The Doctor Strange Readathon

[Reviresco]

With the release of the new Aaron / Bachalo Doctor Strange title, it's come to my attention that there's a lot of readers who aren't familiar with Marvel's Master of Mysticism. Understandable, since he hasn't had an ongoing in almost twenty years.

This readathon of Doctor Strange's ongoing books hopes to rectify that. He has other appearances, notably The Defenders, but I would like to keep the focus on the series that focused on Stephen Strange, with perhaps a foray into some pertinent graphic novels or mini-series. Here are the series I would like to read. I think most of them, except for Sorcerer Supreme have been reprinted in collections such as Essentials or Marvel Masterworks or trade paperbacks.

Strange Tales (1951)
Doctor Strange (1968)
Marvel Premiere (1972)
Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic Arts (1974)
Strange Tales (1987)
Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme (1988)

Feel free to comment or join the Doctor Strange Readathon at any point. If you have a favorite issue you'd like to review just let me know. Please. Let me know. As I've a few other Readathon threads that take time and I'd like to make this more of a collaborative effort.

[Reviresco]

THE READING LIST

THE ISSUES


Strange Tales (1951) #110
Strange Tales (1951) #111
Strange Tales (1951) #114
Strange Tales (1951) #115
Strange Tales (1951) #116
Strange Tales (1951) #117
Strange Tales (1951) #118
Strange Tales (1951) #119
Strange Tales (1951) #120
Strange Tales (1951) #121
Strange Tales (1951) #122
Strange Tales (1951) #123
Strange Tales (1951) #124
Strange Tales (1951) #125
Strange Tales (1951) #126
Strange Tales (1951) #127
Strange Tales (1951) #128
Strange Tales (1951) #129
Strange Tales (1951) #130

[Reviresco]

More to come ...

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

AWESOME thread!
Also, last week was the birthday of the man who gave us Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts...
http://community.comicbookresources....36#post1581136

[MRP]

I've been reading (well rereading) my way through the Doc stuff for a while now, and I am in the middle of '74 series just after Englehart left in the middle of the Occult History of America storyline, so I am a but ahead of you, but moving slowly. I look forward to seeing what people have to say about the early stuff. For me the Lee/Ditko run on Dr. Strange is the best run of Silver Age Marvel (better than Lee/Ditko on Spidey and Lee/Kirby on FF, though those 2 runs are no slouches) in terms of sheer character development, majesty, imagination, visual storytelling and plotting. The series stumbles a bit after Ditko leaves and doesn't really find its footing until Thomas and Colan take over but poor sales doomed the '68 series. The Marvel Premiere run is uneven until Englehart and Brunner take over and hit their stride starting a phenomenal run that leads into the new solo series in '74, maintains its quality when Brunner leaves and Colan takes over but dies when editorial squabbles drove Englehart from the book and Wolfman took over-which is where I am at now. If memory serves, the Starlin issues were a brief bright spot but the book struggled until Stern took over and found his groove after that, but that is what I have coming up to reread in the next few weeks.

-M

[Abe]

AWESOME thread!
Also, last week was the birthday of the man who gave us Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts...
http://community.comicbookresources....36#post1581136

I'm kinda disappointed... I won't be able to be a part of that great thread, because of my lack of Dr Strange stories.... I've enjoyed so much the few Ditko's ones which wad published in France - but I will have to wait for the announced omnibus to read them again. And I've just made also a difficult choice because if I'm really thankful for all the recommendations many posters gave me yesterday on another thread, my wallet had to bleed for Ditko for a time... All those precious advices will have to wait... So check the link posted by 616MarvelYear is LeapYear - and never forget that the genius that created - not only - the design of Spider Man, still so fresh 53 years after ! is still active, even if a week ago that was his 88th anniversary...

Good readathon, guys ! Be sure I'll catch up the thread when I will be up to date ! I know it will be so useful already !

[Reviresco]

Working on the first review now!

AWESOME thread!
Also, last week was the birthday of the man who gave us Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts...
http://community.comicbookresources....36#post1581136

Well, I hope it will be awesome. But thanks for the enthusiam.

Will check out that thread, cause of course, Ditko was a genius!

I've been reading (well rereading) my way through the Doc stuff for a while now, and I am in the middle of '74 series just after Englehart left in the middle of the Occult History of America storyline, so I am a but ahead of you, but moving slowly. I look forward to seeing what people have to say about the early stuff. For me the Lee/Ditko run on Dr. Strange is the best run of Silver Age Marvel (better than Lee/Ditko on Spidey and Lee/Kirby on FF, though those 2 runs are no slouches) in terms of sheer character development, majesty, imagination, visual storytelling and plotting. The series stumbles a bit after Ditko leaves and doesn't really find its footing until Thomas and Colan take over but poor sales doomed the '68 series. The Marvel Premiere run is uneven until Englehart and Brunner take over and hit their stride starting a phenomenal run that leads into the new solo series in '74, maintains its quality when Brunner leaves and Colan takes over but dies when editorial squabbles drove Englehart from the book and Wolfman took over-which is where I am at now. If memory serves, the Starlin issues were a brief bright spot but the book struggled until Stern took over and found his groove after that, but that is what I have coming up to reread in the next few weeks.

-M

Great! Definitely looking forward to your comments. Or if you'd like to review any favorites, just let me know.

That's high praise for the Ditko run, indeed!

I do have fond, fond memories of the Brunner run.

[MRP]

Working on the first review now!




Well, I hope it will be awesome. But thanks for the enthusiam.

Will check out that thread, cause of course, Ditko was a genius!




Great! Definitely looking forward to your comments. Or if you'd like to review any favorites, just let me know.

That's high praise for the Ditko run, indeed!

I do have fond, fond memories of the Brunner run.

This is my third time reading through the early Doc Stranges (first time was when I assembled the run in the mid 90s, a second time about ten years after that, and it's been about a decade since the last time so I decided to give it a go again with the movie coming up (I started before the Aaron series was announced). I haven't read the 2nd Strange Tales series or Sorcerer Supreme since they were coming out though-I bough them off the stands and read them new but haven't gone back and reread any of them.

By comparison I've only read the Lee/Ditko/Romita Spidey run twice and the Lee/Kirby FF once (though I am rereading my way through it now too on Marvel Unlimited and am about 30 issues in).

I'll certainly comment on issues as they are reviewed if I have something to say, but I have found over the years writing reviews makes reading comics feel more like a chore than fun for me, so I doubt I will be doing any reviews.

-M

[Reviresco]

I'm kinda disappointed... I won't be able to be a part of that great thread, because of my lack of Dr Strange stories.... I've enjoyed so much the few Ditko's ones which wad published in France - but I will have to wait for the announced omnibus to read them again. And I've just made also a difficult choice because if I'm really thankful for all the recommendations many posters gave me yesterday on another thread, my wallet had to bleed for Ditko for a time... All those precious advices will have to wait... So check the link posted by 616MarvelYear is LeapYear - and never forget that the genius that created - not only - the design of Spider Man, still so fresh 53 years after ! is still active, even if a week ago that was his 88th anniversary...

Good readathon, guys ! Be sure I'll catch up the thread when I will be up to date ! I know it will be so useful already !

I know! There's so much good classic stuff out there. But I may have something for you. Will PM tomorrow, as I have totally gone overboard with this first review.

[Reviresco]

Strange Tales 110
July 1963

“Dr. Strange Master of Black Magic!”

Writer: Stan Lee
Pencils: Steve Ditko
Inker: Steve Ditko

RATINGS
Reviresco:
CBR Readers:
Supermegamonkey: 3.5 / 5
Supermegamonkey Readers: 4.5 / 5
Trajan23: 7 / 10

REVIEWS / LINKS
http://strangescribe.blogspot.com/20...master-of.html
By StrangeScribe -I wish my synopsis was a quarter this good. Read this instead!

http://chronologyproject.com/marvelouszone/?p=3277
Chrissy from the Marvel Chronology Project, someone relatively new to comics, giving “A Modern Girl's View of Marvel's Silver Age"

http://sanctumsanctorumcomix.blogspo...e-strange.html
Ptor's celebration of this issue's 50th Anniversary – with some nice behind the scenes details.

http://www.supermegamonkey.net/chron...s_110111.shtml
SuperMegaMonkey's short, but illustrated, synopsis, placing the story in the MU chronology.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources...r-strange-run/
Trajan23's short synopsis and ratings.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources...comics-day-96/
CBR's Brian Cronin's spotlight on this run with lots of images.

##########

“I’m not yet a student of Marvel Comics history, but if I had to guess, I would say the introduction of a hero the caliber of Dr. Strange indicates a maturing of the readership. This might also be one of the first indications that someday, Marvel Comics will be considered worthy of scholarly study." – Chrissy @ MU Chronology Project

“Steve Ditko and Stan Lee’s run on Doctor Strange is one of the greatest single runs in comic book history” --Brian Cronin.


And it starts here with Doctor Strange's first appearance -- in five page long story! But of course, it is packed full of plot and info and greatness!



This has to be the first book in the history of Marvel Comics that is presented “quietly and without fanfare.” And this is true to some degree as Dr. Strange isn't even mentioned on the cover.



SYNOPSIS SHORT
spoilers:

Man tormented by debilitating nightmares seeks help from Dr. Strange, who enters his dreams and encounters Nightmare, as well as the truth about his criminal client. Dr. Strange only escapes death with the help of his mentor and his magic amulet.

end of spoilers

SYNOPSIS LONG
A man is experiencing torturing, re-occurring nightmares, that rob him of sleep. He has “heard a name, spoken in whispers, Dr. Strange! He dabbles in black magic,” and he seeks Strange out. Apparently he's also heard whispers of Strange's address.

A very confident and succinct Dr. Strange listens to his tale, and tells him he can help him by entering his dreams that night. After the man leaves, Dr. Strange visits his Master, by going into a trance and freeing his metaphysical spirit (now more commonly know as astral form) and finding the Master somewhere in the vastness of Asia. The Master calls Strange son and successor, and tells him he sees him surrounded by danger. He tells Strange to use the amulet to ask him for help if it is needed.





Strange goes the haunted man's apartment, goes into a trance, and astrally enters his dream. There he learns the man has been embezzling from people and the bounded figure is his guilt, or the victims he's wronged. Suddenly Nightmare appears and threatens Dr. Strange. While they exchange words, the man wakes up with knowledge of Strange's conversations, and decides to shoot Strange to keep his crimes hidden. Trapped between Nightmare and the murder of his physical body, Strange mentally asks the Master for help. The Master opens the entranced Strange's magic amulet, which captures the gunman in a hypno ray, before he can harm Strange. Using that distraction, Strange escapes Nightmare and the dream. Back in his body, he's able to deal with the man, and tells him the only way to find relief is confessing to his crimes.

[runguy]

A Doctor Strange Omnibus is on the way. The first volume will be all Lee/Ditko and the subsequent volumes will continue from there.

http://www.collectededitions.com/mar...ht_111215.html

[Darthkostis]

Personally, since there was no Solo-Ongoing growing up, I got to know Strange through the various games and guest-appearances. So when the internet became a thing and online shopping became a possibillity, I tried to look for trades, singles, whatever I could find. Truth is, whatever I've read, I've read digitally, because I want the singles more than I want the trades. I don't know, I just "feel" better knowing I have a complete collection. But it's extremely hard to do so when you're trying to do the same thing for 3 or 4 characters, believe me.

As for the current book, well, I've made it no secret that I didn't really like, but.....I'm going to give it another shot. Not because I think it'll change or something like that, I just feel bad not supporting the 1st solo Strange book in more than 20 years. The guys at my subscription service will be pissed since I just cancelled it and they don't like dealing with "hard" customers (because making changes to your list is a bad thing right? It's not like it's their job or something...), but what're you going to do...I was just, expecting a more mature Stephen you know? I was expecting Aaron to bring his GOT game so I was terribly excited at first. Strange is a character that could work really well with a mix of mythology and super-heroics, like in his Thor run, but alas, it was not meant to be...

Anyway, back to the topic of this thread, I have to say that the old Defenders issues were some of my favourites. Their adventures were weird but interesting, and all the characters had something special, they weren't like most superheroes during that age. It's not exactly a Doc title, but I loved it, and I think everyone should check the first few issues at least. I'd stay away from the newer vols though, like the one where Umar raped the Hulk... Fraction's wasn't too bad though, I kinda liked it.

[Reviresco]

It's very weird, I keep trying to get more and more into Doctor Strange but something just doesn't always click for me with the stories, at least the ones I read. I love the style and a lot of the ideas and the wonky designs and surrealism of some of what I see and read, and I love the character himself, but something keeps missing for me. Yet at the same time I still want to continue learning more and try picking up some of his books.

I want to try to find some of the older stuff to join in because this looks like it's going to be fun. Maybe it'll open my Eye(s) of Agamotto.

Love that idea! I need to remember that and to do that. Sometimes that just happens. There are some characters, I'm influenced way too much by nostalgia, or is it long, long, long time experience with a character? They are like old friends, in a way.

A Doctor Strange Omnibus is on the way. The first volume will be all Lee/Ditko and the subsequent volumes will continue from there.

http://www.collectededitions.com/mar...ht_111215.html

Thanks for the link! I'd heard the news but hadn't seen that interview.

Personally, since there was no Solo-Ongoing growing up, I got to know Strange through the various games and guest-appearances. So when the internet became a thing and online shopping became a possibillity, I tried to look for trades, singles, whatever I could find. Truth is, whatever I've read, I've read digitally, because I want the singles more than I want the trades. I don't know, I just "feel" better knowing I have a complete collection. But it's extremely hard to do so when you're trying to do the same thing for 3 or 4 characters, believe me.

As for the current book, well, I've made it no secret that I didn't really like, but.....I'm going to give it another shot. Not because I think it'll change or something like that, I just feel bad not supporting the 1st solo Strange book in more than 20 years. The guys at my subscription service will be pissed since I just cancelled it and they don't like dealing with "hard" customers (because making changes to your list is a bad thing right? It's not like it's their job or something...), but what're you going to do...I was just, expecting a more mature Stephen you know? I was expecting Aaron to bring his GOT game so I was terribly excited at first. Strange is a character that could work really well with a mix of mythology and super-heroics, like in his Thor run, but alas, it was not meant to be...

Anyway, back to the topic of this thread, I have to say that the old Defenders issues were some of my favourites. Their adventures were weird but interesting, and all the characters had something special, they weren't like most superheroes during that age. It's not exactly a Doc title, but I loved it, and I think everyone should check the first few issues at least. I'd stay away from the newer vols though, like the one where Umar raped the Hulk... Fraction's wasn't too bad though, I kinda liked it.

I enjoyed Defenders alot too, and there is alot of Doctor Strange in them. However, I've got to draw the line here somewhere, I'm sticking with the ongoings.

I imagine Doctor Strange would be pretty cool in a game.

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

I've always wanted to read the classic Dr. Strange tales.

As many readers, I grow up without a Dr. Strange solo series, and any chance of reading the old stories was frustrated by not living in US. The Lee/Ditko and the '70s runs I believe have never been reprinted in Italy since they came out the first time. As a result, for me Strange has always been a guest character (a very cool one) with a lot of non-explained history.

Do anyone know if the Essential are easily available?

Yes, this is so true. Not having a series in almost 20 years certainly did Dr. Strange no favors. And I have great respect and admiration for non-US fans of Marvel, especially when Marvel makes it so hard for them to follow their books and characters.

The first Essential appears to be out of print, but you can pick it up in the secondary market for about 30 - 40 USD. Marvel did reprint the first Marvel Masterworks Dr. Strange Volume 1 recently, so it's in print. This was also released in paperback, but that's gone out of print and is a bit pricey now. In Stock Trades has the new reprinted hardcover for 28 USD -- but I think their shipping is high. You might check your European stores for it.

http://www.instocktrades.com/TP/Marv...-PTG/APR140753

Also, the Epic Collection series released Volume 3 in October 2016 and will release Volume 13 in October 2017! http://marvelmasterworksfansite.yuku...t#.WUpjGfnyiM8

[juan678]

Selfie today fan art by khorazir