Strange Tales #165

(February 1968)

Behold the Savage Sky! (Table of Contents)

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. / comic story / 11 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Jim Steranko

Pencils:

Jim Steranko

Inks:

Frank Giacoia

Colors:

Jim Steranko

Letters:

Sam Rosen

Content Information

Genre:

Spy

Characters:

Dum Dum Dugan; The Yellow Claw; Nick Fury; Fritz Von Voltzmann

Synopsis:

As The Claw is about to destroy NYC, the SHIELD Heli-Carrier arrives, and a squad led by Dugan assault The Sky Dragon using grappling hooks like "ancient buccaneers". As a battle commences, Fury breaks loose and clobbers Von Voltzmann, saying "You sure ain't no beauty prize!" Several agents corner The Claw, but he lays them out using "Hyper-Psionic Brain Emanations". His nervous system drained, The Claws unleashes a squad of "Duplikeds"-- replica robots of himself-- to cover his escape. Fury catches up with the real Claw (apparently), using a "Magnetic Pelfrag Shooter" to weigh him down. But the pellets disintegrate-- The Claw now has armor all over, including his face-- and with spiked gloves, clobbers Fury, before making his escape by jet, threatening to return as a conqueror...

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Capitaine America (Editions Héritage, 1970 series) #58 ([June 1976])
• in Captain Britain (Marvel UK, 1976 series) #13 (January 5, 1977) [pages 1-6; pp. 1-6], #14 (January 12, 1977) [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 7 of 9. The use of a 2-page spread on pages 2-3 was later adapted by both Jack Kirby and Mike Grell on a very regular basis in their comics. The Sky Dragon would reappear in MARVEL TWO-IN ONE #51 (May 1979). It's been debated by some fans whether The Claw seen at the beginning of this episode was the same one who beat up Fury & escaped at the end! 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.

The Mystic and the Machine! (Table of Contents)

Dr. Strange / comic story / 11 pages (report information)

Credits

Script:

Dan Adkins (plot); Jim Lawrence (dialogue)

Pencils:

Dan Adkins

Inks:

Dan Adkins

Colors:

?

Letters:

Al Kurzrok

Content Information

Genre:

Occult; Science fiction

Characters:

Dr. Strange; Yandroth; Victoria Bentley; Voltorg

Synopsis:

Strange continues thru the underground tunnel until he comes to a large set of doors. Upon getting them open, he finds a "Disintegrator" ray is waiting for him. After he takes it out with the "Flames of Faltine", Yandroth realizes his magic is more "potent" than he "calculated", and uses an "Ultra-Spectrum Laser" to incinerate Strange's brain! But as Yandroth gloats to the imprisoned Victoria, he doesn't realize that Strange is not dead, but has mentally left his body. Things soon come down to a running fist-fight, until Yandroth summons "Voltorr"-- a large lightning-wielding robot!

Reprints: show reprint note before migration

• in Giant-Size Doctor Strange (Marvel, 1975 series) #1 (1975)
• 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 19 of 22; part 2 of Yandroth sequence. Robot called "Voltorr" on last page of this episode, but "Voltorg" in next episode. Considering George Tuska (a "Golden Age" artist) pencilled the next episode, it's questionable whether Voltorg was designed by Adkins or Tuska, as it's a rather clunky-looking robot, which not only seems out-of-place in this series, but at Marvel in the 60's in general!

["Dear Stan, I think I've found the answer..."] (Table of Contents)

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

Credits

Script:

?

Pencils:

Dan Adkins; Jim Steranko

Inks:

?

Colors:

?

Letters:

typeset

Indexer Notes

Letters of comment from Jeff Meier; Ron Sidwell; F. Cancemi, R. Panken, E. Berg, P. Christiansen, and K. Hueur; and Ronnie Lightburn. Also includes two panel reproductions from a previous issue.