Strange Tales #111
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeStrange Tales #111 is the second appearance of Doctor Strange and, crucially, the debut of Baron Mordo — the Transylvanian sorcerer who would become Strange's defining arch-nemesis and thematic dark mirror for the entire run of Marvel's mystic mythology. By introducing a villain whose ambition, treachery toward the Ancient One, and command of the black arts directly catalyzed Strange's own path to becoming Sorcerer Supreme, this issue gave Stan Lee and Steve Ditko the dramatic engine that would power the Doctor Strange feature for years. The conflict established here — selfless protector versus power-hungry betrayer — remains the moral spine of the Strange mythos across comics, animation, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The issue also introduced Asbestos Man in the Human Torch lead story, a Silver Age curiosity that Marvel later revisited with grim irony when later writers revealed the character had died of asbestos-related cancer.
In Strange Tales #111, Stephen Strange faces his most dangerous adversary yet when Baron Mordo, his former mentor turned enemy, strikes from beyond the grave—literally. With Mordo’s spirit manipulating events across continents, Strange must defend his master’s life in a battle of wills waged in the realm of spirits, where one misstep could mean eternal defeat. Written by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, with art by Ditko and cover by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers, this issue marks a pivotal moment in the Sorcerer Supreme’s ongoing war against dark magic.
In "Fighting to the Death with the Asbestos Man!" from Strange Tales #111, a disgruntled scientist dons a fireproof suit to prove himself to mobsters, only to become a menace the Torch must stop. When the hero’s rage clouds his judgment, a calm head and a sister’s wisdom help him turn the tide.
In "Beware -- the Machine!!!", a super-intelligent computer built by American scientists turns against humanity, defending itself with cold logic and ruthless efficiency. When all else fails, it's an unlikely savior—a seemingly insignificant organ-grinder's monkey—that slips past its defenses and unplugs the machine, ending its reign of control.
In his European castle, Baron Mordo schemes to steal the secrets of his former master, The Ancient One, sending his spirit to Tibet to poison him. From his New York sanctum, Stephen Strange senses the danger and confronts Mordo in a battle of wills across the spirit realm. The Ancient One warns Strange that Mordo remains a threat—alive, and still dangerous.
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Strange Tales was running as a split anthology book following Doctor Strange's debut in issue #110, with the Human Torch headlining the cover stories and the Doctor Strange feature occupying a five-to-ten page backup slot. The Doctor Strange installment in #111 was plotted by Stan Lee with Steve Ditko co-plotting and handling all the art — a tight five-page story that nonetheless managed to establish a fully formed villain. The Human Torch lead story was plotted by Lee and scripted by Ernie Hart, who worked under the pseudonym 'H. Huntley' (sometimes listed as 'K. Huntley' depending on the specific credits variant), with Dick Ayers on pencils and inks; the cover itself was penciled by Jack Kirby and inked by Ayers, a common division of labor on the title at the time. Notably, the cover features only the Human Torch versus Asbestos Man with no reference whatsoever to the Doctor Strange backup — a reflection of editorial uncertainty at this stage about how prominently to promote the still-new mystic character.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance and origin of Baron Mordo (Karl Amadeus Mordo), Doctor Strange's arch-nemesis, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; he debuted in the story 'Face-to-Face with the Magic of Baron Mordo!' (cover date August 1963, on-sale May 9, 1963).
- Second appearance of Doctor Strange, who had debuted only one issue earlier in Strange Tales #110 (July 1963); Strange does not appear again until Strange Tales #114.
- First appearance and origin of Asbestos Man (Professor Orson Kasloff), the Human Torch's flame-resistant adversary, in the lead story 'Fighting to the Death with the Asbestos Man!'; Marvel later retroactively revealed he died of asbestos-related cancer.
- First appearance of Hamir, the Ancient One's assistant (unnamed in this issue; he is not identified by name until Strange Tales #141).
- The Amulet of Agamotto is used by Doctor Strange in this issue; it should not be confused with the Eye of Agamotto, which does not appear until Strange Tales #128.
- Cover penciled by Jack Kirby and inked by Dick Ayers; the Doctor Strange backup was plotted by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (co-plot), with art fully by Ditko; the Human Torch story was plotted by Lee and scripted by Ernie Hart under the pseudonym 'H. Huntley', with Dick Ayers on interior art.
- The Doctor Strange story has been reprinted numerous times, including in Marvel Collectors' Item Classics #4 (1966), Marvel Treasury Edition #6 (1975), Marvel Tales #135 (1982), multiple Marvel Masterworks Doctor Strange volumes, the Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Master of the Mystic Arts, and the Mighty Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange Vol. 1 (2021).
- Baron Mordo was portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Doctor Strange (2016) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), making this issue the source material for one of the MCU's recurring antagonist roles.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Journey into Unknown Worlds #38 (1955)
Reprinted in Uncanny Tales #46 (1966), Marvel Collectors' Item Classics #4 (1966), Terrific! #3 (1967), Marvel Tales #14 (1968), I Fantastici Quattro #11 (1971), The Avengers #3 (1973), Marvel Treasury Edition #6 (1975), Capitaine America #76/77 (1978), Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts #[1] (1978), Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic Arts #[nn] (1979), Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic Arts #[nn] (1979), Une Aventure des Fantastiques #26 (1981), Marvel Tales #135 (1982), The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe #10 (1986), Marvel Masterworks #23 (1992), Marvel Milestone Edition: Strange Tales #110 #[nn] (1995), Essential Doctor Strange #1 (2001), Marvel : Les origines #1 (2002), Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange #1 (2003), Essential Human Torch #1 (2003), Strange Tales Vol. 1 Nos. 110, 111, 114 & 115 [Marvel Legends Reprint] #[nn] (2004), Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch #1 (2006), Coleccionable Marvel Héroes #8 (2010), Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange #1 (2010) + 15 more
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