Doctor Strange: Starter Kit (Part 1)
©ClareNewman (@clarenewman)
Marvel has finally announced Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. Now you’re wondering who the hell that is and what does he have to do with the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Pamela and I are here to tell you that he ain’t no Harry Potter.
Let our Doctor Strange Starter Kit (part 1) enlighten you.
©Marvel
Name: Strange. Doctor Stephen Strange.
Martial Status: It’s Complicated
Strengths: Telepathy, Hypnotism, Cosmic Time-Travel (frequent flyer miles!), Almost-Immortality (he can still be hurt and wounded, but his lifespan is very very long and seemingly endless)
Weaknesses: His hands, his family and oddly enough, science. Oh and his powers can also be taken away (this happens quite often in Civil War and the Infinity Gauntlet)
Personality: He is a different kind of Marvel hero. He is vulnerable because his powers are learned/granted to him, unlike other heroes like Spider-Man and Wolverine whose powers are almost inherit. He’s not funny (the only one to see the depth of his humor is his close friend, Spider-Man), he’s not young, and he deals with threats that can’t be solved by kicking ass and taking names. He’s a guy that devotes his time to taking out nightmares so that the rest of the world won’t have to.
Villains: Baron “Karl” Mordo (Origin Story), Dormammu (Primary), Fin Fang Foom (mentioned in the Iron Man films very briefly)
©Marvel
A Not-So Brief History:
Stephen Strange was born to Eugene and Beverly Strange. Meanwhile a super powerful sorcerer, Baron Mordo, saw that some day little baby Strange would take over the Cosmic realm and he would be out of a job. Like the asshole that Mordo was, he sent demons and otherworldly spirits to haunt poor baby Strange. As Strange got older his brother Victor and his sister Donna were a pretty tight knit group, but Donna was very sickly and had been since birth. Donna’s sickness inspired Stephen to become a doctor. He wanted to be the best doctor there was so he could find out whatever it was that was ailing his beloved sister. However the more passionate he became about this career choice the more aggressive Baron Mordo became to stop him from fulfilling the prophecy. Returning home from college on his 19th birthday, Donna and Stephen were going for a swim and Donna was struggling to stay a float. Before Stephen could save her, Donna had drowned.
Fast forward five years and a medical degree later, Stephen has become a different kind of person. Almost all his good intentions to become a doctor are long gone. His constant success in the medical field has made him terribly arrogant, and his work became more impersonal for him as the rest of his remaining family died. It was clear to those around him that his materialism, greed, and egotistical behavior meant that Strange’s interest in his patients began and ended at the insurance bill. Alas his talent still remained and so did his infamous progress as a neurosurgeon before he turned 30.
Fast forward about ten years and one half-fulfilled prophecy later, Stephen has been in a terrible car accident (of his own arrogance) that leaves his hands useless and incapable of doing any more surgeries. Refusing to believe there was no one who could fix his hands (if only he could do it himself) he throws his fortune into false procedures to get them fixed. Almost bankrupt and selfishly desperate, Strange hears about a man with mystical powers in Tibet who can probably heal him, called The Ancient One (more about him in Starter Kit Part 2). When Stephen arrives he is greeted by The Ancient One and his apprentice Baron Mordo! (oh no!). The Ancient One sees into Stephen’s past and immediately dislikes him because of his arrogance and his need to only regain senses in his hands for his own status and wealth instead of helping people. Stephen is blocked in by a storm and cannot leave Tibet. This is when he overhears Baron conjuring up demons (Dormammu, more about him in Starter Kit Part 2) to destroy The Ancient One. Stephen tells The Ancient One of Baron’s plans and it is then that Stephen passes The Ancient One’s test. The Ancient One sees that Stephen was genuinely concerned about his evil plot and decided to risk his life against Baron to tell him this information. And this is how Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme is born. Well, not really, but I’ll spare you the really long details of the battle between Baron, Stephen and The Ancient One.
Keep a watchful eye for Part 2 of our Starter Kit when we go more in-depth with Doctor Strange, his villains, his lovers, and piece together how he will fit in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now let’s get to the fun part.
So, where do you start?
Yes we know comic books can be so confusing. We know that sometimes they can be expensive and costly and very inconvenient. Especially if you haven’t been following them since the beginning. Fear not. We’ve figured that out for you. So you can enjoy the experience of Doctor Strange without the hassle and have a companion guide to the movies. (details and descriptions are linked to the page)
The New Avengers (2013)
The New Avenger’s series that started early 2013 is most likely the origin story and film concept that they will stick to for the film franchise. There are currently #23 issues. But you can focus on buying issue #1 to get the scoop. It covers Dr Strange’s origin story beautifully and also introduces a more wiser and romantic yet darker side of the sorcerer.
The Mystic Hands of Dr Strange (2010)
This comic is a little on the pricey side because it is the most popular of the “one-shot” (meaning one issue only) stories of the Doctor and it’s been out of print since 2010. This comic is unique in the fact that there are four short stories in one graphic novel, and each story exposes the strengths and weaknesses of the good Doctor. So if you are looking for more of a character based story and to really get into the head of Sorcerer Supreme Strange this is for you.
Doctor Strange: Beginnings and Endings (2005-2006)
If you want a comic that has everything you need from his humble beginnings, his villians, his love interest and his present. It is available in 6 total issues. The digital graphic novel version (in total it has #1-6) is cheaper, the individual issues (where you have to buy 1-6 separate) is also a good deal, if you want to have a physical copy it’s a little more money but not too bad. This is the ultimate companion guide to the film and a fantastic comic to read and re-read until that movie finally gets here. Look no further.
What to watch?
So the watchable material out for Doctor Strange isn’t that great. But it’s a start and it provides some information for those who are not the reading type:
1. Introducing the first Cinematic rendition of Dr. Strange is this kooky 1978 hippie version.It didn’t do very well at the box office (but still made more than Howard the Duck). At least Marvel was trying. While this movie gets a Supreme (get it?) fail in my book, just on acting alone, it does provide you with the darker side of the actual Doctor Stephen Strange and his journey to Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange that the animated Marvel version glazes over. Watch with a grain of salt.
2. Pamela says: If you are new to the Marvel Comics, specially to the Doctor Strange world along with this starter kit I would suggest watching the Marvel Animated movie Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme(2007) it’s a very cool animated movie, and it’s a very good starting point if you really want to get into the Doctor Strange world.
Hopefully this guide helps you get on your way to exploring the world of Doctor Strange in the easiest manner possible. We are so excited to have Benedict Cumberbatch on the Marvel team! Stay tuned to our Starter Kit part 2, to learn more about his role as an Avenger, love interests, villains and the possibility of a Loki and Doctor Strange team up.
If you have any questions or suggests please let us know in the comments below or on our twitter page.
Authors:
Destiny @scienceofcinema
Pamela @atravelingbook
The World According to Benedict @WATBenedict
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