Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) comic books graded by CGC

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 88 CGC 5.5

Paper: Cream to off white

Label #3698657009

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. "Zzutak the Thing That Shouldn't Exist!!", pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko; An American comic book artist is forced by an Aztec priest to make a monster with magic paints; The artist creates another monster to fight the first, causing the temple to collapse on both monsters. "Snowstorm" text story. "The Lifeless Man!", art by Steve Ditko; A young boy prefers an old wooden toy soldier to more modern toys; His friends make fun of the toy, but when they are threatened by a bear the soldier seems to drive it off with its rifle. "Punishment!", art by Don Heck; An advanced civilization sends a mugger to a prison planet; Only a few moments on this world full of war, crime and disease make him go straight in order to avoid ever again coming back to Earth. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 127 CGC 5.5

Paper: White

Label #1218141005

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko (inset), inks by Chic Stone and Steve Ditko (inset). The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Mystery Villain!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue) and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Paul Reinman; Following a race, Ben and Johnny complain to Reed that they've done pretty good and don't need a leader; Reed tells them they're free to work on their own; Ben and Johnny take part in a high-speed race, but discover on arrival that they're the only two contestants; Sub-Mariner cameo. "Duel with the Dread Dormammu!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; The mysterious girl appears and takes Strange to The Mindless Ones, destructive creatures who are held back from killing by Dormammu's willpower; Dormammu imprisons the girl for betraying him and the battle begins; With Dormammu concentrating on defeating his foe the barrier holding The Mindless Ones collapses; he is forced to join forces with Strange to stop them; Guest starring Clea; Dr. Strange receives his amulet and red-and-yellow cloak of levitation from the Ancient One. A Marvel Masterwork Pin-Up of The Thing, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. 36 pgs., full color. NOTE: 2nd appearance of Dormammu and Clea. 1st appearance of The Eye of Agamotto and Cloak of Levitation. 1st battle between Doctor Strange and Dormammu. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 129 CGC 5.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4328542017

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Chic Stone. The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Terrible Trio!", script by Stan Lee and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Frank Giacoia (as Frankie Ray); On the golf course, Doris nags Johnny by comparing him to "gentlemanly" Peter Parker; When the latest emergency arises, she says a girl like her should have her head examined; Johnny falls into a trap of The Terrible Trio, but manages to send out a distress signal to Ben, who takes on these losers and saves Johnny's life in a railway yard. "Beware...Tiboro! The Tyrant of the Sixth Dimension!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Don Rico (script), art by Steve Ditko; A panel of three scientists appear on a TV program, rejecting Dr. Strange as an authority on the supernatural and dismiss magic as superstition; When the lights go out the men vanish and Dr. Strange is summoned; He discerns that the idol they dismissed is a gateway to the dimension of Tiboro, a powerful entity set to attack Earth; Strange travels to Tiboro's land and a fierce battle commences. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 132 CGC 7.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4253388010

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby. The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Sinister Spacetrap!", script by Larry Ivie and Bob Powell (co-plot), pencils by Bob Powell, inks by Mike Esposito (as M. Demeo); Sometime after the FF visit the Skrull home world, Mr. Pearson of NASA pays a visit to tell them of a security risk, Professor Jack; Doris gets upset after Johnny stands her up for the 113th time; Posing as "Doug Brown", Johnny acts as Jack's assistant, in order to keep an eye on him; Guest appearances by Sue Storm and Reed Richards. "Face-to-Face at Last With Baron Mordo!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Strange reaches his Greenwich Village home safely but discovers one of Mordo's followers has taken over his sanctum; In a hidden cave in Tibet The Ancient One's servant questions the meaning of his ailing master's word "Eternity"; Strange bluffs his way into his sanctum but when he attempts to consult the All-Seeing Eye he discovers it's been booby-trapped, sending a signal to Mordo and Dormammu of his whereabouts; Strange battles Mordo; Appearance by Clea. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 142 CGC 6.5

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4693083003

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Mike Esposito. "Who Strikes at --- SHIELD?", script by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (co-plot), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Mike Esposito (as Mike Demeo); Fury checks out the Encephalogram-Inducer which, when hooked into the Brainwave Stimulator transforms the ESP Divisions' thoughts into images; Mentallo breaches The Fixer's underwater base, convincing him to join forces; They travel underground to SHIELD HQ in a Thru-The-Ground Tank which The Fixer mentions was supplied by THEM. "Those Who Would Destroy Me!", script by Steve Ditko (plot) and Stan Lee (dialogue), art by Steve Ditko; Realizing Mordo's presence has been erased from his sanctum Strange suspects fowl play, disposing of a hidden bomb just before it explodes; Stunned by the blast Mordo's minions imprison him so that he cannot use his magic; Strange attempts to telepathically contact The Ancient One, but fails because his spirit form is searching for the missing Clea. Ad for Fantasy Masterpieces #1. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 159 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white

Label #4366042024

Cover art by Jim Steranko and John Romita (alterations). Nick Fury origin retold in "Spy School," script and art by Jim Steranko; Fury reminisces with Laura about his days growing up in Hell's Kitchen; then at SHIELD HQ, offers her a job as an agent; Fury goes to the UNIT academy, where recruits undergo rigorous education; He meets two new agents: Sidney E. Levine, a tech expert and Val, who scoffs at his attitude that the spy game is man's work; Fury takes on Captain America in a display bout for the recruits, but gets dizzy due to a side-effect of the invisibility pill he used earlier; Yancy Street Gang cameo. "The Evil That Men Do...", script by Roy Thomas and Marie Severin (co-plot), pencils by Marie Severin, inks by Herb Trimpe; Strange returns home to find his Sanctum gone!; Wong, who barely escaped its destruction, recounts how Umar used a spell of vanishment; Strange dispels her enchantment and his house returns; Using the Crystal of Agamotto he senses evil mystic powers around the world. Casting a spell he discovers a group of mystics, banded together, working to free an imprisoned mystic to lead them; Baron Mordo appearance; cameo by the Living Tribunal. Merry Marvel Marching Society info and coupon. Letter to the editor from comics writer Mark Evanier. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 166 CGC 5.0 JSA Steranko

Paper: Off white to white

Jim Sterannko Authenticated Autograph on page 1.

Label #4697796002

Cover art by Dan Adkins. "Nothing Can Halt... Voltorg!", script by Jim Lawrence and Dan Adkins (co-plot), pencils by George Tuska, inks by Dan Adkins; A running battle ensues between Strange and the lightning-hurling Voltorg, which nearly destroys Yandroth's lab before Strange finally takes it out. Yandroth grabs Victoria and uses a "Teleportation" machine to instantly send the two of them to a far-distant world; Strange tries to alter the destination setting so they'll end up on Earth, then follows, winding up in Stonehenge, the very place where his mentor apparently met his demise. Nick Fury stars in "If Death Be My Destiny!", script and pencils by Jim Steranko, inks by Joe Sinnott; Using a H.A.W.K. Harness Fury pursues the Claw's escaping airship and discovers his underwater hideout in New York Harbor; The Heli-Carrier's vortex beam holds The Sky Dragon stationary while SHIELD mops up The Claw's men; Fury uses a Pyro-Band to burn into The Claw's lair finding himself in a complex maze. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951 1st Series) 169 CGC 8.5

Paper: White

Label #4747078005

Cover art by John Romita. "Brother Voodoo," script by Len Wein, pencils by Gene Colan, inks by Dan Adkins; Part one of the origin of Brother Voodoo, who is the union of Daniel Drumm's spirit in twin brother Jericho Drumm's body; Drumm returns to Haiti to find his brother dying from the curse of Damballah This is the first Brother Voodoo story; The first appearance of the character occurred in an article in Tales of the Zombie 2. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.20.