Issue(s): Marvel Super Heroes #12 (Dr. Strange story only)
Cover Date: Jan 93 / Winter 92
Title: "Sins of the father"
Credits:
Roy Thomas & Jean-Marc Lofficier - Script
Stuart Hopen - Plot
Brian Postman - Penciler
Armando Gil - Inker
Dan Cuddy - Assistant Editor
Rob Tokar - Editor

Review/plot:
A man named Augustyne Phyffe, known to Dr. Strange as the son of Lord Julian Phyffe, shows up at Dr. Strange's door, looking for help. Julian Phyffe betrayed Strange on behalf of Baron Mordo, and Julian was killed. Augustyne tried to follow in his father's (pre-betrayal) footsteps, but he wasn't a natural magician and he got hooked on "orphium" ("the forbidden mind-expander"!). Except Strange says the stuff is not really addictive. Augustyne, not listening, tries to buy orphium from Strange with a Diary of the Aged Genghis. Strange says the book is cursed. Strange tries to remove the curse, but that summons a "Tauro-Demon" and it lets out a blast as Strange is banishing it, and it hits Strange. Strange is more convinced than ever that the Aged Genghis' book needs to be destroyed, so he takes Augustyne with him to another dimension.

And if things weren't already weird, they get weird now.

Strange and Augustyne get into trouble both because of Augustyne's orphium obsession and because lots of mages want to fight Strange to increase their rep. But they do manage to get rid of the book, and Augustyne eventually gives up on orphium.

There is an interesting story behind this issue and a follow-up in Marvel Super Heroes #14. According to Augustyne Phyffe's entry on the Appendix, which was written by Jean-Marc Lofficier himself, these issues were a couple unrelated of inventory stories, with the original intention unknown. So Lofficier and Thomas made some changes and scripted the two stories so that they would both be about Augustyne Phyffe (a newly invented character).

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Iron Man and Falcon stories from this issue are covered in separate entries.

References:

• We know Lord Julian Phyffe from Doctor Strange #38-40.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

It seems Jonathan Hickman remembered this story, because Strange visited the Bazaar again during his New Avengers run. Or maybe it was anothe bazaar where demonic beings trade in magical objects?

Henri Desire was the name of a French serial killer.