STRANGE
TALES
Comic Books For Sale
Doctor Strange - Human Torch - Thing
Nick Fury - Warlock - Sub-Mariner
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The STRANGE TALES issues up
to 1962 were made up of multiple stories on horror, science
fiction and monsters which is what Atlas/Marvel Comics had
been producing.
Once Marvel Comics re-launched their company in mid to late
1961 with Fantastic Four #1 and seeing the success of that
title, they decided to start working on other titles and
converting them partially to superhero titles.
Marvel had a limit on how many titles they could publish
monthly from the main printer in Sparta, IL.
Instead of adding a new title under the limit, they simply
changed out the lead story of Strange Tales and placed in a
new series featuring the Human Torch from the Fantastic
Four.
Johnny Storm had his first and only solo series outside of
the FF beginning in Strange Tales #101.
A classic battle of fire
and water made for a Golden Age battle in the Silver Age
with issue #107 featuring the Sub-Mariner battling the
Torch.
Not since World War II
with Timely Comics' title Marvel Mystery Comics and in the
Golden Age titles for the Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch
have they battled one another, but this time it was the FF's
version of the Torch.
The Torch took
on some other characters that would go on to become regular
antagonists with the FF like the Wizard and the Trapster.
He even took on Spider-Man and the Sandman with both making
some of their earliest appearances in Annual #2 and issue
#115.
In fact
the Torch would tangle with his own teammate the Thing in
issue #116.
The Torch and the Thing would tangle the Sub-Mariner in
issue #125.
The famous rock group the Beatles would make a cameo in
issue #130.
In 1963 one of Marvel's
most enduring characters made his debut in Strange Tales
#110. Doctor Strange the master of the occult - the
master of the mystic arts would make his entrance into the
Marvel Universe at a time when Marvel was pumping out
superheroes left and right.
Doctor Strange would be most appropriate in a title called
Strange Tales with energies coming through a mystical amulet
that he wore around his neck and summoning ancient powers
taught to him by the Ancient One.
Doctor Strange would be an additional feature to the Torch's
stories until issue #134. Strange's origin would be
told in issue #115 the same issue that Spider-Man villain
the Sandman makes his second appearance.
Not since the Golden Age
has their been a Captain America seen in comics until issue
#114 with a villain called the Acrobat in disguise.
Fans were treated with this rare instance which sparked
interest in seeing more of the Sentinel of Liberty for real.
Jack Kirby
would pen a good portion of the Human Torch stories that ran
throughout the title while Steve Ditko did the Doctor
Strange stories.
Marvel wanted to get things rolling in a different way and
decided to end the Human Torch series in the title and
introduced a new character to their pantheon of characters.
Nick Fury-Agent
of S.H.I.E.L.D made his first appearance in issue #135 and
thus began his run as a second feature with Doctor Strange
that lasted for 34 issues.
The two characters would alternate covers from issue to
issue.
About this time Captain America had been fully revived in
the comics and started to make solo appearances in other
titles and was featured prominently in issues #159 through
#162 with Jim Steranko providing art and scripts.
Eventually Marvel was able
to expand on its library of comics and ended the title with
Doctor Strange taking over with issue #169 under his name.
Nick Fury would be granted his own title at the same time.
Strange Tales would restart up again temporarily with issue
#169 featuring a Brother Voodoo series and some stories that
stayed true to the title's original origins-monsters.
This lasted until issue #177 and then ending abruptly.
It would start up again a couple of years later with issue
#178. This time it featured stories and art by Jim
Starlin on Warlock. This too only lasted a few issues
with the last ones being reprinted issues ending at issue
#188.
Most collectors for years never really understood this title
and often overlooked them for the likes of titles that
actually mentioned the characters names on the marquee.
Only in the mid to late 1990s did collectors began to
realize just how much this title offered in the way of first
appearances, origins and other key books.
It is definitely a title that is underrated and should be
collected not only for its significance, but for the great
stories and artwork by some of comics' best.
Purchasing Strange Tales Comics
When reviewing sources to acquire
Strange Tales issues, I like to check
out local comic book shops and conventions. I get to see
the comics in person and can examine more issues at one time than I could online.
Eventually local sources go only so far since they rely on
collectors and other sellers in the area to bring them in.
Sources on the internet tend to travel and pick up
collections and will buy a lot of books online to add to
their inventory. They also have a lot of people from
all over the world who will contact them since they are not
tied to a local area to sell to them. These sellers
also tend to advertise on a more global scale than the local
comic book shop since their marketplace is the entire world
essentially.
mycomicshop
is a great place to find Strange Tales issues. They're a
national online seller and have been selling comic books
through the mail since the 1960s. They try to stock every issue of every
title that has ever been published.
You'll
see a large amount of
Strange Tales
covers of key books in the run
as well as general issues in the title on this page that I
think will interest any
Strange Tales
collection which will take
you directly to mycomicshop's inventory of that issue.
There you
will see every condition of that issue they currently have
in stock so you can choose the right condition of the book
that you're looking for.
Don't be
worried if you do not see an issue in stock when you click
on any of the links. Often times they will receive an
issue into their inventory on a fairly regular basis as they
purchase books and collections daily. Just go ahead
and bookmark the link after you've clicked on the issue here
or check back here and click on the link to see if the issue
has come into stock. The links will stay permanently
connected.
I've
purchased books from mycomicshop before and will continue to use them.
Their grading is accurate and they are a reliable source.
They have great customer service in providing you books in a
timely manner.
Ebay is a
great option as there’s a lot of
collectors/sellers/dealers always looking to move in
and out of product and use Ebay as their avenue.
You may find some good deals on Ebay, but be careful to check out
the auctions and or Buy it Now listings carefully. Some
sellers’ terms are not right for everyone and sometimes the
items are not what you expect.
If condition is important to you, then be sure to ask a lot
of questions. If you don’t get the right kinds of answers
you’re looking for, then move on and try another listing.
Always check out the seller’s profile to see how their past
selling has been. If they’re new to selling and have only
been buying, ask questions.
You always want to be comfortable with the person you’re
potentially going to be buying from and you really need to
know what it is you’re getting.
If you're looking for CGC Strange Tales comics, then ComicLink is
your best choice. They focus primarily on CGC books
and you can find some of the top notch
Strange Tales issues available on
their site. Expect to see from time to time CGC
Strange Tales #101, Strange Tales #110 (1st appearance of
Doctor Strange), Strange Tales #135 (1st Nick Fury) and others of
that era.
I hope
this page has been informative to you regarding the world of
Strange Tales
comic books.
Enjoy your hunt and Happy
Collecting!!!
Johnson's Collectibles
