Strange Tales #146, July 1966 [published 12 Apr 66]

You know, I didn't know until recently that this was a fabricated cover, based upon some illos from the inside story. It’s a great story and I’m sorry it took so long for Dr. Strange to get a full cover to himself. It’s surprising that they just didn’t run another S.H.I.E.L.D. cover instead.

Dr. Strange: “The End -- At Last!” - Script: Dennis O’Neil; Art: STV DTKO; Lettering: Art Simek

Well, Dormammu has gone completely crazy.

Page 3: Continuity: as last issue’s tale is referenced.

As the story proceeds, Dormammu’s megalomania is even more extreme.

Pages 5-6: two gorgeous full-page spreads by STV DTKO.

All the loose ends seem to be tied up in this tale. So now we’re ready for all new loose ends.

O’Neil’s writing is a little bit stiff; and it’s a little bit hokey when he has Dr. Strange overly dwell on Clea the way he does.

I’ll save my appreciation of STV DTKO for this month’s Spider-Man adventure.

Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “When the Unliving Strike!” - Script: Stan Lee; Layouts: Jack Kirby; Art: Don Heck; Inking: Mike Esposito; Lettering: Sam Rosen

Page 3, panel 3: In-house plug as Nick Fury discusses Marvel Comics.

There’s a bit of a conflict here, if that’s the right word. A.I.M. stands for Advanced Idea Mechanics which is an international bunch of civilian scientists. However the yellow-robed guys with the flat-topped headgear are also referred to as A.I.M. or are they “Them”? Hmmm! (I guess the yellow-suited guys with the fashion handicap are indeed identified as “Them”.)

Already the conflict between A.I.M. and Fury’s management of S.H.I.E.L.D. has begun.

Agents of “Them” don’t appear to have a problem with humility.

Jasper Sitwell’s comic relief adds a little depth to the series.

There is a reference to the current Iron Man story-line.

Even by the end of this first chapter, our stalwart agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are guessing there’s a link between “Them” and A.I.M.

Anarchy and Chaos are the natural state of the human race. Civilization is unnatural. It is a whim of circumstance. And Chaos must always ultimately triumph.