MRL - Strange Tales (1951) #126-128

Strange Tales (1951) #126-128 - Stan Lee/Steve Ditko

Doctor Strange must travel to the Dark Dimension and battle the Dread Dormammu, who not even the Ancient One could vanquish.

His mission gets complicated when a mysterious woman warns Strange that defeating Dormammu will have dire consequences. On the outskirts of the Dread Dimension live the Mindless Ones, who want nothing but to cause destruction and violence. The only thing keeping them at bay is the barrier constructed by Dormammu.

However, Strange's loyalty is first to Earth and he can't allow Dormammu to invade his home.

They fight, and although Strange was a lot of courage and valour, he's not powerful enough to defeat Dormammu. Still, the power Dormammu uses in the battle causes his barrier to weaken and the Mindless Ones start rampaging over the Dark Dimension.

Strange could take advantage of Dormammu's distraction, but that would be too underhanded. Instead, he lends Dormammu his own strength to keep the Mindless Ones at bay.

Dormammu hates that he needed Strange's help and vows to avenge himself, but his own moral code prevents him from continue to fight he owns such a debt to.

To repay this debt, Strange asks that Dormammu stays away from Earth and that he spares the mystery woman, who thanks Strange, but refuses to leave her home.

For proving his worth, the Ancient One gifts Strange a more powerful amulet and a new cape, that grants him the ability to levitate.

Strange uses his new gifts to help the former disciple of a man that calls himself the Demon. He has studied the Dark Arts in secret, but with his existence revealed, he thinks he’s ready to take down Doctor Strange. He’s wrong and Strange puts a mental block on him.

There’s very interesting things going on with the art and colours in this series; Strange’s character just needs a bit more fleshing out.