits is fascinating, especially his Jesus/God like realationship with the High Evolutionary. That's another issue I had...there wasn't enough resolution with the High Evolutionary.
Ther's also the "Marvel Style" from this era. It is very guided by Stan Lee, and that's both good and bad. Depsite the many creators, it is consistent, but the melodramatic panels are frustrating.
Ther's also the "Marvel Style" from this era. It is very guided by Stan Lee, and that's both good and bad. Depsite the many creators, it is consistent, but the melodramatic panels are frustrating.
September 4, 2024
Para leer el cómic añejo de superhéroes (al menos el de la Marvel de los 60 y principios de los 70) hay que hacerlo con una cierta bonhomía crítica. Por ejemplo, leer los primeros números de la Biblioteca Marvel de ciertas colecciones puede exigir un importante esfuerzo. El tiempo ha pasado por muchas de aquellas historias de manera cruel, haciéndolas parecer no sólo viejas, sino incluso infantiles. Los vicios de su época tampoco ayudan. Que en la mayoría de ellas haya que comerse una página y media de resumen recordatorio de lo anterior por número invita a saltarse partes del texto. Sus tramas y argumentos parecen hoy en día demasiado simples, y en cuanto al apartado gráfico, muchos de los dibujantes ni siquiera eran profesionales. Si se quieren disfrutar, las lecturas de aquellos cómics han de ser acometidas a veces bajo una mirada comprensiva, utilizando ciertos filtros de adaptación a su año de origen.
En estos números que presentaron la conversión al Warlock cósmico que identificamos actualmente, tan parecido en su tormento interior a Estela Plateada, esa aclimatación es imprescindible. Roy Thomas pergeñó una revisión del mito de Cristo en un tono moderno, como el de Jesucristo Superstar, la película que dejó una marca indeleble en aquella época. A Warlock lo niegan tres veces, pone la otra mejilla, tiene una última cena con sus seguidores y, por supuesto, lo crucifican. La pasión de Warlock se debe a las maniobras del Hombre Bestia, un anticristo evolucionado de un lobo (creo que incluso este detalle sería hoy criticado). Al trasfondo solemne se le une el tono discursivo y grandilocuente de gran parte de los cómics Marvel de entonces, puro estilo Lee, lo cual le da a la serie una teatralidad excesiva. El dibujo de Gil Kane va salvando los muebles hasta que su marcha pone la historia en manos peores.
Lo bueno de los tebeos de aquellos años es que uno puede ver en ellos cómo se forja el futuro, cada uno de los acontecimientos y personajes cuyas consecuencias y acciones serían el nutriente de todos los cómics posteriores. En estos números no sólo nace el Warlock portador de la gema del alma, también la Contratierra, que aparecería luego tantas veces y que, impresión personal, acabaremos viendo más pronto que tarde en el UCM. Y vemos el aspecto cósmico del Alto Evolucionador, que aquí hace las veces de Dios Padre. Hay una diferencia salvaje entre estos cómics recogidos en el volumen “La saga de la Contratierra” y lo que hizo Starlin con el personaje a partir de los años siguientes, pero hay placer también en la realización de estas lecturas arqueológicas, que nos muestran de dónde provinieron conceptos que, posteriormente, llegarían a ser muy populares y a dar obras de importancia. Placer multiplicado pir el factor nostalgia si, como es mi caso, estas historias se leyeron hace cincuenta años en los legendarios tebeos de Vértice.
En estos números que presentaron la conversión al Warlock cósmico que identificamos actualmente, tan parecido en su tormento interior a Estela Plateada, esa aclimatación es imprescindible. Roy Thomas pergeñó una revisión del mito de Cristo en un tono moderno, como el de Jesucristo Superstar, la película que dejó una marca indeleble en aquella época. A Warlock lo niegan tres veces, pone la otra mejilla, tiene una última cena con sus seguidores y, por supuesto, lo crucifican. La pasión de Warlock se debe a las maniobras del Hombre Bestia, un anticristo evolucionado de un lobo (creo que incluso este detalle sería hoy criticado). Al trasfondo solemne se le une el tono discursivo y grandilocuente de gran parte de los cómics Marvel de entonces, puro estilo Lee, lo cual le da a la serie una teatralidad excesiva. El dibujo de Gil Kane va salvando los muebles hasta que su marcha pone la historia en manos peores.
Lo bueno de los tebeos de aquellos años es que uno puede ver en ellos cómo se forja el futuro, cada uno de los acontecimientos y personajes cuyas consecuencias y acciones serían el nutriente de todos los cómics posteriores. En estos números no sólo nace el Warlock portador de la gema del alma, también la Contratierra, que aparecería luego tantas veces y que, impresión personal, acabaremos viendo más pronto que tarde en el UCM. Y vemos el aspecto cósmico del Alto Evolucionador, que aquí hace las veces de Dios Padre. Hay una diferencia salvaje entre estos cómics recogidos en el volumen “La saga de la Contratierra” y lo que hizo Starlin con el personaje a partir de los años siguientes, pero hay placer también en la realización de estas lecturas arqueológicas, que nos muestran de dónde provinieron conceptos que, posteriormente, llegarían a ser muy populares y a dar obras de importancia. Placer multiplicado pir el factor nostalgia si, como es mi caso, estas historias se leyeron hace cincuenta años en los legendarios tebeos de Vértice.
September 30, 2019
I'm a big fan of Warlock. This collection has some vintage art, trippy storylines and even social commentary. But it also shows it age in the form of generic villains and conflicts. Still, Warlock is an interesting and, for the era this was originally released, a unique character. Come for Adam Warlock, stay for a great Doctor Doom appearance!
March 5, 2018
I can't really recommend this book. I wanted to read more of the origin story of Warlock, and oddly, this isn't where that happens. There is a story arc for the character in various team-up comics that take place before this. This story begins with Warlock in his cocoon in space (and not yet having the name Warlock). He interacts with the High Evolutionary (who I have only ever really understood to be a villain, but hey), then decides he wants to save the Counter-Earth, which the High Evolutionary has just made and wants to destroy, because it is ruined by violence. This being a comic book, of course, he solves that problem with more violence, just controlled violence. The main struggle is with the Man-Beast, one of the High Evolutionary's other creations, and continues through the whole volume. The volume, itself, is a heavy-handed Christian allegory, with Warlock playing the part of Jesus, which turned me off right away, both for the content, itself, and for how poorly it was executed in the writing. The art was reasonably good for the time, though it was noticeable when we switched to a new artist in the Hulk comics at the end (because the book wasn't selling, and was canceled, so they finished up in another book). Honestly, having read some of Infinity Watch, there was enough background information there to safely skip this one.
August 30, 2025
Volume molto corposo in cui troviamo raccolte numerose testate: in primis, su Marvel Premiere, Roy Thomas riprende un personaggio, "Lui", già creato da Lee e Kirby, che però aveva trovato spazio relativamente esiguo nell'universo Marvel.
Qui eletto a protagonista, il nostro essere artificiale (o meglio, il bozzolo in cui riposa) viene ritrovato nello spazio dall'Alto Evoluzionario, intento a realizzare un progetto degno della sua natura semidivina: generare e accelerare lo sviluppo di un pianeta del tutto analogo al nostro, in cui però la vita e la civiltà umana possano svilupparsi senza i germi del peccato, libere dal Male.
E ci sarebbe anche riuscito, se solo nel processo non avesse interferito la sua vecchia nemesi, l'Uomo-Bestia, a causa del quale la "Contro-Terra" verrà comunque corrotta dai vizi umani, ritrovandosi persino in una posizione addirittura peggiore di quella della Terra normale, giacché l'Alto Evoluzionario ha intenzionalmente fatto in modo che fosse priva dei rispettivi supereroi e supercriminali.
Nonostante Wyndham intenda distruggere tutto e ricominciare da capo, "Lui" si oppone, proponendo di essere inviato sulla Contro-Terra per divenirne il protettore. L'Alto Evoluzionario, acconsentendo, gli donerà una potente gemma, prima di spedirlo sulla sua creazione in modo che possa aiutare la popolazione e liberarla dall'influenza negativa dell'Uomo-Bestia e dei suoi fedeli: questo sarà il compito di colui che sarà ribattezzato "Adam Warlock".
Questa sarà sostanzialmente la trama della serie "Warlock", sempre scritta (non solo) da Ray Thomas; le avventure di Adam si concludono poi in tre numeri de "L'Incredibile Hulk", dove le allegorie messianiche che accompagnano il personaggio diverranno sempre meno sottili.
Per chi voglia recuperare il personaggio di Adam Warlock, in assoluto uno dei miei preferiti, queste storie sono consigliatissime.
Qui eletto a protagonista, il nostro essere artificiale (o meglio, il bozzolo in cui riposa) viene ritrovato nello spazio dall'Alto Evoluzionario, intento a realizzare un progetto degno della sua natura semidivina: generare e accelerare lo sviluppo di un pianeta del tutto analogo al nostro, in cui però la vita e la civiltà umana possano svilupparsi senza i germi del peccato, libere dal Male.
E ci sarebbe anche riuscito, se solo nel processo non avesse interferito la sua vecchia nemesi, l'Uomo-Bestia, a causa del quale la "Contro-Terra" verrà comunque corrotta dai vizi umani, ritrovandosi persino in una posizione addirittura peggiore di quella della Terra normale, giacché l'Alto Evoluzionario ha intenzionalmente fatto in modo che fosse priva dei rispettivi supereroi e supercriminali.
Nonostante Wyndham intenda distruggere tutto e ricominciare da capo, "Lui" si oppone, proponendo di essere inviato sulla Contro-Terra per divenirne il protettore. L'Alto Evoluzionario, acconsentendo, gli donerà una potente gemma, prima di spedirlo sulla sua creazione in modo che possa aiutare la popolazione e liberarla dall'influenza negativa dell'Uomo-Bestia e dei suoi fedeli: questo sarà il compito di colui che sarà ribattezzato "Adam Warlock".
Questa sarà sostanzialmente la trama della serie "Warlock", sempre scritta (non solo) da Ray Thomas; le avventure di Adam si concludono poi in tre numeri de "L'Incredibile Hulk", dove le allegorie messianiche che accompagnano il personaggio diverranno sempre meno sottili.
Per chi voglia recuperare il personaggio di Adam Warlock, in assoluto uno dei miei preferiti, queste storie sono consigliatissime.
August 2, 2022
Golden science experiment becomes space demigod in bargain with transcendent human eugenicist, contends with twisted beast-man trickster-cum-avatar of evil on an alternate, home-grown Earth that somehow has reproduced most if not all of the same people from the version on the other side of the sun. Wacky messiah hijinks ensue as we look up everyone's noses. (All the same, I rather like Gil Kane's art.)
I didn't think much about this while I was reading, but it now occurs to me what a conservative conception of the devil Roy Thomas has given us in the Man-Beast. He's very much like the old church's expressions of fear about nature, which recast Pagan nature deities like Cernunnos as the devil: that of the wild is not to be trusted. And yet we're supposed to believe that man is naturally good without the "outside influence" of this wild god. The idea that humanity is separate from and above nature is a pernicious one, an idea that leads to the very necessity for hierarchy and domination that cause true evil. Adam's quest was always doomed to failure.
I didn't think much about this while I was reading, but it now occurs to me what a conservative conception of the devil Roy Thomas has given us in the Man-Beast. He's very much like the old church's expressions of fear about nature, which recast Pagan nature deities like Cernunnos as the devil: that of the wild is not to be trusted. And yet we're supposed to believe that man is naturally good without the "outside influence" of this wild god. The idea that humanity is separate from and above nature is a pernicious one, an idea that leads to the very necessity for hierarchy and domination that cause true evil. Adam's quest was always doomed to failure.
October 18, 2021
Jim Starlin's acclaimed run on Warlock is generally felt to be an early high point in the character's development, and he's since gone on to play a large part in the fight against Thanos in Marvel's various 'Infinity' titles, but it's this early phase of Warlock's history I find the most intriguing.
The idea of one lone superhuman on an Earth devoid of super heroes is interesting. Especially as Warlock was presented as a Christ figure sent to redeem a suffering humanity by that world's creator, the High Evolutionary. Unfortunately, while the series is rich in symbolism, the stories are light in substance, becoming little more than one fight scene after another. I'd have loved to have seen what a writer like Don McGregor or Doug Moench would have drawn out of that basic concept.
It's still an enjoyable, if brief, run of issues though.
The idea of one lone superhuman on an Earth devoid of super heroes is interesting. Especially as Warlock was presented as a Christ figure sent to redeem a suffering humanity by that world's creator, the High Evolutionary. Unfortunately, while the series is rich in symbolism, the stories are light in substance, becoming little more than one fight scene after another. I'd have loved to have seen what a writer like Don McGregor or Doug Moench would have drawn out of that basic concept.
It's still an enjoyable, if brief, run of issues though.
May 8, 2023
I've been wanting to read this for a long time, as the '90s Warlock was one of my favorite characters. Boy, is this early stuff a load of hogwash. I understand completely the whole Messianic thing, but the utter lack of meaningful continuity and cohesive storytelling was so disappointing after all these years. Each writer wants Warlock's powers to be different, so he fluctuates between being near omnipotent to slower than the speed of a falling boy. High Evolutionary comes off as a totally inept nimrod as well. You could easily take out 1/3 of the book with all the "previously..." recaps, which were good for readers of individual and discrete issues but wholly unnecessary in a collected trade. It's just a mess. The villains are too childish for a Kroffts show. The preachy tone does not hold up well, either. Don't buy it.
November 20, 2023
The superhero as Jesus... Basically, the story of Warlock is the Bible rewritten very ham-fistedly. The High Evolutionary (alias God) creates a counter-Earth in seven hours (he's in a bit of a rush) and falls asleep. It is then corrupted by the Man-Beast (as the Devil). To try and save it, H.E. sends his adoptive son, Him (now known as Adam Warlock) down to counter-Earth...
Absolutely terrible storytelling, padded dreadfully with pages of recap in every issue. Gil Kane's artwork is, well, Gil Kane. You either like it or hate it, but it always looks scratchy and rough (you can guess where I stand on it). When Warlock's own book was cancelled, the story was tied up in three issues of the Hulk, with Herb Trimpe's primitive art.
Really, not very good.
Absolutely terrible storytelling, padded dreadfully with pages of recap in every issue. Gil Kane's artwork is, well, Gil Kane. You either like it or hate it, but it always looks scratchy and rough (you can guess where I stand on it). When Warlock's own book was cancelled, the story was tied up in three issues of the Hulk, with Herb Trimpe's primitive art.
Really, not very good.
September 5, 2018
One of the best Bronze Age series
I always enjoy stories that are analogous to those in the Bible and the Story of Christ is the best of those. It was pretty bold to tell that story in a mainstream comic book in the mid-70s....Kudos to Roy Thomas & Co. for doing so...Well done!
I would've given this book 5 stars had the art been handled throughout by Kane & Adkins. I never understood when I was buying these issues off the stands back in the day why they couldn't get writer-artist teams to commit to an entire story arc. The integrity of the art form takes a hit whenever even the best concepts are executed in such a piecemeal fashion.
I always enjoy stories that are analogous to those in the Bible and the Story of Christ is the best of those. It was pretty bold to tell that story in a mainstream comic book in the mid-70s....Kudos to Roy Thomas & Co. for doing so...Well done!
I would've given this book 5 stars had the art been handled throughout by Kane & Adkins. I never understood when I was buying these issues off the stands back in the day why they couldn't get writer-artist teams to commit to an entire story arc. The integrity of the art form takes a hit whenever even the best concepts are executed in such a piecemeal fashion.
March 11, 2022
Origin of the soul gem, which ended up on the Infinity gauntlet.
Good color artwork. A great character who was a Jesus analog. The soul gem was a divine spark, and ended up on the Infinity gauntlet of thanos the death lover. The high evolutionary created counter earth but seemed to withdraw from it? The man beast actually compares himself to Satan and Lucifer? If a discussion of religious beliefs makes you nauseous, avoid this like it was covered with aids. This sells for 99 cents twice a year, September 6, National read a book day and Christmas.
Good color artwork. A great character who was a Jesus analog. The soul gem was a divine spark, and ended up on the Infinity gauntlet of thanos the death lover. The high evolutionary created counter earth but seemed to withdraw from it? The man beast actually compares himself to Satan and Lucifer? If a discussion of religious beliefs makes you nauseous, avoid this like it was covered with aids. This sells for 99 cents twice a year, September 6, National read a book day and Christmas.
June 3, 2017
Allegory
In the early 70s writer Roy Thomas took an obscure character from the Fantastic Four comics and transformed into Adam Warlock a golden skin Christ figure sent to a duplicate earth on the other side of the sun to battle an alien race of Best Men. The allegory can sometimes be obvious but still worth reading.
In the early 70s writer Roy Thomas took an obscure character from the Fantastic Four comics and transformed into Adam Warlock a golden skin Christ figure sent to a duplicate earth on the other side of the sun to battle an alien race of Best Men. The allegory can sometimes be obvious but still worth reading.
January 12, 2020
Read the marvel premiere issues to get the origins of the character and the first issue of the solo series to see that the infinity stone already had the powers it shows in the INFINITELY BETTER AND MORE ENJOYABLE Jim Starlin run. You can then proceed to forget that all the rest ever existed. Atrocious in every possible manner.
April 8, 2021
Bad compilation of Biblical allegories, the plot being constructed as a retelling of new testament and nothing more felt either rushed or dragged down. There are two or three moments where either allegories are done interestingly or characters have any depth, but overally it doesn't give you any feeling of accomplishment after you finish it. - 4/10
May 29, 2017
Up and down
With this, the introduction of Warlock and counter earth, one of marvels cosmic characters was born. When Gil Kane was drawing it, the character was tremendous. When Bob Brown took over art duties, less so.
With this, the introduction of Warlock and counter earth, one of marvels cosmic characters was born. When Gil Kane was drawing it, the character was tremendous. When Bob Brown took over art duties, less so.
January 19, 2018
Fun
This book falls into the category of non-essential reads in the great Marvel cosmic opera surrounding Adam Warlock. This is still a fun read for completionists who like to sift through every grain of Marvel canon.
This book falls into the category of non-essential reads in the great Marvel cosmic opera surrounding Adam Warlock. This is still a fun read for completionists who like to sift through every grain of Marvel canon.
May 26, 2019
I only read this to prepare myself for the Starlin run on Warlock. Obviously that's not necessary at all, but the character piqued my curiosity enough to try it. For its time, it's actually pretty interesting. But you know how it is with older comics.
June 3, 2017
Excellent
Loved the reading. Waited over 30 years to find out what happened to Adam Warlock when it looked like he died int that Hulk issue. Lot of parallels to Jesus Christ
Loved the reading. Waited over 30 years to find out what happened to Adam Warlock when it looked like he died int that Hulk issue. Lot of parallels to Jesus Christ
October 2, 2019
Really good writing! An interesting comic, although it doesn't make sense at times, especially when you switch over to the Hulk comics. That's where characterizations really change.
September 21, 2020
Adam Warlock and his adventure on Counter-Earth against Man-Beast
October 28, 2020
The Biblical parallels are an odd but interesting choice. The story and quality are all over the place though and the whole thing comes out pretty messy.
July 22, 2025
Roy Thomas definitely set out to create Marvel’s messianic savior with Adam Warlock. Several times he basically does a 1:1 allegory to certain biblical tales. Adam Warlock begins this collection as the naïve and hopeful visitor and quickly descends into a wrathful and vain Old Testament deity. Afterward though he quickly dons the mantle of the savior. A not-too-subtle homage to the story of Christ the redeemer. I did not expect Warlock’s canon to be so scriptural in inspiration. It was also full of interesting 60s-70s political perspectives that still resonate today. An interesting and pulpy addition to the marvel chronology.
”They see thru the eyes of a soldier, before a bursting grenade blinds him forever…! They see thru the eyes of a starving Biafran… an orphaned child in Asia… a city-dweller gasping unclean air into filth-chocked lungs. And they know that this is their world. The world which they created… they, and men like them… and so few of them were bad. So very few. Then, seeing this, knowing this… these men turn in heavy, unaccustomed silence… and leave, less sure of things than when they came.”
“Would I could fashion this world as I do this molten rock- not to shape man’s destiny but to prevent senseless death! But such is not to be…! Death has no meaning- to the dead! Their journey is made! It is the living who give it meaning for each other! And so the meaning I give it now is- HOPE! Hope that our lives can have such significance at our deaths as did his!”
-“Bleedin’ liberal softie- no law n’ order these days!”
-“Freakin’ reactionary pig- only bends when ya corner ‘im!”
…and that identity, like beauty, remains in the eye of the beholder.
…an object we recognize as the Washington Monument, but which the Hulk sees only as…
-“Big stone? With a door? What is this dumb thing?”
“For some men, revolution means violence- for others, a quiet change in the social order. Unfortunately, violent men must be dealt with violently; thus, our weapons.”
Defense spending they call it, costing billions upon unguessable billions each year. Yet much of this tax payer’s burden goes toward offensive weapons, such as these…
”They see thru the eyes of a soldier, before a bursting grenade blinds him forever…! They see thru the eyes of a starving Biafran… an orphaned child in Asia… a city-dweller gasping unclean air into filth-chocked lungs. And they know that this is their world. The world which they created… they, and men like them… and so few of them were bad. So very few. Then, seeing this, knowing this… these men turn in heavy, unaccustomed silence… and leave, less sure of things than when they came.”
“Would I could fashion this world as I do this molten rock- not to shape man’s destiny but to prevent senseless death! But such is not to be…! Death has no meaning- to the dead! Their journey is made! It is the living who give it meaning for each other! And so the meaning I give it now is- HOPE! Hope that our lives can have such significance at our deaths as did his!”
-“Bleedin’ liberal softie- no law n’ order these days!”
-“Freakin’ reactionary pig- only bends when ya corner ‘im!”
…and that identity, like beauty, remains in the eye of the beholder.
…an object we recognize as the Washington Monument, but which the Hulk sees only as…
-“Big stone? With a door? What is this dumb thing?”
“For some men, revolution means violence- for others, a quiet change in the social order. Unfortunately, violent men must be dealt with violently; thus, our weapons.”
Defense spending they call it, costing billions upon unguessable billions each year. Yet much of this tax payer’s burden goes toward offensive weapons, such as these…
December 14, 2022
First appearing as a character simply called Him (created by Jack Kirby & Stan Lee), Adam Warlock had a rough beginning (and that’s putting it mildly). Side note: the first appearances of Him are not included in this collection: Fantastic Four #66-67 (see The Mystery of the Black Panther) and Thor #165-166 (see Thor Epic Collection Vol. 4: To Wake the Mangog). As the these stories from Kirby & Lee feature the premiere, prototype, version of the character they have little to do with the actual character he would get reimagined as.
Marvel Premiere #1-2 - The prototemplate of a character, Him created by Kirby & Lee, gets a complete makeover by Roy Thomas & Gil Kane, and rechristened as Adam Warlock. This re-origin, if you will, brings in the High Evolutionary, Counter-Earth, the Man-Beast and the whole notion of Warlock as a way to examine the (white) male savior complex. Off to an excellent start (4/5).
The Power of Warlock #1-8 - Warlock’s initial series ran only for these 8 issues before being abruptly and unceremoniously cancelled (sales must have been abysmal). The series starts off very well with Kane and Thomas returning for the opening issues. Then Mike Friedrich took over writing, and the story starts faltering almost immediately. Once Kane leaves, a couple of issues later, there is little hope as the story descends into a miasma of pseudo-psychological poppycock and mediocrity. At least with Kane on the book, it looked gorgeous, but once he left there was really nothing but momentum to keep it going, and that only worked for a couple issues. A sad end run for a character so full of potential. Embarrassingly, the series even ended on a terrible cliffhanger, just as the finale was reaching its penultimate, or perhaps ultimate, climax - poof (to be continued somewhere, somewhen). Fans were NOT happy (3/5).
Incredible Hulk #176-178 - And continue it does, almost a year later, but finally a wrap-up to the complicated story developed over those last 10 issues. Jerry Conway and Herb Trimpe do their best to really pull it all together, but to be honest, the story had already gotten so complicated and contrived that I’m not sure it could (or should) have been saved. While this is pretty standard fare for Marvel in this era, it does clearly establish Warlock as a messiah-like archetype (2/5)(these 3-issues can also be found in Crisis on Counter-Earth).
Marvel Premiere #1-2 - The prototemplate of a character, Him created by Kirby & Lee, gets a complete makeover by Roy Thomas & Gil Kane, and rechristened as Adam Warlock. This re-origin, if you will, brings in the High Evolutionary, Counter-Earth, the Man-Beast and the whole notion of Warlock as a way to examine the (white) male savior complex. Off to an excellent start (4/5).
The Power of Warlock #1-8 - Warlock’s initial series ran only for these 8 issues before being abruptly and unceremoniously cancelled (sales must have been abysmal). The series starts off very well with Kane and Thomas returning for the opening issues. Then Mike Friedrich took over writing, and the story starts faltering almost immediately. Once Kane leaves, a couple of issues later, there is little hope as the story descends into a miasma of pseudo-psychological poppycock and mediocrity. At least with Kane on the book, it looked gorgeous, but once he left there was really nothing but momentum to keep it going, and that only worked for a couple issues. A sad end run for a character so full of potential. Embarrassingly, the series even ended on a terrible cliffhanger, just as the finale was reaching its penultimate, or perhaps ultimate, climax - poof (to be continued somewhere, somewhen). Fans were NOT happy (3/5).
Incredible Hulk #176-178 - And continue it does, almost a year later, but finally a wrap-up to the complicated story developed over those last 10 issues. Jerry Conway and Herb Trimpe do their best to really pull it all together, but to be honest, the story had already gotten so complicated and contrived that I’m not sure it could (or should) have been saved. While this is pretty standard fare for Marvel in this era, it does clearly establish Warlock as a messiah-like archetype (2/5)(these 3-issues can also be found in Crisis on Counter-Earth).
May 6, 2016
This volume collects Marvel Premiere #1–2, Warlock #1–8 and The Incredible Hulk #176–178, and contains the origin of Adam Warlock. Well, at least the origin of Adam Warlock as Adam Warlock, as his origin proper as the entity Him in the pages of The Fantastic Four #66–67 and his subsequent appearance as such in the pages of Thor #165–166 are sadly not included in this volume.
Still, writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane picked up the character and started his transformation towards the cosmic character who lingers in the Marvel universe even today. This is the story of how the High Evolutionary (first introduced in Thor 134–135) created Counter-Earth, a place which would have been without evil, but for the dreaded influence of the Man-Beast; how Him became Adam Warlock and entrusted with fighting against the Man-Beast's influence on Counter-Earth and save that planet from its maker destroying it. And it is a great story.
While Thomas and Kane did not finish the piece (other writers are Mike Friedrich, Ron Goulart, Gerry Conway and Tony Isabella; other pencillers are Bob Brown, John Buscema, Tom Sutton and Herb Trimpe), the work nevertheless had a steady rhythm, inspired by sources like Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and the era of its own making.
Empowered by his soul gem (its powers not yet as defined as they would later become) and basically a god in human form on (Counter-)Earth, Adam Warlock merged superheroics with religious narratives in a very literal, but in no way boring, manner. From its opening till its final moments, which due to the title's cancellation had to be picked up and told later in the pages of The Incredible Hulk (actually my own very first encounter with the character), this is some mighty fine comics storytelling.
Still, writer Roy Thomas and artist Gil Kane picked up the character and started his transformation towards the cosmic character who lingers in the Marvel universe even today. This is the story of how the High Evolutionary (first introduced in Thor 134–135) created Counter-Earth, a place which would have been without evil, but for the dreaded influence of the Man-Beast; how Him became Adam Warlock and entrusted with fighting against the Man-Beast's influence on Counter-Earth and save that planet from its maker destroying it. And it is a great story.
While Thomas and Kane did not finish the piece (other writers are Mike Friedrich, Ron Goulart, Gerry Conway and Tony Isabella; other pencillers are Bob Brown, John Buscema, Tom Sutton and Herb Trimpe), the work nevertheless had a steady rhythm, inspired by sources like Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar and the era of its own making.
Empowered by his soul gem (its powers not yet as defined as they would later become) and basically a god in human form on (Counter-)Earth, Adam Warlock merged superheroics with religious narratives in a very literal, but in no way boring, manner. From its opening till its final moments, which due to the title's cancellation had to be picked up and told later in the pages of The Incredible Hulk (actually my own very first encounter with the character), this is some mighty fine comics storytelling.
July 4, 2022
A big fan of Warlock. I read these way back in comic book form and decided to get the trades and read them.
This is the story of how HIM (From Fantastic Four #66-67 and Thor 134-135) who enter into his cocoon and is found by the High Evolutionary who has become an immortal.
Here begins the story of Counter-Earth and the Messiah that Warlock plays in these thirteen issues before Jim Starlin creates the Adam Warlock that fits into Marvel Cosmic World and eventually gets into the Thanos Infinity Trilogy affair.
But these stories are Warlock fighting the H.E. not to destroy Counter-Earth that he created because of Man-God's evil plan to corrupt the people as they were on Earth. He finds and sees the good within some of the people and battles the Man-God until he deevolves him into the wolf that he is, then heads out into the cosmos.
Good stories and with the story ending in the Incredible Hulk, it brings Warlock into the regular Marvel on Earth and in the universe.
This is the story of how HIM (From Fantastic Four #66-67 and Thor 134-135) who enter into his cocoon and is found by the High Evolutionary who has become an immortal.
Here begins the story of Counter-Earth and the Messiah that Warlock plays in these thirteen issues before Jim Starlin creates the Adam Warlock that fits into Marvel Cosmic World and eventually gets into the Thanos Infinity Trilogy affair.
But these stories are Warlock fighting the H.E. not to destroy Counter-Earth that he created because of Man-God's evil plan to corrupt the people as they were on Earth. He finds and sees the good within some of the people and battles the Man-God until he deevolves him into the wolf that he is, then heads out into the cosmos.
Good stories and with the story ending in the Incredible Hulk, it brings Warlock into the regular Marvel on Earth and in the universe.
July 10, 2016
This is definitely a story of its time, but it was still quite fun, especially looking at the influence of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' on the series and in the light of having recently read the Thanos series of OGNs. The Hulk issues felt like the writers had rushed to bring a conclusion to the series, however, and they didn't really feel like they led on from issue 8 as neatly as they could have.
March 1, 2013
I remember reading and liking Jim Starlin's Warlock stories. These don't really make a lot of sense. They establish Adam Warlock as someone with god-like abilities and then keep placing him in hand-to-hand combat and claiming he is in terrible peril. I did not find them very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews