Moving closer to completing "Keys to the Kingdom" Set.

As some of you already know, I'm trying to complete a set of keys tied into Adam Warlock. This issue, Thor 165, had been floating on eBay for at least a month or so and I had been watching it like a hawk hoping to get my filthy hands on it.

I will admit, I did pay double the FMV for it... and I did my level-best to haggle with the seller to bring down the price, but he wouldn't budge... I guess he figured out I was desperate for it. Cardinal Rule: Don't ever come across as desperate for any item... because once you do, they got you by the b*lls!

Although I'm slightly dissapointed at what I paid for it, I'm delighted to say it is my first CGC comic featuring Stan Lee's autograph. And I'm happy for that since Stan The Man co-created both Thor and Him (later to be named Adam Warlock) with Jack Kirby, and wrote the story in this issue... so its a fitting signature and not a gratuitous one.

As for the key itself... it features the 1st Full Appearance of Him, battling Thor for the hand of Lady Sif. It's also noted to be a last 12 cent issue... making it one of the last issues in the Silver Age before the transition into the Bronze Age.

After confirming the purchase on eBay, I went to Midtown Comics Grand Central and bought the hardcover Marvel Masterworks The Mighty Thor Volume 8, which reprints this issue as well as the follow-up story.

So now I only have three more to go before "The Keys to the Kingdom" is complete... but knowing me... I'll probably take my sweet time and purchase more high-priced dupes before getting this done.

Anyway... Thanks for reading and as always... Happy Collecting!

SW3D

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