Plot by Stan Lee – Script by Larry Lieber – Art by Jack Kirby – Inks by Dick Ayers – Letters by Art Simek

Last issue The Human Torch finally felt like he was in a superhero comic as he faced off with Paste Pot Pete. This issue continues that trend and makes Strange Tales one of the more consistent Marvel books when it comes to abandoning the old anthology structure.

The Wizard returns, escaping prison using his superior intelligence and immediately challenging Johnny Storm to prove which of them is the better man.

Which makes his motivation feel less like a criminal scheme and more like a supervillain nursing a personal grudge.

The simplicity of the plot helps the issue enormously.

There’s very little exposition. Very little setup. The story immediately locks into hero-versus-villain momentum and just keeps moving.

Sue warns Johnny not to walk directly into the trap, which naturally means Johnny immediately walks directly into the trap.

And from there, the issue wastes very little time.

The Wizard’s entire gimmick revolves around elaborate inventions and traps hidden throughout his mansion, giving Kirby another excuse to fill the pages with increasingly fantastical technology.

Unique architecture. Missile launchers. Trap doors. Gas weapons. Asbestos-lined rooms designed specifically to neutralize the Human Torch.

It’s basically a comic book deathtrap funhouse.

Sue eventually follows Johnny and gets captured herself, leading to one of the more enjoyable aspects of the issue: a rare Human Torch and Invisible Girl team-up.

The sibling dynamic gives the story a little extra charm. Instead of the usual Fantastic Four group chemistry, we get Johnny and Sue working together directly, almost like a prototype version of the smaller-scale Marvel team-ups the company will lean on more heavily later.

Once captured, the story briefly turns into a miniature *Mission: Impossible*-style escape sequence as Johnny and Sue combine their powers to break free from the Wizard’s traps.

Soon enough, the Wizard is defeated and hauled back to prison.The plot itself is extremely thin.

But that almost feels beside the point.

Because this issue quietly accomplishes three really important things:

– it establishes the Wizard as a recurring enemy

– it gives Johnny a more defined supporting dynamic with Sue

– and most importantly, it fully commits to being a superhero story from start to finish

No anthology structure awkwardly wrapped around superheroes.

No giant conceptual detours.

Just a costumed hero battling a recurring villain through increasingly elaborate comic book nonsense.

And for Strange Tales, that actually feels like a major turning point.

It may not be a compelling issue.

But it’s one of the clearest signs yet that Marvel is finally learning how these solo superhero books are supposed to work.

Marvel in the 60s – Entry #34