Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: May 12, 1964
Cover: August 1964
12 cents
Written by: Stan (Miracle Man) Lee
Illustrated by: Steve (Marvel Man) Ditko
Inked by: George (Mystical Man) Bell
Lettered by: Art (Magical Man) Simek
9 pages
This is the most cover real estate Dr. Strange has yet gotten. A full vertical half of the page. Really moving up in the world.
Stan’s “clever credits” aren’t entirely original this time. He refers to himself as Miracle Man… but that was already a name he himself gave to a Fantastic Four villain. Marvelman is the British superhero who is not actionably copied from Captain Marvel.
For the entirety of the series, as well as of Amazing Spider-Man, Ditko has done all his own art. For the best. For the next three issues, George Roussos will be inking Ditko on Dr. Strange. It is a sad sight to see.
Stan the narrator often speaks directly to the audience, and he often apologizes to them. I haven’t taken note of any apologies prior to this, but it almost seems like he’s trying to apologize that Thor looks different from normal. Because Ditko’s style isn’t Kirby’s.
We open with Dr. Strange attempting to master levitation. The floating Dr. Strange reading a book will become a common image over the decades.
When last we saw Loki, Odin had made him temporary ruler of Asgard. Loki abused his power to release Skagg and Surtur, so Odin sentenced him–not for the first time–to eternal prison. Eternal prison. Eternal. Anyways, two months later…
Loki can cast a spirit form projection of himself, just like Dr. Strange can. And Iron Man. And Professor X and Magneto…
Loki’s plan is to trick Dr. Strange into battling Thor. He once tried to trick Hulk into battling Thor. How did that one work out?
Once it comes to the inevitable fight, Dr. Strange makes duplicates of himself to fool Loki.
He tried the same trick in a movie once.
In an example of the relatively tight continuity of this series (especially as compared with all the rest), Dr. Strange pulls out the gem we saw in issue 119, and attempts to trap Loki in the Purple dimension. The editor’s note reminds us what issue we saw the gem in.
Thor and Dr. Strange do not actually meet. Thor almost found Loki because his hammer was tingling.
Invocations:
- In the name of the Dread Dormammu
- By the power of the deathless Vishanti
- Hosts of Hoggoth
- In the name of the Ancient One
Dr. Strange refers to himself as the “mortal servant” of these powers.
Rating: ★★½, 49/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Worst rating I’ve yet given a Dr. Strange story, mostly because I’m sad about the art.
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: Dr. Strange vol. 1. You can also find it in Dr. Strange Epic Collection vol. 1: Master of the Mystic Arts. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Dr. Strange
- Loki
- Thor
Story notes:
- Loki does not appear to be an eternal prisoner–though he is not allowed to leave Asgard.
- “Loki, Prince of Evil, God of Mischief.”
- Dr. Strange’s magic amulet detects evil force; but he mistakes it for coming from the chains, not Loki himself.
- Loki gives Dr. Strange sliver from leather strap of Thor’s hammer.
- Dr. Strange summons ethereal hand from shadowy dimension, which turns into diamond-hard metallic substance and goes to retrieve Thor’s hammer.
- Loki appears only in spirit form.
- Loki describes himself as Thor’s half-brother.
#216 story in reading order
Next: Fantastic Four #29
Previous: Strange Tales #123
