Comic Browser:

#110
#114
#135
#178
#179
#180
#181
Selector

Strange Tales #110: Review

Jul 1963
Stan Lee, Dick Ayers

Story Name:

The Wizard and Paste-Pot Pete!

Review & Comments

Rating:
3 stars

Strange Tales #110 Review by (May 12, 2017)
Review: Doctor Strange is one of the most iconic Marvel characters. This short story is his humble debut. While his appearance by artist Steve Ditko is by no means outstanding, writer Stan Lee lays down the foundation of this character flawlessly, introducing key aspects that define Doctor Strange to this day: The Eye of Agamotto amulet, the Greenwich Village mansion, Wong the servant, the Ancient One master, and the mystic form.

His last name derives from the magazine’s name, Strange Tales, which now has its own doctor. And an odd one he is.

This first story does not explain readers how Strange got his powers. Instead, readers are bluntly introduced to this powerful man, who they learn, will someday replace the Ancient One, an old Asian monk, his master, in “fighting the forces of darkness and evil.” It also gives form to bad dreams using an entity simply called Nightmare.

The stage is set for a myriad of stories related to the supernatural to follow. And the reader is now most likely, hooked.

Doctor Strange Story, Additional Characters: Wong.

Human Torch Story, Additional Characters: Reed Richards, the Thing and Invisible Woman, they appear in one panel. Reed calls Johnny to offer their help, but the teenager doesn’t accept it since he wants to resolve his own problems by himself.




 

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Strange Tales #110 Synopsis by Julio Molina-Muscara

While the Human Torch recalls his battles against two of his deadliest enemies, the Wizard and Paste-Pot Pete, the latter is planning his revenge, and helps the Wizard escape from prison to aid him in defeating the Torch.

The villains first discredit the Human Torch by accusing him of being an enemy spy through the media. This has some level of success.

Finally, they lure the Torch into their lair to lock him in a room full of mirrors which they plan to fill with a fire extinguishing substance that would kill him.

But the Torch uses his full fire power to escape on time, and capture his enemies, who are taken by the police.

Fortunately, Johnny’s name is cleared from the false accusation, but something else worries him: He has school exams the next day, and must study all night to make up lost time!



Story #2

We Search the Stars!

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Brilliant Astronomer Sir Edward Ramsay theorizes the existence of two other human-like races in the galaxy: One is primitive, the other very advanced. Wanting to learn from the later, a space expedition directed by Ramsay, launches to space.

They visit several planets with signs of life but no humans, until they stumble upon a world where a group of primitive-looking men is sighted.

When the cavemen-like beings surround them, Ramsay and his men panic and fire their weapons to scare them away to no avail since their pistols do not work. Rushing to their spaceship, they take off to continue their search… In vain.

The primitive looking men speak to each other telepathically. We learn they used their brain power to disable the weapons.

The writer ends this short story by stating how incorrect is to judge by appearances alone.


Story #3

Dr. Strange, Master of Black Magic!

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Haunted by his nightmares, a desperate man reaches out to someone who may help him, a master of black magic from Greenwich Village, New York, known as Doctor Strange.

Dr. Strange asks the man to sleep, and enters the nightmare using his metaphysical spirit. He finds a clocked chained being who torments the man for reasons he knows, and gives Strange a name: Mr. Crang.

Suddenly, an ancient foe of Dr. Strange appears on a dark stallion in the dream dimension: Nightmare, as the man wakes up hearing the name of Crang. The man grabs a gun and points it to Strange’s body, in trance, unable to defend himself.

Strange calls his master, the Ancient One, for help, who opens Strange’s amulet, the Eye of Agamotto, which paralyzes the man with hypnosis.

Strange’s mystic form eludes Nightmare to return to his body, and after disposing his patient’s weapon, the man reveals that he had ruined many people, Crang being the last of them, yet none had proof. Now, he’ll confess it all to be able to sleep well again.




Dick Ayers
Dick Ayers
Stan Goldberg
Jack Kirby (Cover Penciler)
Dick Ayers (Cover Inker)
Stan Goldberg (Cover Colorist)


Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange

(Stephen Strange)
Human Torch
Human Torch

(Johnny Storm)



> Strange Tales: Book info and issue index

Share This Page


Elektra