Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist Steve Ditko with scripting by Stan Lee, the character first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ( July 1963). Doctor Strange serves as the Sorcerer Supreme, the primary protector of the Earth dimension against magical and Mysticism threats. Doctor Strange was introduced during the Silver Age of Comic Books in an attempt to bring a different kind of character and themes of mysticism to Marvel Comics.
The character starts as an intelligent and arrogant Neurosurgery 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 this prognosis, he travels the world searching for alternative ways of healing, which leads him to the Ancient One, the Sorcerer Supreme. Strange becomes his student and learns to be a master of the mystical arts. He acquires an assortment of mystical objects, including the powerful Eye of Agamotto and Cloak of Levitation, and takes up residence in a mansion referred to as the Sanctum Sanctorum, located at 177A Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City. Strange assumes the title of Sorcerer Supreme and, with his friend and valet Wong, defends the world from mystical threats.
In live-action adaptations, the character was first portrayed by Peter Hooten in the 1978 television film Dr. Strange. Since 2016, Benedict Cumberbatch has portrayed the role of Stephen Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Publication history
Creation
Artist
Steve Ditko and writer
Stan 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 in
Strange Tales."
In a 1963 letter to
Jerry Bails, Lee called the character Ditko's idea, saying:
Early years
Doctor Strange debuted in
Strange Tales #110 (July 1963),
[ DeFalco in "1960s" "When Dr. Strange first appeared in Strange Tales #110, it was only clear that he dabbled in black magic and had the ability to project his consciousness into an astral form that could leave his physical body."] a split book shared at the time with the feature "
Human Torch" and later with the feature "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." Doctor Strange appeared in issues #110–111 and #114 before the character's eight-page
origin story in #115 (December 1963). His origin was later retold in
Doctor Strange #169 (February 1968). Scripter Lee's take on the character was inspired by the
Chandu the Magician radio program that aired on the Mutual Broadcasting System in the 1930s.
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!" or "Shades of the Seraphim!"
Although these names were sometimes evocative of established mythological or theological beings, such as the Biblical Seraphim, Lee has said he never had any idea what the incantations meant and used them simply because they sounded mystical and mysterious.
Ditko showcased
Surrealism mystical landscapes and increasingly vivid visuals that helped make the feature a favorite of college students at the time. Comics historian Mike Benton wrote:
"People who read Doctor Strange thought people at Marvel must be heads i.e.,," recalled then-associate editor and former Doctor Strange writer Roy 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."
Originating in the early 1960s, the character was a predictor of trends in the art prior to them becoming more established in the later counterculture of the 1960s. As historian Bradford W. Wright described:
As co-plotter and later sole plotter in the Marvel Method of scripting, Ditko took Strange into ever-more-abstract realms. In a 17-issue story arc in Strange Tales #130–146 (March 1965 – July 1966), Ditko introduced the cosmic character Eternity, who personified the universe and was depicted as a silhouette filled with the cosmos.[ "Indexer notes: Part 5 of 17. First mention of Eternity. Strange would finally find it in Strange Tales #138 (November 1965)."] Golden Age of Comic Books artist/writer Bill Everett succeeded Ditko as an artist with issues #147–152, followed by Marie Severin through #160 and Dan Adkins through #168, the final issue before the Nick Fury feature moved to its own title and Strange Tales was renamed Doctor Strange.[DeFalco in "Hailing 1968 as the beginning of the 'Second Age of Marvel Comics,' and with more titles to play with, editor Stan Lee discarded his split books and gave more characters their own titles... Strange Tales #168 was by Dr. Strange #169."] Expanded to 20 pages per issue, the Doctor Strange solo series ran 15 issues, #169–183 (June 1968 – November 1969), continuing the numbering of Strange Tales.
After plans were announced for a never-released split book series featuring Doctor Strange and Iceman, each in solo adventures,[Peter Sanderson in "Roy Thomas and artist Ross Andru reunited Doctor Strange, the Hulk, and Namor as a brand new Marvel superhero team—the Defenders."] and the related solo back-up story. The character then starred in a revival solo series in Marvel Premiere #3–14 (July 1972 – March 1974).[Sanderson "1970s" "Dr. Strange began a new series of solo adventures. He got off to an impressive start with a story scripted by Stan Lee and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith."] This arc marked the debut of another recurring foe, the entity Shuma-Gorath, first alluded to by writer Gardner Fox in Marvel Premiere #5 and later fully imagined by writer Steve Englehart and artist Frank Brunner, who took over as the regular creative team starting with Marvel Premiere #9. 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.
Due to the growing number of Doctor Strange readers,
Sanderson "1970s" in "The great Marvel artist Gene Colan was doing superb work illustrating both Doctor Strange and The Tomb of Dracula. So it made sense for Strange writer Steve Englehart and Tomb author Marv Wolfman to devise a crossover story."[Sanderson "1970s" in "The year 1976 was the 200th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence. So it was appropriate that several of the major events in Marvel history that year dealt with political themes... In September, just before departing from Marvel for DC Comics, writer Steve Englehart sent Dr. Strange back through time to meet one of the men responsible for the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin."]
1980s
Strange met his allies Topaz in #75 (February 1986) and Rintrah 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 from
and the evil serpent god Set expired.
The title was discontinued and the character's adventures transferred to another split-book format series. Strange Tales vol. 2, #1–19 (April 1987–Oct. 1988) was shared with street heroes Cloak and Dagger. This new Doctor Strange series resolved Strange's quest to reclaim his power and missing artifacts, and resurrected the Defenders, who had died in the last issue of that team's title.
1990s
Strange was returned to his own series, this time titled
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme, which ran 90 issues (November 1988 – June 1996).
The initial creative team was writer Peter B. Gillis and artists
Richard Case and
Randy Emberlin, soon replaced by returning writer Roy Thomas and artist Butch Guice, 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.
[ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #60 (December 1993) to #68 (August 1994)] Doctor Strange found new sources of magical strength in the form of
chaos magic,
[ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #80–90 (August 1995 – June 1996)] as well as a magic construct he used as a proxy.
[ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #60–75 (December 1993 – March 1995)] He would form the Secret Defenders with a rotating roster of heroes,
[Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in ] and reunite with the original Defenders. Strange regained his title in
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #80 (August 1995).
Strange appeared with the Human Torch and the Thing in the one-shot publication Strange Tales vol. 3, #1 (Nov. 1994).
The character was featured in several limited series. The first was Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones #1–4 (February–May 1999), with a series of spontaneous combustions by criminals instigated by old foe Dormammu. Strange was the catalyst for the creation of a trio of sorceresses in Witches #1–4 (August–November 2004). The Strange limited series (November 2004 – July 2005) by writers J. Michael Straczynski and Samm Barnes updated the character's origin.[Manning "2000s" ] Another limited series, Doctor Strange: The Oath #1–5 (December 2006 – April 2007), written by Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Marcos Martin, focused on Strange's responsibilities as sorcerer and doctor.
Doctor Strange has appeared in four graphic novels: Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa (1986); Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989); Spider-Man/Dr. Strange: The Way to Dusty Death (1992); and Dr. Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen? (1997).
2000s
Strange appeared as a supporting character for the bulk of the 2000s. He appeared regularly in
The Amazing Spider-Man under J. Michael Straczynski, before being cast into a time loop by
Baron Mordo. He later appeared on and off in
New Avengers, where he was stated as being part of the secret group known as the Illuminati 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 federal Superhuman Registration Act and aided the anti-registration Avengers team led by
Luke Cage.
During Brian Michael Bendis' time as writer, Doctor Doom attacked the Avengers and manipulated the Scarlet Witch into eliminating most of the mutant 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. After he was forced to use dark magic to confront an enraged Hulk,
He was also featured in The Order, which spun out of the 2001 Defenders revival, and the Indefensible Defenders mini-series.
2010s
Doctor Strange appeared as a regular character throughout the 2010-2013
The New Avengers series.
, now newly appointed Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Voodoo, sacrifices himself to stop the powerful mystical entity Agamotto from reclaiming the Eye.
A guilt-ridden Strange rejoins the New Avengers, and he offers the team his valet Wong to act as their housekeeper.
Strange eventually regains his position of Sorcerer Supreme,
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 as Earth-616. Doom kills Doctor Strange.
In 2015, Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo teamed up for the fourth volume of Doctor Strange.[ Doctor Strange vol. 4, #1] 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.[ Dr. Strange: Last Days of Magic #1] 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.[ Doctor Strange vol. 4, #10]
During the "Infinity Countdown" storyline, Doctor Strange goes on a space mission. He encounters Super-Skrull who has the Time Stone. After defeating Super-Skrull, Doctor Strange claims the Time Stone.[ Doctor Strange vol. 5, #1–3. Marvel Comics.] Doctor Strange then tracks down the Mind Stone and finds it in Turk Barrett's possession as Turk manages to evade him. When Black 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 the Infinity Stones and requests a parley to reform the Infinity Watch. He states to Adam 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 is Thanos.[ Infinity Countdown #5. Marvel Comics.]
Fictional character biography
Stephen Vincent Strange, M.D., Ph.D., is a brilliant but highly
egotistical doctor. He was born in
Philadelphia and raised in New York City.
After high school, he went to New York College as a pre-med student, entered medical school at Columbia University and completed his residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where his success made him arrogant.
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 fingers Tremor, 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 a hermit called the Ancient One (who is actually the Earth's Sorcerer Supreme) in the Himalayas, 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,[DeFalco "1960s" in ] as the Ancient One trains the doctor in the mystic arts.
After completing his training, Strange returns to New York City and takes up residence within the Sanctum Sanctorum, a townhouse located in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, accompanied by his personal assistant Wong.
As the Ancient One's disciple, Strange encounters the entity Nightmare,[DeFalco "1960s" in ] who is eventually revealed to be Dormammu's niece.
In The Unbelievable Gwenpool #3, Strange encounters Gwenpool, 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 that Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast to play him in Gwen's universe, remarking that he "could see that".
Powers and abilities
Powers and skills
Doctor Strange is a practicing sorcerer who draws his powers from mystical entities such as Agamotto,
Cyttorak,
Ikonn, Oshtur,
Raggadorr, and
Watoomb, who lend their energies for spells.
Strange also wields mystical artifacts including the Cloak of Levitation which enables him to fly;
[The blue "student" version first appeared in Strange Tales #110 (July 1963), with the red "master" version first appearing in Strange Tales #127 (Dec. 1964).] the Eye of Agamotto, an amulet whose light is used to negate evil magic;
the Book of the Vishanti, a
grimoire which contains vast knowledge of white magic;
and the Orb of Agamotto, a crystal ball which is used for
clairvoyance.
In addition to his magical abilities, Strange is trained in several martial arts disciplines,[ Strange Tales vol. 1 #140 (January 1966)] and has shown proficiency with numerous magically conjured weapons including swords and axes.
Doctor Strange is described as "the mightiest magician in the cosmos"
Artifacts and technology
Book of the Vishanti
The
Book of the Vishanti, portrayed as being written by unknown authors, is closely associated with Doctor Strange and is the greatest known source of white magical knowledge on Earth. The
Book of the Vishanti contains spells of defensive magic and is indestructible. Its counterpart, the
Darkhold, contains all the knowledge of
black 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 the Book of the Vishanti to resurrect his dead brother Victor, but the spell, known as the Vampire Verses, caused Victor to become the vampire Baron Blood years later.
The first known owner of the book was the Atlantean sorcerer Varnae, who lived around 18,500 BC. The next known owner was the Babylonian god Marduk Kurios. Marduk set a griffin to guard the Book. The sorcerer known as the Ancient 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 wizard Kaluu 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 in New York City's Greenwich Village. He briefly lost the book when he destroyed his home to prevent the alien wizard Urthona 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.
Cloak of Levitation
The Cloak of Levitation is depicted as a potent mystical
cloak 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, the Ancient 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 in Strange Tales #114 (November 1963). The first appearance of the second (red) cloak was in Strange Tales #127 (December 1964).[ Doctor Strange Vol. 2, #77 (June 10, 1986)]
Eye of Agamotto
The Eye of Agamotto is the name commonly given to the
amulet Strange wears on his chest, though the Eye resides within the amulet and is released from time to time.
Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, it first appeared in "The Origin of Dr. Strange", an eight-page story in Strange Tales #115 (December 1963).[Lee, Stan (w), Ditko, Steve (a). "The Origin of Dr. Strange". "Strange Tales" #115 (1965). Marvel Comics.] In designing the Eye, Ditko drew inspiration from the Eyes of Buddha, a Nepali symbol meant to protect its wearer against evil.[ Wizard #156 (August 2004) p 168]
The Eye of Agamotto appears in several forms of Marvel-related media, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which it contains the Time Stone, one of the Infinity Stones.
Orb of Agamotto
Aside from the Eye of Agamotto, the Orb of Agamotto is the other occult object that Doctor Strange owns.
It is a powerful
scrying 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.
If Agamotto is inside the Orb, it becomes Strange's ultimate source of knowledge.
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 as Umar) 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 film Thor, the Orb is briefly shown in Odin's Trophy Room in Asgard.
Sorcerer Supreme
Doctor Strange is generally portrayed as the
Sorcerer 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 the
mass 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. During the "Blood Hunt" storyline, Doctor Doom usurps the position of Sorcerer Supreme from Strange, having been given part of his power to disperse the Darkforce cloud and end the vampire invasion of Earth.
Enemies
The following are a selection of enemies of Doctor Strange:
-
Aggamon – The ruler of the Purple Dimension.
[ Strange Tales #119. Marvel Comics.]
-
Baron Mordo – An evil wizard and former student of the Ancient One.
[ Strange Tales #111. Marvel Comics.]
-
D'Spayre – A fear-eating demon who is a member of the Fear Lords.
[ Marvel Team-Up #68. Marvel Comics.]
-
Dagoth – A sea demon who is the spawn of Dagon.
[ Marvel Premiere #1. Marvel Comics.]
-
Dormammu – A demon who is the ruler of the Dark Dimension.
[ Strange Tales #126. Marvel Comics.]
-
Dweller-in-Darkness – A fear-generating demon who is a member of the Fear Lords.
[ Doctor Strange #30. Marvel Comics.]
-
Enchantress – An Asgardian sorceress. Doctor Strange first clashed with her during the "Acts of Vengeance" storyline.
[ Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #11–12. Marvel Comics.]
-
Kaecilius – An evil wizard who works for Baron Mordo.
[ Strange Tales #130. Marvel Comics.]
-
Kaluu – A 500-year-old wizard and a former classmate of the Ancient One.
[ Strange Tales #147. Marvel Comics.]
-
Mindless Ones – The inhabitants of the Dark Dimension, who serve as Dormammu's foot soldiers.
[ Strange Tales #127. Marvel Comics.]
-
Mister Rasputin – A sorcerer who is the alleged descendant of Grigori Rasputin.
[ Strange Tales #145. Marvel Comics.]
-
Necromancer – Counter-Earth's version of Doctor Strange.
[ Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #46. Marvel Comics.]
-
Nightmare – The ruler of the Dream Dimension.
[ Strange Tales #110. Marvel Comics.]
-
Paradox – A creation of Doctor Strange who was originally used to fill in for him.
[ Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #61. Marvel Comics.]
-
Satannish – An extra-dimensional demon.
[ Doctor Strange #127. Marvel Comics.]
-
Shanzar – The Sorcerer Supreme of the Strange Matter Dimension. He once possessed Hulk, turning him into Dark Hulk.
[ Incredible Hulk #371. Marvel Comics.]
-
Shazana - Extradimensional sorceress and queen
-
Shuma-Gorath – A many-angled one who existed during Earth's pre-history.
[ Marvel Premiere #5. Marvel Comics.]
-
Silver Dagger – A religious sorcerer.
[ Doctor Strange #1. Marvel Comics.]
-
Sons of Satannish – A cult that worships Satannish.
[ Doctor Strange #175. Marvel Comics.]
-
Tiboro – A humanoid who claims to be from the Sixth Dimension.
[ Doctor Strange #178. Marvel Comics.]
-
Umar – A resident of the Dark Dimension and the sister of Dormammu.
[ Strange Tales #150. Marvel Comics.]
-
Undying Ones – A race of demons from another dimension with a variety of magic and a variety of forms.
[ Doctor Strange #183. Marvel Comics.]
-
Yandroth – A Scientist Supreme from the otherdimensional planet Yann.
[ Strange Tales #164. Marvel Comics.]
Cultural impact and legacy
Critical response
Steve Ditko's artwork is considered groundbreaking in comic book history, featuring surreal and psychedelic imagery that mirrored the growing counterculture 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 counterculture movement of the time.
Laura Bradley of Vanity Fair included Doctor Strange in their "Stan Lee’s Most Iconic Characters" list.
Lance Cartelli of GameSpot ranked Doctor Strange 27th in their "50 Most Important Superheroes" list.
Impact
-
Doctor Strange inspired the name of the psychedelic band Dr. Strangely Strange.
[Richard Morton Jack. Psychedelia: 101 Iconic Underground Rock Albums 1966–1970. Sterling, 2017.]
-
Doctor Strange's character inspired the Khalid Nassour version of the Doctor Fate character, which was created by Paul Levitz.
-
Doctor Strange is referenced in the 1971 song "Mambo Sun" by glam rock band T. Rex on their album Electric Warrior.
-
Doctor Strange is referenced in the song "Cymbaline" by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd on their 1969 album More.
-
Doctor Strange appears on the cover of Pink Floyd's second studio album A Saucerful of Secrets, which contains a hidden image based on a panel from a 1967 Doctor Strange comic book story. The image used came from Strange Tales #158 which was illustrated by Marie Severin.
Other versions
Two months before the debut of the sorcerer-hero Doctor Strange, Stan Lee (editor and story-plotter), Robert Bernstein (scripter, under the
pseudonym "R. Berns"), and
Jack Kirby (artist) introduced a criminal scientist and Ph.D. with the same
surname (called Carl Strange). Making his sole appearance in the
Iron Man story "The Stronghold of Dr. Strange" in
Tales of Suspense #41 (1963), the character gained mental powers in a freak
lightning strike.
Amalgam Comics
Set in the
Amalgam Comics universe, Dr. Strange was combined with
Doctor Fate and
Professor X into Dr. Strangefate. As the only character aware of the nature of the Amalgam Universe, he was the chief opponent of Access, who was attempting to separate the
DC Universe and
. Originally numbered as Earth-962.
[ Doctor Strangefate #1 (April 1996)]
Bullet Points
In the mini-series
Bullet Points, Dr. Strange chooses to work for S.H.I.E.L.D., rather than seek out the
Ancient One, in exchange for them restoring his hands. Later he is seen possessing claws similar to Wolverine's.
[ Bullet Points #2-5 (2007)]
Exiles
An alternative Dr. Strange helped the Exiles 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 of
Deadpool.
[ Exiles #63-65]
Fantastic Four: The End
In this series, Dr. Strange is now the Ancient One and had a daughter with Clea who is the new Dr. Strange.
[ Fantastic Four: The End #3 (Feb 2007)]
Guardians of the Galaxy
In the alternative future of the Guardians 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 named
Krugarr. Strange/the Ancient One was eventually killed by Dormammu, who was defeated by the combined efforts of Krugarr, his disciple Talon, and the Guardians.
[ Guardians of the Galaxy #36-37]
Marvel 2099
Set in the Marvel 2099 universe, the Sorceress Supreme of Earth is a young woman who calls herself
"Strange".
Earth-928
Jeannie is a woman who 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 is
Garokk who wishes to use her past torments and inexperience to gain the title of Sorcerer Supreme for himself.
["2099 World Of Tomorrow" #2 (October 1996). Marvel Comics.]
Maestro's 2099
In a 'reset' 2099 timeline where the Maestro has conquered a decimated world, he apparently kept Strange contained in a mystical circle.
[ Spider-Man 2099 vol. 2 #9. Marvel Comics.] When Miguel 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.
[ Spider-Man 2099 vol. 2 #10. Marvel Comics.]
Secret Wars 2099
During the "Secret Wars" storyline, a version of Strange later appears on
Battleworld as a member of the Defenders 2099.
[ Secret Wars 2099 #2. Marvel Comics.]
Unidentified 2099 reality
When Miguel returns to a new variation of the 2099 timeline where having superpowers is illegal, he witnesses Moon Knight banishing Strange's demon being from her body using a soul sword.
[ Spider-Man 2099 (Vol. 3) #14 (August, 2016)]
Earth-2099
In the unified Marvel 2099 reality of Earth-2099, Strange was a member of 2099 version of the Avengers. She was among those who were massacred by the 2099 version of the Masters of Evil.
[ Spider-Man 2099: Exodus #3. Marvel Comics.] Strange later returned to life through unnamed means. Her full name was given as
Jean Davidson and revealed herself to be responsible for merging Earth-928, Earth-2992, Earth-9411, and any other reality where the heroic age began in 2099 into Earth-2099. She would be among those recruited by Mephisto to join the Champions of 2099 and help to fight Abyssus (
Galactus possessed by Knull) and his Abyssal Warriors.
[ The End 2099 #1. Marvel Comics.]
Marvel Zombies
In the
Marvel 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 of
Nick Fury's resistance to defeat the zombified Marvel superheroes in the spinoff
Dead Days before he and the rest of the surviving superheroes are later overwhelmed by the zombie
Fantastic Four and turned.
[ Marvel Zombies: Dead Days #1 (July 2007)] He participates in the multi-zombie attack on
Doctor Doom's castle, in an effort to capture and devour the unaffected
citizens inside.
[ Marvel Zombies Vs. The Army Of Darkness #5] While part of a multi-zombie chase of Ultimate
Mister Fantastic, he vanishes under a rain of cars launched by Magneto.
[ Ultimate Fantastic Four #22] However, he later resurfaces in
Marvel Zombies 3 but with limited function as a result of Magneto's wrath. He is part of Kingpin'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.
[ Marvel Zombies 3 #3]
MC2
Set in the MC2 universe. Dr. Strange is retired and the title of Sorcerer Supreme has been passed to the younger Doc Magus.
[ A-Next #3 (December 1998)]
Mutant X
Set in the Mutant X universe. Dr. Strange was the
Man-Thing.
[ Mutant X Annual 1999 #1 (May 1999)] The title of Sorcerer Supreme had been taken by Mordo.
[ Mutant X #32 (June 2001)]
Spider-Ham
Set in the Larval zooniverse, the talking animal version of Doctor Strange is Croctor Strange, an
anthropomorphic crocodile.
[ Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #4 (Nov 1985)]
Thor: Vikings
Dr. Strange assists Thor in the MAX mini series
, 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.
[ Thor: Vikings #1-5 (Sept 2003-Jan 2004)]
Ultimate Marvel
There are two versions of Doctor Strange that reside in the
Ultimate Marvel Universe.
Stephen Strange Sr.
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.
[ Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #12. Marvel Comics.] The title of "Sorcerer Supreme" was only self-proclaimed by the elder Strange as reported in the comics during a TV news broadcast.
[ Ultimate Spider-Man vol. 1, #70.]
Stephen Strange Jr.
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 in
Ultimate Spider-Man #107, this Doctor Strange is a member of Daredevil's team fighting against the Kingpin, the Ultimate Knights.
[ Ultimate Spider-Man #107. Marvel Comics.]
In Ultimatum, Strange is killed by Dormammu when Hulk rampages through his house. A mysterious person later found his body.[ Ultimatum #4. Marvel Comics.]
Venomverse
A Venomized version of Doctor Strange appears in
Venomverse, 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 by
Rocket Raccoon explodes. His fate is unknown.
[ Venomverse #1]
What If?...
Dr. Strange also exists in several
What If?... multiverses.
-
In "What If....Doctor Strange Had Been Disciple of Dormammu?", Strange's damaged hands are fully healed by Mordo using dark magic before he meets the Ancient One, and so he becomes Mordo's student instead and a disciple of Dormammu. When Strange is forced into a battle between Dormammu and the Ancient One, however, he rejects evil and helps the Ancient One banish the wicked sorcerer and his master. Thus, Strange becomes the Sorcerer Supreme as he was meant to.
[ What If? volume 1, #18 (Dec 1979)]
-
In "What If...Dr. Strange Had Not Become Master of the Mystic Arts?", Strange does not overhear the fateful conversation that reveals to him the existence of the Ancient One. Thus, Mordo becomes Sorcerer Supreme.
[ What If? volume 1, #40 (Aug 1983)]
In other media
Television
-
Doctor Strange appears in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "7 Little Superheroes", voiced by John Stephenson.
-
Doctor Strange makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the episode "The Dark Phoenix Saga (Part 3)".
-
Doctor Strange appears in a self-titled episode of , voiced by John Vernon.
[ A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.]
-
Doctor Strange appears in The Incredible Hulk episode "Mind Over Anti-Matter", voiced by Maurice LaMarche.
-
Doctor Strange appears in The Super Hero Squad Show, voiced by Roger Rose.
-
Doctor Strange appears in the Disney XD Marvel animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble, and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.,
-
Doctor Strange appears in , voiced by Yasunori Masutani in the Japanese dub, and Wally Wingert (episode 2) and Liam O'Brien (episode 46) in the English dub.
-
Doctor Strange appears in , voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
-
Doctor Strange appears in Marvel Future Avengers, voiced again by Yasunori Masutani in the Japanese dub and Liam O'Brien in the English dub.
-
Doctor Strange appears in the Spider-Man (2017) episode "Amazing Friends",
-
Doctor Strange appears in Marvel Super Hero Adventures, voiced by Toren Atkinson.
-
Doctor Strange makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the X-Men '97 episode "Tolerance is Extinction - Part 3".
Film
-
Doctor Strange appears in a self-titled film (1978), portrayed by Peter Hooten. This version is a psychiatrist.
-
Doctor Mordrid began development as a Doctor Strange adaptation, but the studio's license expired before production began.
-
Doctor Strange appears in , voiced by Bryce Johnson.
-
Doctor Strange makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Planet Hulk as a member of the Illuminati.
-
Doctor Strange appears in , voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Doctor Stephen Strange appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch. First appearing in a self-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 in Kamar-Taj, and becoming a Master of the Mystic Arts. He makes further appearances in
, ,
, , and
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and will return in
.
Additionally, alternate timeline variants of Strange appear in
What If... ? and
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, with the latter version voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.
Video games
-
Doctor Strange appears as a non-player character (NPC) in The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin. This version serves as Spider-Man's advisor.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in , voiced by James Horan.
-
Doctor Strange appears in Hsien-Ko's ending in .
-
He later appears as a playable character in the updated version, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3,
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Charlie Adler.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Alliance.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in ,
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Heroes, voiced by Nick Jameson.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes,
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers, voiced by Wally Wingert. Additionally, an "All-New, All-Different Doctor Strange" appears in a self-titled DLC, voiced by Jack Coleman.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Future Fight.
-
Two versions of Doctor Strange, "Stephen Strange" and the "Sorcerer Supreme", appear as playable characters in Marvel Puzzle Quest.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in , voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, voiced by Ramon Tikaram.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Powers United VR, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in , voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
-
Doctor Strange appears in Marvel Dimension of Heroes, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Future Revolution, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
-
Doctor Strange appears in Marvel Snap.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel's Midnight Suns, voiced again by Rick Pasqualone.
-
Doctor Strange appears as a playable character in Marvel Rivals,
Miscellaneous
-
Doctor Strange appears in a self-titled WBAI radio drama.
-
Doctor Strange appears in Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts: Nightmare, written by William Rotsler and published by Pocket Books.
-
Doctor Strange makes a cameo appearance in , by Jim Butcher.
Notes
External links
