Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) comic books 1961-1963

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 88 GD+ 2.5

1/2" Cumulative spine split. Centerfold detached at one staple.

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. "Zzutak the Thing That Shouldn't Exist!!", pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko; An American comic book artist is forced by an Aztec priest to make a monster with magic paints; The artist creates another monster to fight the first, causing the temple to collapse on both monsters. "Snowstorm" text story. "The Lifeless Man!", art by Steve Ditko; A young boy prefers an old wooden toy soldier to more modern toys; His friends make fun of the toy, but when they are threatened by a bear the soldier seems to drive it off with its rifle. "Punishment!", art by Don Heck; An advanced civilization sends a mugger to a prison planet; Only a few moments on this world full of war, crime and disease make him go straight in order to avoid ever again coming back to Earth. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.10.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 98 CGC 1.0

Paper: White

Label #4398082009

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. "No Human Can Beat Me!", pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Paul Reinman; An alien lands on Earth and issues a challenge to best any man at any contest or the Earth will be invaded; The alien defeats all comers until one man challenges it to sleep longer than him, claiming to have slept for one million years. "The Party" text story. "They Vanished Forever!", art by Dick Ayers; Sailors find the "Flying Dutchman" and take the ship's gold, despite the pleas of the ghost crew; They are turned into ghosts to replace that crew, leaving the man who refused the gold unharmed. "The TV Fan!", art by Don Heck; A lazy cad tricks a rich girl into marrying him so that he can watch TV all day. "A Fortune in Beans!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; A bean seller is chagrined to find that he has competition from the Giant, of Jack and Beanstalk fame, who has decided to go into business selling his giant beans. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 104 CGC 6.0

Paper: Off white to white

Label #4375737008

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers. First appearance of Paste-Pot Pete (later called the Trapster) in "Paste-Pot Pete!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers; Human Torch stops Paste-Pot Pete from stealing an experimental missile from the military. "Venus!" text story. "Markham's Magic Crayon!", script by Stan Lee (plot) and Larry Lieber (script), art by Paul Reinman; A greedy factory owner fires a worker who claims to have made a magic crayon; He finds that the crayon really is magic, giving him the ability to draw fabulously. "The Frog-Man!", script by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko; An evil king is turned into a frog by a sorcerer; He hibernates for centuries hoping that the future will hold a cure, but Halloween costumes make him think that humans are now giant frogs and he goes to sleep forever. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.

Strange Tales (1951-1976 1st Series) 115 CGC 5.5

Paper: Off white

Label #1362288007

Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Steve Ditko. Dr. Strange's 4th appearance finally provides his origin in "The Origin of Dr. Strange," script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Steve Ditko (co-plot, un-credited), art by Steve Ditko; Dr. Stephen Strange, a top neurosurgeon, damages his hands in an accident and seeks out a mystic for help; He saves the seer from his treacherous student, becoming his pupil and finding a new purpose; First mentions of Dormammu and the All-Seeing Agamotto (though no actual appearances). Baron Mordo appearance. Second appearance (and brief origin) of the Sandman in "The Sandman Strikes!", script by Stan Lee (co-plot, script) and Dick Ayers (co-plot, un-credited), art by Dick Ayers; The Human Torch fights and defeats Spider-Mans old enemy Sandman. "Zero of Time" text story. 36 pgs., full color. Cover price $0.12.