Some pieces tell the whole story of a character in a single slab. This Astonishing Thor #1 does exactly that: the signature of the man who co-created Thor's comic-book world, and the signature of the actor who made him a global cinema icon, both witnessed, both recorded on the CGC label, both on one CGC 9.8 Signature Series comic.
The book is the Celebrity Authentics Edition of Astonishing Thor #1 (Marvel Comics, January 2011), numbered 35 of 100 worldwide. It is one of the most complete dual-signed Thor comics a collector can own: two generations of Thor, a near-mint grade, white pages, and paperwork that lets any buyer verify every claim on the label for themselves.
Two Signatures, Two Generations of Thor
Stan Lee co-created Thor for Marvel in the 1960s, and Chris Hemsworth has played him on screen since 2011. This comic captures both ends of that legacy in a single object. Lee signed on March 26, 2011. Hemsworth signed eight days earlier, on March 18, 2011, weeks before the first Thor film reached cinemas that May. The dates are printed on the CGC label itself, so the timing is part of the slab's permanent record, not a story told by a seller.
The comic's creative team is part of the appeal too: story by Robert Rodi, art by Mike Choi, and a cover by Esad Ribic. And for Hemsworth collectors there is a detail worth knowing. This is his long-hand autograph, the full signature he used in the early Marvel years, which he has not used in nearly a decade. His current signature is a shorter form, so the long form on this book is the version tied to the era when Thor first appeared on screen.
What the CGC 9.8 Signature Series Label Actually Guarantees
CGC Signature Series means the signatures were witnessed by a CGC representative at the time of signing. That is the distinction that matters most in autographed comics: a witnessed signature carries a chain of custody from the signing table to the slab, while an unwitnessed signature relies on opinion alone. The yellow Signature Series label is CGC's record of that witnessing.
The grade is 9.8 Near Mint/Mint with white pages, and the certification number is 0957904035, which any buyer can look up on CGC's own verification site. The slab also comes with individual Celebrity Authentics certificates for Hemsworth and Lee, each featuring a photograph from the signing session, and each stating the edition number 35 of 100.
Number 35 of 100: Why a Numbered Edition Holds Value
A numbered edition turns scarcity from a claim into a fact. Only 100 of these Celebrity Authentics Editions were produced, and this one is number 35. That number appears on both certificates, so a buyer can confirm it in two places, not one. For collectors building a Marvel portfolio, a verifiable edition size is what separates a genuinely rare piece from a merely uncommon one: the ceiling on supply is fixed, printed, and documented before the book ever changes hands.
Dual-signed pieces are scarce by nature. Getting two signers of this stature onto one book, in the same window, with both signatures witnessed, is an event that cannot be repeated on demand. Lee's passing in 2018 means no new Lee signatures will ever exist, so every dual-signed Hemsworth and Lee piece is a closed population. That is the real investment case for this comic: supply is fixed forever, and demand for both names only grows.
What to Check Before Buying Any Dual-Signed Comic
Whether you buy this book or another, the same checklist applies:
- Witnessed or not? A CGC Signature Series label means the signing was witnessed. An unwitnessed autograph on a CGC blue label is authenticated by opinion, which is a different and weaker claim.
- Can you verify the cert? The certification number should be printed on the label and look-up-able on the grading company's site. If you cannot check it yourself, do not buy it.
- Do the certificates match? On a numbered edition, the edition number should appear consistently across the label and every certificate. Mismatched paperwork is a red flag.
- Is there a signing-session photo? Certificates that include a photograph of the actual signing session are far harder to fake than a printed card alone.
- Grade and page quality on the label. A 9.8 with white pages is the top of the range for a modern book, and it is the grade serious Thor collectors chase.
These are the same standards we apply to every signed comic in our own collection, and they are the reason we publish the cert number and signing dates on our listings instead of asking buyers to take our word for it.
Shop the Piece
This Astonishing Thor #1, CGC 9.8 Signature Series, signed by Chris Hemsworth and Stan Lee, number 35 of 100, is available now at Genuinely Collectible for $1,799. Only one exists. View the Astonishing Thor #1 in our shop, or browse the full Marvel collection. Flexible payment plans are available with Shop Pay and Affirm, 0% APR up to 12 months.
If Thor is your focus, you may also enjoy our piece on the 13x signed Thor's Hammer relic and the story of the EFX Thor helmet and Mjolnir.