Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: July 9, 1964
Cover: October 1964
12 cents
How proud we are that Stan Lee wrote this sensational thriller!
How fortunate we are that Steve Ditko drew these magical masterpieces!
How triumphant we are that Geo. Bell inked these priceless panels!
How ecstatic we are that Artie Simek lettered these deathless phrases!
10 pages
This is the actual first page for the comic, found online. The Masterworks version colors the characters white, as though both in their astral form. Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics #16, where most of the scans below come from, colors all the astral forms a weird bluish color, and the front page from that issue follows suit.
The Masterworks also colors Mordo’s disciples white. They are garbed in green in the original and light blue in the scan below.
This is the last of the “filler” issues of the Dr. Strange stories. One more issue until Ditko returns to full art duties and the series kicks into high gear. As these go, this issue’s actually pretty good. Despite the story where Dr. Strange and Mordo battle for the 77th time.
The most egregious coloring error in my reprint is the coloring of Dr. Strange’s cloak. It is quite possibly an intentional error, aimed at consistent marketing to match Dr. Strange’s cloak at the time of the reprint. But, quite obviously, Dr. Strange’s cloak should be blue, as it is in any other reprint of this story.
We learn some new phrases. We have seen that globe twice before. It is now given a name: “the All-Seeing Eye of Agamotto”. Dr. Strange had previously referred to it as an earthly scanner. Dr. Strange and the Ancient One have both invoked the All-Seeing Agamotto in the past for their spells.
We also learn Dr. Strange refers to the room where the Eye of Agamotto is kept as the Chamber of Shadows. That’s cool. It makes me want to name rooms in my house. Like the room without windows which I set up for TV viewing could have been the Den of Darkness.
We’ve seen this “eye on the forehead” look before when Dr. Strange uses the amulet. It’s here described as letting the powers of the amulet enter his brain. He uses it to look within the Ancient One’s sanctuary, a world away. On the other end, we see his eye in the wall to let us know he’s looking in. Pretty rad.
Dr. Strange refers to his home as his “Sanctum Sanctorum”. This name will stick. He’s referred to it simply has his sanctum before. More traditionally, the phrase refers to the holiest of holies in the Jewish temple where the most sacred artifacts are kept.
Mordo has captured the Ancient One and confronted Strange in his home. Dr. Strange astrally travels the world in search of his master with astral-Mordo in pursuit.
The weird blue coloring of the characters really is a function of this particular reprint. They’re supposed to be white.
Dr. Strange locates the Ancient One and finds him trapped within the Crimson Circle of Cyttorak. Dr. Strange invoked the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak just last issue.
The battle is filled with references to light and dark, acting as metaphors for good and evil.
Invocations:
- In the name of the Dread Dormmamu…
- I swear by the Twelve Moons of Munnoper…
- Mordo uses Vapors of Valtorr.
- Mordo calls upon the Hoary Hand of Hoggoth.
- Blinding light of the Eternal Vishanti.
- Stan lee invokes the Seven Rings of Raggadorr and the inner eye of the enchanted amulet.
Last time it was referred to, it was called Munnopor. That seems to be the accepted spelling. While it may be a typo, it may also be a case where the word is from a very different language, and attempts to transliterate it into English are just approximations, with more than one acceptable variant.
Similar with “Raggadorr”, which was spelled Raggedor the last time we saw it.
Hoggoth is referenced frequently, but this is the first reference to his hand. Hoggoth has previously been described as “hoary”, as have his “hosts”. Now we see his “hand” is “hoary” as well. We learn Mordo failed precisely because Hoggoth does not help the wicked.
We learn the light of the Vishanti is more powerful than the Vapors of Valtorr. Mordo had previously called upon the Vapors of Valtorr in Strange Tales #115.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 56/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Scans are mostly taken from a reprint in Marvel Collectors’ Item Classics #16 (1968).
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:
- Mordo
- Dr. Strange
- Ancient One
Story notes:
- Dr. Strange studying long-lost writings of Omnipotent Oshtur.
- Mordo’s disciples attack in astral form.
- All-Seeing Eye of Agamotto housed in Dr. Strange’s Chamber of Shadows.
- Eye reveals danger in Tibet, near the sanctuary of the Ancient One.
- Dr. Strange unable to receive mental emanations from Ancient One.
- Dr. Strange lets the powers of his amulet enter his brain. This allows him to see within Ancient One’s Chamber.
- Dr. Strange refers to home as Sanctum Sanctorum.
- Ancient One imprisoned within Crimson Circle of Cyttorak.
- Amulet saves the day.
- Ancient One decides to let Mordo go free.
- End note reminds us to seek out Dr. Strange’s current appearance in Thor #108.
#247 story in reading order
Next: Tales of Suspense #58
Previous: Strange Tales #125
