Why isn't Doctor Strange considered one of the smartest characters in the MU?

[t hedge coke]

As a longterm Strange fan, I've seen Strange awkwardly muck up a lot of relationships with women, including consistently taking them for granted. And, hooking up without much forethought.

It's increased in the last twenty years, but it's in no way limited even to that, on its own lengthy stretch of time.

[davew128]

I've often wondered about this. Most of the high level mystical beings have all created some type of mystical artifact, tome, weapon, device or paraphernalia. They've also pretty much patented their own spells. Does Dr. Strange have any mystical inventions to his credit? I think if we're to draw parallels between magic and science, inventions are a pretty big criteria for where you rank in the science field. If Strange does have something to his credit that would be awesome.

Last couple issues he invented a brand new spell since all the world's magic was gone.

[t hedge coke]

Last couple issues he invented a brand new spell since all the world's magic was gone.

He also re-forged up magic around the time of Warren Ellis' aborted run. After the huge zillion year war he fought in, on behalf of his patrons.

[RobinFan4880]

I've always wondered this. He is a amazing strategist, a Doctor, the worlds greatest magician and the worlds greatest paranormal investigator. How come he's not top 10 in the smartest characters in the MU? Do you think he deserves to be? All opinions welcomed.

Those lists always look at people who are smart with science and super science.

[Strangefan]

Marvel has pretty much turned science into magic, where people like Stark and Reed can not only invent something overnight, they can built enormous devices the same way, because being really smart makes you faster at building stuff too.

Thing is, they are really good at this reality, but could they survive in a reality that had totally different rules? What if carbon didn't behave in the way it does in this world, or energy sources. The genius' would probably adapt quickly, but there is also the possibility that they would have trouble letting go of what they believe is real and true. Magic, on the other hand, seems to work in a reliable manner throughout any dimension you might happen to be in (current series notwithstanding). So if you want to travel literally anywhere, I would rather have Strange on my side, than any other Marvel science-related genius.

Dr. Strange was originally a neurosurgeon, and I think if I was going to let someone literally cut open my head to operate on my brain, I had better believe he is the smartest guy in the room. In his adult life, after becoming top of his field, he ends up basically unlearning everything, and became the best in this universe about something totally new, magic. People have mentions polymaths, but it all math, they build on each other. Doctor Strange went from one Art, to a dramatically different one, and was best in both of them. Meets my personal definition of a genius.

Of course, I am totally biased.

[Michael Watkins]

Marvel has pretty much turned science into magic, where people like Stark and Reed can not only invent something overnight, they can built enormous devices the same way, because being really smart makes you faster at building stuff too.

Thing is, they are really good at this reality, but could they survive in a reality that had totally different rules? What if carbon didn't behave in the way it does in this world, or energy sources. The genius' would probably adapt quickly, but there is also the possibility that they would have trouble letting go of what they believe is real and true. Magic, on the other hand, seems to work in a reliable manner throughout any dimension you might happen to be in (current series notwithstanding). So if you want to travel literally anywhere, I would rather have Strange on my side, than any other Marvel science-related genius.

Dr. Strange was originally a neurosurgeon, and I think if I was going to let someone literally cut open my head to operate on my brain, I had better believe he is the smartest guy in the room. In his adult life, after becoming top of his field, he ends up basically unlearning everything, and became the best in this universe about something totally new, magic. People have mentions polymaths, but it all math, they build on each other. Doctor Strange went from one Art, to a dramatically different one, and was best in both of them. Meets my personal definition of a genius.

Of course, I am totally biased.

well said............

[Tony Stark]

As a longterm Strange fan, I've seen Strange awkwardly muck up a lot of relationships with women, including consistently taking them for granted. And, hooking up without much forethought.

It's increased in the last twenty years, but it's in no way limited even to that, on its own lengthy stretch of time.

So Strange has always been that way with women. Thank you for the info.

[T'Challa Bruce Von Doom]

Only inventors and scientists are considered Marvel's smartest characters these days.

"These days?"

Thee top minds in comics have always been scientist/inventors.

I've always wondered this. He is a amazing strategist, a Doctor, the worlds greatest magician and the worlds greatest paranormal investigator. How come he's not top 10 in the smartest characters in the MU? Do you think he deserves to be? All opinions welcomed.

Those lists always look at people who are smart with science and super science.

[MichaelC]

I dunno, Ben Carson never really struck me as all that generally intelligent, despite being a highly accomplished neurosurgeon.

[LordMikel]

Well he's no rocket scientist.

[JudicatorPrime]

Have you even seen Dr. Ben Carson give an interview?

Thanks for making me spew my caramel macchiato all over my monitor.

[JudicatorPrime]

I dunno, Ben Carson never really struck me as all that generally intelligent, despite being a highly accomplished neurosurgeon.

Dr. Carson is no different than many professionals in that sense. Expert in their field, but lacking (in Dr. Carson's case, critically deficient imho) in others.

The bar for "genius" is a polyhistor/polymath, or someone who has mastered a significant number of disciplines and one who can deploy that knowledge to address a wide variety of issues. When we speak of genius as it relates to Marvel characters, we usually mean a gifted polymath, or someone who has not only mastered, but can expand the field of knowledge across multiple disciplines. I see Strange as gifted, but I don't see him as a gifted polymath.

And I'm still waiting for him to put his imprint on the field of mysticism with a discovery or invention. As a Sorcerer Supreme, he's long overdue. Publish or perish, Stephen. Publish or perish.

[Danileriver23]

While he is a master of all things mystical, outside of that, he's really moreso clever than he is smart. I mean don't get me wrong, he was a brain surgeon so clearly he is intelligent, but he doesn't have a multifaceted intelligence like t'challa or stark outside of medicine and magic. I marvel "smart' characters are typically identified as people with scientific prowess.

[Relugus]

"No such thing as Chaos Magic".

He tried to take on Chthon in his own dimension.

He used the Book of the Vishanti to revive his brother, turning his brother into a vampire.

He infamously dismissed Wanda's concerns about making magic babies.

He sided with Stark in Civil War 2 despite him using clairvoyance on the regular and staying out of CW1.

[Zodlike]

He is one of the most intelligent, but because his powers are based upon mysticism and the supernatural, I think people are reluctant to credit his intellect due to the (wrong) perception that his knowledge base is not concerned with reason, science and the natural world.