Strange Tales - Definition and Overview

Strange Tales is the name of several comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics.

The series began as a horror anthology, featuring science fiction and weird monsters, but in the Silver Age of Comic Books switched over to featuring superheroes. The first superhero to be featured was the Human Torch; The Thing joined him on a number of adventures. Doctor Strange made his debut in #110, and Nick Fury received his own feature as of #135.

The series ended with #168. Doctor Strange's adventures continued in Doctor Strange #169, Nick Fury's in Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #1. When Doctor Strange was cancelled, Strange Tales resumed at its old numbering (#179), featuring Adam Warlock and introducing Brother Voodoo. The series was cancelled again at #188, with Warlock #1 picking up Warlock's story.

After Doctor Strange's second series was cancelled in the 1980s, Strange Tales was relaunched, featuring Strange in the lead story and Cloak and Dagger in the backup feature. This lasted for nineteen issues, after which a new Doctor Strange series was launched.

A "Strange Tales" line of comics was launched in 1998; after all of them were cancelled due to low sales, three issues of Strange Tales were produced to tie up their plotlines.

References

• Strange Tales #1-168 (Marvel Comics, June 1951 - May 1968)
• Strange Tales of the Unusual #1-11 (Marvel Comics, December 1955 - August 1957)
• Strange Tales Annual #1-2 (Marvel Comics, 1962 - 1963)
• Strange Tales (1973 Series) #169-188 (Marvel Comics, September 1973 - November 1976)
• Strange Tales (1987 Series) #1-19 (Marvel Comics, April 1987 - October 1988)
• Strange Tales: Dark Corners #1 (Marvel Comics, May 1998)
• Strange Tales (1998 Series) #1-2 (Marvel Comics, September 1998 - October 1998)