Strange Tales #123

(August 1964)

The Birth of the Beetle! (Table of Contents: 1)

Human Torch / comic story / 14 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee (credited)

Pencils

Carl Burgos (credited)

Inks

Dick Ayers (credited)

Colors

Stan Goldberg ?

Letters

Sam Rosen (credited)

Job Number

X-717

Genre

superhero

Characters

Johnny Storm [Human Torch]; Thing [Ben Grimm]; Beetle [Abner Jenkins] (introduction, origin); Alicia Masters; Doris Evans

Synopsis

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. But when he tries to rip off the NY World's Fair, the rematch goes the other way.

Reprints

• in Marvel Tales (Marvel, 1966 series) #25 (March 1970)
• in I Fantastici Quattro (Editoriale Corno, 1971 series) #24 (22 Febbraio 1972)
• in Strange Spécial Origines (Editions Lug, 1981 series) #226 (5 octobre 1988)
which is reprinted
• in Marvel (Editions du Taupinambour, 2013 ? series) #16
• in Thunderbolts: Marvel's Most Wanted (Marvel, 1998 series) (February 1998)
• in Essential Human Torch (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 ([October] 2003) [black & white]
• in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch (Marvel, 2006 series) #2 [Regular Edition] ([March] 2009)
• in The Human Torch & The Thing: Strange Tales - The Complete Collection (Marvel, 2018 series) (2018)

Indexer Notes

Carl Burgos was the creator of the original Human Torch! The Beetle next appears in Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel, 1963 series) #21 (February 1965).

The Challenge of Loki! (Table of Contents: 2)

Doctor Strange / comic story / 9 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee (credited); Steve Ditko (co-plot, uncredited)

Pencils

Steve Ditko (credited)

Inks

George Roussos (credited as George Bell)

Colors

Stan Goldberg ?

Letters

Artie Simek (credited as Art Simek)

Job Number

X-715

Genre

superhero; fantasy-supernatural

Characters

Doctor Strange [Stephen Strange]; Loki; Thor [Donald Blake]; Odin (cameo)

Synopsis

Strange practices the art of levitation. Meanwhile, in faraway Asgard, home of the Norse Gods, Loki, God of Mischief, plots as always. He contacts 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, but on examining it, can sense no trace of evil. Realizing he's been had, Strange battle Loki, who later swears vengeance against the mage.

Reprints

• in Creepy Worlds (Alan Class, 1962 series) #73
• in Terrific! (IPC, 1967 series) #11 (24 June 1967)
• in Marvel Collectors' Item Classics (Marvel, 1965 series) #14 (April 1968)
• in Giant-Size Marvel Triple Action (Marvel, 1975 series) #2 (July 1975)
• in Strange Tales (Marvel, 1973 series) #182 (November 1975)
which is reprinted
• in Capitaine America (Editions Héritage, 1970 series) #88/89 ([Janvier 1979])
• in Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts (Pocket Books, 1978 series) #[1] (June 1978)
• in Marvel Superheroes Summer Special (Marvel UK, 1979 ? series) #[nn]
• in Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic Arts (Simon and Schuster, 1979 series) (1979)
• in Marvel Masterworks (Marvel, 1987 series) #23 ([December] 1992)
• in Essential Dr. Strange (Marvel, 2001 series) #1 (December 2001) [black & white]
• in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2003 series) #1 ([September] 2003)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2010 series) #1 ([December] 2010)
• in Doctor Strange Omnibus (Marvel, 2016 series) #1 (2016)
• in Doctor Strange Epic Collection (Marvel, 2016 series) #1 - Master of the Mystic Arts (2018)
• in Ditko Is... Strange King-Size (Marvel, 2020 series) (2020)
• in Mighty Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2021 series) #1 - The World Beyond (2021)
• in Loki Omnibus (Marvel, 2021 series) #1 (2021)

Indexer Notes

Loki would seek revenge against Strange the very next month in Journey Into Mystery #108 (September 1964).

Two More Triumphs for Marvel..! (Table of Contents: 3) (Expand) /

promo (ad from the publisher) / 1 page (report information)

[Strange Mission] (Table of Contents: 4)

text story / 1 page (report information)

Script

?

Pencils

Joe Maneely

Inks

Joe Maneely

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

Job Number

K-440

Genre

science fiction

Characters

Alfred Pook; Harold; Dr. Smith

Synopsis

A man becomes confused over directions to the dentist and as a result accidentally pilots an expedition to claim a new planet.

Reprints

• from Mystery Tales (Marvel, 1952 series) #45 (September 1956) [page 2]

Indexer Notes

Text story with illustration. Printed after Dr. Strange story. Continues from last issue but with no indication that it is a continued story.