Everything I'm about to tell you is untrue, except this: This story was done by Steve Ditko two years before he ever worked at Marvel (as a freelancer for 16 stories), and five years before he worked there regular AND two years before he ever did a story with Stan Lee (it was a Western) and five years before he ever did a story with Stan Lee that was horror/scifi themed.

Just saying.

(The THING #13 - cover dated April 1954, on newsstands February 1st, 1954 with cover art by Steve Ditko)

Nine years before Dr. Stephen Strange would get into a car accident that would eventually lead him into becoming 'Dr. Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts', Steve Ditko did a story for Charlton about his brother Eric Strange (Eric Staton?), a reporter who... due to writer's block would get himself involved in some mystical adventures of his own...

He lived in Greenwich Village just down the street from where Dr. Strange would one day reside!

Look familiar?

And no, that's NOT a joint he's smoking. Tobacco relaxes people TOO, ya know?

(The THING #13 - cover dated April 1954, on newsstands February 1st, 1954 with art by Steve Ditko)

Turns out the Terrible Tinkerer hadn't yet met those Aliens he'd work with in Amazing Spider-man #2, so instead he was still focusing on his Used Books for sale... but those books were a special kind of evil! (One day Dr. Strange himself would come into possession of them).

But for NOW, Eric Strange would see the power behind them!

(The THING #13 - cover dated April 1954, on newsstands February 1st, 1954 with art by Steve Ditko)

Eric Strange would be pulled into the Unknown Dimensions and experience and see horrors he never thought possible! Unbelievable worlds that one day his brother would venture to...

(The THING #13 - cover dated April 1954, on newsstands February 1st, 1954 with art by Steve Ditko)

Despite being quiet and staying hidden he would eventually be discovered and Nightmare would send his minions after him!

(The THING #13 - cover dated April 1954, on newsstands February 1st, 1954 with art by Steve Ditko)

He would have to make a 'Deal with the Devil' and of course, it was a double cross, and his sweetheart, Marion Stacy (Yes, you always wondered whatever happened to Gwen Stacy's mom) paid the price for it...