Strange Tales
#102
(November 1962)
Marvel,
1951 Series
- Volume
- 1
- Price
- 0.12 USD
- Pages
- 36
- Indicia Frequency
- monthly
- On-sale Date
- 1962-08-09
- Publisher's Age Guidelines
- Approved by the Comics Code Authority
- Indicia / Colophon Publisher
- Vista Publications Inc.
- Brand
-
MC
- Editing
- Stan Lee (editor)
Issue Notes
On-sale date is the publication date reported in U. S. Copyright Office filings. Includes 10 pages of paid advertisements. Sequence order and some data provided by Steven Grant via the GCD Error List (27 February 2007).
This issue has variants:
This issue has variants:
Prisoner of the Wizard! / Who Needs You? / What Was the Dreaded Secret of the Hidden Planet?
Human Torch / cover / 1 page
- Genre
- science fiction; superhero
- Characters
- Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Wizard [Bentley Wittman]
- Reprints
-
in Los 4 Fantásticos (Editora de Periódicos, S. C. L. "La Prensa", 1962 series) #19 (23 de febrero de 1964) -
in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #22 (1965 ?) -
in Marvel Tales (Marvel, 1966 series) #4 (September 1966) [0.20 page] which is reprinted - in The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 (2007)
- in The Mighty Thor Omnibus (Marvel, 2010 series) #1 (2010)
-
in Marvel Gold. El Asombroso Spiderman: Poder y Responsabilidad (Panini España, 2014 series) (Abril 2014) - in The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus (Marvel, 2007 series) #1 (2022)
-
in Marvel Origins (Hachette [DE], 2023 series) #3 - Thor 1 (1962) ([September] 2023) - in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #136 ([circa 1975 - 1976])
- in Essential Human Torch (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 ([October] 2003) [black & white]
- in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch (Marvel, 2006 series) #1 ([September] 2006)
- in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch (Marvel, 2014 series) #1 (2014)
- in The Human Torch & The Thing: Strange Tales - The Complete Collection (Marvel, 2018 series) (2018)
-
Indexer Notes
Cover divided into 3 panels.
![Cover Thumbnail for Strange Tales (1951 series) #102 [British]](https://files1.comics.org//img/gcd/covers_by_id/1432/w100/1432700.jpg?4893910506735333125)
Prisoner of the Wizard
Human Torch / comic story / 13 pages
- Script
- Stan Lee (plot); Larry Lieber (script)
- Pencils
- Jack Kirby
- Inks
- Dick Ayers
- Colors
- Stan Goldberg ?
- Letters
- Artie Simek ? (see Notes); Jon D'Agostino ? (see Notes)
- Job Number
- [V-887]
- Genre
- superhero
- Characters
- Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Wizard (introduction, origin) [Bentley Wittman]; Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]
- Synopsis
- The Human Torch is tricked and trapped by the renowned genius the Wizard, who impersonates the Torch to frame him for crimes. The Torch escapes, captures the Wizard and clears his name with the help of his sister the Invisible Girl.
- Reprints
- in Los 4 Fantásticos (Editora de Periódicos, S. C. L. "La Prensa", 1962 series) #19 (23 de febrero de 1964)
- in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #22 (1965 ?)
- in Marvel Tales (Marvel, 1966 series) #4 (September 1966) which is reprinted
-
in L'Étonnant Spider-Man (Editions Héritage, 1969 series) #32 (février 1974) -
in Fakkelen og Jernmannen (Serieforlaget / Se-Bladene / Stabenfeldt, 1968 series) #1/1968 (1968) - in Amazing Stories of Suspense (Alan Class, 1963 series) #94 ([1969 ?])
-
in I Fantastici Quattro (Editoriale Corno, 1971 series) #5 (1 Giugno 1971) - in The Human Torch (Marvel, 1974 series) #2 (November 1974), #2 (November 1974)
- in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #136 ([circa 1975 - 1976])
-
in Marvel Tales (Yaffa / Page, 1977 ? series) #3 ([1979]) - in Essential Human Torch (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 ([October] 2003) [black & white], #1 ([October] 2003)
- in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch (Marvel, 2006 series) #1 ([September] 2006)
- in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch (Marvel, 2014 series) #1 (2014)
- in The Human Torch & The Thing: Strange Tales - The Complete Collection (Marvel, 2018 series) (2018)
-
Indexer Notes
This story is divided into two parts: an untitled part one (7pp) and Part 2–"Wizard's Wiles!" (6pp). The last page includes an advertisement for Strange Tales Annual (Marvel, 1962 series) #1 (1962).
Job number revealed on original art. Info per Nick Caputo.
Our Letters credit has been in constant flux for the past 20 years. It was originally entered sometime before 2002 as "?" and changed as follows:
? to Artie Simek – also before 2002
Artie Simek back to ? - March 2010
? to Jon D'Agostino - October 2014
Jon D'Agostino back to Artie Simek - August 2020, based on credit given in Marvel Essentials reprint of this story.
James MacKay claims, April 2022, that the Marvel Essentials credit for Artie Simek is in error.
This would be much helped by a discussion among Marvel lettering scholars so that we can include a more definitive Note and avoid this bouncing back and forth.
The Treasure
text story / 2 pages
- Job Number
- G-980
- Genre
- fantasy-supernatural
- Characters
- Tommy Miller; Mr. Miller; Mrs. Miller; Wish
- Synopsis
- A sick boy takes comfort from a stray dog that grants wishes.
- Reprints
- from Uncanny Tales (Marvel, 1952 series) #36 (October 1955)
-
Indexer Notes
Text story with illustration.
The Secret of the Hidden Planet!
comic story / 5 pages
- Script
- Stan Lee ? (plot); Larry Lieber ? (script)
- Pencils
- Gene Colan
- Inks
- Dick Ayers ?; Gene Colan ?
- Colors
- Stan Goldberg ?
- Letters
- ?
- Job Number
- V-888
- Genre
- science fiction
- Characters
- Paul Hastings; Dirk Morgan; Joe
- Synopsis
- Human-like aliens are seen on Venus, and a wicked pilot poisons his rival to be able to make first contact. He finds they are really tourists from the future and won’t contact present humans.
- Reprints
- in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #88
- in Los 4 Fantásticos (Editora de Periódicos, S. C. L. "La Prensa", 1962 series) #19 (23 de febrero de 1964)
- in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #22 (1965 ?)
- in Fakkelen og Jernmannen (Serieforlaget / Se-Bladene / Stabenfeldt, 1968 series) #1/1968 (1968)
- in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #136 ([circa 1975 - 1976])
- in The Empire Strikes Back Weekly (Marvel UK, 1980 series) #134 (18 September 1980)
-
Indexer Notes
Possible Ayers inks per Nick Caputo, October 2014. A diner is worth $5,000, suggesting that this future has experienced hyper-deflation.
Who Needs You?
comic story / 5 pages
- Script
- Stan Lee (signed)
- Pencils
- Steve Ditko (signed)
- Inks
- Steve Ditko (signed)
- Colors
- Stan Goldberg ?
- Letters
- Artie Simek
- Job Number
- [V-889 ?]
- Genre
- science fiction
- Characters
- General Craig; R-63
- Synopsis
- A general who has the responsibility of launching a nuclear counter attack is replaced by a robot that his bosses think is more suited for a role that requires perfection. When an unidentified radar object approaches at ICBM speed, the robot concludes that it must be a Soviet first strike and prepares to launch a counter attack. The general remembers a satellite that was launched years ago and was expected to re-enter the atmosphere soon. He disconnects the robot before it can push the button. His grateful superiors reinstate him.
- Reprints
- in Los 4 Fantásticos (Editora de Periódicos, S. C. L. "La Prensa", 1962 series) #19 (23 de febrero de 1964)
- in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #22 (1965 ?)
- in Demonen (Serieforlaget / Se-Bladene / Stabenfeldt, 1968 series) #1/1968 ([januar] 1968) [pages 1-2], #2/1968 ([februar] 1968) [pages 3-5]
- in Amazing Stories of Suspense (Alan Class, 1963 series) #94 ([1969 ?])
- in Sinister Tales (Alan Class, 1964 series) #136 ([circa 1975 - 1976])
- in Marvel Masters of Suspense: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko Omnibus (Marvel, 2019 series) #2 (2019)
-
Indexer Notes
The last page includes an advertisement for Strange Tales Annual (Marvel, 1962 series) #1 (1962).
Editing
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
-
0.
Prisoner of the Wizard! / Who Needs You? / What Was the Dreaded Secret of the Hidden Planet?
Human Torch -
1.
Prisoner of the Wizard
Human Torch -
2.
The Treasure
-
3.
The Secret of the Hidden Planet!
-
4.
Who Needs You?
This issue was modified by, among others
- Katie
- Bill Borre
- Chris Boyko
- Nick Caputo
- Steve Coates
- Robert K. S. Croy, Sr.
- Mark Gordon
- Ethan Hoddes
- Henry R. Kujawa
- R. S. Martin
- Lou Mazzella
- Darrel McCann
- Donald Dale Milne
- Tony R. Rose
- Ron Sadowski
- Ramon Schenk
- Jim Van Dore
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