Strange Tales #114
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeStrange Tales #114 occupies a genuinely singular position in Silver Age Marvel history: it is the first time Captain America appeared — however obliquely — in the modern era of comics, predating his celebrated return in Avengers #4 (March 1964) by roughly four months, and functions as an acknowledged market-test by Stan Lee to gauge reader appetite for a full Cap revival. At the same time, issue #114 marks the point at which Doctor Strange permanently joined Strange Tales as a continuing feature after two trial appearances, cementing what would become one of the most creatively adventurous runs in Marvel's early history. The issue also introduced Victoria Bentley, an English noblewoman with latent magical talent who would resurface in the Doctor Strange mythology for decades. Taken together, the two main stories make this a single issue that quietly set the stage for two of Marvel's most enduring characters.
In the 1963 classic "The Human Torch Meets... Captain America," the flame-wielding hero finds himself outshone when a mysterious figure claims to be the legendary Captain America—only for the Torch to uncover the truth behind the disguise. Written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, with dynamic art by Kirby and inks by Dick Ayers, this issue blends superhero rivalry and clever deception in a standout early Marvel tale. The cover, penciled by Kirby and inked by Ayers, captures the moment of surprise with bold, iconic flair.
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The Human Torch lead story was written by Stan Lee, penciled by Jack Kirby, and inked by Dick Ayers — the regular Strange Tales creative team at that point. The Doctor Strange backup, co-plotted by Steve Ditko under the Marvel Method and scripted by Lee, was inked by George Roussos, though Roussos went uncredited on the artwork; the Grand Comics Database notes this uncredited inking may reflect a last-minute editorial decision to make Strange a permanent fixture, since Lee was still gauging reader response after the character's earlier tryout appearances in issues #110 and #111. The Human Torch story carried an in-comic appeal to readers asking whether they wanted to see more of Captain America — a direct, unusual editorial bridge between the story page and the audience. The cover is dated November 1963, with an on-sale date of August 8, 1963.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First Silver Age appearance of Captain America (technically an impostor): the villain Carl Zante, the Acrobat — a returning foe from Strange Tales #106 — disguises himself as Captain America to commit crimes, marking the first time the character appeared in any form since 1954.
- The story ends with an explicit in-comic editorial plea asking readers whether they want the real Captain America to return, widely understood as a deliberate trial balloon that directly preceded Cap's full revival in Avengers #4 (March 1964) four months later.
- Third appearance of Doctor Strange (after Strange Tales #110 and #111) and the issue with which his strip became a permanent, recurring feature in the title, running continuously from #114 onward.
- First appearance of Victoria Bentley, daughter of the secretly sorcerous Lord Bentley, who possesses latent magical powers and later became a recurring supporting character in the Doctor Strange mythos; she was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
- The Doctor Strange story — 'The Return of the Omnipotent Baron Mordo!' — is notable for being the first time Lee's caption boxes refer to Strange's master as 'The Ancient One,' establishing that name in Marvel continuity.
- Art credits span two distinct creative teams: Jack Kirby (pencils) and Dick Ayers (inks) on the Human Torch story; Steve Ditko (pencils) and George Roussos, uncredited, on the Doctor Strange story; colors by Stan Goldberg.
- The Human Torch story won the 1963 Alley Award for Favorite Short Story.
- The Doctor Strange story has been reprinted in multiple collected editions including Marvel Collectors' Item Classics #5 (1966), Marvel Tales #136 (1982), Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange Vol. 1 (2003/2010), and Mighty Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange #1 — The World Beyond (2021).
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Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
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The Human Torch is upstaged by the return of Captain America, but the Torch realizes that it is his old enemy the Acrobat in disguise and defeats him.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
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