MRL - Strange Tales (1951) #117-119

[sonotadream]

Stranger Tales (1951) 117-119 - Stan Lee/Dick Ayers

 

Quick check in with the Human Torch and a couple of old villains with new upgrades.

First, there’s the Eel, who has decided to lean into the aquatic creature theme and even works at aquarium now. Then, the Wizard escapes prison thanks to an anti-gravity device he invented. He goes on to impersonate the Human Torch and succeeds in trapping both Johnny ans Sue in an airtight box. Fortunately, there’s a pin sized hole and Johnny manages to send a fire flare trough it that alerts Reed and Ben. Johnny goes after the Wizard and he uses the anti-gravity device to escape, but flies too far up and the lack of oxygen prevents Johnny from going after him. Will the Wizard return?

Yes, yes he will.

Lastly, there’s the Rabble Rouser. He’s using Hate Monger tech (remember him? the maybe Hitler clone from Fantastic Four #21?) to get people to hate the Human Torch and drive him out of the city, so he can’t stop the Rabble Rouser’s plan to kidnap an allied foreign dignitary - turns out he’s a red agent! Haven’t seem those in a while.

There’s a brief Spider-Man cameo, where he tries to give Johnny advice to deal with a hating crowd. Johnny's not interested.

Also, one of the things bringing Johnny down is that Dorrie broke up with him. In the last panel, she confesses she was only trying to make him jealous, but promises not to do that again, now that she has seen Johnny’s temper. And that’s a sour note to end things on.