Strange Tales 130

STRANGE TALES 130 (1965)
by Stan Lee & Bob Powell
cover by Jack Kirby

After one of the most forgettable stories of this serial, we get to easily the most iconic: that time the Torch and the Thing met the Beatles.
Kind of.

If I don’t get the chance to add “Asbestos wig” to the Cancer Count I’m going to be very disappointed.

Before our heroes meet the Beatles, their girlfriends beat them to it.

Well, we are TOLD these are the Beatles. I’m not entirely sure these are human beings.

While the Torch and the Thing are busy with their usual shenanigans…

…the Torch gets a call from his girlfriend about going to see the Beatles.
(Alicia was there with Dorrie in the previous scene and nothing indicates any time has passed, but whatever)

I think Stan is having more fun with the Thing and the Torch joking around in their spare time than with any superhero action. If only this series was about THAT it would’ve worked far better.

Again, these are SUPPOSEDLY the Beatles. We’ll just have to take their word for it.

There is one problem because “some idiot set off some fireworks in the sky”.

I’ll admit I laughed at that one. It’s probably the first time I’m laughing WITH this series and not AT this series. Well played!

The Human Torch deals with the criminals, once again causing unnecessary amounts of damages.

He’s lucky this issue is famous for the Beatles and not for how he has trouble capturing three nobodies just because they hide in a water park.

The Thing has rescued the Torch so many times at this point that I’m starting to wonder if he was added to this series not to improve sales but because Stan was genuinely worried he was gonna die if he kept his solo career.

By the way, Torch, THIS is how you deal with criminals hiding in an amusement park.

At least the Torch is aware of how pathetic he’s being.

“I know how to deal with this: electrocuting myself!”
WTF?!?!

Sounds legit.

I can’t believe that the heroes meeting the Beatles is the serious part of the story!!!

Sadly the asbestos wig doesn’t make it into the story (booo!!!) but the Thing’s does (yay!!!)

Despite going through all the trouble, the heroes don’t actually get to meet the Beatles.

Alicia seems very excited to have met them.

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Historical significance: 1/10
No consequence whatsoever, and of course because of Marvel Time these aren’t really the Beatles. Still, it’s famous enough to get the lowest possible bump in the score.

Silver Age-ness: 10/10
I mean…

Does it stand the test of time? 3/10
“The heroes want to meet a celebrity but they miss the performance” can be done at any time with any celebrity. Unfortunately the fun part is just a couple of panels, while the rest is EXTREMELY underwhelming.