Strange Tales #18

In "Descent into Darkness," Dagger finds herself isolated and outmatched when Cloak is trapped by the young sorcerer Lamar Plotnick. Forced to confront Night alone, she briefly gains the upper hand—only to be overtaken by the villain’s dark forces, transforming her into the menacing Dark Dagger. Night then calls in X-Factor, falsely claiming they must stop a rampaging mutant—unaware that the real threat now wears Dagger’s face. Written by Terry Austin and illustrated by Dan Lawlis, with inks and colors by Kevin Nowlan, this issue features a cover by Kevin Nowlan, capturing the eerie intensity of a hero fallen to darkness.