Synopsis of “The Return of the Omnipotent Baron Mordo!” Strange Tales #114, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Release Date August 8, 1963; Cover Date November, 1963).

Impersonating Sir Clive Bentley (an old friend of Steven Strange), Baron Mordo calls on Doctor Strange to ask for help. Unsuspecting, Strange travels to Bentley’s castle in England, where he is paralyzed by the unnatural vapors of a magical candle. Mordo enters the room and tells him that he will die when the candle has burned itself out. The Ancient One contacts Doctor Strange and wishes to help him, but Strange refuses his help, saying that he needs to be able to defeat Mordo on his own. Strange then projects his thoughts out and they reach a woman. He commands her to come to Bentley’s castle. The “spellbound girl” enters the castle and snuffs out the candles flame. Because she heard his thoughts and answered his call, Strange realized that this woman must have a dormant talent for sorcery, but it would be safest for her to never realize it. The woman introduced herself as Victoria Bentley, the daughter of Lord Bentley, and tells him that Lord Bentley died ten years earlier. Dr. Strange realizes that because Mordo was able to deceive him, he must be more powerful than he thought. At this moment, Mordo enters and tries to control Dr. Strange’s mind, ordering him to slay Victoria Bentley. Dr. Strange tells Mordo that he is only a mental projection and that the real Dr. Strange has just arrived and reunites with his ethereal self. While their bodies stand facing each other, they battle in another mystic dimension, until Mordo’s body vanishes in a puff of smoke. With Mordo having been defeated, but not killed. Because Strange had said that she had a talent for the mystic arts, Victoria Bentley asks to become Dr. Strange’s disciple. Strange replies, “Not yet,” warning her that the more she learns the more she is in danger from Baron Mordo.

Victoria Bentley asks to become the disciple of Dr. Strange. Stan Lee (w), Steve Ditko (p, i), Sam Rosen (l), “The Return of the Omnipotent Baron Mordu,” Strange Tales, Vol 1, #114 (New York: Marvel Comics, 1963), 5.

Synopsis of “The Domain of the Dread Dormammu!” Strange Tales #126, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Release Date August 11, 1964; Cover Date November, 1964).

The Ancient One warns Doctor Strange that the Dread Dormammu is threatening to cross over from the realm of darkness into that of the world of man. The Ancient One says that he is too aged and weary, so he sends Dr. Strange to confront Dormammu. Perceiving the arrival of a mere disciple, Dormammu scoffs as he sees no satisfaction in detroying Dr. Strange. As Dr. Strange battles various creatures sent by Dormammu, a beautiful silver-haired woman watches him. She admires his courage but knows he is not powerful enough to defeat the dread Dormammu. Finally, as Strange makes his the way to Dormammu's lair, she warns him that he cannot defeat Dormammu, but Strange says he is pledged to fight evil. The issue ends with Dormammu and Strange preparing to fight.

First Appearance of Clea. Stan Lee, Prince of Prestidigitators (w), Steve Ditko, Lord of legerdemain (p, i), Artie Simek, Nabor of Necromancy (l), Stan Lee (e), “The Domain of the Dread Dormammu,” Strange Tales, Vol 1, #126 (New York: Marvel Comics, 1964), 7.

Clea and Victoria Bentley: The Male Gaze in Dr. Strange during the Silver Age

Synopsis of “Duel with the Dread Dormammu!” Strange Tales #127, by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (Release Date: September 8, 1964; Cover Date December, 1964).

Dormammu refuses to fight Dr. Strange as it would not be challenging enough, and tells him to think it over. While waiting for his duel against Dormammu, the silver-haired woman attempts to dissuade Dr. Strange from fighting since he will surely perish, but Strange says he will die to save humanity. She then shows Doctor Strange the outskirts of Dormammu's realm where the Mindless Ones dwell, prevented from entering the realm by a mystic shield. She presents Strange with a dilemma: if Strange does not defeat Dormammu, humanity is doomed, but if Strange defeats Dormammu, the Mindless Ones will get loose and destroy everyone in the Dark Dimension. Strange is summomned for the duel and sees that Dormammu has captured and handcuffed the silver-haired woman (with oldtimey barbell balls).



Dormammu is impressed with Strange's power, but Strange slowly weakens. However, because Dormammu expends so much power during the duel the mystic barrier weakens, and the Mindless Ones enter the realm. Dormammu stops attacking strange to fend off the Mindless Ones, but as he is not strange enough, Doctor Strange helps Dormammu reestablish the barrier. Unhappy at being in Dr. Strange's debt, Dormammu is forced to promise two things to Dr. Strange. “One: No harm must come to this female! Two: You must vow never to invade Earth!”



Dr. Strange wants to take the silver-haired woman back to eath, but she refuses, saying she will never forget him. Back on Earth, Ancient One tells Strange that he will be the one to succeed him as Master, and gives him a cloak (Cloak of Levitation) and an amulet (The Eye of Agamotto).

Note: Dormammu will break his vow in Doctor Strange #173. He will also make another attempt in Marvel Feature #2: The Defenders, and then again causing the Avengers/Defenders War in Avengers #115–118 and Defenders #8–11.

Strange Tales#150



The Ancient One and Dr. Strange go back in time to ancient Babylon and battle the griffon guarding the Book of the Vishanti.



Clea worries about the Mindless Ones

Umar the Unrelenting