DR. HUGO STRANGE'S JOURNAL

          March 12, 1956
          Wonderful news! My old friend has returned at last. The man who opened my eyes to the true wonders of the world has contacted me again, as I knew he would.
 
          He said he has to come to congratulate me on my glorious ascension. He also said he needs my help and that only a magician of my colossal skill and power can aid him.
 
          He always was a wise and perceptive man.
 
          As I owe so much for introducing me to the world that my awesome intellect has now mastered, I have deigned to help him. After all, my genius would still be trapped within petty mortal constraints had it not been for him. It is solely due to his influence that I embarked on the path that has led me to become Earth’s  Sorcerer Supreme!
 
          We have much to discuss.
 
*****
 
          March 17, 1956
          I have spent much time talking with my old friend. He has seen many things and has many plans. It amuses me to see how far beyond him I have moved. Think of the powers that now dance at my command! He is properly respectful and rightfully concedes to my limitless brilliance.
 
          And yet, this man who has only a passing understanding of the true mechanics of The Art, has such insights at times! Perhaps as he is largely ignorant of The Art and is not bound by my kind of mastery and perfection, he can blunder into seemingly-compelling ideas that are ultimately unnecessary for Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme! Yes. That must be it.
 
          Still, despite the fact that he is uninitiated into The Art, he has managed to have some quite interesting experiences. I have heard much of the Wand of Mundus and look forward to seeing it. I am also intrigued by what he has told me about the servant that calls itself Solomon Grundy.
 
                He has told me of some of his plans. They are…. ambitious. He was right to come to me for aid. Only I am mighty enough to provide what he seeks.
 
*****
         
          April 29, 1956   
          Success! I have begun to repay my dept to my great friend.
         
          Having provided me with an Orb of Thessla, it was a small matter for me to transfer the soul of one of his enemies into it. His enemy was in a coma (at a hospital where I had privileges, no less!) My friend and I simply walked in, performed the ceremony and walked out again. Simplicity itself. While no mortal could reach him, his soul could not hide from Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme!
 
          My friend says he has such plans for it.
 
*****
         
          June 7, 1956
          The invocation went well and my dept to my friend is now well repaid.
 
          It was a remarkable evening. The ritual was unknown to even me, but my friend knew the specifics of it. Although he was well-versed in it, he admitted that only someone as powerful as I could perform it. Indeed!
 
          The results were spectacular and the arrow he needed to smite his enemies was forged. More over, I can feel the some of the raw energy that this invocation released is now housed within my altar. It will be a great aid in my future workings.
 
          Fulfilling the final part of our bargain, I then delivered the arrow to one of my friend’s hirelings, an assassin of some sort, I believe.
 
          My friend and I have parted in peace. It was good to see him, but now I understand just how far above him I have risen.         
 
*****
   
          June 8, 1956
          Strange problems today, all through my Sanctum. Phantom odors, sounds and lights. Nuisances mostly, but the poltergeist activity is distracting to my work. I have cleansed the area. This should clear it up by tomorrow.
 
*****
 
          June 10, 1956
          Still some residual disturbances. I am studying the problem.
 
*****
 
          June 29, 1956
          All my energies are now being spent researching whatever has taken hold of my Sanctum. All of my other work is unfortunately being neglected, as the disturbances are now distracting enough to make the performance of any major incantation dangerous. I must remind myself that travails such as these are one of the expected annoyances that come with the mantle of Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme!
 
***** 
 
          July 5, 1956
          This is becoming most frustrating! Several very important tomes in my library were destroyed today.
 
          Luckily, none of them were not essential to my continuing  research. I am certain that I’m close to banishing whatever obnoxious force has been drawn to my regal presence. I am preparing a mighty spell that will most assuredly counteract whatever it is that is vexing me.
 
           I hope to perform it soon, but my studies were unfortunately interrupted this afternoon by a far more base cause. A restaurant-owner named Rozeti had made an appointment with me last week and would not be put off. He was very upset. Apparently he had drawn the ire of gangsters  and was now desperate to procure magical protection for himself and especially his son. Bah! Such petty mortal folly is beyond the care of Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme!
 
          However, since he did have cash in hand and would obviously make a nuisance of himself until he was placated,  I brought him and his brat inside, performed a showy ceremony, gave them some beads that I told them were a powerful charm against danger,  assured them they were now safe and sent them on their way.
 
           The fool’s money will come in handy in obtaining certain ingredients that I think I will need for the banishing.
 
*****
 
          July 7, 1956
        More illusions to confound me!
 
        Today my tormentors took a more physical manifestation: A mocking yellow demon!
 
          It spoke in verse and tried to trick me with some nonsense about hunting something. I was too busy trying to dispel the illusion to listen to its prattle.
 
              I unleashed a powerful spell to rupture the pretense, but the illusion just laughed at me! Laughed!
 
          This phenomenon will soon be brought to heel! I vow it!
 
*****
          July 8, 1956
          Today I performed the banishing.
 
          It was not successful.
 
          I am now compelled to resort to even more radical methods to reassert my rightful dominance.
 
          Some of these have workings have caused certain side-effects in the immediate area surround my Sanctum. It cannot be helped! Despite them, I will continue until I am free of these pests! I am Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme! I will triumph!
 
*****
 
          July 9, 1956
          Still no success!
 
          After more research on the ritual I performed for Earle, I have become convinced that it was far more dangerous than I initially believed. I now believe that anyone who conjures weapons such as these, or even just uses them, risks precisely this kind of irksome spiritual phenomenon.
 
          Could Earle have known this beforehand? Impossible! I am Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme and I only just learned of it!
 
        Yet, he never touched the arrow, himself….
 
*****
 
          July 10, 1956
          My position here has alas become untenable. Earle’s possible treachery has irrevocably contaminated my Sanctum and I am in the process of moving somewhere where I can find some peace and quiet.
 
          I am going to need to be able to concentrate for I have recently begun to believe that when I performed Earle’s blasted ceremony, I invoked not just the petty infernal nuisances that have plagued me, but also something far more interesting. And powerful!
 
            I suspect I have brought to the earthly plane a daemon! Indeed, I have even have identified it as ihmnbczvnda. I think I know how it escaped from my Sanctum and how it can be captured.
 
             I am determined to find it and become its master! And with an entity like that bound to my will, the whole world will tremble at my power at last!