American Update: Origin of Doctor Strange in Strange Tales #115
*Marvel: Although Marvel’s Master of the Mystic Arts had premiered some issues earlier, it was Strange Tales #115 which explained how dissolute and egotistical surgeon Stephen Strange had sought help from mystical sources and been drawn on to the path of heroism following a life-altering accident. This, however, was a secret well-kept by Marvel, who were still plugging the Human Torch as a solo star at this point, and as such gave his match-up with Spidey foe the Sandman all the cover space, without even mentioning the Doctor was In! Nevertheless, this is the first telling of Strange’s origin, as greatly expanded upon in the recent Bandersnatch Cummerbund-helmed cinematic blockbuster. This is a VG pence copy. The price stamp itself is not terribly intrusive, covering a small part of the logo, but oddly this copy seems also to have been pence-printed, and that price obscured by magic marker. This defect is what primarily mitigates against an otherwise VG+ or better copy. Official verdict: VG p £105.