The Terrible Toys!

While out shopping with the girls, the Human Torch and the Thing accidentally stumble upon the Puppet Master, who has altered his appearance with plastic surgery, and his latest plot of using a ray gun to turn people into living manequins. Captured by the Puppet Master and his robotic manqueins, the two heroes manage to break themselves free and in the end the Puppet Master becomes a victim of his own weapon.

Recurring Characters

Human Torch, Thing, Doris Evans, Alicia Masters, Puppet Master

Continuity Notes

• Although the Puppet Master alters his appearance via plastic surgery (or at least claims to have done so) he returns to his original appearance when he appears again in Fantastic Four Annual #3. Your guess is as good as mine, but I figure that the Puppet Master was just overselling his change of appearance since the guy gets his ass regularly kicked by the Fantastic Four I doubt he was able to afford actual plastic surgery.

• The Puppet Master also mentions his previous encounter with the Human Torcch and Thing. That happened in Strange Tales #126.

A Nameless Land, a Timeless Time!

Transported to the Dark Dimension, Doctor Strange is reunited with Clea, however, they are attacked and made a prisoner of Shazana, a sorceress who desires to rule the Dark Dimension herself. Probing the mind of a lesser creature under Shazana's dominion, Doctor Strange learns the source of her power comes from a powerful orb. Attacking Shazana once more, Doctor Strange blocks the orb from providing her with power and jumps upon it to destroy it, causing a mystical backlash that sends Doctor Strange through the myriad dimensions.

Recurring Characters

Doctor Strange, Clea, The Ancient One, Shazana, Baron Mordo, Dormammu, Hamir the Hermit

Continuity Notes

• Clea isn't named here until Strange Tales #146. She mentions how Strange befriended her people, this happened in Strange Tales #127.

• Shazanna's half-sister Nazaka and her pet Ubbu are not named until Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic #1.

• The Ancien One's assistant Hamir is not named until Strange Tales #141.