Stan Lee

writer, creator
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #55

I Can Live Forever!

A scientist studying redwoods finds the secret of eternal life. —Michael Main
Now, the elements that sustain the life of the redwoods, will act upon me!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #56

I Brought Zog Back to Life!

Who woulda thunk that a giant alien encased in a giant ice cube would use Latin letters to announce its name to the world? And who woulda thunk that a headstrong scientist would release the beast against the wise counsel of the rest of the world? —Michael Main
Gentlemen, our scientists don’t know why that creature is on our planet. But they do know if he were ever free of that glacier—he could meance our entire world!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #66

The Black Ray

While in prison, Hiram Drudd builds a machine that casts a black ray to send his mind back into a historical figure. —Michael Main
The fool . . . Little does he realize I’m building the instrument for my escape!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #67

The Black Clock!

An ex-con steals a clock and quickly learns that it’ll bring him death if he doesn’t return it to its owner—but doing that would mean another prison sentence. —Michael Main
You mustn’t touch the clock! It’s enchanted! It will put you under a spell!
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  • Fantasy
  • Weird Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #63

I Took a Journey into Fear!

Otto Bruger’s colleagues try to warn him that traveling through time is courting disaster. —Michael Main
I’ve won, you fools!! Ha, ha . . . I’ve won!!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • No Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #70

A Thousand Years

At the start of a forty-year prison sentence, a man makes a deal with a stranger who offers him his freedom and a thousand years of life. Yeah, like that ever works out. —Michael Main
Man I’d give anything to be free! Anything!!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #71

The Boy Who Vanished!

A lame boy wishes he could go to the future to live the stories in his sci-fi comics. —Michael Main
Maybe—maybe I could travel into the future by thinking myself there.
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  • Science Fiction
  • Fantasy
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #74

Forever Is a Long Long Time!

Luther Kane was warned to not apply the sap of the eternal redwoods to himself, but he didn’t listen. —Michael Main
[. . .] all I have to do is remain under the electromagnetic rays for 24 hours . . . and I shall live as long as the redwood trees!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #75

The Magic of Mordoo!

Franz finds Katrina attractive, but he wishes she were younger, so he approaches a Bavarian magician to make her young again. —Michael Main
But I want a young wife--a glamorous one! Not a middle-aged female!
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  • Fantasy
  • Weird Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #75

The Man Who Lost the World!

Just when does the professor’s time machine send things to? Nobody knows, so when the prof’s flunky feels poorly treated, he decides to find out on his own. —Michael Main
But if I could find outwhether the machine sends people intothe past or the future, then I would know something even he doesn’t know!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Weird Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #81

There Dwells a Dragon

Young Tommy’s father steps into a fog at the zoo and emerges in Camelot where there’s a dragon to be slain. —Michael Main
Can it really be that I’ve gone back into . . . the past??!
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  • Fantasy
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Debatable Time Travel
Comic Book

Fantastic Four #5

Prisoners of Doctor Doom!

The Marvel Comics Brand began in 1939 with the first edition of Marvel Comics. Throughout the ’40s and ’50s, some of the Timely and Atlas comics had the slogan “A Marvel Magazine,” ”Marvel Comic,” or a small “MC” on the cover. As for me personally, I was hooked when Marvel started publishing the Fantastic Four in 1961. During the sixties, I devoured as many Marvels as I could as they arrived at the local Rexall Drug Store or swapping comcs with my pals, and this is the first of those Marvel issues in the ’60s involved superhero time travel.

Nowadays, we all know that Doc Doom is far too smart to think the most profitable way to use his time platform is by sending three of the FF into the past with orders to bring back Blackbeard’s treasure (while keeping the fourth member of their team captive). And yet, the story has a charm that stems from the causal loop of Ben Grimm’s presence in the past actually causing the legend of Blackbeard, which in turn caused Doom to send the loveable lunk back.
And now I shall send you back. . . hundreds of years into the past! You will have forty-eight hours to bring me Blackbeard’s treasure chest! Do not fail!
Through a large, round portal in an air-tight chamber, Doctor Doom threatens to destroy the F F, who helpless struggle as they run out of air.
  • Eloi Gold Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #85

Filbert’s Frightful Future

Mad scientist Filbert Phelps wants to use his time machine to become the richest man in the world, —Michael Main
Yes, I am a genius . . . and that’s why I’m about to become fabuously rich! Just as soon as I finish my greatest invention . . .
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  • Science Fiction
  • Weird Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Debatable Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #85

Off-Limits!

A free spirited space explorer decides to visit Planet 6-G despite it being off limits. —Michael Main
Maybe I’ll even be given rights to 6_G as a reward!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Weird Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #86

On the Trail of the Tomorrow Man

Zarrko, a mad time-machine-building scientist from 2262, believes that our nuclear weapons will enable him to take over the world of his time. He comes back to 1962 to steal one, and the Mighty Thor pursues him back to 2262.

The plot suffers from Alpha Centauri syndrome, where the time traveler might as well be from Alpha Centauri as from the future, but seeing the emergence of Kirby’s high-perspective artwork gives this issue a boost. In addition, the story provides a powerful image of the pre-Vietnam cold war era and its prevailing assumptions about the roles of women in society. —Michael Main
Ahhh—an ancient explosion of a nuclear bomb! The perfect device with which to conquer the twenty-third century!
The Mighty Thor flies through a fading time machine with the Tomorrow Man inside.
  • Eloi Honorable Mention
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Strange Tales #111

Face-to-Face with the Magic of Baron Mordo!

Steve Ditko’s second-ever story of the master of the mystic arts includes one panel that, based on Stan Lee’s caption, involves time travel. Even though it was just one panel, it got me wondering whether the phrase race through time could possibly have a meaning. What would it mean for one time traveler to arrive at the final destination before another? Isn't the whole set up kind of like Doc Strange saying to Baron Mordo, “I’ll bet I can think of a number bigger than you can.” —Michael Main
Unseen by human eyes, the two mighty spirit images race thru time and space . . .
Doctor Strange and Baron Mordo sit entranced beside the Ancient One, while above them, their spirit images battle.
  • Eloi Honorable Mention
  • Fantasy
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Cameo Time Travel
Comic Book

Tales of Suspense #44

The Mad Pharoah!

Iron Man’s suit changes from grey to gold, and the golden Avenger is kidnapped and taken back to ancient Egypt where he upsets the plans of the consistently misspelled Mad Pharoah by winning the throne back for Cleopatra. —Michael Main
For though I do not know your real identity . . . I, Cleopatra, have lost my heart to you!
Carrying a smiling and waving Cleopatra in one arm, Iron Man flies over chariots and ancient Egyptians.
  • Eloi Honorable Mention
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Fantastic Four #19

Prisoners of the Pharoah! [sic]

Hoping to find a cure for Alicia’s blindness, the FF travel back to ancient Egypt where they meet the time traveler Rama-Tut for the first time. —Michael Main
At the conclusion of that adventure, Doom’s castle was abandoned by him, but there is still a chance that the machine he used to send us into the past may still be operational!
Standing beside Rama Tut and dressed in red finery, Sue Storm thinks, "Rama Tut
  • Eloi Honorable Mention
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Fantastic Four #23

The Master Plan of Doctor Doom!

Darn that Johnny Storm! Doc Doom’s time platform. But look what popped outta Doc Dooms time platform while Johnny wasn’t watching! Just a comedy relief for the rest of the story, which has no time travel. —Michael Main
A baby dinosaur!! Don’t just stand there! Grab him!
Doctor Doom stands at the controls of a Kirby-esque machine, watching the Fantastic Four at the edge disappearing floor with outer space below.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Cameo Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #101–102

Zarrko Rides Again!

As scared people race away, the Mighty Thor spins his hammer, preparing to throw it at Zarrko, who is descending on a big, blue hand.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #103

To Live Forever!

Luther Gorr realizes that others have been barking up the wrong tree when it comes to trying to use redwood sap for eternal life. But will his solution be any better than in the previous stories told by Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, and others? —Michael Main
This bark is from a redwood that’s stood for five thousand years! But no matter what tests I subject it to, I’m unable to unearth its longevity factor!
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  • Science Fiction
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Time Phenomena
Comic Book

Strange Tales #123

The Challenge of Loki!

A split cover with the Torch, the Thing, and the Beetle (on the left), and Doctor Strange, Thor, and Loki (on the right).
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Fantastic Four Annual #2

The Final Victory of Dr. Doom!

At the end of FF #23, Doc Doom was left floating in space. But of course, he’s too good a villain to not have someone rescue him, and that someone is Rama-Tut, fresh from FF #19 in his time ship. —Michael Main
Pen-and-ink splash page of the Fantastic Four facing motor trouble while riding over the city in their world-famous Fantastic-Car.
  • Eloi Gold Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Avengers #8

Kang, the Conqueror!

Kang the Conqueror stands behinda wall of energy balls as all five of the Avengers attack in vain.
  • Eloi Silver Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Strange Tales #124

The Lady from Nowhere!

The new menace of Paste-Pot Pete plasters the Human Torch and the Thing to a wall.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Avengers #10

The Avengers Break Up!

In his purple cloak and tall hat, Immorus stands defiantly, controlling Captain America, who fights the other four Avengers.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Journey into Mystery #122

Where Mortals Fear to Tread!

A majestic Odin, sitting in his regal throne, dominates the scene, while the Mighty Thor approaches from behind and the Absorbing Man approaches from the front with his ball and chain.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Avengers #11, December 1964

The Mighty Avengers Meet Spider-Man

This story is as close as Spidey ever got to time traveling in the Silver Age. He didn’t travel himself, but he did meet and battle Kang’s time traveling Spider-Man robot. On top of that, Don Heck gave us his interpretations of Ditko art taken from the pages of the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1. Can you tell which is which?
Spider-Man! Well, much obliged to you, fella! I never knew you were so . . . cooperative!
Spider-Man perches on one side of a large web that has trapped the five Avengers.
  • Eloi Honorable Mention
  • Superhero
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Fantastic Four #34

A House Divided!

A bald man sits at an ornate desk, calmly watching as the Fantastic Four attack one another.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Strange Tales #129

Beware . . . Tiboro! The Tyrant of the Sixth Dimension!

A mesmerized Doctor Strange levitates three crystal balls containing two images of Tiboro the tyrant and one of an idol.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Strange Tales #134

The Challenge of . . . the Watcher!

A giant Watcher looms over a castle and a heated battle between a mass of medieval people and two members of the F F: the Human Torch and the Thing.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Fantastic Four Annual #3

Bedlam at the Baxter Building!

24 Marvel super-heroes of the nineteen-sixties face off against 25 supervillians.
  • Eloi Gold Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Avengers #23–24

The Epic of Kang vs. the Avengers Quartet!

Hawkeye, Quicksilver, Wanda, and Cap prepare to launch an attack at a giant, looming Kang, the Conqueror.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Tales to Astonish #75–78

Hulk, against a World!

An angry Hulk charges a troop of machine-gunning soldiers with the capitol building andd General Ross in the background.
  • Eloi Bronze Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Avengers #28

Among Us Walks a Goliath!

Goliath, in his new purple and gold costume, looms large behind the four other Avengers.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

Thor #140

The Growing Man

Citizens of New York City flee as the giant Growing Man in purple armor topples a building while the Mighty Thor attacks.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Comic Book

tag-3934 Silver Surfer #6

Worlds without End!

The Silver Surfer swoops out of an orange fire toward a golden armored guard and the head of a gaping pink-and-purple demon.
  • Eloi Gold Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Cartoon

X-Men

Even though the 1992 cartoon had all them new-fangled X-Men and their funky costumes, I still got some enjoyment from the Kirby-designed villains, such as the Sentinels in the two-part time-travel story, “Days of Future Past” (which, not coincidentally, will also be the name of the upcoming X-Men movie). Well, they were sort of Kirby-designed: He penciled the cover and sketched the layouts of X-Men 14.
We rebels have a theory: If the assasination of the 90s never occurred. . .
|pending alt-text|
  • Science Fiction
  • Definite Time Travel
Feature Film

X-Men VII

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Wolverine comes back from 2013 to 1980 to persuade Professor X to take a different path. —Michael Main
Are we destined to destroy each other, or can we change each other and unite? Is the future truly set?
A large blue X superimposed on a melded image of Patrick Stweart (as Professor X) and James McAvoy (as young Professor X).
  • Superhero
  • Definite Time Travel
Feature Film

Marvel Cinematic Universe 14

Doctor Strange

After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil. —from publicity material
Dormammu, I’ve come to bargain.
Benedict Cumberbatch (as Doctor Strange) casts a spell with two outstretched, transparent fingers.
  • Eloi Silver Medal
  • Fantasy
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Feature Film

Marvel Cinematic Universe 19

Avengers: Infinity War

Given that the Time Stone is a key element to Thanos’s master plan, you’d think that time travel would play a major part in this movie, but not so. Doc Strange does use the stone to view a slew of possible futures, but we know that’s not actually time travel. So where does the time travel come into play? Pay close attention to the final thirteen minutes of the film, after Strange announces “We’re in the end game now,” and you’ll spot one definite time travel moment and a second possible moment. —Michael Main
Tony, there was no other way.
A giant Josh Brolin (as Thanos) stands proudly behind a determined Robert Downey Junior (as Iron Man) and the rest of the Avengers.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Feature Film

Marvel Cinematic Universe 22

Avengers: Endgame

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos' actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store. —from publicity material
Chris Evans (as Captain America) solumnly raises his shield to the sky.
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
TV Episode

WandaVision

I don't understand this power, but I will.
No image currently available.
  • Eloi Gold Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Debatable Time Travel
TV Episode

Loki, Season 1

Hang on to your Tesseracts! Apparently, in Endgame, when the Avengers traveled back in time to swipe various things from the 2012 Avengers, they inadvertantly started a branch in time where Loki ended up with the Tesseract. Of course, once that occurred, the Time Variance Authority spotted him as a Variant and quickly recruited him to help in their fight against even more variant Variants. —Michael Main
Appears to be a standard sequence violation. Branches growing at a stable rate and slope. Variant identified.
Tom Hiddleston (as Loki) stands with his arms crossed and an annoyed look on his face, in front of a large analog clock with multiple hands.
  • Eloi Bronze Medal
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel
Cartoon

What If  . . . ? (s01e04)

What If . . . Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

As we all know, when the world’s formost surgeon, Doctor Strange, lost the use of his hands in a car wreck, it prompted him to search out mystic treatments and eventually become the Master of the Mystic Arts. But what if he had lost something else in that wreck? —Michael Main
The Ancient One: Her death is an Absolute Point in time.
Dr. Strange: Absolute?
A.O.: Unchangable. Unmovable. Without her death, you would never have defeated Dormamu and become the Sorcerer Supreme—and the guardian of the Eye of Agamotto. If you erase her death, you never start your journey.
A computer animated cartoon drawing of Benedict Cumberbatch (as Doctor Strange) casting a spell.
  • Eloi Silver Medal
  • Fantasy
  • Superhero
  • Audience: YA and Up
  • Definite Time Travel