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Appearing in "Dr. Strange Master of Black Magic!"

Reprint of the 4th story from
Strange Tales #110

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Synopsis for "Dr. Strange Master of Black Magic!"

Reprint of the 4th story from
Strange Tales #110

A man tormented by nightmares comes to Doctor Strange to seek aid. Doctor Strange promises to help. He travels in spirit form to his old master who lives in a remote mountain temple in Asia. The master tells Strange to depend on his magic amulet if danger threatens. Back in his mortal form, Strange visits the man he has promised to help. When the man falls asleep, Doctor Strange enters his dream in spiritual form. Inside the dream, Strange is met by a figure bound in chains who presents himself as the symbol of the evil that the tormented man has done and tells Strange that if he does not believe then he should ask Mr. Crang. Then another form appears, Nightmare, Strange's ancient foe. Meanwhile, the dreaming man awakens and realizes the dreams are caused by all the men he has ruined. Fearing that Doctor Strange might expose him, he grabs a gun to shoot Strange who is kept from reuniting with his mortal form by Nightmare. Strange mentally calls upon his master who remotely activates Strange's amulet and causes it to place a hypnotic spell on the man. Doctor Strange slips out of the dream dimension and grabs the gun before removing the hypnotic spell. The man agrees to confess to his crimes and Strange tells him that that is the only way he will ever sleep again.

Appearing in "The Coming of... Doctor Strange"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Doctor Strange #169

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Synopsis for "The Coming of... Doctor Strange"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Doctor Strange #169

While recuperating at the Sanctum of his master the Ancient One, Doctor Strange sleeps and dreams of the events that led to him becoming a master of the mystic arts. What follows is an extended origin based on the events depicted in Strange Tales #115 following the end of his career as a surgeon due to car accident, becoming a drunken derelict and questing to restore his damaged hands. Learning of the Ancient One and attempting to become his disciple, after displaying a show of selflessness by trying to protect the Ancient One from the machinations of Karl Mordo, he is allowed to train under the Ancient One's tutelage.

Strange awakens from his dream to the summons of the Ancient One.

Appearing in "To Dream-- Perchance to Die!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Doctor Strange #170

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Synopsis for "To Dream-- Perchance to Die!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Doctor Strange #170

Strange hears the Ancient One cry out in his sleep and rushes to his chamber. He is in some kind of coma. Hamir, the Ancient One's manservant, heard him say, "Nightmare." An arousal spell fails, so Strange tries to enter his dreaming mind. Before he can complete his preparations, he is pulled forcibly into the Ancient One's nightmare. Hamir drops his disguise--he is really Nightmare, and he follows Strange.

Nightmare's first spell, a set of emerald bands, is broken. His second forces Strange to revert from astral form to physical. His steed attacks, but Strange drives it off with the light of his All-Seeing Eye. Nightmare's third spell brings Hamir forth as a hostage, but the Eye reveals it as an illusion. Frustrated, Nightmare returns to the waking world to kill the Ancient One physically. Strange's cloak restrains him, and he flees to his own dimension.

The Ancient One finally awakens. He confesses that he deliberately set a trap for Nightmare, using himself as bait, so that Strange would defeat him and regain his confidence.

Appearing in "To Steal the Sorcerer's Soul!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Marvel Fanfare #5

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Synopsis for "To Steal the Sorcerer's Soul!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Marvel Fanfare #5

Nicodemus hypnotizes a child to help him break into Doctor Strange's Sanctum and attempt to steal the power of the Sorceror Supreme. Strange and Clea work together to give him just what he wants, briefly transferring all of their power to Nicodemus, tranforming him into a creature resembling Dormammu, but due to his poor understanding of the fundamentals of magic, the power overwhelms him and Strange and Clea are able to set things right. Strange lets Nicodemus go, trusting that he's been cured of his powerlust.

Solicit Synopsis

By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth, Doctor Strange works his magic as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the House of Ideas with the era-spanning MARVEL TALES! This anthology series shines a spotlight on fan-favorite characters, features timeless stories and highlights some of our most impressive talent from the past eight decades. First, the legendary pairing of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko debut the incomparable Stephen Strange as Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme in SEarth-015335ANGE TALES (1951) #110! Then, in DOCTOR SEarth-015335ANGE (1968) #169-170, Roy Thomas and Dan Adkins offer their take on Strange’s origin — and serve up a rematch with his first foe, the dream-manipulating Nightmare! And the skillful spellcaster called Clea joins the fight against the nefarious Nicodemus, who’s out to steal the sorcerer’s soul in a memorable tale from MARVEL FANFARE (1982) #5 by Chris Claremont and Marshall Rogers!

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