CATALOG RECORD

Marvel Super-Heroes #20

Marvel · Series began 1967 · May 1969

first appearance of Valeria

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WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT

Valeria (Doctor Doom's lover) — first appearance, main story and flashback

Dates

Cover date: May 1969
On sale: February 11, 1969
Pages: 68

Editions and covers

Original edition
Source ↗

Creators

pencils: Larry Lieber, Frank Giacoia, Bill Everett, Carl Burgos, Russ Heath, Mort Lawrence, John Romita, Dan Adkinsinks: Vince Colletta, Bill Everett, Carl Burgos, Russ Heath, John Romita, Dan Adkinsscript: Roy Thomas, Larry Lieber, Bill Everett, Hank Chapman, Don Ricoletters: Sam Rosen, Bill Everett

Stories

This Man... This Demon! · 24 pages
Diablo holds Valeria hostage and tries to force Dr. Doom into becoming his partner. Origin of Dr. Doom retold.
The Sub-Mariner Meets a New Enemy.... Fire! · 4 pages
Namor encounters fire for the first time while exploring Admiral Byrd’s abandoned Antarctic settlement “Little America” with Namora and Byrrah. While investigating one of the huts, Namora inadvertently knocks over a can of kerosene, sparking an explosion that engulfs the hut in flame. Byrrah flees, but Namor rushes into the blaze to rescue his cousin.
The Return of... the Human Torch · 9 pages
Jim Hammond, the Human Torch, returns to action after four years by capturing Crime Boss and his henchmen, turning them over to Chief Wilson at the police department. He told Wilson he was buried by Crime Boss and four years later was able to escape to bring him to justice. Hammond flies to Korea and extracts his partner Toro, who'd been brain-washed by the Communists. Wilson's daughter Mary is captured by The Butcher, an associate of Crime Boss, and Hammond flies off to exchange himself for Mary. Hammond is saved by a now cured Toro, Mary is saved and The Butcher apparently killed.
Back from the Dead! · 6 pages
At Lee School in New York, Professor Steve Rogers is explaining the role of Captain America during World War II. After class some students scoff at the idea of Captain America and fellow student Bucky Barnes tries to set them straight. Steve takes a drive with Bucky to get supplies but hears on the radio that the Red Skull and his crime syndicate henchmen have taken hostages at the United Nations. They quickly change into their Captain America and Bucky outfits and crash through a window at the U.N., quickly subduing an astonished Red Skull, who believed him dead.
The Sub-Mariner Returns · 8 pages
Near an island in the South Seas, cargo ships are being sunk and their contents emptied. Upon a request from Admiral Saybrook, the Sub-Mariner agrees to look into it. Heading to the island with his previous romantic interest, Betty Dean, they discover a force of intelligent robots from Venus have been raiding the ships, preparatory to an invasion of Earth. Namor makes short work of the robots and they return to Venus, minus their leader, who is brought back to the U.S. by Namor. The captured robot notwithstanding, the U.S. officials don't believe Namor's story.

Characters

Steve RogersCaptain AmericaBen GrimmThe ThingReed RichardsJohnny StormHuman TorchMister FantasticSusan Storm RichardsNamorSub-MarinerVictor Von DoomDoctor DoomInvisible GirlBucky BarnesJohann ShmidtRed SkullJim HammondAdolf HitlerBuckyThomas RaymondToroNamoraDiabloEsteban Corazón de AbloHarry S. TrumanDr. Abraham ErskineBetty DeanFenPhineas T. Horton

Reprinted in

Planet of the Apes (1974), Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up (1975), Marvel Firsts: The 1960s (2011), Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Rarities (2014), Doctor Doom: The Book of Doom Omnibus (2022), Doctor Doom Epic Collection (2025)