Strange Tales Vol 1 117

	Published
	February, 1964
"The Return of the Eel!"
	Writer Stan Lee; Penciler Dick Ayers; Letterer Artie Simek;
"The Many Traps of Baron Mordo!"
	Writer Stan Lee; Penciler Steve Ditko; Inker Steve Ditko; Letterer Sam Rosen;

I'm the best caretaker this aquarium ever had! I've got a a way with fish, and they know it! That's why I decided to call myself the Eel when I embarked on my career of crime! Because I'm as slippery, and as dangerous as the electric eel!

-- Eel

Appearing in "The Return of the Eel!"

Featured Characters:

Human Torch

Supporting Characters:

Fantastic Four

Antagonists:

Eel

Other Characters:

Prison Warden

Locations:

USA
- New York State
  - Long Island
    - Glenville
      - Susie and Johnnie's House

Items:

Asbestos Grease

Vehicles:

Eel's Helicopter

Synopsis for "The Return of the Eel!"

Learning that the Eel is about to be released after serving his time, the Torch flies to the prison to warn the warden to lock the Eel back up. The warden tells the Torch that the Eel has served his time and is free to go and the Torch watches helplessly as the Eel is allowed to leave.

Knowing the Eel is up to no good, the Torch is there when the Eel attempts a number of crimes. Each time, the Eel bests the Torch with some mechanical device or another. Realizing that the Eel must be hiding out at the local aquarium, he battles him there. The Eel gains the upper hand at first, having coated himself with a flameproof oil, however the Torch gains the upper hand when while attempting to feed the Torch to the aquarium's shark, the oil rubs away, allowing the Torch to use his flame powers and easily best the Eel and turn him back over to the authorities. Afterwards, his colleagues in the Fantastic Four give Johnny a present: His very own aquarium with fish.

Appearing in "The Many Traps of Baron Mordo!"

Featured Characters:

Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange)

Supporting Characters:

Ancient One (Yao)

Antagonists:

Baron Mordo (Karl Mordo)

Other Characters:

Dormammu (Invoked)
Vishanti (Invoked)

Locations:

Items:

Synopsis for "The Many Traps of Baron Mordo!"

Using a miniature replica of Doctor Strange's house, Baron Mordo creates a magical trap that transports Strange and his home into an unknown dimension. Seeking the spell's source, Doctor Strange travels in ethereal form to the home of Baron Mordo where he falls into another trap, a bottle like prison. Mordo arrives at the Ancient One's house only to discover that Strange has reached there before him. Mordo's magical prison had no floor. By descending downwards through the Earth, Strange had eventually weakened the spell enough to break free. In the following magical battle, Doctor Strange's good powers defeats Mordo's evil ones.

Notes

Continuity Notes

The Return of the Eel!

The Torch mentions his last battle with the Eel which took place in Strange Tales #112.

Near the end of the story, Johnny is reading a Fantastic Four comic book. As revealed in Fantastic Four #10, the Fantastic Four have licensed out their adventures to be adapted into comic books by Marvel Comics.

The Many Traps of Baron Mordo!

Doctor Strange is wearing the Amulet of Agamotto here, it should not be confused with the Eye of Agamotto which Strange is gifted in Strange Tales #128.

Publication Notes

The title given for the Doctor Strange story on the cover page ("The Terrible Traps of Baron Mordo") is slightly different from that given on the first page of the story ("The Many Traps of Baron Mordo").

This issue is reprinted in other comics and books, see references for more info.^[1]
Doctor Strange and Baron Mordo are both mentioned on this issue's cover, the first time either character's name is mentioned on a comic book cover.

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