Strange Tales #164

(January 1968)

Nightmare! (Table of Contents: 1)

Doctor Strange / comic story / 11 pages (report information)

Script

Jim Lawrence (credited); Dan Adkins (credited) (co-plot)

Pencils

Dan Adkins (credited)

Inks

Dan Adkins (credited)

Colors

?

Letters

Al Kurzrok

Genre

superhero; fantasy-supernatural

Characters

Dr. Strange; Yandroth [Scientist Supreme]; Victoria Bentley (cameo)

Synopsis

Hurling thru the void of space, Strange sees a vision of Victoria Bentley, surrounded by machinery. He lands on a jungle planet inhabited by savage, monstrous creatures. Strange finds an underground cavern, and inside it, an elaborate machine, from which emits a mental challenge. Yandroth, Scientist Supreme, claims to have unlocked the "inner-most secrets of the cosmos", and intends to make Victoria his queen-- to rule many planets, including, eventually, Earth. Strange refuses to depart, and realizes a challenge of science vs. magic awaits him...

Reprints

• in Nick Fury - Agent för SHIELD (Carlsen/if [SE], 1979 series) #1
• in Eclipso (Arédit-Artima, 1968 series) #49 (1er trimestre 1975) [N&B et recadré [B&W and reframed]]
• in Giant-Size Doctor Strange (Marvel, 1975 series) #1 (1975) [minus page 7]
• in Essential Dr. Strange (Marvel, 2001 series) #1 (December 2001)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2003 series) #2 ([September] 2005)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange (Marvel, 2010 series) #2 ([January] 2013)
• in Doctor Strange Omnibus (Marvel, 2016 series) #2 (2021)
• in Doctor Strange Epic Collection (Marvel, 2016 series) #2 - I, Dormammu (2023)

Indexer Notes

Part 18 of 22; part 1 of Yandroth sequence. Story title misleading; Strange's longtime foe Nightmare does not appear, refers to the "Land Of Nightmares" (as mentioned in previous issue's coming attractions) or "Nightmare Planet" (on this episode's last page). 1st appearance of Yandroth, Scientist Supreme; continues the trend of science-fiction themes in Dan Adkins' stories.

Beginning this issue, lead stories alternate to match alternating covers.

When Comes... Black Noon! (Table of Contents: 2)

Nick Fury / comic story / 12 pages (report information)

Script

Jim Steranko (credited)

Pencils

Jim Steranko (credited)

Inks

Bill Everett (credited)

Colors

Jim Steranko ?

Letters

Artie Simek (credited)

Genre

spy; superhero

Characters

The Yellow Claw; Nick Fury; Suwan; Fritz Von Voltzmann; Clipper Charlie: (SHIELD barber); Slim (SHIELD barber); James Bond 007 (cameo); Val [Contessa Valentina Allegro de Fontaine]

Synopsis

At the instant the Claw fired The Ultimate Annihilator at Fury Suwan teleports him thru Hyper-Dimensional Space to the underground lair and then back to SHIELD. In his lair The Claw tests the Ultimate Annihilator by destroying a satellite in orbit. SHIELD medics warn Fury that further stimulation could be fatal. Fury follows a tip and invisibly trails a Claw agent leading him to The Claw & Voltzmann. Fury discovers he's on board The Sky Dragon, a huge airship miles above the city. Captured, Fury is tied under the Ultimate Annihilator as The Claw prepares to use it to destroy New York City.

Reprints

• in Vengeur (Arédit-Artima, 1972 series) #16 (4ème trimestre 1975) [N&B et remonté [B&W and reframed]]
• in Capitaine America (Editions Héritage, 1970 series) #57 ([Mai 1976])
• in Captain Britain (Marvel UK, 1976 series) #11 (December 22, 1976) [pages 1-6], #12 (December 29, 1976) [pages 7-12 plus new splash, not by Steranko]
• in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel, 2000 series) (May 2000)
• in Marvel Masterworks: Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Marvel, 2007 series) #2 ([December] 2009)
• in S.H.I.E.L.D. by Steranko: The Complete Collection (Marvel, 2013 series) ([October] 2013)
• in S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Complete Collection Omnibus (Marvel, 2015 series) (2015)
• in Die offizielle Marvel-Comic-Sammlung (Hachette [DE], 2013 series) #9 - Nick Fury: Agent von SHIELD, Teil 2 (September 2016)
• in Marvel. Официальная коллекция комиксов (Ашет Коллекция [Hachette], 2014 series) #126 - Ник Фьюри: Агент "Защиты"
• in Steranko Is... Revolutionary (Marvel, 2020 series) (2020)

Indexer Notes

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 although the earlier checklist in Comic Book Marketplace # 28, October 1995, credits him with coloring beginning with # 157.

Part 6 of 9. The "Revive Chamber" is strikingly similar to the one used to heal Luke Skywalker in the film THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980). Ernst Stavro Blofeld would use a laser to destroy satellites in orbit in the 007 film, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971).

Who Says This Isn't the Marvel Age of Batty Bulletins? (Table of Contents: 3) (Expand) /

Bullpen Bulletins / in-house column / 1 page (report information)

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 4)

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

Script

?

Pencils

Marie Severin (illustration)

Inks

Herb Trimpe (illustration)

Colors

?

Letters

typeset

First Line of Dialogue or Text

Dear Stan, Stupendous! Colossal! Magnificent!

Reprints

• in S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Complete Collection Omnibus (Marvel, 2015 series) (2015)

Indexer Notes

Letters of comment from Loren MacGregor, John Hoecker, Chuck Turnbull, and Mike Cahlin. Also includes Merry Marvel Marching Society info and coupon.