Strange Tales #163

(December 1967)

And the Dragon Cried... Death! (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:

Frank Giacoia

Colors:

Jim Steranko

Letters:

Sam Rosen

Content Information

Genre:

Spy

Characters:

The Yellow Claw; Fritz Von Voltzmann; Nick Fury; A.I.M; Suwan; Val [Contessa Valentina Allegro de Fontaine]; Clay Quartermain; The Gaff [Sidney E. Levine; Gaffer]

Synopsis:

As Fury escapes the monster octopus, The Yellow Claw uses a "Psionic-Revelation Eavesdropper" to spy on A.I.M. Suwan, torn by her conscience, realizes she must contact Jimmy Woo. Woo contacts Fury to pass on the info that the Claw plans to steal something called "The Ultimate Annihilator" from A.I.M. Val recommends Fury take one of her fellow Spy School graduates, and introduces him to Clay Quartermain, a smiling eager-beaver almost too sure of himself. Fury & Quartermain take on a squad of A.I.M. agents on the waterfront, and retrieve an ornate dragon statue. Tests reveal nothing, and then the Claw materializes to steal it! But it was only a duplicate-- and by accident, they learn the real Dragon speaks the names of 4 scientists when struck. Fury arrives too late to save the first 3, but impersonates the 4th, getting the drop on The Claw. But under hypnotic power, Fury collapses, and the Claw uses the Ultimate Annihilator on him...!!

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Capitaine America (Editions Héritage, 1970 series) #56 ([Avril 1976])
• in Captain Britain (Marvel UK, 1976 series) #9 (December 8, 1976) [pages 1-6]
• in Captain Britain (Marvel UK, 1976 series) #10 (December 15, 1976) [pages 7-12]
• 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 5 of 9. Clay Quartermain based on Kirk Douglas. The Dragon, when wrapped up, pays tribute to The Maltese Falcon. A.I.M. fought Captain America in TALES OF SUSPENSE #92-94 (August-October 1967); next appearance against Iron Man in TALES OF SUSPENSE #97-99 (January-March 1968).

Three Faces of Doom! (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

Dan Adkins (co-plot); Jim Lawrence (co-plot, dialogue)

Pencils:

Dan Adkins

Inks:

Dan Adkins

Colors:

?

Letters:

Al Kurzrok

Content Information

Genre:

Occult; Science fiction

Characters:

The Living Tribunal; Nebulos; Dr. Strange

Synopsis:

Drawn by the force of evil, The Living Tribunal discearns that it is Nebulos' staff that has drawn him; and while Earth has indeed been saved, he must now destroy the staff, which absorbed all the evil from Baron Mordo. As the Tribunal & Nebulos battle, Strange fears for the life of the missing Victoria, and also that he may be "marooned forever" on the "world of peril". While using "Talons of Cosmic Fire" to get Strange out of his way, the Tribunal uses "Cosmic Lightning" to begin destroying Nebulos' entire home planet! As Nebulos refuses to hand over his staff to the Tribunal, Strange flies by and wrests it away, just as Nebulos is buried by an "avalanche of death and destruction". Strange hands the staff to the Tribunal, declaring the "Cosmic Balance" is now restored! In reward, the Tribunal sends Strange to the "terrifying world" where Nebulos imprisoned Victoria, warning him that "dangers more ghastly than the human mind can conceive" await him there...

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Essential Dr. Strange (Marvel, 2001 series) #1 (December 2001)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2003 series) #2

Indexer Notes

Part 17 of 22; part 6 of the Living Tribunal sequence. Several panels based closely on Steve Ditko panels; the effect resembles Ditko pencils plus Wood inks.

["Dear Stan, Come off it, you guys..."] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

Letters of comment from Steven DeForrest; Michael Pagano; and George John. Also includes Merry Marvel Marching Society info and coupon.