Doctor Strange is my favorite Marvel character after both Spider-Men. Growing up, I always loved magic and stories involving it like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings and even later on Percy Jackson though that one not as much. Still, fantasy was my top genre as a kid. So, when I started to love superheroes and learned about Doctor Strange, a hero who was also a sorcerer, he became a favorite instantly and after reading his stories, that's only grown.
Sadly, the Doctor Strange comic was cancelled in the late 60s, leaving the character in a state of suspension. But, like everything with Marvel, nothing's ever truly gone. In the early 70s, the character was revived in Marvel's side imprint Marvel Premiere. Unfortunately, the title didn't have the best start there thanks to a revolving door of writers from Barry Smith to Roy Thomas and Archie Goodwin and then Gardner Fox. Each told an interesting tale but the lack of direction made the comic falter. It was only until Fox began to tie things together and then Steve Englehart came in to take over that the title began to prove how great it could be.
Steve Englehart proved quickly to be one of the best Doctor Strange writers as he wrapped up the ongoing saga and then proceeded to blast the doc back in time with some of the best artwork at the time in a controversial story that almost didn't get published if not for some fibbing on Englehart's part. He had Doctor Strange travel back in time and witness the birth of the universe. Stan Lee, seeing that this would create problems with the church, told him to rewrite it. Instead, Englehart wrote a letter, pretending it was from a priest, saying that this fake priest loved the story and thought it was very creative. Impressed, Lee published the letter in the comic so there wouldn't be any problems. And thus, because of Englehart's fib, one of Doctor Strange's greatest comics managed to hit the publishing rack.
His run didn't stop there, returning to the Dark Dimension to dive into Clea's past as well as having Strange confront Death itself. Add an encounter with Dracula and a story involving the destruction and reconstruction of the world, Englehart more than made his mark on the title. Sadly, his stories faltered towards the end, showing it was time to move on.
Doctor Strange never fully recovered from Englehart's absence. Writers Roger Stern and Chris Claremont did their best but none of their stories quite reached the same heights, most falling flat. Stern made a return in the 80s that was better than his first try but we'll see how it goes. Doctor Strange will always be a favorite of mine and the stories in this time shown here are proof as to why.
6. Tomb of Dracula Vol 1 44, Doctor Strange Vol 2 14: The Tomb of Dr. Strange
At this time, artist Gene Colan was drawing both Doctor Strange and Tomb of Dracula and so it seemed natural that two such characters that operated in similar worlds would crossover. So, the Sorcerer Supreme faces off against the Prince of Darkness in a battle of mystery and illusion as Strange has to use all his tricks to get out of this one while Dracula finds himself fighting a foe unlike any he has seen before. The way both are thrown out of their comfort zone and it becomes a battle of minds as well as wills makes this duel unique and interesting among the others. While it does feel like it’s missing something, it makes up for it with the high stakes and deep thrilling mystery.
5. Doctor Strange Vol 2 10-13: Final Curtain
Englehart’s last major story on the Doctor Strange title where his writing begins to falter a little, losing his edge for the character. At this point, Englehart had had Strange confront some of the biggest concepts of the universe. Now, he has him confront himself in the face of the end of the world. Bringing in the omnipotent being of Eternity, Strange goes on a journey to confront variants of himself as well as illusions of his master and who he will become he then faces off against enemy Mordo that ends with the destruction of the world, forcing Strange to remake it as it was. A trippy, psychological story that is at times hard to follow but is still epic in scope. Englehart shows his understanding of Strange’s character as he undertakes this journey and manages to dig deeper into who he is here, making him that much more interesting.
4. Doctor Strange Vol 2 6-9: Consummation
While already having used the character of Dormammu in his Avengers run, Englehart brings him back to face off against his archenemy Doctor Strange in this story while also making the character of Clea much more important and whole. The storyline is pretty simple as Dormammu attempts his latest invasion of Earth through Mother Nature herself and manages to steal Doctor Strange’s powers and banish him in the Dark Dimension. But what makes this story really work is with Clea confronting her father and family legacy, coming to terms with her betrayal of them and how she is better off without them even if she does still love them. Where Englehart shines is with making these characters feel real and not just pictures on a page and that really comes through here for Clea. That plus the intense action and high stakes propels this story to one of the best.
3. Marvel Premiere Vol 1 3-10: The Shuma-Gorath Saga
The story that brought Doctor Strange back into ongoing status and launched him into the mainstream where he battles the occult and eldritch horrors as a multitude of monsters appear, wreaking havoc, and all serving one master, Shuma-Gorath. First written by different writers including Gardner Fox, the story starts off as a slow burn with the reveals only coming later. That’s why it felt a little disjointed at first. Then, when Steve Englehart takes over, the story picks up the pace for the finale as Strange comes face-to-face (ish) with Shuma-Gorath who has taken over the Ancient One, forcing Strange to kill him in order to defeat the monster. The artwork, done mostly by Frank Brunner, is masterfully done, bringing in the dark sense of horror in the panels and showing off each monster in a unique way. Englehart begins his Doctor Strange run here and he starts off with a bang, making Strange Sorcerer Supreme and carving out a new space for the magical corner of the Marvel Universe.
2. Doctor Strange Vol 2 1-5: The Silver Dagger
Doctor Strange meets Death itself as he fights against a religious fanatic who wishes to destroy all magic. Frank Brunner is a master here with his artwork visual feasts for the eyes. As the villain, Silver Dagger, succeeds in fatally wounding Strange, the sorcerer must find a way to save himself and to save Clea who has been abducted. He then goes on a trippy journey inside his amulet to face Death in a deep philosophical discussion before facing the Silver Dagger again. The story has a fast pace to it and never lets go as Englehart takes readers on a mad and thought-provoking journey as Strange comes to terms with his own mortality. He also adds more to the Silver Dagger, making him more than the other one-dimensional villains out there. And Brunner’s artwork elevates it to the next level.
1. Marvel Premiere Vol 1 11-14: Time Doom
Englehart’s first official story for Doctor Strange as the previous one he only wrote the end and he raises the bar for Doctor Strange here for all writers, bringing back Baron Mordo and introducing Cagliostro, sorcerer of time, for an insane and fantastic journey as Strange is introduced to time magic, traveling through time loops and paradoxes in pursuit of his foes. The sorcerer Sise-Neg (genesis spelled backwards) is seeking to achieve ultimate power and keeps traveling backwards in time to achieve this with Strange trying to stop him and Mordo attempting to help. Englehart adds so much to this battle as they fight through history until Sise-Neg achieves his goal in an epic panel that you really just have to see to believe as Frank Brunner goes all out in bringing it to life. A truly epic ride that showed off Englehart’s skills as a writer, Brunner’s as an artist, and both as master storytellers.
Sadly, that's it for Doctor Strange. While he may have had an epic run under Englehart, the stories faltered after that and never got over medicore storytelling. Still, the 80s looks to be a bit better so here's hoping. Until next time.
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