Strange Bedfellows

Strange Tales #120 - By Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

This issue read more like an Archie comic or something I'd imagine more from Millie the Model or its ilk. The first half of the story basically focuses on Iceman and the Human Torch's dating situations - or lack thereof in Bobby Drake's case. Bobby is so disappointed by Jean Grey accepting a date from Warren Worthington that Professor Xavier tells him to take some time off. Bobby decides a water tour of the Hudson River in New York City looks like a great way to meet girls.

Of course, the girl he meets is Doris who's dating Johnny Storm. He's a gentleman and she's up-front about her date, so even after Johnny shows up nothing really happens. In fact, that's about all the dialogue that's exhanged between the characters for the entire issue. Really, in the rest of the story there are about two panels of them exchanging strategic outbursts while they're in costume.

The rest of the story centers around some river pirates attempting to rob the passengers on the ferry. The leader of this group, the Barracuda, has a few interesting moments in the story but he's little more then a two-bit criminal and might have been a more fitting "baddie" in the Golden Age. But he and his men are rounded up with little difficulty be the team of Fire and Ice.

Overall, it's somewhat of a disappointing story because there is precious little interaction between the Marquee characters. I would have even welcomed the two of them getting into a bit of a tussle over Doris before teaming up against the pirates. Both charcters are considered jokers on their own teams, but we see precious little of that here and certainly not with each other. A one-upsman game of one-liners would have been fun to see. Oh, well. Maybe next time.

The back-up story featuring Doctor Strange was actually the better part of the issue. "The House of Shadows" by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko is actually an idea ahead of it's time. The focus of the story is on a TV crew broadcasting a reporter staying the night in a haunted house. Being 1964, they can't send the cameras in with the reporter, but he does have a wireless microphone and he will narrate his findings throughout the night. Little did Stan Lee know that there would be entire TV series around this concept some 30 or 35 years later! Or maybe this is where Ghost Hunters REALLY got their inspiration!

The situation catches the attention of Dr. Strange and he watches from amidst the crowd outside. Once the reporter begins to encounter some oddities, Strange goes astral but finds he cannot enter the house even in that form. He then brings to bear the powers of his enchanted amulet (no name given to it in this issue) in order to see the reporter inside. After observing for a few moments, Strange determines that he's needed inside and brushes the crowd aside and enters through the door.

A few spooky things happen inside and Strange needs to bring the powers of all his favorite sources (Dormammu, the Vishanti, the hosts of Hoggoth and more) to overcome the eerie mists binding him in the clutches. In fact, the mists are so powerful, Strange calls upon all his benefactors in a mere two panels!!

I found this story to be kind of spooky and fun. As this is very early in Marvel lore, Strange is wearing the blue pajamas including the cape, the mystic eye hasn't earned its name yet, and Hoggoth is hoary not his hosts! But it was actually a creepy story worthy of Twilight Zone or something and really fits the idea that Dr. Strange is defending the earth from other-dimensional fiends. So, this part was worth reading.

Guess that's why it's STRANGE TALES, huh?

Up Next: Uncanny X-Men #6 and Professor Xavier and the X-Men #7