Strange Tales
Encyclopedia
Strange Tales is the name of several comic book
anthology
series published by Marvel Comics
. It introduced the features "Doctor Strange
" and "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
", and was a showcase for the science fiction
/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby
and Steve Ditko
, and for the groundbreaking work of writer
-artist Jim Steranko
. Two previous, unrelated pulp magazine
s also bore that title.
pulp magazine Strange Tales of Mystery and Terror was published from September 1931 through January 1933 cover dates, for seven issues. The name was revived by Wildside Press in the 2000s. A second pulp, titled simply Strange Tales, was a British
science-fiction magazine cover-dated April to October 1946.
. Initially modeled after the gory morality tales of the popular and groundbreaking EC
line of comics, Strange Tales became less outré with the 1954 imposition of the Comics Code, which prohibited graphic horror, as well as vampires, zombies and other classical monsters.
The comic changed again with the return of industry stalwart Jack Kirby
, the artist who had co-created Captain America
for the company then worked elsewhere for 17 years. Starting with #68 (April 1959), Strange Tales was revamped to reflect the then-current trend of science fiction
drive-in
movie
monster
s. Virtually every issue would open with a Kirby monster story (generally inked by Christopher Rule
initially, then later Dick Ayers
), followed by one or two twist-ending thrillers or sci-fi tales drawn by Don Heck
, Paul Reinman
, or Joe Sinnott
, with the whole thing capped by an often-surreal, sometimes self-reflexive Stan Lee
-Steve Ditko
short.
Some characters introduced here in standalone, anthological stories were later retconned into Marvel Universe
continuity. These include the extraterrestrial
dragon Fin Fang Foom
, who first appeared in issue #89 (Oct. 1961), and the extraterrestrial would-be world conquerors Gorgolla
, introduced in #74 (April 1960), and Orrgo
, introduced in #90 (Nov. 1961).
The anthology switched to superhero
es during the Silver Age of Comic Books
, retaining the sci-fi, suspense and monsters as backup features for a time. Strange Tales' first superhero, in 12- to 14-page stories, was the Fantastic Four
's Human Torch, Johnny Storm, beginning in #101 (Oct. 1962). Here, Johnny still lived with his elder sister, Susan Storm, in fictional Glenview
, Long Island
, New York
, where he continued to attend high school
and, with youthful naivete, attempted to maintain his "secret identity" (later retconned to reveal that his friends and neighbors knew of his dual identity from Fantastic Four news reports, but simply played along). Supporting characters included Johnny's girlfriend, Doris Evans, usually seen only in consternation as Johnny cheerfully flew off to battle bad guys. Ayers took over the penciling after 10 issues, later followed by original Golden Age Human Torch creator Carl Burgos
and others, with Superman
co-creator Jerry Siegel
scripting issues #112-113 (Sept.-Oct. 1963) under the pseudonym
"Joe Carter". The Fantastic Four made occasional cameo appearances, and the Thing became a co-star with #123 (Aug. 1964).
The title became a "split book" with the introduction of sorcerer Doctor Strange
, by Lee and artist Steve Ditko
. This 9- to 10-page feature debuted in #110 (July 1963), and after an additional story and then skipping two issues returned permanently with #114. Ditko's surrealistic
mystical landscapes and increasingly head-trippy visuals helped make the feature a favorite of college students, according to Lee himself. Eventually, as co-plotter and later sole plotter, in the "Marvel Method
", Ditko would take Strange into ever-more-abstract realms, which yet remained well-grounded thanks to Lee's reliably humanistic, adventure/soap opera
dialog.
Though Lee and Ditko themselves interacted less and less as each went their separate creative ways, the storyline culminated with what fans and historians consider one of modern comics' milestones: the introduction, in issue #138 (Oct. 1965), of Ditko's enduring conception of Eternity
, the personification of the universe. Depicted as a majestic silhouette whose outlines are filled with the cosmos, Eternity soon becoming a cornerstone of the Marvel mythos. It was a groundbreaking creation long before such cosmic conceits were commonplace. Issue #146 (July 1966) marked Ditko's final bow on the series. Bill Everett
succeeded him through #152 (Jan. 1967), followed by Marie Severin
(self-inked for four issues before being inked by future Hulk
signature artist Herb Trimpe
in some of his earliest Marvel work), and Dan Adkins
taking over from #161 (Oct. 1967) to the final issue, #168 (May 1968).
The Human Torch and Thing had already been replaced in #135 (Aug. 1965) by Nick Fury
, a superspy
in keeping with the concurrent James Bond
/The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
craze. The 12-page feature was initially by Lee and Kirby, with the latter supplying such inventive and enduring gadgets and hardware as the Helicarrier
— an airborne aircraft carrier
— as well as human-replicant LMDs (Life Model Decoy
s), and even automobile
airbags. Marvel's all-purpose terrorist organization HYDRA
was introduced here as well.
The feature "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." soon became the province of writer-penciler-colorist
Jim Steranko
, under whom it became one of the creative zeniths of the Silver Age. Steranko introduced or popularized in comics such art movements of the day as psychedelia and op art
, built on Kirby's longstanding work in photomontage
, and created comics' first four-page spread — again inspired by Kirby, who in the Golden Age had pioneered the first full-page and double-page spreads. All the while, he spun plots of intense intrigue, barely hidden sensuality, and hi-fi hipness — and supplying his own version of Bond girls, essentially, in skintight leather, green hair with matching eyeshadow and accessory whip, pushing what was allowable under the Comics Code at the time.
"Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." became the first Strange Tales feature to receive its own cover logo below the main title, beginning with #135; it skipped an issue before returning permanently with #137. "Doctor Strange" received its own cover logo, designed by Sol Brodsky
, with Strange Tales #150 (Nov. 1966).
Doctor Strange was canceled with #183 (Nov. 1969). Four years later, Strange Tales resumed at its old numbering with #169 (Sept. 1973), which introduced the supernatural feature Brother Voodoo
by writer Len Wein
and artist Gene Colan
. This lasted only to issue #173 (April 1974), with Brother Voodoo continuing briefly in the black-and-white Marvel horror-comics magazine Tales of the Zombie. This was followed by two different creative teams producing three stories of The Golem
in four issues (#174-177), the second of these a fill-in monster-reprint issue.
The book had better luck with writer-artist-colorist Jim Starlin
's take on Adam Warlock
, picking up the character from the 1972-73 series Warlock (a.k.a. The Power of Warlock) and reviving him in Strange Tales #178 (Feb. 1975). Another creative high-water mark, this feverishly imaginative feature from Starlin, who had similarly reinvigorated Captain Marvel
, introduced the Marvel characters Gamora
, Ellie the Freak, Pip the Troll
and The Magus
, and helped establish the mythos Starlin would mine in his many "Infinity" sagas of the 1990s. After issue #181 (Aug. 1975), the story would continue in Warlock #9 (Oct. 1975), picking up from the old series' numbering. Strange Tales soldiered on with Doctor Strange reprints through issue #188 (Nov. 1976).
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stories (the latter continuing from Cloak and Dagger #11). This ended with issue #19 (Oct. 1988), after which new Doctor Strange and Cloak and Dagger series were launched.
A one-shot Human Torch, Thing, and Doctor Strange story, by writer Kurt Busiek
, with painted art by Ricardo Villagran
, was released in squarebound bookshelf format in 1994. Another one-shot, the 52-page Strange Tales: Dark Corners in 1998 was an anthology featuring Morbius the Living Vampire, the Gargoyle
, Cloak and Dagger, and Spider-Man
. A Strange Tales miniseries
featuring Man-Thing
and Werewolf by Night
was published in 1998 to tie up plotlines after their individual series had been canceled. Ironically, although four issues were solicited, only two issues of this volume saw print, and the conclusions of those storylines were never released.
under the MAX
imprint
. It featured non-mainstream comic writers and artists, such as Stan Sakai
, Jason, and Michael Kupperman
, and later was collected as a trade paperback. In 2010 came a second volume, Strange Tales II. Creators involved in this miniseries included Harvey Pekar
, Dash Shaw
, and Jhonen Vasquez
.
Strange Tales vol. 1
Circulation figures from annual statements, charted as per-issue average paid circulation by Miller, John Jackson, et al., The Standard Catalog of Comic Books, Kraus Pubs. 2002, pp. 1007–1009
Circulation figures from Capital City Distribution
orders, charted as per-issue paid circulation by Miller, John Jackson, et al., The Standard Catalog of Comic Books, Kraus Pubs. 2002, p. 1009
:
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. It introduced the features "Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
" and "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
", and was a showcase for the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
and Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, and for the groundbreaking work of writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
-artist Jim Steranko
Jim Steranko
James F. Steranko is an American graphic artist, comic book writer-artist-historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator....
. Two previous, unrelated pulp magazine
Pulp magazine
Pulp magazines , also collectively known as pulp fiction, refers to inexpensive fiction magazines published from 1896 through the 1950s. The typical pulp magazine was seven inches wide by ten inches high, half an inch thick, and 128 pages long...
s also bore that title.
Pulp magazines
The AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pulp magazine Strange Tales of Mystery and Terror was published from September 1931 through January 1933 cover dates, for seven issues. The name was revived by Wildside Press in the 2000s. A second pulp, titled simply Strange Tales, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science-fiction magazine cover-dated April to October 1946.
Monsters and magician
The Marvel Comics series ran 168 issues, cover-dated June 1951 to May 1968. It began as a horror anthology from the company's 1950s precursor, Atlas ComicsAtlas Comics (1950s)
Atlas Comics is the term used to describe the 1950s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Magazine and paperback novel publisher Martin Goodman, whose business strategy involved having a multitude of corporate entities, used Atlas as the umbrella name for his comic...
. Initially modeled after the gory morality tales of the popular and groundbreaking EC
EC Comics
Entertaining Comics, more commonly known as EC Comics, was an American publisher of comic books specializing in horror fiction, crime fiction, satire, military fiction and science fiction from the 1940s through the mid-1950s, notably the Tales from the Crypt series...
line of comics, Strange Tales became less outré with the 1954 imposition of the Comics Code, which prohibited graphic horror, as well as vampires, zombies and other classical monsters.
The comic changed again with the return of industry stalwart Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, the artist who had co-created Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
for the company then worked elsewhere for 17 years. Starting with #68 (April 1959), Strange Tales was revamped to reflect the then-current trend of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
drive-in
Drive-in
A drive-in is a facility such as a bank, restaurant, or movie theater where one can literally drive in with an automobile for service. It is usually distinguished from a drive-through. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by staff who walk out...
movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
s. Virtually every issue would open with a Kirby monster story (generally inked by Christopher Rule
Christopher Rule
Christopher Rule was an American comic book artist active from the 1940s through at least 1960, and best known as the first regular Marvel Comics inker for comics artist Jack Kirby during the period fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books.-Early life and career:After driving an...
initially, then later Dick Ayers
Dick Ayers
Richard "Dick" Ayers is an American comic book artist and cartoonist best known for his work as one of Jack Kirby's inkers during the late-1950s and 1960s period known as the Silver Age of Comics, including on some of the earliest issues of Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four, and as the signature...
), followed by one or two twist-ending thrillers or sci-fi tales drawn by Don Heck
Don Heck
Don Heck was an American comic book artist best known for co-creating the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, and for his long run penciling the Marvel superhero-team series The Avengers during the 1960s Silver Age of comic books.-Early life and career:Born in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New...
, Paul Reinman
Paul Reinman
Paul J. Reinman was an American comic book artist best known as one of industry legend's Jack Kirby's frequent inkers during what comics fans and historians call the Silver Age of comic books...
, or Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott
Joe Sinnott is an American comic book artist. Working primarily as an inker, Sinnott is best-known for his long stint on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, from 1965 to 1981 , initially over the pencils of industry legend Jack Kirby...
, with the whole thing capped by an often-surreal, sometimes self-reflexive Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
-Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
short.
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
continuity. These include the extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
dragon Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #89 Fin Fang Foom is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #89 Fin Fang...
, who first appeared in issue #89 (Oct. 1961), and the extraterrestrial would-be world conquerors Gorgolla
Gorgolla
Gorgolla, or Gargolla the Living Gargoyle is a fictional monster character from the Marvel Universe that first appeared in Strange Tales vol. 1 #74 .-History:...
, introduced in #74 (April 1960), and Orrgo
Orrgo
Orrgo is a fictional character from the Marvel Universe who first appeared in Strange Tales vol. 1 #90.-Fictional character biography:Orrgo is an extraterrestrial "space god", who arrived on Earth and has tried to conquer it many times in the past. He was recently summoned by the Headsmen and...
, introduced in #90 (Nov. 1961).
The anthology switched to superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
es during the Silver Age of Comic Books
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
, retaining the sci-fi, suspense and monsters as backup features for a time. Strange Tales
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
's Human Torch, Johnny Storm, beginning in #101 (Oct. 1962). Here, Johnny still lived with his elder sister, Susan Storm, in fictional Glenview
Glenview
Glenview as a place name may refer to:Republic of Ireland* Glenview, TallaghtNew Zealand* Glenview, New Zealand, a suburb of Hamilton, New ZealandUnited States* Glenview, California ** Glenview, Lake County, California...
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he continued to attend high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
and, with youthful naivete, attempted to maintain his "secret identity" (later retconned to reveal that his friends and neighbors knew of his dual identity from Fantastic Four news reports, but simply played along). Supporting characters included Johnny's girlfriend, Doris Evans, usually seen only in consternation as Johnny cheerfully flew off to battle bad guys. Ayers took over the penciling after 10 issues, later followed by original Golden Age Human Torch creator Carl Burgos
Carl Burgos
Carl Burgos was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating the original Human Torch in Marvel Comics #1 Carl Burgos (né Max Finkelstein, April 18, 1916, New York City, New York; died March 1984) was an American comic book and advertising artist best known for creating...
and others, with Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
co-creator Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
scripting issues #112-113 (Sept.-Oct. 1963) under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Joe Carter". The Fantastic Four made occasional cameo appearances, and the Thing became a co-star with #123 (Aug. 1964).
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
, by Lee and artist Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
. This 9- to 10-page feature debuted in #110 (July 1963), and after an additional story and then skipping two issues returned permanently with #114. Ditko's surrealistic
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
mystical landscapes and increasingly head-trippy visuals helped make the feature a favorite of college students, according to Lee himself. Eventually, as co-plotter and later sole plotter, in the "Marvel Method
Marvel Method
The Marvel Method is a form of comic book writer-artist collaboration in which the artist works from a story synopsis, rather than a full script, creating page-by-page plot details on his or her own...
", Ditko would take Strange into ever-more-abstract realms, which yet remained well-grounded thanks to Lee's reliably humanistic, adventure/soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
dialog.
Though Lee and Ditko themselves interacted less and less as each went their separate creative ways, the storyline culminated with what fans and historians consider one of modern comics' milestones: the introduction, in issue #138 (Oct. 1965), of Ditko's enduring conception of Eternity
Eternity (comics)
Eternity is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by scripter-editor Stan Lee and artist-plotter Steve Ditko, the character is first mentioned in Strange Tales #134 and first appears in Strange Tales #138 Eternity is a fictional character that...
, the personification of the universe. Depicted as a majestic silhouette whose outlines are filled with the cosmos, Eternity soon becoming a cornerstone of the Marvel mythos. It was a groundbreaking creation long before such cosmic conceits were commonplace. Issue #146 (July 1966) marked Ditko's final bow on the series. Bill Everett
Bill Everett
William Blake "Bill" Everett, also known as William Blake and Everett Blake was a comic book writer-artist best known for creating Namor the Sub-Mariner and co-creating Daredevil for Marvel Comics...
succeeded him through #152 (Jan. 1967), followed by Marie Severin
Marie Severin
Marie Severin is an American comic book artist and colorist best known for her work for Marvel Comics and the 1950s' EC Comics....
(self-inked for four issues before being inked by future Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
signature artist Herb Trimpe
Herb Trimpe
Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe (b. May 26, 1939, is an American comic book artist and occasional writer, best known for his work on The Incredible Hulk and as the first artist to draw for publication the character Wolverine, who later became a breakout...
in some of his earliest Marvel work), and Dan Adkins
Dan Adkins
Dan Adkins is an American illustrator who worked mainly for comic books and science-fiction magazines.-Early life and career:...
taking over from #161 (Oct. 1967) to the final issue, #168 (May 1968).
Steranko and spies
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
, a superspy
Spy fiction
Spy fiction, literature concerning the forms of espionage, was a sub-genre derived from the novel during the nineteenth century, which then evolved into a discrete genre before the First World War , when governments established modern intelligence agencies in the early twentieth century...
in keeping with the concurrent James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
/The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is an American television series that was broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1964, to January 15, 1968. It follows the exploits of two secret agents, played by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, who work for a fictitious secret international espionage and law-enforcement...
craze. The 12-page feature was initially by Lee and Kirby, with the latter supplying such inventive and enduring gadgets and hardware as the Helicarrier
Helicarrier
The Helicarrier is a fictional flying aircraft carrier specifically designed to be capable of independent powered flight in addition to the conventional functions of aircraft carriers...
— an airborne aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
— as well as human-replicant LMDs (Life Model Decoy
Life Model Decoy
A Life Model Decoy is fictional android appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is designed to function as an exact body double for VIPs...
s), and even automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
airbags. Marvel's all-purpose terrorist organization HYDRA
HYDRA
HYDRA is a fictional terrorist organization in the Marvel Universe.Despite the name's capitalization per Marvel's official spelling, the name is not an acronym but rather a reference to the mythical Lernaean Hydra...
was introduced here as well.
The feature "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." soon became the province of writer-penciler-colorist
Colorist
In comics, a colorist is responsible for adding color to black-and-white line art. For most of the 20th century this was done using brushes and dyes which were then used as guides to produce the printing plates...
Jim Steranko
Jim Steranko
James F. Steranko is an American graphic artist, comic book writer-artist-historian, magician, publisher and film production illustrator....
, under whom it became one of the creative zeniths of the Silver Age. Steranko introduced or popularized in comics such art movements of the day as psychedelia and op art
Op art
Op art, also known as optical art, is a style of visual art that makes use of optical illusions."Optical art is a method of painting concerning the interaction between illusion and picture plane, between understanding and seeing." Op art works are abstract, with many of the better known pieces made...
, built on Kirby's longstanding work in photomontage
Photomontage
Photomontage is the process and result of making a composite photograph by cutting and joining a number of other photographs. The composite picture was sometimes photographed so that the final image is converted back into a seamless photographic print. A similar method, although one that does not...
, and created comics' first four-page spread — again inspired by Kirby, who in the Golden Age had pioneered the first full-page and double-page spreads. All the while, he spun plots of intense intrigue, barely hidden sensuality, and hi-fi hipness — and supplying his own version of Bond girls, essentially, in skintight leather, green hair with matching eyeshadow and accessory whip, pushing what was allowable under the Comics Code at the time.
"Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." became the first Strange Tales feature to receive its own cover logo below the main title, beginning with #135; it skipped an issue before returning permanently with #137. "Doctor Strange" received its own cover logo, designed by Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky was an American comic book artist who, as Marvel Comics' Silver Age production manager, was one of the key architects of the small company's expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate. He later rose to vice president, operations and vice president, special projects...
, with Strange Tales #150 (Nov. 1966).
Warlock and Brother Voodoo
Strange Tales temporarily ended with #168 (May 1968). The following month, Doctor Strange's adventures continued in the full-length Doctor Strange #169, with Nick Fury moving to the newly launched Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D..Doctor Strange was canceled with #183 (Nov. 1969). Four years later, Strange Tales resumed at its old numbering with #169 (Sept. 1973), which introduced the supernatural feature Brother Voodoo
Brother Voodoo
Brother Voodoo is a fictional character, a supernatural superhero in the Marvel Universe. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Gene Colan, he first appears in Strange Tales #169...
by writer Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
and artist Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
. This lasted only to issue #173 (April 1974), with Brother Voodoo continuing briefly in the black-and-white Marvel horror-comics magazine Tales of the Zombie. This was followed by two different creative teams producing three stories of The Golem
Golem (comics)
In the Marvel Universe, there have been a number of fictional characters known as Golem. These include:-Monster:-Publication history:The Golem first appeared in Strange Tales vol...
in four issues (#174-177), the second of these a fill-in monster-reprint issue.
The book had better luck with writer-artist-colorist Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
's take on Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock, originally known as Him, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #66 and #67 Adam Warlock, originally known as Him, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel...
, picking up the character from the 1972-73 series Warlock (a.k.a. The Power of Warlock) and reviving him in Strange Tales #178 (Feb. 1975). Another creative high-water mark, this feverishly imaginative feature from Starlin, who had similarly reinvigorated Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)
Captain Marvel is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Most of these versions exist in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.- Publication history :...
, introduced the Marvel characters Gamora
Gamora
Gamora is a fictional comic book character in Marvel Comics' shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe. She is the adopted daughter of Thanos and the occasional love interest of Adam Warlock and Nova.-Publication history:...
, Ellie the Freak, Pip the Troll
Pip the Troll
Pip the Troll is a fictional character who appears in publications of Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Pip the Troll was introduced by Jim Starlin in Strange Tales vol 2 #179 to be a comic foil to the story's main protagonist, Adam Warlock...
and The Magus
Magus (comics)
The Magus is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain. He is an evil version of the hero Adam Warlock.-Publication history:The Magus was created by Jim Starlin, and appears as an image in Strange Tales vol...
, and helped establish the mythos Starlin would mine in his many "Infinity" sagas of the 1990s. After issue #181 (Aug. 1975), the story would continue in Warlock #9 (Oct. 1975), picking up from the old series' numbering. Strange Tales soldiered on with Doctor Strange reprints through issue #188 (Nov. 1976).
Cloak and Dagger
After Doctor Strange's second series was canceled in the 1980s, Strange Tales was relaunched as Vol. 2, #1 (April 1987). A split book once again, it featured 10-page Doctor Strange and Cloak and DaggerCloak and Dagger (comics)
Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
stories (the latter continuing from Cloak and Dagger #11). This ended with issue #19 (Oct. 1988), after which new Doctor Strange and Cloak and Dagger series were launched.
A one-shot Human Torch, Thing, and Doctor Strange story, by writer Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
, with painted art by Ricardo Villagran
Ricardo Villagran
Ricardo Villagran is an Argentinian illustrator known for his work in the American comic book industry.- Early life and education :Villagran was born in the small northern city of Corrientes in 1938...
, was released in squarebound bookshelf format in 1994. Another one-shot, the 52-page Strange Tales: Dark Corners in 1998 was an anthology featuring Morbius the Living Vampire, the Gargoyle
Gargoyle (comics)
Gargoyle is a name shared by two fictional characters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.-Gargoyle :-Publication history:The Gargoyle appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
, Cloak and Dagger, and Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. A Strange Tales miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
featuring Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
and Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night is a fictional character, an antiheroic werewolf in the Marvel Comics universe. The Werewolf by Night first appeared in Marvel Spotlight vol...
was published in 1998 to tie up plotlines after their individual series had been canceled. Ironically, although four issues were solicited, only two issues of this volume saw print, and the conclusions of those storylines were never released.
Strange Tales MAX
In 2009 Marvel did a three issue miniseriesMiniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
under the MAX
MAX (comics)
MAX is an imprint of Marvel Comics aimed at a niche 'adults only' audience, launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system...
imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
. It featured non-mainstream comic writers and artists, such as Stan Sakai
Stan Sakai
is a third-generation Japanese American Cartoonist comic book creator. He is best known as the creator of the comic series Usagi Yojimbo. -Biography:...
, Jason, and Michael Kupperman
Michael Kupperman
Michael Kupperman, also known by the pseudonym P. Revess, is an American cartoonist and illustrator. He created the comic strips Up All Night and Found in the Street, and has written scripts for DC Comics...
, and later was collected as a trade paperback. In 2010 came a second volume, Strange Tales II. Creators involved in this miniseries included Harvey Pekar
Harvey Pekar
Harvey Lawrence Pekar was an American underground comic book writer, music critic and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name.Pekar described American Splendor as "an...
, Dash Shaw
Dash Shaw
Dash Shaw is a U.S. comic book writer/artist and animator. He is the author of the graphic novels Love Eats Brains published by Odd God Press, GardenHead published by Meathaus, The Mother's Mouth published by Alternative Comics, Bottomless Belly Button published by Fantagraphics, and BodyWorld...
, and Jhonen Vasquez
Jhonen Vasquez
Jhonen Vasquez , also known as Chancre Scolex or simply Mr. Scolex, is an American comic book writer, cartoonist and music video director...
.
Circulation figures
From annual required Statement of Circulation. "Average circulation" refers to total print run. "Total paid circulation" refers to number of copies actually sold, which is the above number minus returns, lost/damaged copies, and free/promotional copies.Strange Tales vol. 1
| Statement date / published in | Average circulation, preceding year | Average circulation, issue nearest filing date | Total paid circulation, preceding year | Total paid circulation, issue nearest filing date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1, 1965 / #143 (April 1966) | 390,992 | 455,625 | 230,285 | 299,425 |
| Oct. 1, 1966 / #155 (April 1967) | 420,036 | 474,529 | 261,069 | 276,225 |
Circulation figures from annual statements, charted as per-issue average paid circulation by Miller, John Jackson, et al., The Standard Catalog of Comic Books, Kraus Pubs. 2002, pp. 1007–1009
| Issue range | Average paid circulation | Comics with annual circulation statement |
|---|---|---|
| # 92-103 (Jan.-Dec. 1962) | 136,637 | n.a. |
| # 104-115 (Jan.-Dec. 1963) | 189,305 | # 121 (June 1964) |
| # 116-127 (Jan.-Dec. 1964) | 215,090 | # 131 (April 1965) |
| # 128-139 (Jan.-Dec. 1965) | 230,285 | # 143 (April 1966) |
| # 140-151 (Jan.-Dec. 1966) | 261,069 | # 155 (April 1967) |
| # 152-163 (Jan.-Dec. 1967) | 241,561 | # 167 (April 1968) |
| # 164-168 (Jan.-May 1968) | 266,422 | n.a. |
Circulation figures from Capital City Distribution
Capital City Distribution
Capital City Distribution was a Madison, Wisconsin-based comic book distributor which operated from 1980 to 1996 when they were acquired by rival Diamond Comics Distributors...
orders, charted as per-issue paid circulation by Miller, John Jackson, et al., The Standard Catalog of Comic Books, Kraus Pubs. 2002, p. 1009
| Issue / Issue range | Capital City order range (variously, not in chronological order) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vol. 2, # 1 (April 1987) | 25,100 | |
| Vol. 2, # 2 (May 1987) | 18,000 | |
| Vol. 2, # 3-8 (June-Nov. 1987) | 17,100 - 18,000 | |
| Vol. 2, # 9-12 (Dec. 1987 - March 1988) | 16,100 - 16,400 | |
| Vol. 2, # 9-11 (Dec. 1987 - Feb. 1988) | 16,100 - 16,400 | |
| Vol. 2, # 12 (March 1988) | 18,300 | Black Cat appearance |
| Vol. 2, # 13 (April 1988) | 19,100 | Punisher appearance |
| Vol. 2, # 14 (May 1988) | 17,600 | Punisher appearance |
| Vol. 2, # 15-18 (June-Sept. 1988) | 14,700 - 15,000 | |
| Vol. 2, # 19 (Oct. 1988) | 13,900 | Final issue |
Collected editions
Stories from the comic books have been collected in individual volumesTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Marvel Milestones: Doctor Strange (collects Doctor Strange stories from Strange Tales #110-111 and 114-115, 1995)
- EssentialEssential Marvel ComicsEssential Marvel is a line of American comic book reprints. It consists in a series of black-and-white paperbacks containing about 20-30 issues of mostly Silver Age or Bronze Age Marvel comic book reprints each...
Human Torch (collects Human Torch solo stories from Strange Tales #101-134 and Strange Tales Annual #2, 2004) - Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby:
- Volume 1 (collects Strange Tales #94, 2004)
- Volume 2 (collects Strange Tales #89 and #114, 2006)
- Essential Doctor Strange (collects Doctor Strange stories from Strange Tales #110-111 and 114-168, 2006)
- Spider-Man OmnibusMarvel OmnibusMarvel Omnibus is a line of comic book series collections published by Marvel Comics. These collections provide full color compilations of several comics, aiming at complete runs...
(collects Strange Tales Annual #2, 2007) - Marvel MasterworksMarvel MasterworksMarvel Masterworks are a American collection of hardcover and trade paperback comic book reprints published by Marvel Comics. They are printed in full color and feature various titles from the Golden Age, Pre-Code , Silver Age, and Bronze Age of comics.The collection started in 1987 with volumes...
: Atlas Era Stange Tales:- Volume 1 (collects Strange Tales #1-10, 2007)
- Volume 2 (collects Strange Tales #11-20, 2009)
- Essential Marvel Horror, Volume 2 (collects Strange Tales #169-174, & 176-177, 2008)
- Marvel Masterworks: Warlock, Volume 2 (collects Strange Tales #178-181, 2009)
- Strange Tales (collects Strange Tales MAX, 160 pages, hardcover, March 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4626-1, softcover, September 2010, ISBN 0-7851-2802-6)
See also
- Amazing AdventuresAmazing AdventuresAmazing Adventures is the name of several anthology comic book series, all but one published by Marvel Comics.The earliest Marvel series of that name introduced the company's first superhero of the late-1950s to early-1960s period fans and historians call the Silver Age of Comic Books...
- Strange WorldsStrange WorldsStrange Worlds was the name of two American, science-fiction anthology comic book series of the 1950s, the first published by Avon Comics, the second by a Marvel Comics predecessor, Atlas Comics...
- Tales of SuspenseTales of SuspenseTales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
- Tales to AstonishTales to AstonishTales to Astonish is the name of two American comic book series and a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics.The primary title bearing that name was published from 1959-1968...
- World of FantasyWorld of FantasyWorld of Fantasy was a science fiction/fantasy comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics' 1950s predecessor company, Atlas Comics. Lasting from 1956 to 1959, it included the work of several notable comics artists, including industry legends Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Bill Everett.The...