Strange Tales Team-Ups with the Torch, and Marvel Feature #11-12

On this page are a number of issues of the classic Strange Tales anthology series (later to become Dr. Strange's mainstay), which featured adventures in which the Thing teamed up with the Human Torch on various adventures together.

Issue #116, January 1964
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) George Roussos (Inker)
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1, 13 pages
Story title: In the Clutches of the Puppet Master!
Feature Story: Human Torch
Genre: superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inker: George Roussos (as George Bell)
Letterer: Ray Holloway
Reprinted in Marvel Tales #19.

Character appearances:
With the Thing, vs the Puppet Master. This was the first team-up Johnny and Ben had at the time, but only by issue #123 would they really become regular co-stars for about a year's worth of adventures. Co-starring Alicia Masters.

Sequence 2, 8 pages
Story title: Return to the Nightmare World!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Occult, superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Artie Simek
Reprinted: in Marvel Masterworks 23; Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts trade paperback, Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1, Marvel Collector's Item Classics #6.

Character appearances:
Vs. Nightmare.

Issue #123, August 1964
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) George Roussos (Inker)
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1, 14 pages
Story title: The Birth of the Beetle
Feature Story: Human Torch
Genre: superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Carl Burgos
Inker: Dick Ayers
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Reprinted in Marvel Tales #25.

Character appearances:
With the Thing. Starting in the next issue, the Thing shares the strip on a regular basis.

Sequence 2 - Story, 9 pages
Story title: The Challenge of Loki!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Steve Ditko
Inker: George Roussos (as George Bell)
Letterer: Artie Simek
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts trade paperback; Strange Tales 182; Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1; Marvel Collector's Item Classics #14 (Marvel, April 1968); Giant-Sized Marvel Triple-Action #2 (Marvel, July 1975).

Character appearances:
With Thor and Loki.

Issue #124, September 1964
Cover Credits: Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko (Pencilers), Frank Giacoia(?), Steve Ditko (Inkers)
Cover Feature: Human Torch, The Thing and Dr. Strange
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1, 14 pages
Story title: Paste-Pot Pete!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inker: Paul Reinman
Letterer: Art Simek
Reprinted in Marvel Tales #26.

Series notes:
Vs. Paste-Pot Pete, who later changed his name to Trapster. (And a good thing too, since that first name of his was so embarrassing!)

Sequence 2, 9 pages
Story title: The Lady from Nowhere!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Steve Ditko
Inker: George Roussos (as George Bell)
Letterer: Sam Rosen
Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23, Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1, Strange Tales 182, Marvel Collector's Item Classics #15.

Issue #125, October 1964
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Frank Giacoia (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing (with Dr. Strange inset)
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1, 13 pages
Story title: The Sub-Mariner Must Be Stopped!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inker: Paul Reinman
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Reprinted in Marvel Tales #27.

Series notes:
Vs. Sub-Mariner.

Sequence 2, 10 pages
Story title: Mordo Must Not Catch Me
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Steve Ditko
Inker: George Roussos (as George Bell)
Letterer: Artie Simek

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23, Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1, Marvel Collector's Item Classics #16.

Issue #126, November 1964
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Chic Stone (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing; Dr. Strange
Character appearances:
Thing; Human Torch; Dr. Strange; Puppet Master; Mad Thinker; Dormammu
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1 - Story, 13 pages
Story title: Pawns of the Deadly Duo!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero; Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inker: Paul Reinman
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Character appearances:
The Thing, Human Torch; vs. Puppet Master and the Mad Thinker; co-starring the rest of Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl)

Sequence 2 - Story, 10 pages
Story title: The Domain of the Dread Dormammu!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Steve Ditko
Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Art Simek

Character appearances:
Dr. Strange; vs. Dormammu, 1st and introduction. Intro. of Clea, soon to be Dr. Strange's romantic lead; GA: The Ancient One

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Bring On The Bad Guys (1976); Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1; Marvel Collector's Item Classics #17; in part in Doctor Strange #3.

Series notes:
Story continued until #128.

Issue #127, December 1964
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (with inset by Steve Ditko) (Penciler) Chic Stone (with inset by Steve Ditko) (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing (with Dr. Strange inset)
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1, 12 pages
Story title: The Mystery Villain!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inker: Paul Reinman
Letterer: Art Simek

Reprinted in Marvel's Greatest Comics #30; Fantastic Four #154 (edited).

Series notes:
With Mr. Fantastic.

Sequence 2, 10 pages
Story title: Duel with the Dread Dormammu!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero; Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Bring On The Bad Guys (1976); Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1; Marvel Collector's Item Classics #18; in part in Doctor Strange #3.

Series notes:
Dr. Strange receives his new amulet and cloak of levitation in this story, which are much flashier than before.

Issue #128, January 1965
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Frank Giacoia (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing; Dr. Strange
Character appearances:
The Thing; The Human Torch; Quicksilver; Scarlet Witch; Dr. Strange; The Demon
Editor: Stan Lee

Story title: Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch
Sequence 1 - Story, 12 pages
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inker: Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray)
Colorist: no data
Letterer: Art Simek

Character appearances:
Human Torch, Thing; GS: Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch; Very Brief Cameo Flashbacks: Spider-Man, Avengers (Captain America, Giant-Man, Iron Man, Thor), Daredevil, Fantastic Four (Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic), Mastermind, Magneto, Blob, X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl)

Reprinted in Marvel's Greatest Comics #31.

Sequence 2 - Story, 10 pages
Story title: The Demon's Disciple!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Artie Simek

Character appearances:
Dr. Strange Vs. The Demon

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23, Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1, Marvel Collector's Item Classics #19.

Series notes:
Vs. the Demon, a magician and later a disciple of Mordo's.

Issue #129, February 1965
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Chic Stone (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and Thing
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1 - Story, 12 pages
Story title: The Terrible Trio!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Dick Ayers
Inker: Frank Giacoia (as Frank Ray)
Letterer: Art Simek

Character appearances:
The Human Torch, The Thing; vs. the Terrible Trio (Yogi Dakkor, Handsome Harry Phillips, Bull Brogin); GA: Dorrie

Reprinted in Marvel's Greatest Comics #32.

Sequence 2 - Story, 10 pages
Story title: Beware...Tiboro! The Tyrant of the Sixth Dimension!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Plot: Stan Lee
Writer: Don Rico
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Character appearances:
Dr. Strange vs. Tiboro, 1st appearance. Guest starring: The Ancient One

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks #23, Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #1, Marvel Collector's Item Classics #20.

Issue #130, March 1965
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Chic Stone (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing; Dr. Strange
Character appearances:
Dr. Strange; Baron Mordo

Sequence 1 - Story , 12 pages
Story title: Meet the Beatles!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Bob Powell
Inker: Chic Stone
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Character appearances:
Human Torch, Thing; Guest starring: Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic Four, Invisible Girl), Alicia Masters, Dorrie, Beatles (John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr)

Reprinted in Marvel's Greatest Comics #33.

Series notes:
The boys almost meet the Beatles in this one. But it's a cool story nonetheless!

Sequence 2 - Story , 10 pages
Story title: The Defeat of Dr. Strange!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Artie Simek

Character appearances:
Dr. Strange; V: Baron Mordo, Dormammu; GA: The Ancient One, Sen-Yu

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Strange Tales 183; Doctor Strange Classics Starring Doctor Strange #1 (March 1984); Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #2; Marvel Collector's Item Classics #21

Series notes:
The beginning of the classic serial with Dormammu and Baron Mordo. Ends in #141.

Issue #131, April 1965
Cover Credits: Bob Powell (Steve Ditko inset) (Penciler) Dick Ayers (Steve Ditko inset) (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing (with Dr. Strange inset)
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1, 12 pages
Story title: The Bouncing Ball of Doom!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler: Bob Powell
Inker: Dick Ayers
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Reprinted in Fantastic Four Annual #9.

Sequence 2, 10 pages
Story title: The Hunter and the Hunted!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Issue credits:
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Artie Simek

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts trade paperback; Strange Tales 183; Doctor Strange Classics Starring Doctor Strange #1 (March 1984); Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #2; Marvel Collector's Item Classics #22

Issue #132, May 1965
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Mike Esposito (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing (with Dr. Strange inset)
Character appearances:
The Thing, The Human Torch; Dr. Strange, Baron Mordo
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1 - Story, 12 pages
Story title: The Sinister Space Trap!
Feature Story: Human Torch and the Thing
Genre: superhero
Issue credits:
Plot: Stan Lee
Story: Larry Ivie
Penciler: Bob Powell
Inker: Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo)
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Character appearances:
Human Torch, Thing; GS: rest of the Fantastic Four (Invisible Girl, Mr. Fantastic); GA: Dorrie

Reprinted in Daredevil #81 (November 1971)

Sequence 2 - Story, 10 pages
Story title: Face-to-Face At Last With Baron Mordo!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Story: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Artie Simek

Character appearances:
Dr. Strange. Villains: Baron Mordo, The Demon. Guest appearances: Ancient One, Clea

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts trade paperback; Strange Tales 184; Doctor Strange Classics Starring Doctor Strange #1 (March 1984); Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #2; Marvel's Greatest Comics #23

Issue #133, June 1965
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Mike Esposito (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and the Thing; Dr. Strange
Character appearances:
Dr. Strange, Clea, The Thing, Human Torch; Ice Queen; Shazana
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1 - Story, 12 pages
Story title: The Terrible Toys!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Story: Stan Lee
Penciler: Bob Powell
Inker: Mike Esposito (as Mickey Demeo)
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Character appearances:
Thing, Human Torch; vs. the Puppet Master and his Ice Queen; GA: Dorrie, Alicia Masters

Sequence 2 - Story, 10 pages
Story title: A Nameless Land, A Timeless Time!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Story: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Sam Rosen

Character appearances:
Dr. Strange; V: Shazana, Dormammu, Baron Mordo; GA: Clea, Ancient One

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts trade paperback; Strange Tales 184; Doctor Strange Classics Starring Doctor Strange #2 (April 1984); Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #2; Marvel's Greatest Comics #24

Issue #134, July 1965
Cover Credits: Jack Kirby (Penciler) Frank Giacoia (Inker)
Cover Feature: Human Torch and Thing
Character appearances:
Human Torch; Thing; Watcher
Editor: Stan Lee

Sequence 1 - Story, 12 pages
Story title: The Challenge of...the Watcher!
Feature Story: Human Torch and Thing
Genre: Superhero
Issue credits:
Story: Stan Lee
Penciler: Bob Powell
Inker: Wally Wood
Letterer: Art Simek

Character appearances:
Thing, Human Torch; V: Kang; GS: Watcher, Merlin, rest of the Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl)

Sequence 2 - Story, 10 pages
Story title: Earth Be My Battleground!
Feature Story: Dr. Strange
Genre: Superhero, Occult
Issue credits:
Story: Stan Lee
Penciler/Inker: Steve Ditko
Letterer: Artie Simek

Character appearances:
Dr. Strange. Villians: Baron Mordo, Dormammu. Guest appearances: The Ancient One, Clea, The Mindless Ones

Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks 23; Strange Tales 185; Doctor Strange Classics Starring Doctor Strange #2 (April 1984); Dr. Strange Pocket color paperback #2

Following this, Nick Fury would replace the Human Torch and the Thing's segment here for another two years, after which the Sorceror Supreme took over the entire book, when it was changed to Doctor Strange in title. The Thing would later appear in the last two issues of Marvel Feature, coming up next on this page.

Marvel Feature, #11-12

Issue #11, September 1973
Cover credits: Jim Starlin (penciler), John Romita (inker), Gaspar Saladino (letterer)
Cover feature: Thing (Ben Grimm), Hulk (Bruce Banner)
Publication notes: Thing last appeared. in Fantastic Four #137; Hulk between Defenders #11 / Incredible Hulk #167
Editor: Roy Thomas

Story title: Cry, Monster!
Story, 19 pages
Writer: Len Wein
Penciler: Jim Starlin
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Colors: Glynis Wein
Letters: Artie Simek
Genre: superhero

Character appearances:
Thing and Hulk. Guest cast: Mr. Fantastic; Human Torch; Villans: Leader; Kurrgo; Cameo: Iron Man (next issue teaser); Cameo flashback: Invisible Girl

Series notes:
The Hulk and the Thing are transported to a ghost town in the New Mexico desert to be pitted against one another in combat by the Leader and Kurrgo.

Issue #12, November 1973
Cover credits: Pencils: Jim Starlin, Inks: John Romita Letters: Danny Crespi
Cover feature: Thing [Ben Grimm]; Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Blood Brothers
Editor: Roy Thomas

Story title: The Bite of the Blood Brothers!
Story: 19 pages
Writer: Mike Friedrich
Penciler: Jim Starlin
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Colorist: Linda Lessmann
Letterer: Mike Royer
Genre: superhero

Characters:
Thing (Ben Grimm), Iron Man (Tony Stark). Villains: Blood Brothers; Thanos. Cameos: Eros (Starfox), Mentor. Cameo flashback: Vision. Controller

Synopsis:
The Thing is hot-footing it across the New Mexico desert when he stumbles upon the Blood Brothers trying their best to kill Iron Man on orders from Thanos.

These two stories are what led to Marvel Two-In-One the following year. The power anthologies had at the time was magnificent.

Copyright Avi Green. All rights reserved.

Homepage Fantastic Forward Profilings Photos Et Cetera External Links