Strange Tales #156

(May 1967)

The Tribunal! (Table of Contents)

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jim Steranko

Pencils:

Jim Steranko

Inks:

Jim Steranko

Colors:

Jim Steranko ?

Letters:

Sam Rosen

Content Information

Genre:

Spy

Characters:

Supreme Hydra ["Agent Bronson" (alias); Baron Strucker]; Laura Brown; Jasper Sitwell; Gabe Jones; Dum Dum Dugan; Nick Fury; HYDRA; CAMEOS: Fantastic Four [The Thing; Human Torch; Invisible Girl; Mr. Fantastic]; Spider-Man; Daredevil; Thor; Scarlet Witch; Hawkeye; Captain America; X-Men [Angel; Beast; Iceman; Cyclops; Marvel Girl; Professor X]; Iron Man; Hulk; Goliath; Wasp

Synopsis:

Bronson is set to take Laura to a medical facility (the one on the Heli-Carrier being damaged in the earlier battle) in the "Dyna-Soar", a brand-new aircraft whose design is based and improved upon from the captured HYDRA saucer. No sooner does he depart than Fury's quarters are blasted to bits, apparently killing him! Bronson changes course and heads for "Hydra Island", an artificial, futuristic, hi-tech fortress somewhere in the Pacific, then resumes his guise as Supreme Hydra. He then announces to the world that he's placed a "Death Spore" bomb on board the Heli-Carrier, which will unleash a deadly plague upon the entire Earth and cannot be de-activated! Any country that surrenders within one hour will be spared its effects. He also plans to stage a fake "trial" for Laura, as an example to all who would defy him. Unknown to him, Fury is alive, having suspected Bronson from the start, and was hiding on board the Dyna-Soar, in order to discover HYDRA's plans and the location of their base. But after taking on several HYDRA thugs, Fury is captured, and on awakening, discovers the true identity of the Supreme Hydra is none other than Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker, his old enemy from WW2!!!

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Agente Internacional (Editora de Periódicos La Prensa S.C.L., 1966 series) #22 (Febrero 29 de 1968)
• in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel, 2000 series) #[nn] (May 2000)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel, 2007 series) #2 ([December] 2009)

Indexer Notes

Part 7 of 9. See various issues of SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS for earlier appearances of Baron Strucker. 24 years had elapsed between Fury & Strucker's last meeting and this one. Shortly after this comic's publication, the 007 film YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE would reveal the identity of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s "Number One", Ernst Stavros Blofeld; Donald Pleasence's onscreen appearance, bald with an odd, monocle-shaped scar, is so similar to Strucker's it does not seem possible to be a coincidence!In the introduction to Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury Agent of Shield Volume 2 Steranko says he took over the color chores with Strange Tales # 165.

Umar Walks the Earth! (Table of Contents)

Dr. Strange / comic story / 10 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Marie Severin (co-plot); Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue)

Pencils:

Marie Severin

Inks:

Marie Severin

Colors:

Marie Severin ?

Letters:

Artie Simek

Content Information

Genre:

Occult

Characters:

Umar; Dr. Strange; The Ancient One; Wong; Zom; John Severin (cameo); Marie Severin (cameo)

Synopsis:

Umar arrives in NYC! The Ancient One sends Strange to a "world beyond all worlds," a "time beyond all time," to "the legendary Amphora," a large vase guarded by fiery demons, in order to free Zom, a being so powerful he was imprisoned by Eternity himself. Umar destroys Strange's house, then forcibly summons The Ancient One directly thru the center of the Earth itself. Strange unleashes Zom, then goads him into pursueing him to Earth. The Ancient One lures Umar to Stonehenge, the very spot on which he defeated Dormammu in "the dim, half-forgotten past." For the 2nd time, Strange surprises Umar-- but this time, she flees for her life, back to The Dark Dimension, where Zom can never find her! Zom had been bound by "the chains of living bondage" by Dormammu (before Eternity imprisoned him), and so he seeks vengeance. But with Umar gone, he turns his anger against Strange & his mentor...

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Agente Internacional (Editora de Periódicos La Prensa S.C.L., 1966 series) #22 (Febrero 29 de 1968)
• in Fantastic and Terrific (IPC, 1968 series) #61 (13 April 1968)
• in Essential Dr. Strange (Marvel, 2001 series) #1 (December 2001)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2003 series) #2 [Regular Edition] ([September] 2005)

Indexer Notes

Part 10 of 22; part 6 of Umar sequence; part 1 of Zom sequence. Umar comes to Earth for 1st time.

["Dear Stan, In the past few issues..."] (Table of Contents)

Strange Mails / letters page / 1 page (report information)

Credits

Script:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

Letters of comment from Wally Daniels; Shirley Gorman; Barry Brookner; and David Walker. Also includes Merry Marvel Marching Society info and coupon.