Issue(s): Stranger Tales #134 (Human Torch & Thing only)
Published Date: Jul 65

Human Torch & Thing
Title: "The challenge of... the Watcher!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Bob Powell - Penciler
Wally Wood - Inker

Review/plot:
For a guy sworn never to interfere, the Watcher sure interferes a lot. This issue, he brings the Thing and the Human Torch to the time of Merlin so they can prevent Kang from altering the course of history. Kang, who has fought the Avengers to a standstill on multiple occasions, is soundly thrashed by only half the Fantastic Four this time.

It's possibly because Kang was only here to fool around and pass the time. He sure looks bored once he's taken over King Arthur's court.

The MCP lists the "Merlin" in this story as Maha Yogi, the long-lived mutant who masqueraded as Merlin, as opposed to the actual Merlin.

There's no indication in this issue that that is the case; Merlin is actually on the good guys' side in this story. But i don't track the "local" character appearances in time travel stories, so i guess it doesn't matter to me. I'm not even sure where this Kang appearance really takes place (but MCP has it between Avengers #11 and #16).

Additionally, it seems that Kang has speculated in Thor Annual #17 (part of the Citizen Kang crossover) that the Watcher appearing in this story was actually Immortus in disguise. If so, it explains the fact that the Watcher would get so involved, especially in a time-travel related story (See Nathan Adler's Fanfix for an expansion on this theory, that goes as far as to speculate that Merlin and Immortus are one and the same as well). The MCP still lists the Watcher as a Character Appearing, however.

This is the last issue of Strange Tales to feature the Human Torch and the Thing. They're replaced by Nick Fury next issue. The series was never of good quality, and it also felt a bit redundant with frequent appearances by the rest of the FF and especially after the Thing permanently became a co-star. Of course by modern standards Marvel was being remarkably restrained having only a single spin-off series of their most popular book.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 2

Chronological Placement Considerations: Strange Tales #132-134 take place between FF #37-38. See the Considerations note on FF #37 for more. I unfortunately have FF #37-38 in a single reprint, so i've placed these issues immediately afterward.

References:

• Kang refers to the first time he used radioactivity to repel his enemies, in Avengers #8.

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: N/A

In the Alan Moore/ Alan Davis Captain Britain strip in particular British comic Daredevils #1, there's a moment where Roma is chastising her father for not showing himself to Brian Braddock at a crucial juncture and providing vital information, Merlin shifts appearance over a succession of panels including to the Silver Age Marvel version of Merlin.

So is it actually true that Maha Yogi masqueraded as this Merlin or was he always Roma's father?