Item Biography
"The Spawn of Sligguth!"
Doctor Strange returns to his Sanctum in a foul mood after his battle with Nightmare, and is surprised to find a stranger in his parlor. Strange is even more perturbed that his man-servant, Wong is asleep on the job. Uncharacteristically, Strange vents his temper on Wong, but apologizes immediately.
The stranger introduces himself as Ethan Stoddard and relates the tale of his fiancee, Bethel Doan, who like himself grew up in the remote New England town, Starkesboro.
The couple had both moved away, but Beth's interest and study of the occult caused her to move back to Starkesboro. When all contact between the two had ceased, Ethan thought that something ominous had occurred and sought out the Master of the Mystic Arts.
Doctor Strange accompanies Ethan on his return to Starkesboro. The pair are met with a lukewarm reception and Strange senses an aura of evil permeating the atmosphere.
At first Strange experiences problems utilizing his powers. When he investigates the local church, which happens to be the epicenter of the supernatural energy enveloping the town, his powers desert him completely.
Meanwhile, in the local library, Ethan has found Bethel, but is shocked by her mutated reptilian features.
The secret of Starkesboro is revealed; the townsfolk, far from simply being inbred are all descendants of the serpent demon, Sligguth. The sub-humans surround Strange in the church and Ethan succumbs to the same transformation as the others. They sent Ethan as bait to lure Strange to Starkesboro for the sole purpose of sacrificing him to their scaly God, Sligguth.