Strange Tales #124

(September 1964)

Paste-Pot Pete (Table of Contents: 1)

Human Torch; The Thing / comic story / 14 pages (report information)

Script

Stan Lee (co-plot, script); Dick Ayers (credited) (co-plot, un-credited)

Pencils

Dick Ayers (credited)

Inks

Paul Reinman (credited as P. Reinman)

Colors

Stan Goldberg ?

Letters

Artie Simek (credited as Art Simek)

Job Number

X-752

Genre

superhero

Characters

Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing [Ben Grimm]; Paste-Pot Pete [Peter Petruski]; Doris Evans

Synopsis

Trying to tell Johnny that Paste-Pot Pete was paroled (for helping The Avengers), Ben & Johnny get into a brawl. Tired of being thought of as a clown, Pete completely redesigns his costume, then takes on The Thing while he's flying his part of the Fantasti-Car. As he's about to go help Ben, Johnny's told by Doris that if he leaves in the middle of their date, he needn't bother returning. After a fierce battle, Ben & Johnny triumph, and after an "explanation," Doris forgives Johnny.

Reprints

• in Creepy Worlds (Alan Class, 1962 series) #47
• in Marvel Tales (Marvel, 1966 series) #26 (May 1970)
• in I Fantastici Quattro (Editoriale Corno, 1971 series) #25 (7 Marzo 1972)
• 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

This is the third appearance of Paste-Pot Pete; he last appears in the Avengers (Marvel, 1963 series) #6 (July 1964)—where he was incorrectly drawn as The Wizard—he next appears in Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #36 (March 1965). Stan announces that due to popular demand, Johnny and Ben will co-star in every issue from now on.

The Lady from Nowhere! (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 Geo. Bell)

Colors

Stan Goldberg ?

Letters

Sam Rosen (credited as S. Rosen)

Job Number

X-758

Genre

superhero; fantasy-supernatural

Characters

Doctor Strange [Stephen Strange]; Zota; Cleopatra VII; Ancient One [Yao]; Mark Antony (cameo)

Synopsis

Sensing sorcery, Strange finds a woman wandering the streets under a spell. After guiding her to his house, he consults his mentor. Strange travels into the past, though he's warned that if the candle employed in the spell expires he will be trapped there forever. In Ancient Egypt, he battles a wizard, Zota, and removes his power. Returning to the present the candle flickers out, but Strange uses the light from his amulet to guide him, barely making it back. Strange reveals the woman is Cleopatra, sent to the future when she scorned Zota. He sends her back to her waiting Mark Antony.

Reprints

• in Terrific! (IPC, 1967 series) #12 (1 July 1967)
• in Marvel Collectors' Item Classics (Marvel, 1965 series) #15 (June 1968)
• in Uncanny Tales (Alan Class, 1963 series) #87 ([circa 1972 - 1973])
• in Strange Tales (Marvel, 1973 series) #182 (November 1975)
• in Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts (Pocket Books, 1978 series) #[1] (June 1978)
• 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)

Indexer Notes

Zota's "impulse transmitter" (magic mirror), through which Strange arrives and leaves in Ancient Egypt, is strikingly similar to one used in the Doctor Who story, "The Pyramids Of Mars" (1975).

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