American Update: Mighty Marvel Firsts: Debut of Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD in Strange Tales #135
*Marvel: Although the ‘modern’ Nick Fury had appeared in Fantastic Four as a CIA Agent, giving readers of Sgt. Fury their first clue that he’d survived World War II (and ‘spoiling’ the rest of the series for them…) the height of the spy craze in 1965 meant that when Nick took over the second slot in Strange Tales, he had his very own acronymic agency in SHIELD, which made its debut in Nick’s second starring series. ‘Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD’ brought the character firmly into the Swingin’ Sixties, with fantastic gadgets, high-stakes melodrama, megalomaniacal villains, and lovely lethal ladies who switched from kissing to killing at the drop of a plot twist. Contrasted with the stunning Lee & Ditko Doctor Strange, this spies & sorcery mishmash delighted the readership. This is a low grade pence stamped copy of Strange Tales #135, with much wear at spine and edges, plenty of cover creasing breaking colour and a 2 cm tear at right edge without loss. Staples are loose but attached (off bottom at centrefold), and page quality is okay. Ragged but just about acceptable.
PICTURED: STRANGE TALES #135 FA p £75 SOLD