| Doctor Strange | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Strange Tales #110 (July 1963) |
| Created by | Steve Ditko (writer/artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Stephen Vincent Strange |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | |
| Partnerships | |
| Notable aliases | |
| Abilities |
|
Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created bySteve Ditko, the character first appeared inStrange Tales #110 (cover-dated July 1963). Doctor Strange serves as theSorcerer Supreme, the primary protector of the Earth dimension againstmagical andmystical threats. Doctor Strange was introduced during theSilver Age of Comic Books in an attempt to bring a different kind of character and themes ofmysticism to Marvel Comics.
The character starts as an intelligent and arrogantneurosurgeon who is injured in a car accident. Because his hands had suffered severe nerve damage from the accident, he was told that current medical therapy and rehabilitation would not be enough to enable him to practice again as a surgeon. Unable to accept thisprognosis, he travels the world searching for alternative ways of healing, which leads him to theAncient One, the Sorcerer Supreme. Strange becomes his student and learns to be a master of both the mystical and themartial arts. He acquires an assortment of mystical objects, including the powerfulEye of Agamotto andCloak of Levitation, and takes up residence in a mansion referred to as theSanctum Sanctorum, located at 177ABleecker Street,Greenwich Village,Manhattan,New York City. Strange assumes the title of Sorcerer Supreme and, with his friend and valetWong, defends the world from mystical threats.
In live-action adaptations, the character was first portrayed byPeter Hooten in the1978 television filmDr. Strange. Since 2016,Benedict Cumberbatch has portrayed the role ofStephen Strange in theMarvel Cinematic Universe.
ArtistSteve Ditko and writerStan Lee have described the character as having been originally the idea of Ditko, who wrote in 2008, "On my own, I brought in to Lee a five-page, penciled story with a page/panel script of my idea of a new, different kind of character for variety in Marvel Comics. My character wound up being named Dr. Strange because he would appear inStrange Tales."[5] In a 1963 letter toJerry Bails, Lee called the character Ditko's idea, saying:
Well, we have a new character in the works forStrange Tales (just a 5-page filler named Dr. Strange) Steve Ditko is gonna draw him. It has sort of a black magic theme. The first story is nothing great, but perhaps we can make something of him-- 'twas Steve's idea and I figured we'd give it a chance, although again, we had to rush the first one too much. Little sidelight: Originally decided to call him Mr. Strange, but thought the "Mr." bit too similar toMister Fantastic -- now, however, I remember we had a villain called Dr. Strange just recently in one of our mags, hope it won't be too confusing![6]
Doctor Strange debuted inStrange Tales #110 (July 1963),[7] a split book shared with the feature "The Human Torch". Doctor Strange appeared in issues #110–111 and #114 before the character's eight-pageorigin story in #115 (December 1963). His origin was later retold inDoctor Strange #169 (February 1968). Scripter Lee's take on the character was inspired by theChandu the Magician radio program that aired on theMutual Broadcasting System in the 1930s.[8] He had Doctor Strange accompany spells with elaborate artifacts, such as the "Eye of Agamotto" and the "Wand of Watoomb", as well as mystical-sounding vocabulary such as "Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!".[9] Although these often referenced the names of established mythological beings, Lee has said he never had any idea what the incantations meant and used them simply because they sounded mystical and mysterious.[10] Ditko showcasedsurrealistic mystical landscapes and increasingly vivid visuals that helped make the feature a favorite of college students at the time. Comics historian Mike Benton wrote:
TheDr. Strange stories of the 1960s constructed a cohesivecosmology that would have thrilled any self-respectingtheosophist. College students, minds freshly opened bypsychedelic experiences andEastern mysticism, read Ditko and Lee'sDr. Strange stories with the belief of a recentHare Krishna convert. Meaning was everywhere, and readers analyzed theDr. Strange stories for their relationship toEgyptian myths,Sumerian gods, andJungian archetypes.[11]
"People who readDoctor Strange thought people at Marvel must be heads [i.e., drug users]," recalled then-associate editor and formerDoctor Strange writerRoy Thomas in 1971, "because they had had similar experiences high on mushrooms. But I don't use hallucinogens, nor do I think any artists do."[12]
Originating in the early 1960s, the character was a predictor of trends in the art prior to them becoming more established in the latercounterculture of the 1960s. As historian Bradford W. Wright described:
Steve Ditko contributed some of his most surrealistic work to the comic book and gave it a disorienting, hallucinogenic quality.Dr. Strange's adventures take place in bizarre worlds and twisting dimensions that resembledSalvador Dalí paintings. Inspired by thepulp fiction magicians of Stan Lee's childhood as well as by contemporaryBeat culture,Dr. Strange remarkably predicted the youth counterculture's fascination with Eastern mysticism andpsychedelia. Never among Marvel's more popular or accessible characters,Dr. Strange still found a niche among an audience seeking a challenging alternative to more conventional superhero fare.[13]
As co-plotter and later sole plotter in theMarvel Method of scripting, Ditko took Strange into ever-more-abstract realms. In a 17-issue story arc inStrange Tales #130–146 (March 1965 – July 1966), Ditko introduced the cosmic characterEternity, who personified the universe and was depicted as a silhouette filled with the cosmos.[14]Golden Age of Comic Books artist/writerBill Everett succeeded Ditko as an artist with issues #147–152, followed byMarie Severin through #160 andDan Adkins through #168, the final issue before theNick Fury feature moved to its own title andStrange Tales was renamedDoctor Strange.[15] Expanded to 20 pages per issue, theDoctor Strange solo series ran 15 issues, #169–183 (June 1968 – November 1969), continuing the numbering ofStrange Tales.[15][16] Thomas wrote the run of new stories, joined after the first three issues by the art team ofpencilerGene Colan andinkerTom Palmer through the end.
After plans were announced for a never-released split book series featuring Doctor Strange andIceman, each in solo adventures.[17] Strange next appeared in the first three issues (December 1971 – June 1972) of the quarterly showcase titleMarvel Feature. He appeared in both the main story detailing the formation of superhero team theDefenders,[18] and the related back-up story. The character then starred in a revival solo series inMarvel Premiere #3–14 (July 1972 – March 1974).[19] This arc marked the debut of another recurring foe, the entityShuma-Gorath, created by writerSteve Englehart and artistFrank Brunner, who took over as the regular creative team starting withMarvel Premiere #10. Englehart and Brunner collaborated closely on the stories, meeting over dinner every two months to discuss the series, and their run became known for its psychedelic visuals and plots.[20] In issues #8–10 (May–September 1973), Strange is forced to shut down the Ancient One's mind, causing his mentor's physical death. Strange then assumes the title of Sorcerer Supreme.[21] Englehart and Brunner created another multi-issue storyline featuring sorcererSise-Neg ("Genesis" spelled backward) going back through history, collecting all magical energies, until he reaches the beginning of the universe, becomes all-powerful and creates it anew, leaving Strange to wonder whether this was,paradoxically, the original creation. Stan Lee, seeing the issue after publication, ordered Englehart and Brunner to print a retraction saying this was not God buta god, to avoid offending religious readers. According to Frank Brunner, he and Englehart concocted a fake letter from a fictitious minister praising the story, and mailed it to Marvel from Texas. Marvel unwittinglyprinted the letter inDoctor Strange #3 and dropped the retraction.[22]
Due to the growing number of Doctor Strange readers,[20] theMarvel Premiere series segued to the character's second ongoing title,Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts, also known asDoctor Strange vol. 2, which ran 81 issues (June 1974 – Feb. 1987).[23]Doctor Strange #14 featured a crossover story withThe Tomb of Dracula #44, another series which was being drawn by Gene Colan at the time.[24] In Englehart's final story, he sent Strange back in time to meetBenjamin Franklin.[25]
Strange met his alliesTopaz in #75 (February 1986) andRintrah in #80 (December 1986). The series ended on a cliffhanger as his home, the Sanctum Sanctorum, was heavily damaged during a battle. Among the losses were Doctor Strange's entire collection of mystic books and other important artifacts. As a consequence, Strange was now considerably weaker, and several spells designed to protect humanity fromvampires and the evil serpent godSet expired.
The title was discontinued so that the character's adventures could be transferred to another split-book format series.Strange Tales vol. 2, #1–19 (April 1987–Oct. 1988) was shared with street heroesCloak and Dagger. This new Doctor Strange series resolved Strange's quest to reclaim his power and missing artifacts, as well as resurrecting the Defenders, who had died in the last issue of that team's title.
Strange was returned to his own series, this time titledDoctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme, which ran 90 issues (November 1988 – June 1996).[26] The initial creative team was writerPeter B. Gillis and artistsRichard Case andRandy Emberlin, with storylines often spanning multiple issues. Strange lost the title of "Sorcerer Supreme" in issues #48–49 (Dec. 1992 – Jan. 1993) when he refused to fight a war on behalf of the Vishanti, the mystical entities that empower his spells. During this time the series became part of the "Midnight Sons" group of Marvel's supernatural comics.[27][28] Doctor Strange found new sources of magical strength in the form ofchaos magic,[29] as well as a magic construct he used as a proxy.[30] He would form the Secret Defenders with a rotating roster of heroes,[31] and reunite with the original Defenders. Strange regained his title inDoctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #80 (August 1995).
Strange appeared with the Human Torch and theThing in theone-shot publicationStrange Tales vol. 3, #1 (Nov. 1994).[32]
The character was featured in severallimited series. The first wasDoctor Strange: The Flight of Bones #1–4 (February–May 1999), with a series ofspontaneous combustions by criminals instigated by old foeDormammu. Strange was thecatalyst for the creation of a trio of sorceresses inWitches #1–4 (August–November 2004). TheStrange limited series (November 2004 – July 2005) by writersJ. Michael Straczynski andSamm Barnes updated the character's origin.[33] Another limited series,Doctor Strange: The Oath #1–5 (December 2006 – April 2007), written byBrian K. Vaughan and illustrated byMarcos Martin, focused on Strange's responsibilities as sorcerer and doctor.
Doctor Strange has appeared in fourgraphic novels:Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa (1986);Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989);Spider-Man/Dr. Strange: The Way to Dusty Death (1992); andDr. Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen? (1997).[34]
Strange appeared as a supporting character for the bulk of the 2000s. He appeared regularly inThe Amazing Spider-Man underJ. Michael Straczynski, before being cast into a time loop byBaron Mordo. He later appeared on and off inNew Avengers, where he was stated as being part of the secret group known as theIlluminati to deal with future threats to Earth. Ultimately Strange joined the team and allowed them to use his home as a base after the events of the 2006 "Civil War" storyline, which he sat out. Doctor Strange was critical of the federalSuperhuman Registration Act and aided the anti-registration Avengers team led byLuke Cage.[35]
DuringBrian Michael Bendis' time as writer, Doctor Doom attacked the Avengers and manipulated theScarlet Witch into eliminating most of themutant population. Doctor Strange's failure to recognize Doom's hand in the former and to stop the latter caused him to start to doubt his abilities.[volume & issue needed] After he was forced to use dark magic to confront an enragedHulk,[36] followed by further use of dark spells to save the New Avengers from the Hood's supervillain army,[37] Strange renounced his status as Sorcerer Supreme, as he felt that he was no longer worthy of it. The Eye of Agamotto passed the mantle on toJericho Drumm.[38]
He was also featured inThe Order, which spun out of the 2001Defenders revival, and theIndefensible Defenders mini-series.[volume & issue needed]
Doctor Strange appeared as a regular character throughout the 2010-2013The New Avengers series.[39]Jericho Drumm, now newly appointed Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Voodoo, sacrifices himself to stop the powerful mystical entity Agamotto from reclaiming the Eye.[40] A guilt-ridden Strange rejoins the New Avengers, and he offers the team his valet Wong to act as their housekeeper.[41]
Strange eventually regains his position of Sorcerer Supreme,[42] but is possessed by a demon[volume & issue needed] and becomes leader of theBlack Priests.[43]
After the various Marvel universes merge into one, Doctor Strange acts as righthand man of Doctor Doom, who has become the ruler of this world after erasing all recollection of the previous separate realities that existed. Circumstances force Strange to open a pod that releases the surviving heroes of the original Marvel continuity, known asEarth-616. Doom kills Doctor Strange.[44]
In 2015,Jason Aaron andChris Bachalo teamed up for the fourth volume ofDoctor Strange.[45] A new character, reluctant librarian Zelma Stanton, agrees to reorganize Strange's magical library.[46][full citation needed]Jericho Drumm returns, and the series and a spinoff,Dr. Strange: Last Days of Magic, sees such characters as Medico Mistico,Magik, Scarlet Witch, Mahatma Doom, Professor Xu,Monako, and Alice Gulliver.[47][full citation needed] With the laws of magic fundamentally altered, and with the loss of his former resources, Doctor Strange is forced to depend on his own physical skills and inventive use of his few functional spells. He eventually no longer has access to most of his former spells or his levitating cape.[48][full citation needed]
During the "Infinity Countdown" storyline, Doctor Strange goes on a space mission. He encountersSuper-Skrull who has theTime Stone. After defeating Super-Skrull, Doctor Strange claims the Time Stone.[49] Doctor Strange then tracks down the Mind Stone and finds it inTurk Barrett's possession as Turk manages to evade him. WhenBlack Widow's clone arrives seeking out Doctor Strange where she wants to dispose of the Space Stone, he does not want to take it as he knows what would happen if they are in proximity. Using a magic spell, Doctor Strange speaks to the holders of theInfinity Stones and requests a parley to reform theInfinity Watch. He states toAdam Warlock, Black Widow's clone, Captain Marvel,Star-Lord, and Turk Barrett that they need to safeguard them from such calamities even if one of them isThanos.[50]
Stephen Vincent Strange, M.D., Ph.D., is a brilliant but highlyegotistical doctor. He was born inPhiladelphia and raised inNew York City.[51] After high school, he went to New York College as a pre-med student, enteredmedical school atColumbia University and completed his residency atNew York-Presbyterian Hospital, where his success made him arrogant.[52][53][54]
Despite his reputation for being able to handle even the most complicated surgical procedures, Strange is self-centered and greedy, and only treats patients who can afford to pay his exorbitant fees. One night, while speeding in his car, a terrible accident shatters the bones in his hands, leading to extensive nerve damage. He soon finds that his fingerstremble uncontrollably, rendering him unable to perform surgery. Too vain to accept a teaching job, Strange desperately searches for a way to fix his hands and subsequently wastes all of his money on expensive, but unsuccessful treatments.
Broke and ostracized from his colleagues, Strange becomes a drifter. He happens to overhear two sailors in a bar discussing ahermit called theAncient One (who is actually the Earth's Sorcerer Supreme) in theHimalayas, who can heal any ailment. Despite not personally believing in magic, Strange uses the last of his money to track down the aged mystic. The Ancient One refuses to help Strange due to his arrogance but senses a good side that he attempts to bring to the surface. He fails, but Strange then commits a heroic act when he discovers the Ancient One's disciple,Baron Mordo, attempting to kill his mentor and usurp his power. After a confrontation with Mordo leads to him being shackled with restraining spells preventing him from either attacking Mordo or warning the Ancient One, Strange desperately and selflessly accepts the Ancient One's offer to become his apprentice to have some hope of helping the old man. The Ancient One, pleased at Strange's sincere change of heart, accepts Strange as his new student and promptly frees him from the restraining spells while explaining he was aware of Mordo's treachery all along. Strange soon becomes Mordo's most enduring enemy,[55] as the Ancient One trains the doctor in the mystic arts.[56]
After completing his training, Strange returns toNew York City and takes up residence within theSanctum Sanctorum, a townhouse located inGreenwich Village,Manhattan, accompanied by his personal assistantWong.[57]
As the Ancient One's disciple, Strange encounters the entityNightmare,[57] and other mystical foes before meetingDormammu, awarlord from analternate dimension called the "Dark Dimension" who wishes to conquer Earth. Strange is aided by a nameless girl, later calledClea,[58] who is eventually revealed to be Dormammu's niece.[59] When Strange helps a weakened Dormammu drive off the rampagingMindless Ones and return them to their prison, he is allowed to leave the Dark Dimension unchallenged.[60]
InThe Unbelievable Gwenpool #3, Strange encountersGwendolyn Poole, who explains herself to be from a reality where all Marvel characters are fictional characters in comic books. As Strange helps her locate her home reality to create a fake background for her in the Marvel Universe so that she can get a Social Security number, driver's license and other essential documents, he discovers thatBenedict Cumberbatch has been cast to play him in Gwen's universe, remarking that he "could see that".[61]
Doctor Strange is a practicing sorcerer who draws his powers from mystical entities such as Agamotto,Cyttorak,Ikonn, Oshtur,Raggadorr, andWatoomb, who lend their energies for spells.[62] Strange also wields mystical artifacts including the Cloak of Levitation which enables him to fly;[note 1] the Eye of Agamotto, an amulet whose light is used to negate evil magic;[56] the Book of the Vishanti, agrimoire which contains vast knowledge of white magic;[63][64]: 26–27 and the Orb of Agamotto, a crystal ball which is used forclairvoyance.[64]: 24–27 [65]
In addition to his magical abilities, Strange is trained in several martial arts disciplines,[66] includingjudo,[67] and has shown proficiency with numerous magically conjured weapons including swords and axes.[68] Strange was a skilled neurosurgeon before nerve damage impaired his hands.[56]
Doctor Strange is described as "the mightiestmagician in the cosmos"[69] and "more powerful by far than any of your fellow humanoids" byEternity, the sentience of theMarvel Universe.[70] He holds the title of Sorcerer Supreme beginning with the 1973 storyline in which the Ancient One dies,[21] and retains the title thereafter, except during an interruption from 1992[71] to 1995.[72] He relinquishes the title once again in a 2009 storyline,[38] but reclaims it in a 2012 story when he proves himself willing to protect the world even without the title.[42]
TheBook of the Vishanti, portrayed as being written by unknown authors, is closely associated with Doctor Strange and is the greatest known source ofwhitemagical knowledge on Earth. TheBook of the Vishanti contains spells of defensive magic and is indestructible. Its counterpart, theDarkhold, contains all the knowledge ofblack magic in the Marvel Universe and is likewise indestructible. It is possible to destroy single pages of either book, but the balancing spell in the other book must be destroyed as well to maintain a mystical balance. A collective of the three powerful magical beings—Agamotto, Oshtur, and Hoggoth—known as the Vishanti must allow the spell to be destroyed.
Even though the book is a tome of benevolent magic, the spells within can still be dangerous when used improperly. This is proven when a young, inexperienced Strange tried to use theBook of the Vishanti to resurrect his dead brother Victor, but the spell, known as the Vampire Verses, caused Victor to become the vampireBaron Blood years later.
The first known owner of the book was theAtlantean sorcererVarnae, who lived around 18,500 BC. The next known owner was the Babylonian godMarduk Kurios. Marduk set agriffin to guard the Book. The sorcerer known as theAncient One traveled back in time to c. 4000 BC, defeated the griffin, and returned to the 20th century. The Ancient One would remain the book's owner, despite a brief loss when the dark wizardKaluu returned the Book to the Griffin, until he deemed his student, Doctor Strange, worthy of taking it.
Doctor Strange keeps the book in his townhouse library inNew York City'sGreenwich Village. He briefly lost the book when he destroyed his home to prevent the alien wizardUrthona from taking his magical artifacts, but the book was saved by Agamotto, who transported it to his realm and returned it to Strange some time later.
The Cloak of Levitation is depicted as a potent mysticalcloak worn by Doctor Strange. The primary purpose of the cloak is to give its wearer the ability to fly. Additionally, the cloak is able to alter its shape, being often used to act as "another set of hands" to attack an opponent when Strange's own body has been incapacitated.
There were two distinctly different cloaks worn by Doctor Strange bequeathed to him by his mentor, theAncient One: a billowing, full-length blue cloak, that had minor abilities and spells woven into it, and the later, red cloak that Strange is usually seen wearing. The first appearance of the first (blue) cloak was inStrange Tales #114 (November 1963). The first appearance of the second (red) cloak was inStrange Tales #127 (December 1964).[73] The Cloak of Levitation is seen in a great many battles where it often plays a very significant role. While it is extremely durable, there are a few occasions when it is damaged. Its repair requires that Strange engage an ally, Enitharmon the Weaver.[74][75]
The Eye of Agamotto is the name commonly given to theamulet Strange wears on his chest, though the Eye resides within the amulet and is released from time to time.
Created by writerStan Lee and artistSteve Ditko, it first appeared in "The Origin of Dr. Strange", an eight-page story inStrange Tales #115 (December 1963).[76] In designing the Eye, Ditko drew inspiration from theEyes of Buddha, a Nepali symbol meant to protect its wearer against evil.[77]
The Eye of Agamotto appears in several forms of Marvel-related media, such as theMarvel Cinematic Universe, in which it contains the Time Stone, one of theInfinity Stones.
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Aside from the Eye of Agamotto, the Orb of Agamotto is the other occult object that Doctor Strange owns.[78] It is a powerfulscrying crystal ball powered by the Agamotto entity to detect the use of magic anywhere in the world, providing Strange with a location and visual. It can also be used to monitor the shields that protect the planets created by the three sanctums.[79] If Agamotto is inside the Orb, it becomes Strange's ultimate source of knowledge.[80]
The Orb of Agamotto rests in Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum in a room called the Chamber of Shadows. It usually is inside a display case with three curved legs. When summoned, the glass covering rises and the ball levitates. While powerful, the Orb has been blocked by exceptionally powerful mystic forces (such asUmar) who do not want their exact location known. On at least one occasion, it has been used to open a dimensional portal to the realm of Agamotto. In the filmThor, the Orb is briefly shown in Odin's Trophy Room in Asgard.[81]
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Doctor Strange is generally portrayed as theSorcerer Supreme, a title denoting a specific magic-user who is given responsibility for protecting Earth and the known universe from both supernatural and magical threats. The Sorcerer Supreme also ensures that alternate dimensions such as the Dark Dimension do not spill over into their own, thereby preventing cataclysmic mergers that would result in themass extinction of life.
Prior to Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme was a long-lived Tibetan mystic known as the Ancient One; upon his death and ascension to the spirit world, Strange took his place.
The following are a selection of enemies of Doctor Strange:
Steve Ditko's artwork is considered groundbreaking in comic book history, featuring surreal and psychedelic imagery that mirrored the growing counterculture movement of the 1960s. His visual style, with its otherworldly dimensions and abstract landscapes, was highly innovative. It has been compared to the visual experiences of people who had used LSD. This made the comics very popular with the growing counter culture movement of the time.[105][106]
Laura Bradley ofVanity Fair included Doctor Strange in their "Stan Lee’s Most Iconic Characters" list.[107]Screen Rant included Doctor Strange in their "10 Most Powerful Comic Book Wizards" list,[108] and in their "10 Smartest Magic Users In Comic Books" list.[109]CBR.com ranked Doctor Strange 1st in their "10 Best Sorcerer Supremes" list,[110] and 5th in their "10 Scariest Avengers" list.[111]Collider ranked Doctor Strange 1st in their "Most Powerful Original Marvel Illuminati Members" list,[112] and 14th in their "20 Most Powerful Marvel Characters" list.[113]
Lance Cartelli ofGameSpot ranked Doctor Strange 27th in their "50 Most Important Superheroes" list.[114]IGN ranked Doctor Strange 33rd in their "Top 50 Avengers" list,[115] and 38th in their "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes" list.[116]The A.V. Club ranked Doctor Strange 47th in their "100 best Marvel characters" list.[117] Lance Cartelli ofComicBook.com ranked Doctor Strange 35th in their "50 Most Important Superheroes Ever" list.[118]Wizard Magazine ranked Doctor Strange 83rd in their "200 Greatest Comic Book Characters of All Time" list.[119]
Two months before the debut of the sorcerer-hero Doctor Strange, Stan Lee (editor and story-plotter),Robert Bernstein (scripter, under thepseudonym "R. Berns"), andJack Kirby (artist) introduced a criminal scientist andPh.D. with the samesurname (called Carl Strange). Making his sole appearance in theIron Man story "The Stronghold of Dr. Strange" inTales of Suspense #41 (1963), the character gained mental powers in a freaklightning strike.[126]
Set in theAmalgam Comics universe, Dr. Strange was combined withDoctor Fate andCharles Xavier into Dr. Strangefate. As the only character aware of the nature of the Amalgam Universe, he was the chief opponent ofAccess, who was attempting to separate theDC andMarvel Universes. Originally numbered as Earth-962.[127]
In the mini-seriesBullet Points, Dr. Strange chooses to work forS.H.I.E.L.D., rather than seek out theAncient One, in exchange for them restoring his hands. Later he is seen possessing claws similar to Wolverine's.[128]
An alternative Dr. Strange helped theExiles briefly. This character was not a mystic, but instead was still a practicing physician who specialized in superhumans. This version of Strange was killed by an alternative version ofDeadpool.[129]
In this series, Dr. Strange is now the Ancient One and had a daughter with Clea who is the new Dr. Strange.[130]
In the alternative future of theGuardians of the Galaxy, Dr. Strange assumed the title of the Ancient One (previously held by his mentor) and took on a disciple of his own, a Lem namedKrugarr. Strange/the Ancient One was eventually killed by Dormammu, who was defeated by the combined efforts of Krugarr, his discipleTalon, and the Guardians.[131]
Set in theMarvel 2099 universe, the Sorceress Supreme of Earth is a young woman who calls herself "Strange". She secretly shares her body with a monstrous demon. She is very inexperienced in her powers and uses them recklessly. In one incident, she causes the death of her brother. Her main opponent isGarokk who wishes to use her past torments and inexperience to gain the title of Sorcerer Supreme for himself.[132]
In a 'reset' 2099 timeline where theMaestro has conquered a decimated world, he apparently kept Strange contained in a mystical circle.[133] WhenMiguel O'Hara emerged into this timeline and released Strange, she claimed that the demon possessing her protected her from major world-shifts, working with Miguel to repair an old time machine of Doctor Doom's so that he could return to 2015 and avert this timeline. However, after Miguel's departure, Strange revealed that she was working with the Maestro and was under the control of the demon within her.[134]
During the "Secret Wars" storyline, a version of Strange later appears onBattleworld as a member of theDefenders 2099.[135]
When Miguel returns to a new variation of the 2099 timeline where having superpowers is illegal, he witnessesMoon Knight banishing Strange's demon being from her body using a soul sword.[136]
In the unified Marvel 2099 reality of Earth-2099, Strange was a member of2099 version of the Avengers. She was among those who were massacred by the2099 version of the Masters of Evil.[137]
In theMarvel Zombies universe, Dr. Strange is one of the last heroes in the alternative "zombie world" to be transformed into a zombie. He was last seen in living form as part ofNick Fury's resistance to defeat the zombified Marvel superheroes in the spinoffDead Days before he and the rest of the surviving superheroes are later overwhelmed by the zombieFantastic Four and turned.[138] He participates in the multi-zombie attack onDoctor Doom's castle, in an effort to capture and devour the unaffectedLatverian citizens inside.[139] While part of a multi-zombie chase of UltimateReed Richards, he vanishes under a rain of cars launched byMagneto.[140] However, he later resurfaces inMarvel Zombies 3 but with limited function as a result of Magneto's wrath. He is part ofKingpin's undead alliance and can only perform two spells, one of which allows viewers to see into other universes which becomes an essential tool to Kingpin's plans. Ultron kills Zombie Dr. Strange.[141]
Set in theMC2 universe. Dr. Strange is retired and the title of Sorcerer Supreme has been passed to the younger Doc Magus.[142]
Set in theMutant X universe. Dr. Strange was theMan-Thing.[143] The title of Sorcerer Supreme had been taken by Mordo.[144]
Set in theLarval zooniverse, thetalking animal version of Doctor Strange is Croctor Strange, ananthropomorphiccrocodile.[145]
Dr. Strange assists Thor in theMAX mini seriesThor: Vikings, when zombified, evil Vikings massacre Manhattan by pillaging and killing its citizens. Strange helps Thor locate the descendants of a victim that the Vikings had slain, just after the victim, a village wiseman had placed a curse on the Vikings that caused them to become zombified. With Strange's instruction, the battle-experienced descendants all fight the Vikings with Thor.[146]
There are two versions of Doctor Strange that reside in theUltimate Marvel Universe.
First appearing in flashbacks, Dr. Stephen Strange married his former student Clea and the two of them had a child named Stephen Strange Jr. Strange Sr. later vanished and Clea decided to raise Stephen Jr. away from magic.[147] The title of "Sorcerer Supreme" was only self-proclaimed by the elder Strange as reported in the comics during a TV news broadcast.[148]
As a college student, Stephen Strange Jr. was approached by Wong who told him about his father and took him on as a student. He supports himself as a new-age guru to the rich, powerful, and famous, and is seen as a celebrity appearing on television talk shows. He is known to the public as "Dr. Strange", although he does not hold a medical degree or doctorate. Stephen Strange Jr. has bemoaned his lack of knowledge in things mystical and usually, just barely saves the day with one last desperate untried spell. Starting inUltimate Spider-Man #107, this Doctor Strange is a member of Daredevil's team fighting against the Kingpin, theUltimate Knights.[149]
InUltimatum, Strange is killed byDormammu whenHulk rampages through his house. A mysterious person later found his body.[150]
A Venomized version of Doctor Strange appears inVenomverse, who is responsible for gathering all of the different incarnations of Venom. His Earth was eradicated by the Poisons so he had gathered Venoms from across the multiverse to prevent the Poisons from consuming more of them. He is captured by the Poisons and he realizes that instead of bringing more Venoms to fight, he had brought the Poisons more Venoms to consume. In the climax he sends all of the surviving Venoms to their universes while the bomb built byRocket Raccoon explodes. His fate is unknown.[151]
Dr. Strange also exists in severalWhat If?...multiverses.
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Doctor Stephen Strange appears in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed byBenedict Cumberbatch. First appearing in aself-titled film (2016), this version is a successful, wealthy neurosurgeon who becomes severely injured following a car accident, leading him to travel the world for answers to heal his injuries, eventually landing inKamar-Taj, and becoming a Master of the Mystic Arts. He makes further appearances inThor: Ragnarok,Avengers: Infinity War,Avengers: Endgame,Spider-Man: No Way Home, andDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and will return inAvengers: Doomsday.[167] Additionally, alternate timeline variants of Strange appear inWhat If... ? andYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, with the latter version voiced byRobin Atkin Downes.[168][154]
Inspired by the Mutual Network radio showChandu the Magician, which [Stan] Lee had enjoyed during his childhood, Dr. Strange was in fact a more impressive character than Chandu.
Creeping conflict became apparent a few months after Spider-Man's debut, when Lee first announced the impending debut of their next co-creation, a magician named Doctor Strange.
We cooked up this plot—we wrote a letter from a Reverend Billingsley in Texas, a fictional person, saying that one of the children in his parish brought him the comic book, and he was astounded and thrilled by it, and he said, 'Wow, this is the best comic book I've ever read.' And we signed it 'Reverend so-and-so, Austin Texas'—and when Steve was in Texas, he mailed the letter so it had the proper postmark. Then, we got a phone call from Roy, and he said, 'Hey, about that retraction, I'm going to send you a letter, and instead of the retraction, I want you to print this letter.' And it was our letter! We printed our letter!
Writer Roy Thomas and penciller Andre Coates created this new series that ran until 1995.
Scribes J. Michael Straczynski and Samm Barnes, with artist Brandon Peterson, retold Dr. Strange's mystical origin for a new generation of fans in this six-issue limited series.
Dr. Strange's archenemy, Baron Mordo, was introduced inStrange Tales #111.
Clea, Dr. Strange's longtime girlfriend from the Dark Dimension, debuted inStrange Tales #126.
He's the only Marvel hero to make it into an iconic glam-rock song! 'Mambo Sun,' the opening track on T. Rex's legendary 1971 album Electric Warrior, features the lyric 'On a mountain range/I'm Doctor Strange for you.' How romantic.
'Suddenly it strikes you, that they're moving into range,' Syd Barrett's replacement David Gilmour intones solemnly, 'and Doctor Strange is always changing size.'
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