The Story
Strange Tales launched in 1951 as a suspense and horror anthology, and by issue #110, twelve years later, it was running a Human Torch feature as its lead story, with Johnny Storm facing off against the villain the Wizard in art by Dick Ayers. Tucked in the back of that same issue is a quiet five-page story that introduced one of Marvel's strangest heroes: a nameless man seeking out a bearded sorcerer for help escaping recurring nightmares. That sorcerer, later revealed and developed as Doctor Strange, uses his mystic abilities to enter the man's dreams and confront the demon Nightmare directly.
Steve Ditko's art gave the character a visual language, flowing cloaks, swirling mystic energy, dream-logic panel layouts, that had no real precedent in superhero comics at the time and still defines how Doctor Strange is drawn today. The character was a backup feature for years before earning his own book, a slow build that's unusual for a hero who'd later anchor his own MCU franchise and a Multiverse of Madness.
For collectors, Strange Tales #110 is a key Silver Age Marvel issue precisely because the character it introduces started as a footnote. This issue is the print origin; the first Doctor Strange NFT and the first Human Torch NFT, also featured in this issue, are the characters in figure form.
The Collectible
A high-grade physical Strange Tales #110 commands real money on the back-issue market given it's Doctor Strange's first appearance, even though the character only gets five pages. The VeVe edition reproduces the Ditko and Ayers art at full clarity and, after the January 2026 Collect migration, self-custodies on-chain. The Classic Cover carries the original front, while the Rare Hero Variant and Ultra Rare Vibranium Variant carry exclusive new art by Ario Anindito and Rachelle Rosenberg that no printed copy has.
The Drop
VeVe released Strange Tales #110 on May 6, 2022 at $6.99, as a Standard Drop across five cover variants running Common through Secret Rare. At 30,000 total editions, it's a larger run than most VeVe comic drops, reflecting Doctor Strange's growing MCU profile at the time.
Edition Breakdown
| Tier | Editions | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Common | 21,000 | Classic Cover |
| Uncommon | 5,000 | Vintage Variant |
| Rare | 2,350 | Hero Variant, exclusive cover |
| Ultra Rare | 1,050 | Vibranium Variant, exclusive cover |
| Secret Rare | 600 | True Believer Variant |
30,000 editions total with 1 burned, so 29,999 circulate at an 8.5% market fee. The 600 Secret Rare copies are the scarcest point in the run.
Market Context
When this dropped in May 2022, Doctor Strange's profile was riding high off Multiverse of Madness, and the larger 30,000-edition run kept the $6.99 entry price accessible for new collectors. Secondary prices have generally tracked below the smaller 10,000-edition Marvel comic drops given the higher supply, with the Rare and Ultra Rare tiers holding the most interest for their exclusive art. The January 2026 Collect migration moved every edition to self-custody on-chain, with no further minting possible.
Collector's Note
Doctor Strange starting as a five-page backup feature and growing into one of Marvel's cornerstone heroes is one of the odder origin stories in the company's history, and this issue is where it starts, alongside a Human Torch lead story that was the actual draw at the time. Even Common editions represent ownership of that debut, while the Rare and Ultra Rare tiers carry exclusive art worth hunting. Copies are listed on the VeVe secondary market, sometimes below retail. New to VeVe? Take $10 off your first purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Strange Tales #110, cover-dated July 1963, in a five-page backup story written by Stan Lee and drawn by Steve Ditko. The issue's lead story that month featured the Human Torch, written by H. Huntley with art by Dick Ayers.
Strange Tales was a Human Torch-led anthology at the time. Doctor Strange launched as a short five-page filler feature and only grew into a headlining character over the following years.
30,000 across five tiers: 21,000 Common, 5,000 Uncommon, 2,350 Rare, 1,050 Ultra Rare, and 600 Secret Rare. One has been burned, so 29,999 circulate.
Yes. Collectors list copies on the VeVe secondary market, sometimes below retail. Prices vary by tier, with the 600-edition Secret Rare the scarcest.
They use VeVe-exclusive art by Ario Anindito and Rachelle Rosenberg, created for this drop and not printed on the original 1963 issue.
