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Monday 11 May 2020

WARLOCK READING ORDER: Adam Warlock (1967-1992)

From the first of a breed of new humans, to cosmic messiah, to depressive anti-hero, to saviour of the universe, to being of absolute power. Adam Warlock lived many lives in his handful of appearances over the course of almost twenty five years in the Marvel Universe. Created as an artificial being by the Enclave, transformed and renamed by the High Evolutionary and given the power of the Soul Gem, Adam's adventures would take him from a cocoon on Earth to the furthest reaches to space and back again.

The truly essential Warlock stories begin when Jim Starlin took the reigns of the character in the pages of Strange Tales, but some of his earlier appearances explain why he feels so lost in the universe. Some will argue that his escapades on Counter-Earth are essential reading, but I don't believe that to be the case. Starlin explains the history of the character when he gets hold of him, anyway. Whatever you choose to read, all of Adam Warlock's appearances are listed below in chronological order. Follow the stories I've highlighted, pick and choose the bits you want to read or plow through the lot. The decision is yours!

In the future, I'll pick up with Warlock's tenure as leader of the Infinity Watch, then return to his solo adventures. For now, this is where it all began...

Below, you'll find the first Adam Warlock appearances in chronological order. As always, I'd like to thank the guys over at the Marvel Chronology Project which I use as a basis and work out my own continuity.

  • Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Adam Warlock stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
  • Issue listings in grey: Part of Warlock's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
  • Chronology: Every appearance of Warlock from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
  • Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Fantastic Four #66-67 (1967)
First appearance of Him, the Enclave (Maris Morlak, Wladyslav Shinski & Carlo Zota) and the Beehive; Jerome Hamilton is revealed to be a member of a science team dedicated to bringing about peace on Earth through control; they create what they hope will be the first of a new race of human beings, the orange-skinned Him; angry at the Enclave for their selfish motives and for kidnapping the innocent Alicia Masters, Him destroys the Beehive lab, seemingly killing the Enclave.

Thor #163-164 (1969)
First appearance of Athena; a familiar cocoon is revealed to be kept in a vault at the Advanced Science Research Centre; a hand emerges from the cocoon...

Thor #165-166 (1969)
First appearance of Haag; Him emerges from a new cocoon and reveals how Uatu the Watcher placed him in the Advanced Research Science Centre when he tried to leave Earth and head into space; Him tries to claim the Asgardian warrior Sif as a mate; Thor fights Him to reclaim his beloved Sif; Him retreats into another cocoon and launches himself into space when he realises he's about to lose to Thor...
Marvel Premiere #1[1/2]-2[1/2] (1972)
First appearance of Kohbra, Sir Ram, David Carter, Jason Grey, Eddie Roberts, Ellie Roberts, the Soul Gem and Counter-Earth; (including the Bruce Banner, Reed Richards and Victor von Doom of Counter-Earth); first appearance of Him as Adam Warlock; the High Evolutionary rapidly evolves a new world called Counter-Earth, only for it to fall to the evil intentions of another of his creations, the Man-Beast; the High-Evolutionary finds Him's cocoon, gives him a costume, the Soul Gem and the job of saving Counter-Earth from the Man-Beast; Warlock defeats the first of Man-Beast's evil New Men, Rhodan, during COUNT-DOWN FOR COUNTER-EARTH.

Incredible Hulk #158 (1972)
Adam Warlock cameo; Warlock witnesses the arrival of the Hulk and the Rhino on Counter-Earth.

Avengers Forever #12 (1999)
Adam Warlock cameo; Warlock is pulled into the future for the fight between the Avengers of various timelines.

Warlock #1-2 (1972)
First appearance of Astrella Carpenter; Warlock and his teenage allies encounter the Man-Beast who stirs up riots on Counter-Earth's New York; the Man-Beast leads Warlock to believe he's destroyed several American landmarks to show him how easily he could be tempted to commit evil acts during COUNT-DOWN ON COUNTER-EARTH.

Warlock #3-7 (1972-1973)
First appearance of Apollo/Triax; first appearance of Counter-Earth's Reed Richards as the Brute; Adam Warlock clashes with the Triax of the evil New Men; President Rex Carpenter is revealed to be under Man-Beast's control; the Victor von Doom of Counter-Earth is revealed to have heroic tendencies; Warlock learns Counter-Earths villainous Brute is this world's version of Reed Richards; Warlock teams up with von Doom to defeat the Brute.

Avengers #118 (1973)
Adam Warlock cameo; Warlock senses the threat to the universe posed by Dormammu during AVENGERS/DEFENDERS WAR.

Warlock #8 (1973)
Adam Warlock finally confronts the Man-Beast.

Incredible Hulk #176-178 (1974)
First appearance of 'Glenn Talbot' (Gregori Kronski); the Hulk finds himself on Counter-Earth where the outcome of Adam Warlock's fateful fight with the Man-Beast is revealed; Warlock clashes with the Hulk; referring to Warlock as the would-be messiah of Counter-Earth, Man-Beast publicly crucifies him; Warlock returns from the dead to defeat the Man-Beast and save Counter-Earth; Warlock leaves Counter-Earth to explore the stars.

Strange Tales #178-181 (1975)
Warlock #9-11 (1975-1976)
First appearance of the Gamora, the In-Betweener, Pip the Troll, Sphinxor, the Universal Church of Truth (including the Magus, Autolycus, Kray-Tor, the Matriarch, the Black Knights & the Grand Inquisitors) and Homeworld; Adam Warlock encounters his evil future self, the Magus; gaining a new look, Warlock gains Pip the Troll, Gamora and Thanos of Titan as allies in order to end the threat of the Magus; ultimately, Warlock has to sacrifice his own future to achieve victory during THE INFINITY EFFECT.
Warlock #12-15 (1976)
Marvel Team-Up #55 (1977)
First appearance of the Gardner (Ord Zyonz), Star-Thief (Barry Bauman), the Power Gem and Time Gem; Adam Warlock's encounter with the Star-Thief leaves him too big to return to Earth; Thanos makes Gamora Adam Warlock's bodyguard; the Soul Gem reveals it's one of six gems; the Ancient Traveller reveals to Warlock that he will see the deaths of Gamora and Pip before being killed by Thanos; Warlock saves Spider-Man when he's stranded in space; Warlock and Spider-Man encounter the Gardner; Warlock 'returns' to normal size and heads back to Counter Earth during HOMECOMING.

Avengers Annual #7 (1977)
Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2 (1977)
First appearance of Soulworld; after the deaths of Pip the Troll and Gamora, Adam Warlock recruits the Avengers to aid him against Thanos when he plans to destroy every sun in the galaxy; Warlock is mortally wounded but dies by the hand of his own past self; in the final battle Warlock projects himself from the Soul Gem to turn Thanos to stone; Warlock is reunited with Gamora and Pip in the Gem's Soulworld during THE FINAL THREAT.
Marvel Two-in-One #63 (1980)
First mention of the Beyonders; on Counter-Earth, Her fails to resurrect Adam Warlock because his soul is trapped in the Soul Gem.

Silver Surfer #46-48 (1991)
The Silver Surfer is drawn into the Soulworld where he meets Adam Warlock; Warlock helps save Drax the Destroyer from madness and returns him and the Surfer to their bodies; learning of Thanos' plan to wipe out half the universe using the Infinity Gauntlet (having obtained all six Infinity Gems), Warlock decides to return to the land of the living during REBIRTH OF THANOS.
Infinity Gauntlet #1-2 (1991)
Quasar #27 (1991)
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #32 (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #3(pp.1-10) (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #3(p.11-12) (1991) / Silver Surfer #52, 54 (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #3(pp.12-40)-4(pp.1-3) (1991)
Silver Surfer #55-56(pp.1-21) (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #4(pp.4-35) (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #4(p.35) (1991) / Silver Surfer #56(p.22) (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #4(pp.35-40) (1991)
Silver Surfer #58 (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #5(pp.1-32) (1991)
Silver Surfer #59 (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #5(pp.33-40)-6(pp.1-35) (1991)
Silver Surfer #60 (1991)
Infinity Gauntlet #6(pp.35-40) (1991)
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #36 (1991)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #1 (1992)
First appearance of Terraxia; Adam Warlock resurrects himself, Pip the Troll and Gamora in pursuit of Thanos; Thanos successfully wipes out 50% of the population of the universe; Warlock gathers an army made up of the remaining heroes of Earth; Warlock's plan fails, but Nebula steals the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos; Warlock allies with Thanos, the Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom and others to obtain the Gauntlet, with Warlock claiming the it along with unlimited power during THE INFINITY GAUNTLET.


Adam Warlock's story continues in these reading orders:
Other reading orders featuring Adam Warlock:


Fantastic Four Epic Collection vol.4: The Mystery of the Black Panther
Fantastic Four Omnibus vol.3
Kirby is... Fantastic!
Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four vol.7
Include... 
Fantastic Four #66-67

Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor vol.8
Mighty Thor Omnibus vol.3
Thor Epic Collection vol.4: To Wake The Mangog
Include... 
Thor #165-166

Marvel Masterworks: Warlock vol.1
Includes... 
Marvel Premiere #1-2

Marvel Masterworks: Warlock vol.2
Thanos Wars: Infinity Origin Omnibus
Warlock by Jim Starlin: The Complete Collection
Include... 
Avengers Annual #7
Marvel Team-Up #55
Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2
Strange Tales #178-181
Warlock #9-15

Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Avengers vol.2
Guardians of the Galaxy: Tomorrow's Heroes Omnibus
Include... 
Marvel Two-in-One #63

Silver Surfer Epic Collection vol.6: Thanos Quest
Includes... 
Silver Surfer #46-48

Infinity Gauntlet
Includes... 
Infinity Gauntlet #1-6

Silver Surfer Epic Collection vol.7: The Infinity Gauntlet
Includes... 
Silver Surfer #59

Avengers Epic Collection vol.9: The Final Threat
Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel vol.5
Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-in-One vol.4
Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers vol.17
Include... 
Avengers Annual #7
Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2

Avengers vs Thanos
Includes... 
Avengers Annual #7
Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2
Warlock #9-11, 15

Gamora: Guardian of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy: Solo Classic Omnibus
Includes... 
Avengers Annual #7
Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2
Strange Tales #180-181
Warlock #9-11, 15

Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus
Infinity Gauntlet Box Set Slipcase
Include... 
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer #32, 36
Infinity Gauntlet #1-6
Quasar #27
Silver Surfer #46-48, 55-56, 58-60
on

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