Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) UK Edition comic books 1964

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos. "In the Clutches of the Puppet Master!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by George Roussos (as Geo. Bell); The Puppet Master manipulates the Thing into fighting the Human Torch, hoping to pick off the Fantastic Four one at a time; Sue Storm and Reed Richards cameos. "The Radio" text story. "Return to the Nightmare World!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), art by Steve Ditko; Nightmare has discovered the ability to capture humans and bring them to his world for study while they sleep; The police ask Strange's help, as a "last resort," to discover the cause behind a rash of people unable to awaken; Strange tracks the cause down to the Nightmare World, and has a rematch with his old foe. 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko (Eel figure), inks by Sol Brodsky and Steve Ditko (Eel Figure). The Human Torch battles the Eel (from issue #112) in "The Return of the Eel!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; Having served his time, The Eel is released from jail, but Johnny's suspicious because he left prison wearing his Eel costume; Taking a security guard job at an aquarium, The Eel begins pulling crimes. "From Outer Space" text story. "The Many Traps of Baron Mordo!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), art by Steve Ditko; Mordo places a spell over Strange's house that causes it to vanish to another dimension; Strange manages to track Mordo down using his ethereal form, but it becomes trapped in Mordo's lair; Mordo goes to see The Ancient One, claiming he's changed his way, just so he can attack him unawares. 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko (inset), inks by Chic Stone and Steve Ditko (inset). "The Man Who Became the Torch!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; The Wizard breaks jail, and begins pulling crimes using a new anti-gravity flying device he's invented; Via trickery and disguise, he captures Johnny, then Sue, and begins impersonating Johnny, while planning bigger and bolder crimes with which to use his anti-gravity device. "The Weatherman" text story, art by Joe Maneely. "The Possessed!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), art by Steve Ditko; Using his "Earthly Scanner," in which is a small replica of the planet, Dr. Strange senses evil somewhere in Bavaria; In a remote village, he finds the townspeople the victims of some strange form of possession, and believes a supernatural force is at work; First appearance of the Eye of Agamotto. 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos. "The Torch Goes Wild!", script by Stan Lee (plot, script) and Dick Ayers (plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; A demagogue drums up public opinion against the Torch, as part of a communist plot against an American ally; The Torch regains the public trust by stopping him and using his own mind control devices to turn him to the American side; Cameos by Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. "Beyond the Purple Veil!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), art by Steve Ditko; Doctor Strange must rescue two thieves who unwittingly steal a magic gem from him and are trapped in a mystical dimension as a result. (There is no text story in this issue.) 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by George Roussos. First Iceman crossover in "The Torch Meets Iceman!", script by Stan Lee (plot, script) and Jack Kirby (plot, un-credited), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Johnny's riled because a newspaper compares Iceman (of The X-Men) to him; On a cruise liner, Bobby tries to pick up Doris, until Johnny arrives; Before the potential rivalry goes too far, The Barracuda (a modern-day pirate) and his men arrive and take over the ship; Fantastic Four guest appearance; X-Men cameo (Angel, Marvel Girl, and Professor X). "The House of Shadows!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), art by Steve Ditko; Strange is on the scene to observe a TV crew as they prepare to enter & broadcast about a "Haunted House"; Strange discovers something is amiss, as he is unable to enter via his spirit form. The first page of a 2-page text story, "The Salesman." 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover art by Jack Kirby/Ditko (Ditko by himself on the Dr. Strange half). The Human Torch faces the weed of crime, AKA the Plantman, in "Prisoner of the Plantman!", script by Stan Lee and Dick Ayers (co-plot), art by Dick Ayers; After improving his plant ray, The Plantman captures Johnny to get him out of the way while he pulls a robbery; After, Doris, worried about her father, begs Johnny to stop the villain; They have a duel at the Botanical Gardens. "Witchcraft in the Wax Museum!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), art by Steve Ditko; A phone call lures Strange away in his ectoplasmic form, so Baron Mordo can steal his body; Knowing that if the two are not reunited in 24 hours Strange is doomed, Mordo places a spell over the body so Strange cannot return to it. The second page of a 2-page text story, "The Salesman." Statement of ownership--average print run 321,212; average paid circulation 189,160. 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko (Doctor Strange), inks by George Roussos and Steve Ditko (Doctor Strange). The Human Torch mixes it up with Doctor Doom and his allies in "3 Against The Torch!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue) and Dick Ayers (co-plot), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by George Roussos (as George Bell); In flashback we see the how Dr. Doom used "The Terrible Trio" to trap the Fantastic Four, then discarded his underlings by sending them into another dimension!; With Doom gone, the three return to Earth, where they're foolish enough to try taking on The Torch again, figuring 3 against 1 would be no contest. "The World Beyond," script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), pencils by Steve Ditko, inks by George Roussos; Weary from his struggles against supernatural forces, Strange falls asleep, carelessly forgetting to cast a protective spell over himself and becoming a prisoner of the Nightmare World!; Nightmare imprisons Strange, the only human who has ever defeated him, then says he's bored and looks forward to other victims; Strange summons The Gulgol, a creature that never sleeps. (Reprinted in Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action # 1.) "Strange Mission" text story. 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky. First appearance of the Beetle in the Human Torch story, "The Birth of the Beetle!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Carl Burgos, inks by Dick Ayers; Mechanic-inventor Abner Jenkins creates the identity of The Beetle; While taking the Fantasti-Car for a double-date, Johnny & Ben wind up being humiliated by The Beetle; Guest starring the Thing. "The Challenge of Loki!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), pencils by Steve Ditko, inks by George Roussos (as George Bell); Dr. Strange practices the art of levitation; Meanwhile, in faraway Asgard, home of the Norse Gods, Loki, God of Mischief, plots as always; He contacts Doctor Strange and tries to convince him that he is a prisoner of Thor, who is evil and deceiving his father; Strange uses a spell to take Thor's hammer (first cross-over with Thor). (Reprinted in Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action # 2.) "Strange Mission" text story, art by Joe Maneely. 36 pgs., full color.

Cover pencils by Dick Ayers (upper section) and Steve Ditko UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. (lower section), inks by Dick Ayers (upper section) and George Roussos (lower section). "Paste-Pot Pete," script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Paul Reinman; Trying to tell Johnny that Paste-Pot Pete was paroled (for helping The Avengers), Ben & Johnny get into a brawl; Tired of being thought of as a clown, Pete completely redesigns his costume, then takes on The Thing while he's flying his part of the Fantasti-Car; The Thing becomes a regular co-star with this issue. "The Lady From Nowhere!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), pencils by Steve Ditko, inks by George Roussos (as Geo. Bell); Sensing sorcery, Doctor Strange finds a woman wandering the streets under a spell; After guiding her to his house, he consults his mentor; Strange travels into the past, though he's warned that if the candle employed in the spell expires he will be trapped there forever; In Ancient Egypt, he battles a wizard, Zota, and removes his power. (No text story in this issue.) 36 pgs., full color.

UK edition. Identical to US edition, but has 9d cover price. Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. The Human Torch and the Thing star in "The Sub-Mariner Must Be Stopped!", script by Stan Lee, pencils by Dick Ayers, inks by Paul Reinman; Ben and Johnny's hi-jinks are interrupted by the arrival of a pair of LIFE Magazine reporters, who are there to interview Reed and Sue; When the news reports Sub-Mariner is heading for NYC, Ben and Johnny figure they can make an impression by tackling him on their own. "Mordo Must Not Catch Me!", script by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), pencils by Steve Ditko, inks by George Roussos (as Geo. Bell); Three followers of Mordo attack Strange in his sanctum; After dispatching them, he uses the Eye of Agamotto and his amulet to contact his mentor, but to no avail!; Mordo appears saying he's captured The Ancient One; In their ectoplasmic forms, a running battle begins that takes them halfway around the world, until Strange locates his mentor in a half-hidden jungle somewhere in Tibet. First page of a 2-page text story, "The Message." (The second page does not appear in issue 126 and may never have been published!) 36 pgs., full color.