Strange #18
Strange #18 (June 1971, Éditions Lug) is a landmark issue in French Marvel publishing history because it delivered, in a single 80-page anthology package, the French-language debut of the Gladiator (Melvin Potter) — one of Daredevil's most enduring Silver Age adversaries — alongside a pivotal X-Men tale spotlighting a solo Iceman in battle against Magneto. As one of the first eighteen issues of the Strange series that rescued Marvel Comics translation in France after the censorship-forced cancellations of Fantask and Marvel, each issue helped cement the Marvel universe in the consciousness of French readers who had no other legal access to these stories. The anthology format — pairing X-Men, Iron Man, Daredevil, and Spider-Man under one cover — was a defining structural choice that shaped how an entire generation of French fans experienced the breadth of the Marvel line.
In "Et si Iceberg échouait...?", a bold new take on identity and heroism unfolds as a costume store owner dons the guise of the Gladiator, believing the suit makes the man. With a staged showdown orchestrated by Melvin and Foggy, the plan spirals when the real Daredevil is drawn into a fight that turns deadly serious. Written by Stan Lee and Denny O'Neil, with art by John Romita and inks by Frank Giacoia, the issue captures the tension of masked deception and mistaken heroism. The cover by John Romita and Frank Giacoia perfectly frames the eerie, fog-laced showdown.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
Éditions Lug, founded in Lyon in 1950 by Marcel Navarro and Auguste Vistel and named for the city's Gallo-Roman name Lugdunum, launched Strange in January 1970 as a direct response to the censorship shutdown of its earlier Marvel translation titles Fantask and Wampus. Strange became the survivor and the flagship, reprinting four complete Marvel stories per issue in French translation throughout its run. By issue #18, published in June 1971, the series had established its reliable anthology rhythm, drawing from across Marvel's Silver Age catalogue — here pairing three issues numbered '#18' in their original American series (X-Men #18, Iron Man Vol.1 #18, Daredevil #18) with Amazing Spider-Man #19, a structural coincidence that reflects Lug's early practice of drawing parallel issue numbers from simultaneous Marvel runs.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published June 1971 by Éditions Lug (Lyon, France); 80 pages, full color, French language.
- Story 1 — 'Les Mutants X-Men: Et si Iceberg échouait...?' reprints Uncanny X-Men #18 (March 1966), written by Stan Lee, penciled by Werner Roth (credited as Jay Gavin), inked by Dick Ayers; features the full original X-Men roster (Professor X, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast, Iceman) against Magneto and Toad, resolved by the cosmic Stranger.
- Story 2 — 'L'Invincible Iron-Man: Même un héros peut mourir!' reprints Iron Man Vol.1 #18 (October 1969), written by Archie Goodwin, penciled by George Tuska, inked by John Craig; features Tony Stark / Iron Man, Happy Hogan, and Pepper Potts.
- Story 3 — 'L'Intrépide Daredevil: Un Gladiateur viendra!...' reprints Daredevil Vol.1 #18 (July 1966), written by Stan Lee (pages 1–7) and Dennis O'Neil (pages 8–20), penciled by John Romita Sr., inked by Frank Giacoia — this is the first French-language appearance of the Gladiator (Melvin Potter), a Silver Age villain who became one of Daredevil's most recurring foes; also features Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Karen Page.
- Story 4 — 'L'Homme Araignée: L'Araignée riposte!' reprints Amazing Spider-Man Vol.1 #19 (December 1964), written by Stan Lee, penciled and inked by Steve Ditko; features Peter Parker / Spider-Man and a supporting cast including J. Jonah Jameson, Betty Brant, Flash Thompson, and Liz Allan.
- The Gladiator, Melvin Potter, was created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. and debuted in Daredevil #18 (July 1966); he is a costume designer who builds himself bladed battle armor, and this issue marks the character's very first appearance in French translation.
- In the X-Men story, a wounded Iceman (Bobby Drake) must hold off Magneto alone while the rest of the X-Men are trapped — Professor X ultimately summons the Stranger to force Magneto's retreat, with Toad abandoned on the Stranger's world as a consequence.
- Strange ran from January 1970 to December 1996 under Lug (later Semic), publishing 324 issues of Marvel reprints in French; issue #18 falls in the formative early run that established the series' signature four-story-per-issue format.
Cast · 40 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
A burly costume store owner decides it is really the clothes that make the man and begins his career as the Gladiator. Foggy gets a Daredevil costume from Melvin who talks the tubby lawyer into setting up a staged super fight to impress Karen. Thinking his fight with Foggy will draw out the real DD, Gladiator goes after him for real and Matt has to take a hand in rescuing his friend. In the night and the fog, everyone assumes it is Foggy as Daredevil that beat the Gladiator back.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).