Strange Tales , #159

Published: August 1967

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Issue Contents:
Featuring: The Great Captain America!

Story Featuring Nick Fury

Story Notes

Romita and Severin credits per Nick Caputo via the GCD Errors list, December 2008, updated February 2020. Nick notes that the original art as published in Steranko Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist's Edition reveals that Captain America was redrawn by John Romita with additional changes possibly by Marie Severin.

Spy School

Story Featuring Nick Fury

Storyline

Fury reminisces with Laura about his days growing up in Hell's Kitchen; then at SHIELD HQ, offers her a job as an agent. Fury goes to the UNIT academy, where recruits undergo rigorous education. He meets two new agents: Sidney E. Levine, a tech expert and Val, who scoffs at his attitude that the spy game is man's work. Fury takes on Captain America in a display bout for the recruits, but gets dizzy due to a side-effect of the invisibility pill he used earlier. Cap tells him he's found out who was responsible for a job they tackled a year ago.

Story 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 1 of 9. 1st appearance of Fury's apartment, The Gaff & Val. Cap mentions the last time he & Fury met was when they fought "THEM"'s Humanoid Assassin in TALES OF SUSPENSE #78 (June 1966). That story was clearly Cap & Fury's 1st meeting since WW2 in SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #13 (December 1964) as Cap had been trying to contact Fury for months about possibly becoming a SHIELD agent (seen in several issues of THE AVENGERS). Yet 4 pages later, Cap refers to a job they tackled together "a year ago" (Perhaps "The Big Blackout" took place immediately after TOS #78, as there was a break between issues #78 & #79). After loitering in the shadows outside Stark Industries for 2 months, Jasper Sitwell became a regular in the Iron Man series in TALES OF SUSPENSE #95 (November 1967).

"The Evil That Men Do..."

Story Featuring Doctor Strange

Storyline

Strange returns home to find his Sanctum gone! Wong, who barely escaped its destruction, recounts how Umar used a spell of vanishment. Strange dispels her enchantment and his house returns. Using the Crystal of Agamotto he senses evil mystic powers around the world. Casting a spell he discovers a group of mystics, banded together, working to free an imprisoned mystic to lead them. Strange strikes down the most powerful of the group, but is too late, they have freed Baron Mordo, his most hated enemy, knowing it will be impossible to convince him to join forces to save the Earth!

Story Notes

Part 13 of 22; part 2 of the Living Tribunal sequence. While under an evil influence, Piper Halliwell once used an identical spell to Umar's to make her house vanish (and it was restored in the same way) in an episode of the tv show CHARMED.

Letter Column Featuring Strange Mails

"Dear Stan, Verily Strange Tales #155 was the best magazine..."

Story Notes

Letters of comment from Burton Wolder; Mrs. Beatrice Juarez; and Mark Evanier. Also includes Merry Marvel Marching Society info and coupon.

Fabulous Facts and Frivolous Fables for Frantic Fans, Faithful Friends, and Fiendish Foes!

In-House Column Featuring Bullpen Bulletins

Credits
Story Notes

Items; Stan's Soapbox; The Mighty Marvel Checklist; list of 26 M.M.M.S. members