Why Doctor Strange is the Best Character Ever!
Every comic book character is someone's favorite comic book character.
Hello CBM community! I'm J.D. Abhold and I've been an avid reader and overall fan of this wonderful site for years and now I have finally decided to start making some contributions of my own.
This is the first of what I hope to be a series of weekly articles detailing the history and significance of different comic book characters spanning as many titles and companies as I can think of. From where they began on the comic page to where they are now, including appearances in film, television and other media I hope to help you answer some of your most burning questions such as: What are some of the essential moments and story lines throughout the characters career? What attributes does this particular character possess that sets him or her apart from the thousands of other characters throughout comics? How in such convoluted histories can one find a good starting point to begin reading the character regularly? Or how can I just find some quality one off stories to get a feel for the character and their world?
I hope you enjoy and let me know not only what you think about this article but what other characters you'd like to know a little bit more about. Now let's get started.
DOCTOR STRANGE: (MARVEL COMICS)
Real Name: Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange
First Appearance: Strange Tales #110 July 1963
Created By: Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
The Origin Story:
Once considered the best neurosurgeon in the world, Dr. Stephen Strange was also immensely egotistical and obsessed with advancing his career. But after a terrible car accident, which in some incarnations of his origin is said to have been caused by excessive drinking on his part, every bone in Dr. Strange's hands is shattered rendering them useless.
Unable to continue performing surgeries and with his massive ego not allowing him to lower himself to teaching, Strange exhausts all of his massive wealth trying to find a cure. Dr. Strange eventually finds himself living on the streets and performing back alley medical procedures to continue his search.
Eventually Strange hears of someone called “The Ancient One” the worlds Sorcerer Supreme, located deep in the Himalayas whom he believes may be able to restore the use of his hands. However the Ancient One refuses to help him due to Stephens egotistical and selfish ways. But when Stephen learns of a plot by Baron Mordo, one of the Ancient One's disciples and eventual nemesis of the good doctor, to kill the old man; Strange stops him and in return the Ancient One decides to teach Dr. Strange the magical arts.
Powers and Abilities:
Strange's powers are derived from a number of different magical and mystical items and entities including the Vishanti, which consists of Agamotto, Oshtur and Hoggath. The Octessence, which are Balthakk, Cyttorak, Farallah, Ikonn, Krakkan, Raggadorr, Valtoor and Watoomb.
The most famous of Strange's magical artifacts is the Eye of Agamotto which is used to counteract evil magic and is commonly shown hanging from a chain around Doctor Strange's neck. Other items include Strange's Cloak of Levitation which allows him to fly, the Orb of Agamotto which performs similar duties to that of a crystal ball and many others.
A Brief Comic History:(essential moments, characteristics and story lines)
Doctor Strange's inaugural comics run was in the pages of “Strange Tales”, a title the doctor first shared with the Human Torch and then Nick Fury from issue #110 through #168.Though his origin story wasn't revealed until issue #115. After the initial 59 issues the title was officially changed to “Doctor Strange”, though it kept the original numbering running from issue #169-#183.
During these 74 issues the various supporting characters in the world of Strange were introduced. The Ancient One (Strange Tales #110); the Sorcerer Supreme that trained Doctor Strange. Baron Mordo (Strange Tales #111); one of the Ancient One's followers and nemesis of Doctor Strange specializing in astral projections and hypnosis.
Others included Dormammu (Strange Tales #126), the tyrannical ruler of an alternate “Dark Dimension” and one of Doctor Strange's most fearsome foes. Dormammu's sister Umar (Strange Tales #150) and Clea (Strange Tales #126); Strange's eventual lover and Dormammu's niece. Nightmare (Strange Tales #110); the evil ruler of the Dream Dimension and Doctor Strange's personal servant and mentor at his home the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York, Wong (Strange Tales #110) were also introduced.
Though many artists have taken a crack at the Sorcerer Supreme and the various realms, dimensions, demons and down right weird elements in his world the man who set the tone and started it all was the legendary artist Steve Ditko. The psychedelic shapes and colors mixed with a surrealistic and disorienting style earned the book a unique notoriety and set the series apart from other books being produced at the time. Even today, Doctor Strange books new and old can be looked to for truly inspiring artwork.
From 1972-1974 Doctor Strange appeared in a series titled, “Marvel Premiere” during which Doctor Strange was forced to shut down the Ancient Ones mind consequently killing him and Stephen Strange officially inherited the title of the “Sorcerer Supreme”.
But the journey of Strange doesn't end there. The Sorcerer Supreme would yet again get his own book with “Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts” (1974-1987) at the end of which the Sanctum Sancturom was severely damaged causing Strange to lose many of his mystic books and artifacts which consequently lifted a protective spell Strange had placed over the entire world to protect people from the horrors of vampires and the serpent god Set which helped reintroduce vampires into the Marvel universe after the comics code authority had banned comic companies from using them.
Eventually Strange looked to find a new Sorcerer Supreme (2005) considering several candidates including Scarlet Witch and even Dr. Doom before the Eye of Agamotto chose Brother Voodoo, eventually renamed Dr. Voodoo, who ends up sacrificing himself to keep the entity Agamotto from reclaiming the eye. After the death of Dr. Voodoo Dr. Strange again assumed the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme.
GROUP/TEAM AFFILIATIONS:
Even the strangest of characters can belong to a team and Doctor Strange is no exception. On top of being an Avenger, even appearing as a regular supporting character in the “New Avengers” series, Strange is a founding member of the Defenders which first appeared in the quarterly title “Marvel Features”. He also belongs to a group of Marvels supernatural characters called the “Midnight Sons” and in issue #7 of the New Avengers (2005) it was revealed that Dr. Strange, along with Ironman, Professor X, the Submariner, Black Bolt, and Mr. Fantastic formed a secret council called the “Illuminati” to deal with various threats to the earth without the other heroes of the Marvel universe knowing about it.
TV,FILM, and other Media:
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Peter Hooten played Doctor Strange in the live action made for TV movie “Dr.. Strange” in 1978
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Strange has appeared in several of Marvels animated series' including: Spiderman and His Amazing Friends, Spiderman: the Animated Series, The Incredible Hulk: the Animated Series, The Superhero Squad Show, and even Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H..
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A direct to DVD animated film distributed through Marvel's deal with Lionsgate “Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme” was released in 2007 which details the Doctor's origins and he also appeared in a brief non-speaking role in Lionsgate's animated Planet Hulk film.
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In June 2014 Scott Derrikson (Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose) was officially chosen to direct a live action film for Marvel Studios. Bringing the doctor into “Phase Three” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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Doctor Strange has appeared in several of Marvel's various video game outings throughout the years as a non-playable character in games such as: The Amazing Spiderman vs the Kingpin and Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. As well as a playable character in games such as: Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, Marvel Superhero Squad Online, Marvel Avengers: Battle For Earth and Lego Marvel Superheroes as well as others.
Recommended Viewing:
I know this is a ton of information and there's even more to be discovered through the various titles Dr. Strange has appeared in. My recommendations for attempting to introduce yourself to the vast world of Doctor Strange are the origin stories depicted in; Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme (2007 direct to DVD animated film) which helps introduce many of Strange's supporting characters including the Ancient One and Dormammu as well as establishes the doctors ongoing rivalry with Baron Mordo. I also recommend Dr. Strange: Season One (paperback and hardcover) which chronicles the early days of Strange's training in the magical arts.
So why is Doctor Strange the best comic book character ever? It's not just the morality tale of an egotistical jerk learning humanity. It's not just the ground breaking psychedelic artwork that originated with Steve Ditko which set the book apart from its competitors. Or even the exploration of the mystical and magical aspects of the Marvel universe. It's all of those things and more as Doctor Strange delivers a sometimes dark, creepy and even otherworldly style of story telling and bringing it into a contemporary and real world environment where you can completely buy that there are mystical fire demons and elaborate incantations taking place in downtown New York.
I hope you enjoyed my look into Doctor Strange and if there's a character you'd like to know more about or if you have any suggestions on how my future articles can be even better, leave a comment below and I'll see you next time another of “The Best Comic Book Characters”.