This is a "Gonna Make a Change," which takes a look at the odd evolution that comic book series used to make. You see, nowadays, when a comic book series wants to re-tool, comic book companies simply cancel the book and start a brand-new series (heck, change a creative team and books will often reboot). In the old days, however, comic book companies felt that they had too much capital invested in the higher numbers and wanted to avoid starting over with a new #1. So we got to see some weird changes over the years.

Today, based on a suggestion from reader Todd C., we take a look at the evolution of Strange Tales!

Something that I am sure is painfully obvious by now is that comic book companies, in general, are thrilled to copy whatever is working for its rival comic book companies. Well, at the start of the 1950s, something that was definitely working was the horror stories put out by EC Comics in their various comic book series. So, in 1951, Marvel got into the horror game with Strange Tales #1...

The book was filled with basically low rent versions of the EC Comics classics. Not bad comics, per se, but certainly not as original or as clever as the EC stuff.

Here's one example, drawn by George Tuska. I don't know for sure who wrote for this series when it started. I am sure Stan Lee did SOME writing, I just don't know how much....

Over the the next four years, the book slowly but surely began to lean towards more science fiction stories than straight horror. That direction was solidified when the Comics Code went into effect, thereby making most horror stories a much harder seller than they had been in the previous years.

The first Comics Code issue was Strange Tales #35...

The stories really weren't TOO different, they just lacked the same edge that the series had in the Pre-Code days. Here's a story from #35, drawn by Joe Sinnott...

The next change occurred right around the same time that Jack Kirby was forced to go work for Atlas/Marvel because of a falling out that Kirby had with his editor at National Comics/DC Comics.

Monster comics became the highlight of the series and Kirby was the best of the best when it came to coming up with fascinating new monsters each issue...

(Why would Taboo's SECOND issue be the collector's item issue?)

The combination of Kirby on the lead story and Steve Ditko doing back-ups and various other Marvel artists sprinkling stories in here and there in the series made Strange Tales one of Marvel's most popular titles.

Of course, though, the superhero boom was coming and with it, Strange Tales would have to change once more...

Page 2: [valnet-url-page page=2 paginated=0 text='The Fantastic...Two!']

Very soon after the Fantastic Four got their own ongoing series, the Human Torch was spun off into his own lead feature in Strange Tales in #101...

In Strange Tales #123, the Thing joined the Human Torch as the lead feature...

You might notice the Doctor Strange mention on the cover of #123. Well, after a brief try-out feature in Strange Tales #110, the magician character began to share the book with the Human Torch.

When the Torch and Thing's run ended, Nick Fury was made the head of a spy organization called S.H.I.E.L.D. and then Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. took over the main feature in Strange Tales...

The two features coexisted until the series ended in 1968, with both Nick Fury and Doctor Strange getting their own solo series.

Five years after the series first ended, it was revived with Brother Voodoo taking over the series...

When that didn't go over, they tried the Golem...

Then Jim Starlin started his revival of Warlock in Strange Tales #178...

That was successful enough that it soon transferred over to the regular Warlock series.

The rest of the volume was just Doctor Strange reprints...

That was quite a wild ride!

Thanks to Todd for the suggestion!

Okay, folks, if you have suggestions for comic book series whose evolution you'd like to see me spotlight, just drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com!