Doctor Strange had no origin when he made his comic book debut

The early Marvel Doctor Strange comics stood out from contemporary heroes, from their artistic style to the initial lack of origin story.

Marvel Comics’ master of mystical arts Doctor strange may have one of the most memorable and inventive origin stories in comics, but it hasn’t always been that way. In fact, when he made his first appearance in 1963, he wasn’t even given an origin, and the mystery of where he came from and how he got his powers was only revealed for months more. late.

Prior to the introduction of Doctor Strange, Marvel Comics had great success with the newly established heroes, the Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Ant-Man, and the recent Stan Lee / Steve Ditko creation Spider-Man. While Marvel’s new heroes brought plenty of worthy actions, adventures, and villains to the page each month, what really gave these creations such an attachment to readers was their personal charm. Each new Marvel superhero has come to the world with their own set of weaknesses and pitfalls, often introduced into their origin story before their own adventures actually begin. Shortly after their success with teenage superhero Spider-Man, Lee and Ditko would look to change the formula again with their new hero, who would enter the Marvel Universe through a back-up story from the comic book series. anthology Human Torch (later Nick Fury). Strange tales. Not only had their character left the great Marvel Universe, but in Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s “Master of Black Magic”, Doctor Strange wouldn’t start his comics with an origin.

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While the famous iconography of Doctor Strange; From its Greenwich Village headquarters, the Sanctum Sanctorum to staunch Comrade Wong is established in the Strange comic launch Strange tales # 110 (published April 1963), the mysterious hero’s backstory is well kept a secret. With no origin story to anchor the character’s base in reality, comic book readers are immediately immersed in the bizarre adventures of Doctor Strange, which include protecting a criminal’s dreams from the evil ruler of the Dream Dimension. .. Nightmare.

As Strange’s Thieves’ gallery of villains would continue to grow over the next several months, the secrecy surrounding the character’s life outside of his heroic escapades would also increase. Avid comic book fans would respond nicely by sending a plethora of mail and fan inquiries direct to Marvel’s offices. Finally, Lee and Ditko Strange tales # 115 would reward patient fans with the answers they were looking for in the aptly titled “The Origin of Doctor Strange” December 1963 side tale.

Spanning eight pages, “The Origin of Doctor Strange” chronicles Stephen Strange’s journey from arrogant New York neurosurgeon to “Master of Dark Arts” as a student of the Ancient One. In just a few panels, Doctor Strange zen is presented in a less impressive and radically human light, which allowed him to progress and develop as a character similar to fellow adventurers Peter Parker and Tony Stark. Shortly after the publication of Strange’s origin, the Multifaceted Doctor would begin sharing the page with other Marvel heroes, starting in June 1964. The Fantastic Four # 27. Although future writers would develop certain events, Strange tales # 115 would set the bar for every future story Doctor strangethe coming origin, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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