Coke & Comics

Strange Tales #139

The Brave Die Hard!

Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD
Release: September 9, 1965
Cover: December 1965
12 cents
Sensationally written by: Stan Lee
Spectacularly laid-out by: Jack Kirby
Superbly illustrated by: Joe Sinnott
Silently lettered by: Artie Simek
12 pages

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Strange Tales #138, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #139, Story B
Strange Tales #138, Story B	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #139, Story B

You know that no insurance company would give a policy to a SHIELD man! There’s only one thing we won’t die of– and that’s old age!

I think you can tell at a glance my copy of this comic has seen better days.

The cover’s an interesting gimmick. It’s mostly just the first page of the issue, but then it has Dr. Strange holding the page. The caption tells us, “Amost everybody reads SHIELD!”

The Dr. Strange figure is drawn by Marie Severin, sister of John Severin, who drew the last couple issues of SHIELD. She’s been doing staff work at Marvel, but will soon enough be chosen to draw Dr. Strange herself.

You kind of get the sense that they didn’t have a cover at all, and this got thrown together by staff. But they get a nice test run for Ms. Severin on the Doctor.

The story opens with Nick Fury in outer space being pursued by…err… that… thing.

Ah, he’s being subjected to some virtual reality thing designed to pry from his mind the secrets of Stark’s new weapon, the, err, braino-saur.

Strange Tales #138, Story B

If Eternity Should Fail!

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: August 10, 1965
Cover: November 1965
12 cents
Written and edited by incredible: Stan Lee
Plotted and illustrated by invincible: Steve Ditko
Lettered and bordered by indelible: Sam Rosen
10 pages

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Strange Tales #138	Reading order	Strange Tales #139
Strange Tales #138	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #139

I am Eternity!

This is part 9 of a 17-part saga. We’re halfway there. This midpoint issue is also the turning point issue. Dr. Strange has spent most of the saga on the run, and then on the run while also searching for Eternity.

The reason this saga is one of my favorite Marvel stories largely comes down to this being one of my favorite Marvel comics. And that mostly comes down to two great pages. Let’s give them some attention.

Start with page 2.

Strange Tales #138

Sometime the Good Guys Lose!

Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD
Release: August 10, 1965
Cover: November 1965
12 cents
Written by: Stan Lee, sultan of script!
Laid out by: Jack Kirby, master of melodrama!
Drawn by: Johnny Severin, archduke of art!
Lettered by: S. Rosen, prince of penmanship!
12 pages

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Strange Tales #137, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #138, Story B
Strange Tales #137, Story B	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #138, Story B

And knock off that “Colonel” jazz, Mister! I keep thinkin’ ya mean someone else!

Nick Fury gets the cover again, even though the Dr. Strange story is one of the single greatest issues of all time.

Last issue, we watched three SHIELD agents sacrifice their lives in an attempt to find Hydra’s Betatron Bomb. Nick reflects on that as he realizes they are just moments too late to prevent the launch. And Hydra can now hold the world hostage.

Even Hydra has an org chart in every presentation.

Tony Stark has a secret invention which can help, but before he shows it to Fury, Hydra attacks the Stark plant. Tony is able to save himself, but not Fury, who is captured by Hydra.

Strange Tales #137, Story B

When Meet the Mystic Minds!

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: July 8, 1965
Cover: October 1965
12 cents
Written and edited with amazing acumen by: Stan Lee
Plotted and drawn with artistic aplomb by: Steve Ditko
Lettered and bordered with ruler and pen by: Artie Simek
10 pages

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Strange Tales #137	Reading order	Strange Tales #138
Strange Tales #137	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #138

He has been my teacher, my protector– and more than a father!

Welcome to the 420th post in our Marvel reading. A Dr. Strange story seems appropriately psychedelic for the occasion.

Dr. Strange must find Eternity to stop Dormammu. The last two issues have been false steps on the quest. Now he must be more direct. The Ancient One’s mind knows the secret of Eternity. Dr. Strange must take it from there directly. This will be incredibly dangerous to them both.

From a storytelling point of view, the entire issue will be Ancient One lying comatose with Dr. Strange sitting next to him. The drama will play out on the psychic plane. How Ditko keeps us engaged with this is part of his genius. To make a struggle we can understand and appreciate.

The first decision is to bathe the Ancient One in the light of the Amulet. We know from before this strengthens him. But given Strange’s goal, it has duel effects. It will serve to lessen the chances of Ancient One being harmed by Strange’s mental invasion, but it will also make Strange’s task more difficult because it will fortify Ancient One’s mental defenses.

Strange Tales #137

The Prize is… Earth!

Featuring: Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD
Release: July 8, 1965
Cover: October 1965
12 cents
Story: Stan Lee
Layouts: J. Kirby
Art: J. Severin
Lettering: Art Simek
12 pages

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Strange Tales #136, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #137, Story B
Strange Tales #136, Story B	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #137, Story B

Well, we can’t just stand here cryin’ in our soup, like kids! That won’t bring those joes back! We gotta make sure they didn’t cash in their chips for nothin’!

It’s a pretty big deal that Severin is given the cover. Even when Stan’s used different interior artists, he’s wanted Kirby on the cover. Heck’s been the regular artist on Iron Man since day 1, but Kirby’s almost always done the covers. All but one, so far. Kirby got all the Giant-Man covers, whether it was Heck or Ayers on art. But the artist base is starting to expand. Colan’s been doing the Sub-Mariner covers, and now Severin gets a SHIELD cover.

We get something new with the credits. The art attempts to integrate them into the story. Rather than a separate box, they show up on a computer screen at SHIELD HQ.

We see the “Q” scene as Nick Fury gets his fancy gadgeted clothing. The dialogue is pretty rote at this point. “Why are you giving me an ordinary hat?” “Ho ho, it just looks like an ordinary hat…”

I think the hat is cool because it seems like it might actually work. There’s nothing too fancy going on in their diagram. A hat whose brim works like a periscope to allow you to see what’s going on behind you.

I’m not sure I would want to wear a suit made of explosive fabric.

Strange Tales #136, Story B

What Lurks Beneath the Mask?

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: June 8, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Edited and written by mystical, magical Stan Lee
Plotted and illustrated by weird, wondrous Steve Ditko
Lettered and bordered by loveable, laughable Artie Simek
10 pages

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Strange Tales #135, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #137
Strange Tales #136	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #137

Demons of Darkness, at my command transport me to the hidden land!

Dr. Strange is still searching for Eternity. Last issue was something of a misstep along the way. He sought answers from a once-loyal servant of the Ancient One only to find betrayal and a trap. This will have a similar flavor. He’ll seek out another wise mystic and again get led astray.

While these are in a sense interludes, I appreciate that it’s not easy to find Eternity. Dr. Strange is somewhat fumbling in his quest. He doesn’t know where to go and keeps taking wrong turns.

Mordo remains in pursuit this whole time, grown more desperate since Dr. Strange seeks Eternity. Mordo doesn’t understand the word. But Dormammu knows exactly what it means and fears Dr. Strange learning the secret. This increases the excitement for the search.

As he searches, our insight into this world grows. We meet a woman whose life he once saved. We meet another unnamed mystic. We see Rama Kaliph has been rendered comatose by Mordo, and only Mordo’s defeat will save him.

Strange Tales #135, Story B

Eternity Beckons!

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: May 4, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Written and edited by Marvel’s mystical madman: Stan Lee
Plotted and illustrated by fandom’s favorite fiend: Steve Ditko
Lettered and bordered by comicdom’s cuddlesome conjurer: Sam Rosen
10 pages

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Strange Tales #134, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #136, Story B
Strange Tales #135	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #136

By the Seven Rings of Raggadorr… By Cyttorak’s Crimson Bands! I send thee through the unseen door… go thou where my spell commands!

This is a big issue for Strange Tales, as Nick Fury takes over the lead feature. This was the issue that introduced SHIELD and Hydra. But in the backup feature, Dr. Strange’s saga is still barreling along. Anybody picking up the title for the first time to check out the new Nick Fury stories will find themselves smack in the middle of a long Dr. Strange story.

Notice Ditko gets credited with the plotting. He’s plotted every Dr. Strange story, but now he’s getting credit. Proper credit is at the heart of his conflicts with Stan Lee.

We enter into a new status quo for the story. Mordo continues his pursuit of Strange, but Strange is no longer just on the run. He has a goal now, to find Eternity.

He seeks out a former disciple of the Ancient One, Sir Baskerville.

Strange Tales #134, Story B

Earth Be My Battleground

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: April 8, 1965
Cover: July 1965
12 cents
Written by Marvel’s own living legend, Stan Lee
Illustrated by Marvel’s own unsung genius, Steve Ditko
Lettered by Marvel’s own beaming pixie, Artie Simek
10 pages

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Strange Tales #133, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #135, Story B
Strange Tales #134	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #135

This is the final issue of Strange Tales to feature Ben and Johnny. We read their finale over a year ago, but are long delayed in finishing the comic.

With the end of the Human Torch/Thing and Giant-Man/Wasp series, Marvel basically stopped putting out bad superhero books. They aren’t all great. Hulk is flailing a bit without Ditko. Colan’s Namor is off to a rocky start. Iron Man hasn’t quite found his footing, but is much improved. And Ayers isn’t delivering on Sgt. Fury the way Kirby did, and I anyway think the best of Ayers’ work is mostly behind us on the series. But they’re all at least decent now. And the best of them–Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, and Fantastic Four–are getting even better.

We get some progress in our big arc, and we’ll have some pedantic questions.

Let’s start with the progress. Dr. Strange at last learns that Ancient One has been occasionally awakening to say “Eternity”, and agrees to uncover the secret. That quest should occupy him for a few issues.

Mordo and his wraiths find Dr. Strange again, and again Dr. Strange is basically helpless against Dormammu’s power.

Strange Tales #133, Story B

A Nameless Land, A Nameless Time!

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: March 11, 1965
Cover: June 1965
12 cents
Strange is this script by: Stan Lee!
Awesome is this art by: Steve Ditko!
Lilting is this lettering by: S. Rosen!
10 pages

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Strange Tales #132, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #134, Story B
Strange Tales #133	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #134

For I have truly gained the greatest power of all… that which is the fountainhead of all other power… I have gained the gift of knowledge!

Dormammu and Mordo have teamed up. The Ancient One is comatose. He keeps ominously referring to Eternity. Last issue ended with Dormammu possessing Mordo to destroy Dr. Strange, and Dr. Strange died.

I expect this to be a short issue.

Wait. Maybe I should read the first panel better. Dormammu claims Dr. Strange still lives. Strange summoned all his remaining power to transport himself to another dimension.

I’ve claimed repeatedly this is a great story arc. I think there’s some excellent melodrama throughout and some cool ideas coming, but it’s also a perfect showcase for what Ditko’s Dr. Strange is best known for: these bizarre almost formless dimensions that defy description or visualization, yet somehow rendered on our page.

More than that, what Ditko seems to be depicting in these first three panels is the transition from one strange dimension to another.

Strange Tales #132, Story B

Face-To-Face At Last with Baron Mordo!

Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: February 11, 1965
Cover: May 1965
12 cents
Though there be many writers, none but Stan Lee could have penned this tale!
Though there be many artists, none but Steve Ditko could have drawn this tale!
Though there be many letterers, none but Artie Simek was available when we needed him!
10 pages

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Strange Tales #131, Story B	Reading order	Strange Tales #133, Story B
Strange Tales #132	Strange Tales	Strange Tales #133

Eternity! If only Strange could know of– Eternity!

Again, the splash page serves as the cover.

Again, I love the noirish atmosphere of rain-soaked desperation that Ditko creates. This is a man on the run, who feels the whole world closing in.

Oh, Stan. Stan, Stan, Stan. Four issues ago Dr. Strange encountered a minor sorcerer he knew as the Demon. Ditko has plainly brought back the same character. Certainly, Dr. Strange would remember this person. Yet he gives no hint or reference to the fact that he and this guy just fought. Who was supposed to have renounced the mystic arts at Strange’s command. But who apparently got a better offer from Mordo. Strange mentions none of this, perhaps because Stan doesn’t recognize the guy. And we’re pretty near the point where Steve stopped speaking to Stan, which doesn’t help.