Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: June 9, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Magical editing by Stan Lee
Mystic script by Denny O’Neil
Mysterious art by Bill Everett
Makeshift lettering by Artie Simek
10 pages
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“…he will be punished for whatever dark deeds he has committed! I, Dr. Strange, vow it!”
“Enough! Your babbling is that of a callow schoolboy, Disciple!”
Finally, Dr. Strange is starting to get the cover slot sometimes.
You can see my own copy of the cover has seen better days.
For this issue, O’Neil copies the structure of X-Men #12. That structure didn’t work then and this won’t either.
In the X-Men story, Juggernaut is attacking the X-Men, but rather than prepare, Professor X insists the X-Men must first know his entire life story, instead of just telling them the relevant bits.
Same idea here. Kaluu has just attacked and stolen the Book of the Vishanti. The Ancient One will keep stressing how urgently they must stop him. But first he thinks he needs to tell Dr. Strange his entire life story.
The images in the 3rd panel look Ditkoesque to the point where they may be modeled off demons and strange creatures he’d drawn in the past. The creature that’s just a mouth with fangs looks like a creature Everett drew last issue.
Panel 4 has a typo: “For though the body of Kaluu be me through sheer will power he has made his spirit more than human!”
Perhaps the word should be “mortal” or such. My copy of the Marvel Masterworks doesn’t correct the error.
The Ancient One tells a story of 500 years ago. Last issue they had said 300 years. So we’re talking the 15th rather than 17th century. Either way younger than I’d pictured the Ancient One. Since the dates from the issues can’t be reconciled, and the older date makes more sense, I’m going to just call last issue’s reference to “300 years” a typo.
The story is set in Kamar-Taj. It’s a hidden kingdom in the Himalayas, likely inspired by something like Tibet.
Kamar-Taj was the name used for the Ancient One’s modern sanctuary and mystical school in the films.
The people of Kamar-Taj were not technologically advanced, but they had mastered the art of joyous living. Perhaps comparable to a modern country like Finland.
The people knew nothing of war; they loved nature, and enjoyed good tilled Earth. Perhaps the best comparison would be to the Hobbits of the Shire.
The Ancient One and Kaluu were both born in Karama-Taj in the 15th Century.
The Ancient One was probably not yet called the Ancient One. But they don’t bother to give him any other name. Kaluu will even keep awkwardly referring to his “companion”, so they writer doesn’t have to come up with a name for the Ancient One. He was originally introduced to us as “The Master”, but he’s obviously not that early in life either. Whatever he was called at the time, we won’t learn it this issue.
Kaluu and the Ancient One were close friends, both different from the people of their village. They were not content with the way things were and both sought to harnass supernatural powers. But they would learn they had differences. The Ancient One’s goals were benevolent, to improve life for Kamar-Taj. Kaluu sought to dominate.
Together they cast a spell to end disease and poverty. I thought there was already no poverty in Kamar-Taj?
Ancient One occasionally pauses his story to remind Dr. Strange how urgent everything is. Then returns to his long and rambling story.
Kaluu is crowned king and turns the farmers into warriors. Like what Saruman did to the Hobbits. They become warlike, attacking peaceful neighboring villages. Prosperity fades, and decadence reigns in Kamar-Taj.
To defeat Kaluu, the not-yet Ancient One summoned down mystical powers, but he had not yet mastered control. He defeated his nemesis, but also brought ruin to Kamar-Taj. Disease, pestilence…
Maybe they were better off growing fat under Kaluu.
Kaluu has spent the last several centuries in Raggador, confirming that Raggador is a place, not an entity.
The Ancient One senses Kaluu is about to attack them. I think there may have been a better way to prepare than with the long-winded story, old man.
That’s now two issues of build-up for this battle with Kaluu. It better earn it when and if they ever finally actually battle.
Letters page:
Invocations:
- “By the Seven Rings of Raggador”
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 51/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Characters:
- Dr. Strange
- Ancient One
- Kaluu
Story notes:
- Dr. Stranges uses the aura around where the Book of Vishanti had been stolen to project an ectoplasmic image of Kaluu, but a mystic force blurs his form, and replaces it with dark spirits that serve Kaluu.
- Ancient One speaks of Kamar-Taj 500 years ago.
- Ancient One and Kaluu born in Kamar-Taj.
- Kaluu and the Ancient One studied the supernatural and learned to harness mystic energies for their own use. Ancient One wanted to help people, Kaluu to dominate.
- Kaluu used psychic hypnosis to gain control over people’s minds.
- Ancient One goes along with Kaluu, hoping to use his power to limit Kaluu’s.
- They cast a spell to end disease, poverty, and pain.
- Kaluu has been in Raggador for centuries, learning magic far beyond others.
- The Book of Vishanti can only be used for defense. So Kaluu cannot use it, but neither can Dr. Strange.
- Kaluu casts Book of Vishanti through time, to where it came from.
- Kaluu sees the supplies and lack of armies of a neighboring settlement in his crystal.
- Kaluu orders the attack on their supplies so his people won’t have to farm.
- The enchantment of prosperity will vanish if they make war.
- Kaluu froze the Ancient One while his back was turned.
- Kaluu placed a spell of invincibility on each soldier’s sword.
- Kaluu orders the village burned and enslaves its people. Helpless Ancient One brought to witness atrocities.
- Ancient One calls down mystic powers upon Kaluu, but the whole land is affected by pestilence and disease
- Kaluu flees to a dimension beyond the edge of the universe, but vows to return and have vengeance.
- Eternity’s clash with Dormammu weakened the barriers which held Kaluu.
| Previous | #581 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Strange Tales #148 | Reading order | Strange Tales #149 |
| Strange Tales #148 | Strange Tales | Strange Tales #149 |
