Master of the Mystic Arts: Doctor Strange Appreciation

[Rheged]

Long, long ago there was a young neurosurgeon named Stephen Vincent Strange, and he was about to make the big time. He had everything the world considers success -- talent, youth, wealth, looks -- but he had no heart. Then fate and his own carelessness caught up with him and stripped him of his career in a single moment. Suddenly, nothing he had was of any value; he deserted his colleagues, was deserted by his friends, and spent his entire fortune seeking a cure for his ruined hands. In desperation, he used the last of his resources to chase a scrap of hope -- the rumor of an Ancient One, far away in the mountains of Tibet, who could work miracles.

Doctor Strange found the old monk and demanded help, but the Ancient One could see that, underneath the wretchedness, he was just as uncaring as ever. He knew that Strange needed a change of heart more than he needed working hands, and offered to let him stay and learn from him. Strange, hurt and angry, called the ancient mystic a fraud and would have left at that moment except that a blizzard suddenly arose, preventing his escape. He was snowbound in the monastery with the Ancient One and his disciples, stewing in his own bitterness.

Then at last came the moment when he realized the Ancient One's most trusted disciple, Baron Mordo, was plotting to murder his master. Strange rushed to interfere, but Mordo turned dark magic on him to silence him. Faced all at once with the stunning knowledge that EVIL magic is very much real, Strange finally let his self interest go. He humbled himself before the Ancient One and asked to learn magic as well, hoping to save the old master from his deceptive disciple. Pleased to have reached Strange's heart at last, the Ancient One accepted him, freed him from Mordo's spell, and sent his former student away.

Since then, Strange has been fulfilling his silent vow to take a stand against dark magic. His adventures have taken him in and out of the hidden pockets of reality, from Eternity's domain to the throne room of the Dread Dormammu. He has primarily stood alone. He has suffered loneliness, anonymity, and a growing sense of isolation from the rest of the world, but his career has been filled with unexpected joys -- the undying loyalty of his assistant Wong, the respect of the superhero community, the turbulent friendship of the Defenders, and the love of many noble women, particularly Clea, heir to the Dark Dimension. He has allied with Doctor Doom. He has defeated Shuma-Gorath in his own dimension. He has argued with the Living Tribunal, faced down the Scarlet Witch, and ridden the winged horse Aragorn. In some cases he prevails by strength of arms, but in far more he succeeds by keeping calm, cleverly using what he has on hand, and never, EVER giving up.

All hail the master, Doctor Strange, ambassador of the mystic arts to the Marvel universe. May his star never fade.

This wonderful introduction was written by Dr. Strange fan extraordinaire, Chariset. Thank you!

[Rheged]

BOOKS

Strange Tales (1951)
Doctor Strange (1968)
Doctor Strange (1974)
Strange Tales (1987)
Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme (1988)
Doctor Strange (1999)



RECOMMENDED READING
"A Separate Reality" (collects Marvel Premiere #9, 10, 12-14, and Doctor Strange #1, 2, 4, 5) Dr. Strange becomes Sorcerer Supreme by making the toughest choice of his life, Baron Mordo and confronting GOD(?) and his first battle with Silver Dagger. -- NightMage



COLLECTED EDITIONS

Marvel Masterworks Doctor Strange v1
Marvel Masterworks Doctor Strange v2
Marvel Masterworks Doctor Strange v3
Marvel Masterworks Doctor Strange v4
Marvel Masterworks Doctor Strange v5
Marvel Masterworks Doctor Strange v6

Essential Doctor Strange v1
Essential Doctor Strange v2
Essential Doctor Strange v3
Essential Doctor Strange v4

Doctor Strange Vs Dracula

Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph & Torment

Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa (1986)

"A Separate Reality" (collects Marvel Premiere #9, 10, 12-14, and Doctor Strange #1, 2, 4, 5)

Doctor Strange: Strange Tales (1987 series)

Doctor Strange: Into the Dark Dimension

Doctor Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You Stephen?

Doctor Strange The Oath

Doctor Strange Season One


LINKS

Sanctum Sanctorum Comix

Neil Alien Doctor Strange Fansite

The Lesser Book of the Vishanti

COMICS 101 by Scott Tipton: Strange Days, Indeed 2-11-04 A selective history of Dr. Strange with plenty of pics.

A 'Respect' thread from ComicVine: http://www.comicvine.com/doctor-stra...thread-547971/

http://www.comicbookresources.com/tag/doctor+strange

Greatest Dr. Strange Stories Ever Told

Barbiere Embarks on a Strange Journey in "New Avengers Annual" #1 04/18/14

Andrew Wheeler's Original Sin Recap#1

Andrew Wheeler's Original Sin Recap#2

[Lady Warp Spasm]

Showing my support for the Sorcerer Supreme.

[Rheged]

And it's very much appreciated!

I'm re-posting these here, since they also include the good doctor, presumably amped up after selling his soul.

By Valerio Schiti

New Avengers #18. Are the Illuminati finally ready to invade some alternate earth and beat the crap out of whoever comes in her way?

It's weird, without the colors I find the page works a little better.

[ed2962]

And it's very much appreciated!

I'm re-posting these here, since they also include the good doctor, presumably amped up after selling his soul.

That's some nice art by Val.

[Rheged]

That's some nice art by Val.

Sure is! It's kind of neat to see his art progress since Journey Into Mystery (which I loved also).

And the kind of sinister art for New Avengers Annual -- by Marco Rudy, I think.

[NightMage]

Showing my support for the Sorcerer Supreme.

QFT; long time Dr. Strange fan.

I'd add "A Separate Reality" TPB to the Recommended Reading list. How he becomes Sorcerer Supreme by making the toughest choice of his life, Baron Mordo and confronting GOD(?) and his first battle with Silver Dagger. Awesome book.

[stingnewell]

Big fan of Doctor Strange his character, mythos and supporting cast. My only complaint I wish writers would stop reusing the old Strange uses forbidden magic, gets corrupted and soul searches again. Its as if writers are in this united mindset thats the only type of character story worth telling.

[Strangefan]

I just hope this whole recent soul selling stuff actually leads to something. I imagine it will be big when the NA actually get around to being in the same comic with the Great Society, but I hope it doesn't just burn out his new god level power and then his life is forfeit. So he is back-burnered until the NA get around to saving him by finding out who actually buys his soul, and fights to get it back. But that is worst case scenario. It does seem that writers can only deal with Strange if they de-power him or corrupt him.

Still think there is a gold mine out there if they told some stories that dealt with his time in the War of Seven Spheres. A couple thousand years of war should have lead Strange to meet lots of different species in multiple dimensions.

I'd like to actually have Hickman really write for Strange, so I can figure out if I like his take on him. I hear so many good things about him as a writer I keep hoping that he might turn his attention to the good Doctor, but his priorities seem to be on a couple other members of the NA for the most part.

Crossing fingers for ComicCon to review about a Doctor Strange movie, because if it does, I can kind of project when Marvel might give Doc his own mini-series at least.

[stingnewell]

It just feels to fresh especially considering we just came out of a Strange using forbidden magic from WWH and New Avengers by Bendis. Hickman could write a number of scenarios with Strange as Sorcerer Supreme with the right execution.

[Strangefan]

Yay! Glad you made it over here, Strangefan!

I know how you feel, about the lack of Doctor Strange in the MU right now, but I think you are entirely correct, this summer we'll be getting quite a bit of Strange centric material. Seeing Rudy's art for the New Avengers Annual has got me very excited. Unfortunately, I've become resigned over New Avengers series.

The Punisher stuff ... well, I'm waiting to see how that turns out. It's definitely odd.

Ah, but that is what I like. I like it when people not used to magic have to deal with Strange. It's like seeing him through new eyes. So much in Marvel agrandizes science it is nice to see people flummoxed by what Strange does as easily as breathing.

[heiro5]

I'm frustrated by the usage Strange has gotten in the last several years. To my way of seeing, it seems he's been relegated mostly to stories of personal or moral failure -- losing his mantle as Sorcerer Supreme (although his sorcerer-rocking-a-trenchcoat look was pretty cool, given the circumstances), selling his soul apparently, with whatever fallout that will entail.

I suppose in the era when the "most dramatic" stories seem only to be able to muster the notion of killing a character, it could be worse. We haven't had to suffer through "The Death of Dr Strange."

I am actually a fan of the spell footnotes. They give me both a sense of the vast store of learning he has acquired, and I also get that Kung fu movie vibe of calling out your move. I don't see why it needs to be an either/or, however. While not every spell may have a verbal component, of course some of them do, and it should be reflected as such. The criticism of it reducing him to a "chef with recipes" is funny, but I don't think it's necessarily inaccurate. His magic doesn't come innately, it has been earned the hard way, through education and practice. It is why he is not pitching wild, like Wiccan or sometimes the Scarlet Witch, who have a native talent that lets them get right into magic without developing skills. Talent will get you pretty far, but only developing true skills will make you a master.

I would like to see some storyline involving Magik training with Dr Strange in the past. I think that is a fun bit of story that is happening and I would like to see some instead of just occasionally hearing about it.

[Strangefan]

My biggest Doctor Strange dream is for there to be a least a mini series telling about his experiences during the War of the Seven Spheres. You think they could tell a tale or two during the vast millenia it took place over.

Heck, for that matter, how about some other Marvelites discover just how long the guy has put it on the line for Earth.

[Iron Maiden]

A bit spoilery though but spoilers:

how great was it that he was mentioned in Cap 1: Winter Soldier? I hope that means that we may see him in one of those end credits bonus scenes one day

end of spoilers

[Lady Warp Spasm]

A bit spoilery though but spoilers:

how great was it that he was mentioned in Cap 1: Winter Soldier? I hope that means that we may see him in one of those end credits bonus scenes one day

end of spoilers

If Ant-Man is the last Phase Two, maybe then?