In the Clutches of the Puppet Master!

Having survived his last battle with the Fantastic Four, the Puppet Master plans to get revenge on the group. Creating puppets of both the Human Torch and the Thing, and using his step-daughter Alicia as the catalyst, the Puppet Master manipulates the two into fighting each other.

The fight takes them across the city, where the Puppet Master goes in for an up close view of the fight. Spotted by Alicia, she informs the Torch of the Puppet Master's machinations, and the Torch uses his flame powers to destroy the puppets he's using to control them. The Thing is about to pummel the Puppet Master until Alicia talks him into letting him go.

Recurring Characters

Fantastic Four (Human Torch, Thing, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl), Puppet Master

Continuity Notes

• The Puppet Master was last seen in Fantastic Four #14. How he escaped death in that story is revealed in this issue.

• The narrative of this story states that the Human Torch is returning from his battle against the Sandman, which occurred in Strange Tales #115, however continuity-wise, this story takes place between Fantastic Four #21 and 22.

Return to the Nightmare World!

In the Dream Dimension, Nightmare has prepared a potion that will bring humans into his dimension and trap them while they sleep. Doctor Strange is contacted by the police to solve a case where people can not be awakened after falling asleep. Doctor Strange discover that the sleeping people are under a spell. Using a chant found in the Book of Vishanti, Doctor Strange is able to enter the Dream Dimension.

Inside, Doctor Strange evades the first traps of Nightmare and frees the imprisoned men, but is then himself trapped. Using his amulet, Strange defeats Nightmare's minion, the Spinybeast, and escapes to the mortal world.

Recurring Characters

Doctor Strange, Wong, Nightmare, Dreamstalker

Continuity Notes

• Doctor Strange's assistant Wong is not named here, and remains unnamed until Strange Tales #119.