Issue(s): Strange Tales #124
Cover Date: Sep 64
Title: "Paste-Pot Pete" / "The Lady From Nowhere!"
Credits:
Human Torch
Stan Lee - Writer
Dick Ayers - Penciler
Paul Reinman - Inker

Dr. Strange
Stan Lee - Writer
Steve Ditko - Penciler
George Roussos - Inker

Review/plot:
Sensible people assumed that when the Avengers helped Paste Pot Pete get let out of jail early, he would realize that glue is not a super power and he would give up his life of crime for a lucrative career in adhesives. Sensible people just do not understand Paste-Pot Pete. The poor guy thinks a new costume is going to earn him some respect. "And, in keeping with the new Paste-Pot Pete, I shaved off my goatee beard and completely redesigned my costume! No one will ever consider me a bumbling clown again!"

One thing in his favor is that he got himself some asbestos paste. He probably just bought it at the local hardware store. In Glenville, everything is made of asbestos.

Despite Pete's hopes, the Thing and the Torch (mainly the Thing) thoroughly thrash the poor guy. The Thing absolutely terrifies him to the point where he begs to go back to jail.

Meanwhile, Dorrie Evans is still not too happy with having the Human Torch as a boyfriend.

At the end of this issue it is announced that the first half of Strange Tales will be both the Torch and the Thing from now on. This series was already unnecessary, and the more members of the Fantastic Four you add, the more redundant the book becomes. I think it is interesting that while the initial assumption was that Johnny Storm, as the teenage member of the group, would be the most popular and therefore deserving of his own book, at this point it seems that the Thing was the thing to increase sales.

Also in this issue, Dr. Strange travels back in time to battle the wizard Zota...

...who has been tormenting Cleopatra because she wanted to marry Mark Antony (is this before or after her tryst with Tony Stark?).

Strange uses the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to send Cleopatra back to her own time.

Going forward, that won't be a typical application of the powers of Cyttorak.

Ditko's art is wacky and wonderful as always.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - Paste-Pot Pete gets an upgrade.

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• Paste-Pot Pete helped the Avengers find a solution to Baron Zemo's Adhesive X in Avengers #6.
  
• Paste-Pot Pete first appeared in Strange Tales #104 and also appeared in Strange Tales #110.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

It was a long shot but I check the MCP and they say Cleopatra appeared in tales of suspense #44 before she appeared here. I can't believe they have section for her.

Me neither. LOL