Only one man knows more secrets of black magic than I do! And he is the one who taught me years ago --- he is the master!! But the time has come for me to wrest those secrets from him! For it is I, Baron Mordo, who must be the most powerful magician of all! 
Appearing in "Fighting to the Death with Asbestos Man!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Asbestos Man ⏵ (First appearance)
- Blackie Barker (First appearance) and his Henchman
Other Characters:
Locations:
- United States of America
- New York
- New York City
- Oak Street (First appearance)
- Long Island
- Glenville
- Sue and Johnny's home
- Thorn Road (First appearance)
- Asbestos Man's castle
- Glenville
- New York City
- New York
Items:
- Asbestos Man's Suit
Synopsis for "Fighting to the Death with Asbestos Man!"
While witnessing the Human Torch stopping a crime, Orson Kasloff dwells on the fact that he is an under appreciated scientist and that he could make a better living as a master criminal using his scientific mind to pull off perfect crimes. After his first attempt at burgling fails, he decides he'll end the threat of the Human Torch to criminals everywhere. Creating a chemically treated suit of armor and weapons made of asbestos, Kasloff becomes the Asbestos Man.
Challenging the Human Torch to a public battle, he manages to outsmart the Human Torch delivering a humiliating defeat to the hero and giving Asbestos Man the credentials to get hired on by a local crime boss. However, when he pulls off an actual crime, the Torch challenges Asbestos Man again, using his flame powers to eat all the oxygen around Asbestos Man instead of trying to burn him, forcing Asbestos Man and his crooks to surrender.
Appearing in "Beware the Machine"
Featured Characters:
- The organ grinder
- Jocko, his monkey
- Scientists
Supporting Characters:
- Policeman
Antagonists:
- X-200
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Beware the Machine"
- Synopsis not yet written
Appearing in "Face-to-Face with the Magic of Baron Mordo!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- ⏴ Baron Mordo (Karl Mordo) ⏵ (First appearance)
Other Characters:
Locations:
- Europe
- Transylvania
- Castle Mordo (First appearance) (as Baron Mordo's European castle)
- Transylvania
- Asia
- Tibet
- Ancient One's temple(first identified as in Tibet)
- Tibet
- United States of America
Items:
- Amulet of Agamotto (unnamed)
Synopsis for "Face-to-Face with the Magic of Baron Mordo!"
Mordo visits the Ancient One's home in astral form and compels the servant to put a drug in his food. Baron Mordo attempts to wring mystic secrets from him by threatening to let the poison kill him gradually. When Doctor Strange tries to contact the Ancient One and fails, he realizes something is wrong and visits in astral form. Strange and Mordo do battle. In desperation, Strange uses his amulet to transfer energy from himself to the Ancient One, thus weakening himself. He bluffs Mordo by telling him that he can keep Mordo's astral self from reuniting with his physical body. Mordo flees to his body and loses control over the servant. Strange follows and tells Mordo that his plot has failed.
Notes
Continuity Notes
The Human Torch Fights to the Death with the Asbestos Man!
- Orson Kasloff doesn't appear to be the genius he makes himself out to be, considering the fact that he doesn't realize how toxic asbestos is. He becomes a victim of his gimmick when he is later diagnosed with cancer, as revealed years later in Fear Itself: The Home Front #6, an illness he eventually succumbs to as mentioned in Fantastic Four (Vol. 5) #1.
Face-to-Face With the Black Magic of Baron Mordo!
- Both Doctor Strange and Baron Mordo refer to the Ancient One as "The Master", his commonly used title is not used for the first time until Strange Tales #114.
- The Ancient One's assistant Hamir is not named until Strange Tales #141.
- The amulet being used here is the Amulet of Agamotto and should not be confused with the Eye of Agamotto which is not gifted to Doctor Strange until Strange Tales #128.
Publication Notes
- Doctor Strange would be missing from the next two issues reappearing in Strange Tales #114.
- This issue is reprinted in other comics and books, see references for more info.[1]
See Also
Recommended Reading
Links and References
References
- ↑ The first story is reprinted in the following comics/TPB's:
- Essential Series Vol 1 Human Torch 1
- Marvel Tales Vol 2 14
- Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch 1
- Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts (Fireside)
- Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic Arts (Pocket Book)
- Marvel Collectors' Item Classics Vol 1 4
- Marvel Treasury Edition Vol 1 6
- Marvel Tales Vol 2 135
- Marvel Masterworks: Dr Strange Vol 1
- Essential Series Vol 1 Doctor Strange 1
- Marvel Milestone Edition: Doctor Strange