Origin: Dr. Strange

Villain: Baron Mordo

Guest Appearance: Ancient One

Innovations: First invocations: Vapors of Valtorr, Dormammu, Vishanti, Agamotto

Letters Page: No letters page in this issue!

The Ancient One senses a spark of humanity inside this petulant man, and offers him a role as his disciple to find the cure within. Stephen Strange refuses, thinking this is all a big farce, but he cannot leave as they are all snowed in. As he waits out the snow, he sees the Ancient One's assistant, Mordo, conjuring up potions and spells to kill the Ancient One. Strange cannot let this pass, and he confront Mordo, who disables Strange from speaking, walking and otherwise interfering with his diabolical plan. Strange can only watch helplessly as Mordo performs his acts of evil, and he realizes that there is real power in black magic, and that somebody must stand in the way of Mordo.

Strange realizes the spell cast on him by Mordo only keeps him from speaking about Mordo's evil, but not other things. He asks the Ancient One to be his disciple, and the Ancient One agrees, freeing him from Mordo's spell. Strange is shocked that the Ancient One knew, but is reassured that the old man cannot have secrets kept from him so easily! He agrees to train Strange in the mystic arts, so that he can stand in opposition to those like Mordo who would use them for evil.