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Actually first released in August 2000.
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Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD #4 published September 1968
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Direct edition barcode on an otherwise white blank page.
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Title; Book credits; Indicia
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First occurrence essentially a blank page between title page and Prologue but with repeated icons of "Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD" on a shield topped by an American eagle. The drawings are in light blue on an even lighter blue background with two darker blue borders on either side consisting of repeated images of the same shield design. This same design is used as a background for other non-comics pages. It is used as pages 77, 186, 198 and 218. The last occurrence is after the "Greatest Comics Never Seen!!" sequence.
S.H.I.E.L.D. by Steranko: The Complete Collection #[nn] published October 2013
Strange Tales #150 [U.S. Cover Price] published November 1966 Notes:
Part 1 of 9. 1st appearance of the "new" Supreme Hydra, later revealed to have been its real leader all along, behind-the-scenes. In this episode, Jasper Sitwell is a dead ringer for Roy Thomas! John Buscema's 1st 1960's Marvel work (even though Stan welcomed him back in the credits of TALES TO ASTONISH #85 the same month).
Strange Tales #151 published December 1966 Notes:
Part 2 of 9. The "new" Supreme Hydra reveals that he had previously "masqueraded" as The Grand Imperator of "THEM" (A.I.M.), and that Supreme Hydra is his "true" identity, the first indication that he had been the real behind-the-scenes architect of HYDRA all along. The plot to cause nuclear fallout while those responsible sit it out underground is similar to that in the Matt Helm film THE SILENCERS (1966). Jim Steranko's 1st work for Marvel.
Strange Tales #152 [U.S. Cover Price] published January 1967 Notes:
Part 3 of 9. The method Fury used to contact SHIELD without a radio was later used in the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA episode, "The Hand Of God". Laura Brown's previous appearance in STRANGE TALES #141 (February 1966).
Strange Tales #153 [U.S. Cover Price] published February 1967 Notes:
Part 4 of 9. "Clipper Charlie" named in STRANGE TALES #164 (January 1968). Fury's Porsche 904, which has been in use since STRANGE TALES #135 (August 1965) is destroyed in this episode; he would get a new car in STRANGE TALES #162 (November 1967). After 2 episodes where Fury's appearance remained the same, he appears to lose a lot of weight in this one as Steranko begins to modify his appearance. Jack Kirby, who plotted every SHIELD episode up to this point, finally departs. While known for "seat-of-the-pants" plotting, it appears that on the next-to-last page of his final episode, he'd figured out the true identity of the Supreme Hydra-- but readers would have to wait 3 more months to learn the truth!
Strange Tales #154 [U.S. Cover Price] published March 1967 Notes:
Part 5 of 9. Fury's "Repulsor Watch", capable of deflecting bullets, later turned up in the film LIVE AND LET DIE (1973), though in the movie, it was only used to attract metal, not deflect it.
Strange Tales #155 [U.S. Cover Price] published April 1967 Notes:
Part 6 of 9. Fury comments that no amount of attempted brainwashing could ever force Sitwell to turn bad as "it's against his principles". Last episode of this storyline reprinted in the 1970's; fans would have to wait until 2000 to read a reprint of the rest of the story!
Strange Tales #156 [U.S. Cover Price] published May 1967 Notes:
Part 7 of 9. See various issues of SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS for earlier appearances of Baron Strucker. 24 years had elapsed between Fury & Strucker's last meeting and this one. Shortly after this comic's publication, the 007 film YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE would reveal the identity of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s "Number One", Ernst Stavros Blofeld; Donald Pleasence's onscreen appearance, bald with an odd, monocle-shaped scar, is so similar to Strucker's it does not seem possible to be a coincidence!
Strange Tales #157 [U.S. Cover Price] published June 1967 Notes:
Part 8 of 9. 1st appearance of The Satan Claw.
Strange Tales #158 [U.S. Cover Price] published July 1967 Notes:
Part 9 of 9. Although HYDRA's leader and main base were destroyed, their branch organization, A.I.M., resurfaced the very next month against Captain America in TALES OF SUSPENSE #92 (August 1967). HYDRA itself would return in CAPTAIN AMERICA #110 (February 1969). Baron Strucker would appear to return, without explanation, in the guise of "The Hood" in CAPTAIN AMERICA #131 (November 1970); however, this was proved to be only a robot in CAPTAIN AMERICA #247 (July 1980). Baron Strucker remained dead for 24 years, until he was brought back to life in NICK FURY, AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D. #20 (February 1991). HYDRA's formation by Baron Strucker would be revealed in flashback in CAPTAIN SAVAGE #2-4 (March-July 1968).
Strange Tales #159 [U.S. Cover Price] published August 1967 Notes:
Part 1 of 9. 1st appearance of Fury's apartment, The Gaff & Val. During the fight, Cap mentions the last time he & Fury met was when they fought "THEM"'s Humanoid Assassin in TALES OF SUSPENSE #78 (June 1966). That story was clearly Cap & Fury's 1st meeting since WW2 in SGT. FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOS #13 (December 1964), as Cap had been trying to contact Fury for months about possibly becoming a SHIELD agent (seen in several issues of THE AVENGERS). Yet 4 pages later, Cap refers to a job they tackled together "a year ago". (Perhaps "The Big Blackout" took place immediately after TOS #78, as there was a break between issues #78 & #79.) Meanwhile, after loitering in the shadows outside Stark Industries for 2 months, Jasper would become a regular in the Iron Man series in TALES OF SUSPENSE #95 (November 1967).
Strange Tales #160 [U.S. Cover Price] published September 1967 Notes:
Part 2 of 9. 1st appearance of Fury's office with circular desk. Destruction of the ESP Division occurs between STRANGE TALES #143 (April 1966) and cameo in STRANGE TALES #157 (June 1967); this flashback "explains" their disappearance from the series, the latter appearance must be new recruits seen as the place was being re-constructed. Story apparently takes place between STRANGE TALES #145-146 and TALES OF SUSPENSE #78-79 (both June-July 1966). Fury is shown wearing his black jump-suit, even though he was never seen wearing it before STRANGE TALES #156 (May 1967). Fury also describes his outfit as "insulated" against electric shocks, despite his being nearly killed by one in STRANGE TALES #158 (July 1967). 1st appearance of Jimmy Woo since YELLOW CLAW #4 (April 1957).
Strange Tales #161 [U.S. Cover Price] published October 1967 Notes:
Part 3 of 9. ("Project: Blackout! Part II"). Yellow Claw, Suwan & Von Voltzmann's previous appearance in THE YELLOW CLAW #4 (April 1957). Flashback apparently takes place between STRANGE TALES #145-146, TALES OF SUSPENSE #78-79 and FANTASTIC FOUR #51-52 (all cover-dated June-July 1966). Though none could have realized it, the name of The Claw's plan was a clue to the truth behind the entire story.
Strange Tales #162 [U.S. Cover Price] published November 1967 Notes:
Part 4 of 9. 2nd appearance of The Gaff & Val. 1st appearance of Fury's new car, and the new ESP Division, replacing those destroyed in STRANGE TALES #153 (March 1967) and the flashback in #160 (September 1967). The Claw having Fury fight a giant octopus pays tribute to the Ian Fleming James Bond 007 novel, DR. NO (1958). James Bond finally got a car capable of invisibility in the film DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002).
Strange Tales #163 published December 1967 Notes:
Part 5 of 9. Clay Quartermain based on Kirk Douglas. The Dragon, when wrapped up, pays tribute to The Maltese Falcon.
Strange Tales #164 published January 1968 Notes:
Part 6 of 9. The "Revive Chamber" is strikingly similar to the one used to heal Luke Skywalker in the film THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980). Ernst Stravo Blofeld would use a laser to destroy satellites in orbit in the 007 film, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971).
Strange Tales #165 published February 1968 Notes:
Part 7 of 9. The use of a 2-page spread on pages 2-3 was later adapted by both Jack Kirby and Mike Grell on a very regular basis in their comics. The Sky Dragon would reappear in MARVEL TWO-IN ONE #51 (May 1979). It's been debated by some fans whether The Claw seen at the beginning of this episode was the same one who beat up Fury & escaped at the end!
Strange Tales #166 published March 1968 Notes:
Part 8 of 9. The palm-magnets used by Fury were previously used by Captain America in TALES OF SUSPENSE #80 (August 1966). Dugan saying "Our best man's workin' on it right now!" is a tribute to a line from the pre-credit sequence of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967); Jimmy pursuing a thug down into a subway station also pays tribute to another scene in the same film. The "maze" page inspired a similar page in GIANT-SIZE MASTER OF KUNG FU #2 (December 1974). Jimmy's line about Burt Lancaster refers to the fact that Fury now resembles Steranko's favorite actor. The large figure of Fury on page 10 would become the cover corner box pic beginning with NICK FURY, AGENT OF SHIELD #1 (June 1968).
Strange Tales #167 published April 1968 Notes:
Part 9 of 9. Features comics' 1st 4-page spread (requiring 2 issues side-by-side for full effect). Pages fold out in this reprint version! SHIELD's invading The Yellow Claw's underground HQ pays tribute to the climax of the film YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967), except with the heroes coming up thru the floor instead of down thru the ceiling. SHIELD's Dreadnaught, which takes its name (ironically) from the HYDRA killer robot, is in the tradition of tunneling machines used by Cave Carson in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #31 (DC Comics, September 1960), The Hate Monger in FANTASTIC FOUR #21 (February 1963), International Rescue on the tv series THUNDERBIRDS (1965) and Japan's Science Patrol on the tv series ULTRA MAN (1966). The Claw's "Infinity Sphere" is strikingly similar to The Legion Of Super-Heroes' "Time Bubbles" in ADVENTURE COMICS. With Dr. Strange battling a science-fiction villain, and Fury hurtling thru other dimensions, the line between the 2 series in STRANGE TALES was beginning to disappear. Baron Strucker's Satan Claw last seen in STRANGE TALES #159 (August 1967). The Prime Mover would return in GIANT-SIZE DEFENDERS #3 (January 1975). While the ending of this story would be long debated among fans, writer Steve Englehart would bring back The Yellow Claw in CAPTAIN AMERICA #164-167 (August-November 1973).
Strange Tales #168 published May 1968 Notes:
A peaceful alien offering a gift pays tribute to THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL (1951), while an alien invasion which turns out to be a nightmare-- which starts all over again at the end of the story-- pays tribute to INVADERS FROM MARS (1953). Series continues in NICK FURY, AGENT OF SHIELD #1 (June 1968).
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"Cover Gallery" title.
Strange Tales #151 published December 1966 Notes:
Jim Steranko arrives at Marvel Comics!
Strange Tales #153 [U.S. Cover Price] published February 1967 Notes:
Wood inks suggested by Henry Kujawa, agreed by Nick Simon (August 2007).
Strange Tales #155 [U.S. Cover Price] published April 1967 Notes:
Banner in masthead similar to the one that would become the standard design on Marvel with the November 1971 issues (with similar banners turning up on DC Comics, Atlas Comics & Archie Comics).
Strange Tales #157 [U.S. Cover Price] published June 1967
Strange Tales #159 [U.S. Cover Price] published August 1967
Strange Tales #161 [U.S. Cover Price] published October 1967
Strange Tales #163 published December 1967 Notes:
Black backgrounds almost unheard of among 1960's Marvel covers; apparently a tribute to many 1950's Marvel horror covers (very fitting as The Yellow Claw's solo series ran from 1956-57).
Strange Tales #165 published February 1968
Strange Tales #167 published April 1968 Notes:
Advertised in previous issue's coming attactions box as "Mighty Marvel's first venture into psychedelic artwork". Nick Fury is a dead ringer for Burt Lancaster (Steranko's favorite actor) on this cover.
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Try-out pages, previously published in Marvel Age. Text unrelated to story; describes Steranko's career and effect on comics.
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Blank page.
Strange Tales #166 published March 1968
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Image from panel 1 of page 10 of story. Text introduction of Steranko & his run of Nick Fury, Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. in STRANGE TALES.
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