Strange Tales #115

Cover Date: December 1963

Plot Overview: Reed Richards calls the Torch in for a job. The Sandman has broken out of prison since being captured in Amazing Spider-Man #4. Reed wants the Torch to go and find Spider-Man since he has the most experience with him. This bothers the Torch and he decides to try and take down the Sandman on his own.

The Torch finds the Sandman on the George Washington bridge. The Sandman isn't interested in fighting the Torch and jumps off the side of the bridge. The Sandman actually hid under the bridge with his sand powers. This slight makes the Torch want to take down the Sandman even more.

Later, Spider-Man calls out to the Sandman with a bullhorn and challenges him to a fight. Later, the Sandman finds Spider-Man and ambushes him. Spider-Man yells Flame On and it's really the Human Torch. The Sandman doesn't think the Torch stands a chance against him and ducks into an elevator shaft.

The Sandman's plan is to wear out the Torch's flames and then finish him off. The Torch chases the Sandman through the building before realizing that his flame is starting to get weak. He creates a big flame to try and subdue the Sandman. The Sandman just smiles because sand doesn't burn. The flames turn on the sprinkler system in the building and it puts out the Torch's flames. It also turns the Sandman to mud. Johnny Storm uses all the fighting lessons from the Thing and Reed Richards and a little left over flame to get the best of the Sandman.

The real Spider-Man rushes to the scene to save the Torch and finds the police hauling the Sandman away. He comments that the city might not be big enough for both of them one day.

In Doctor Strange we get his origin story. He was a surgeon that was blinded by his own pride. One day he was in a car accident and it robbed him of his ability to perform surgery. He sought the Ancient One for healing but the Ancient One refused. He senses some good in Strange and offers to teach him. Strange refuses and goes to leave but a snow storm has trapped him at the Ancient One's home. Strange is introduced to Baron Mordo. During his stay, he figures out that Mordo is trying to kill his master. Mordo casts a spell on Strange to prevent him from warning the Ancient One. Strange works around it and asks to become the Ancient One's pupil. He is accepted and the Ancient One removes the spells placed by Mordo. The Ancient One reveals that he knows of Mordo's plans but keeps Mordo where he can control him. He tells Strange that it will one day be his job to battle Mordo.

My Take: The Human Torch story was really good. It furthered the dynamic between Spider-Man and the Torch nicely. I really liked the continuity as Reed and the Torch were discussing Spider-Man's battle with the Sandman as happening a couple of months ago. The way the Torch beat up on the Sandman at the end was a little silly but it was kind of fun at the same time.

I've said it a few times, I wasn't looking forward to reading the Human Torch stories but they've ended up being a fun read every month. The villains are silly more often than not but the Torch has been a really fun character on his own every month. I actually don't have a lot to say about the Torch story this time out. It was just a good quality read with good art. It was the kind of story that makes you want to pick up another issue and read it.

I give the Human Torch story ***1/2 out of *****.

The Dr. Strange story added some good depth to the character. You get to see that he wasn't a good person for the majority of his life and he's serving a sort of penance for his pride. It established a really good backstory for his universe. You understand his relationships with Baron Mordo and the Ancient One now. Iit kind of makes me wish they did a longer origin story so we could see him actually training. Again, this was a good quality read with good art in it.

I give the Dr. Strange story *** out of *****.

Notes: There was nothing of note in this issue.

Next Issue: Fantastic Four #22

Amazing Spider-Man #4

Cover Date: September 1963

Plot Overview: The issue opens with Spider-Man foiling a couple of crooks about to rob a jewelry store. They claim that they were attacked and that Spider-Man has no proof that they were up to no good. They call for the police and Spider-Man realizes he's made a mistake and leaves the scene. Spider-Man complains that The Daily Bugle articles undermining his work as a super hero.

Later, Spider-Man comes across a police chase and sees a man climbing the building. Spider-Man confronts the man and quickly realizes it's the Sandman. The Sandman demonstrates his ability to become nothing but sand and to become hard as a rock. Spider-Man unsuccessfully until the Sandman knocks him over and Spider-Man's mask tears. He fears being recognized and flees the scene. The Sandman continues on with his plans to rob a bank.

Peter Parker tries to sew his mask up when he sees a special report on the news. The Sandman is Cain Marko and escaped from a prison. During his flight from the police he hid in a nuclear testing facility and was exposed to radiation. The radiation gave him his special powers.

The Sandman flees the cops but needs a place to rest and decides on Parker's school. Sandman enters a room and finds it full of students and the principal. The principal stands up to Sandman and just as things are about to get ugly, Spider-Man makes the save.

Spider-Man still can't do much to hurt the Sandman and tries to keep him distracted long enough for the police to arrive.

The battle continues until Spider-Man finds an industrial vacuum cleaner and uses it to capture the Sandman. Spider-Man turns over the Sandman much to the chagrin of J. Jonah Jameson.

Peter Parker approaches Liz Allen at the end of the issue and almost gets in a fight with Flash Thompson. He backs off at the last second and gets mocked as a coward. Parker leaves dejected and hears the people on the street commenting on Spider-Man. He wonders if he should have his head examined as the issue comes to a close.

My Take: This was a pretty good issue. The fight between Spider-Man and Sandman was really long and fairly detailed. It felt like a hopeless situation for Spider-Man and he found a way to defeat Sandman. The side plots were also really good in this issue. Parker losing out on a date with Liz Allen because of being Spider-Man. Spider-Man leaving webbing in the chair of J. Jonah Jameson. Jameson later sitting in the chair and greeting Parker in his boxers. This had a lot of what makes Spider-Man such a memorable character.

This issue also did a great job of establishing Spider-Man as the underdog. He was against a foe he had no chance of beating. He found a way to win. That's always going to be a common thread with a lot of the Spider-Man fights over the year. He's always going to be the underdog beating bad guys that he has no business beating.

The art was good in this issue. The Sandman had a distinct look and the J. Jonah Jameson look is down pretty well at this point.

I'd give this ***1/2 out of *****

Notes: There were a lot of first appearances in this issue. The biggest first appearance would be the Sandman. He is one of the more well known Spider-Man villains. He switches sides from good guy to bad guy over the years but he stays a pretty consistent player in the Spider-Man books for a really long time.

This issue also features the first appearance of Betty Brant. She will be a love interest for Peter for several years and pops up here and there over the years. She's a big supporting cast member for the first several years of the book.

This one is a retcon but this is also considered to be the first appearance of Jessica Jones now. She's the brunette in the last panel of page 12. She's not mentioned by name and I had to Google where she was in the issue. She's really just a nameless character cheering on Spider-man that was later made more important. Anyways, here's a picture... you decide!

Next Issue: Journey Into Mystery #96