Publishers / Marvel / The Avengers (1963) / #123
123May 1974
$0.25

The Avengers #123

Marvel · May 1974 · on sale 1974-02-12

Origin: Mantis
Buy it now on eBay ›Graded copies ›
How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
The Avengers (Marvel, 1963 series)
Issue
#123
Publication date
May 1974
Key date
1974-05-00
On-sale date
1974-02-12
Indicia publisher
Marvel Comics Group
Price
$0.25
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

Origin story on record for: Mantis.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0The Origin of Mantis!cover1pencils: Ron Wilson; inks: John Romita; letters: Danny CrespiBlack Panther, Gustav Brandt, Iron Man, Libra, Mantis, Wanda Maximoff, Thor Odinson, Scarlet Witch, Tony Stark, T'Challa, Thor, Vision
2Vengeance in Viet Nam!comic story18script: Steve Englehart; pencils: Bob Brown; inks: Don Heck; colors: Petra Goldberg; letters: John CostanzaBlack Panther, Gustav Brandt, Jacques Duquesne, Iron Man, Libra, Mantis Origin, Wanda Maximoff, Thor Odinson, Scarlet Witch, Tony Stark, Swordsman, T'Challa, Taurus, Thor
9-letters page0.75script: Steve EnglehartThe Avengers [Thor [Donald Blake]; Hawkeye; Captain America [Steve Rogers]]; The Defenders [Dr. Strange; Valkyrie; Namor the Sub-Mariner]
10Statement of Ownershipstatement of ownership0.25script: John Ryan
11A Few Surprises -- A Smattering of Surmises -- and a Hint About Prizes!in-house column1script: Roy Thomas
17Hey, Believer! Have We Got a New Kung Fu Mag for You!promo (ad from the publisher)0.5letters: ?; typesetShang-Chi (cameo)
19-letters page0.67Thor; Hawkeye; Dr. Strange; Captain America; Valkyrie; Namor
20Marvel's Newest! Biggest! Greatest!promo (ad from the publisher)0.33Hulk; Thing; Torch; Medusa; Reed Richards

Plus 13.5 pages of advertisements and other matter across 15 sequences, as published.

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Essential Avengers #6
ISBN 978-0-7851-3058-1		2008On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers #13
ISBN 978-0-7851-6629-0		2013On eBay ›
Avengers: The Complete Celestial Madonna Saga #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-90469-2		2017On eBay ›
The Avengers/Defenders War
ISBN 978-1-302-91000-6		2018On eBay ›
Marvel's Greatest Creators: Avengers - The Origin of Mantis! #12019On eBay ›
The Avengers Omnibus #5
ISBN 978-1-302-95411-6		2023On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

‹ #122123 of 402#124 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com