Strange Tales #178 179 180 181 (1975) Warlock KEYS 1st Magus, Gamora & Pip Troll

Strange Tales #179 (1975) Adam Warlock KEY 1st Pip the Troll. Cover art by Jim Starlin. "Death Ship!", script and art by Jim Starlin; Warlock is captured by Autolycus of the Black Knights an brought aboard Magus' Flagship; His fellow prisoners tell Warlock, that survivors of the Wars of the Church are taken as slave laborers, those who refuse will be terminated and their remains will be chemically broken down and valuable elements that can be retrieved will be used to further the cause of the Church; They also tell him, that Non-Humanoids are not considered fashioned in the Magus' image and thus must be disposed of, this also holds true for some Humanoid types—such as Trolls; First appearance of Pip the Troll. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.

Strange Tales #181 (1975) Adam Warlock KEY 1st Gamora. Cover art by Jim Starlin. "The Judgment!", script by Jim Starlin (as Sam Jiltirn), pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Jim Starlin (as J.L. Minirats) and Alan Weiss; While battling a couple of the Black Knights the Soul Gem almost takes control again and Warlock decides, that he must destroy it, however as he takes it off Warlock collapses and realizes, that he can no longer exist without the Gem as it has been sucking out Warlock's Soul in the last three Years thus becoming his life force; The Matriarch wants to make a Slave out of Warlock now instead of killing him; After trying to remove the Gem Warlock is invited by the Matriarch to the Sacred Palace, an obvious trap, but since she claims, that she knew that the gem would become a danger even to Warlock himself, Warlock decides to accept the invitation and ditches; Pip First appearance of Gamora. Spider-Man stars in a one-page Hostess ad, "The Trap." 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25. 

Strange Tales #181 (1975) Adam Warlock. Cover pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Alan Weiss. "1000 Clowns!", script and pencils by Jim Starlin, inks by Al Milgrom; Warlock finds himself in a strange place and considers, that this is just an illusion but decides, that he is in a Reality unlike any he has ever seen before, the Head Clown states, that Warlock has always been in this Reality, he has just never seen it in quite this manner before and calls it the "Land of the Way it was"; A Technician states that something is wrong with visual and audio programming; The Clowns are trying to reprogram Warlock and Beautiful Jan paints a Clown's Mask on Warlock's Face because all the dark aspects have to go; Gamora and Pip the Troll are on their way to rescue Warlock and interrogate one of the Black Knights, and he is scared to death by Gamora; Len takes Warlock to a Renegade Clown who is being punished. Hulk comic book ad. The story continues in Warlock 9. Captain Marvel stars in a one-page Hostess ad, "The Big Bang!" 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.25.