History Comicbook / DoctorStrange

** The animated movie gives him a literal DeadLittleSister to give him a FreudianExcuse.

In the comics, Dr. Stephen Strange was a famous surgeon who lost his operating skills after his hands were injured in a car crash. Obsessed with finding a cure, Strange sought a "miracle worker" in Tibet: the Ancient One, who is actually the current Sorcerer Supreme. After passing a [[SecretTestOfCharacter subtle test of worthiness]], Strange was accepted as the Ancient One's student -- [[ExposeTheVillainGetHisJob in place of his former one]], Baron Mordo, who would become Strange's enemy. Dr. Strange returned to New York with the new mission of using his magical powers to secretly protect people from supernatural evil; Wong, a Tibetan servant, accompanied him upon his return. After the Ancient One's death, Strange gained the title of Sorcerer Supreme. Amongst Strange's most famous adventures were preventing the evil Dormammu from conquering Earth and falling in love with Dormammu's niece Clea (who eventually became his apprentice -- and lover).

The movies make several changes to Strange's origin; most notably, the DVD introduces a DeadLittleSister to give Strange more emotional depth.

Despite having his series canceled years ago, Strange is still a recurring character in the Marvel Comics universe. He has starred in many ''[[TheDefenders Defenders]]'' stories and has guest-starred in many other comics, usually to help out other heroes against magical menaces. He is a long-time ally of ComicBook/TheAvengers and has had an on-and-off membership in the ComicBook/NewAvengers (currently 'off' -- officially. Unofficially, very much still 'on'). In 2011 he was involved in the ''Comicbook/FearItself'' storyline with several of his old Defenders teammates -- this reunion prefigured a revival of the Defenders title in late 2011 to deal with the threat of Nul, Breaker of Worlds, one of the entities empowering the Serpent's "Worthy." He stood with the Avengers in Comicbook/{{Avengers Vs X-Men}}. He also has a role behind the scenes as one of the "Illuminati" -- a secret group of high-powered figures who try to deal with problems without the rest of the Marvel Universe becoming aware of it.

Despite having his series canceled years ago, Strange is still a recurring character in the Marvel Comics universe. He has starred in many ''[[TheDefenders Defenders]]'' stories and has guest-starred in many other comics, usually to help out other heroes against magical menaces. He is a long-time ally of ComicBook/TheAvengers and has had an on-and-off membership in the ComicBook/NewAvengers (currently 'on'). In 2011 he was involved in the ''Comicbook/FearItself'' storyline with several of his old Defenders teammates -- this reunion prefigured a revival of the Defenders title in late 2011 to deal with the threat of Nul, Breaker of Worlds, one of the entities empowering the Serpent's "Worthy."

Since 2009 he has lost many of his iconic items -- the Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto particularly -- because he stepped down from the office of Sorcerer Supreme, feeling that he had become compromised due to the overuse of [[BlackMagic Dark Magic]]. The office passed to [[AffirmativeActionLegacy Brother Voodoo]], who [[HeroicSacrifice died three years later]], taking Agamotto and the Eye with him. He regained his title in November, 2012, after demonstrating that he could handle dark magic to protect his friends without letting it control him.

[[caption-width-right:350: Battling {{Eldritch Abomination}}s is par for course for the Sorcerer Supreme.]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Doctor_Strange_6534.jpg
[[caption-width:355: Battling {{Eldritch Abomination}}s is par for course for the Sorcerer Supreme.]]

He should not be confused with [[DrStrangelove Dr. Strangelove]], or Professor Hugo Strange, the {{Batman}} villain. (Stephen's popularity, in fact, seems to have been a driver for Hugo being largely sidelined by DC for ''decades''; ''ArkhamCity'' is the first time Hugo's gotten major attention in a long, long time.)

* VillainousBSOD: What he does to [[FantasticFour Galactus]] by reawakening his conscience.

* AstralProjection: This is an incredibly dangerous spell that leaves the body vulnerable and is fatal after 24 hours. [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fire12_210.jpg Strange barely even hesitates to use it]]. In fact, it's one of his signature moves.
** AnAstralProjectionNotAGhost: Inevitably someone who sees his astral form will mistake him for a decedent. Of course, he never makes that mistake himself.

* GeorgeLucasThrowback: It's been observed that many Strange stories resemble less Marvel superheroics, and more of the horror stuff they were doing in the 50s.

Doctor Stephen Strange is Master of the Mystic Arts and the former Sorcerer Supreme of the MarvelUniverse, which means that he's in charge of protecting it (mostly from powerful supernatural menaces). Strange first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #110 (July, 1963), created by StanLee and SteveDitko. He has been appearing ever since, featured as a star of his own series, in team books, and as a frequent guest star in other people's titles. His story has been adapted into a live-action MadeForTVMovie and an animated DVD movie. A film adaptation for the MarvelCinematicUniverse has been all but announced, as well.

Since 2009 he has lost many of his iconic items -- the Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto particularly -- because he stepped down from the office of Sorcerer Supreme, feeling that he had become compromised due to the overuse of [[BlackMagic Dark Magic]]. The office passed to [[AffirmativeActionLegacy Brother Voodoo]], who [[HeroicSacrifice died three years later]], taking Agamotto and the Eye with him.

* AlmightyIdiot: In one arc, Strange destroyed a primordial entity of Chaos by assuming its power—and then killing himself. This led to him briefly becoming an all-powerful transcendent being with no ego or identity. Ironically, it was one of Strange's old enemies who dragged him back into the "illusion" of self.

* AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome: Doctor Strange has a few, though historically the Eye of Agamotto was by far his most famous.

* CosmopolitanCouncil: The Illuminati (which in Marvel is a secret ''hero'' group, to which Strange belonged). It is composed of high-ranking representatives from the various power factions in the Marvel universe (mutants, science, magic) instead of representatives of nations.

** He invoked Zom again (technically a fragment of Zom's essence) in ''WorldWarHulk'' as a last-minute desperation move. It didn't work, and the fallout eventually led him to give up the position of Sorcerer Supreme.

** In The Oath, upon learning that due to an extensive cover up, the man who shot him will never be able to be convicted in a court of law, Strange banishes him to another dimension, flat out telling his allies that he has neither the time or the patience to worry about due process.

* DeflectorShields: Dr. Strange is protected by a mystical shield that can withstand attacks from beings like Galactus, Dormammu and Shuma Gorath. DependingOnTheWriter, it's always on and functions automatically or he has to summon it. He can also call up the "Shields of the Seraphim" for added protection.

* DemonicPossession: A reoccuring motiff in the series due to the number of demons he fights.

* ExposeTheVillainGetHisJob: How he became The Ancient One's apprentice (although he knew that his current apprentice was plotting to betray him he left it to Strange to work out as a test of character).

* SkunkStripe: A streak of white hair at each temple.

In 2011 he joined the roster of ''[[MarvelVsCapcom3 Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3]]'', to the delight of many.

* BigBadDiuumvirate: When Baron Mordo first teams up with Dormammu, this is what he ''thinks'' has happened...

* AcidTripDimension: Many of the dimensions Strange travels through as part of his duties, but especially Dormammu's.
* TheAgeless: Thanks to a deal with Death. It's implied that he's immune to disease, as well.

** Pretty much any item and demon he calls upon will be alliterative. This was taken to its most ridiculous extremes in the "Eighth Day" crossover, in which a number of people were empowered by the Octessence, eight principalities typically evoked by Dr. Strange. ''All'' of them were empowered by alliterative items, such as the "Blinding Brazier of Balthakk". Not surprising when you consider who his [[StanLee original writer]] was.

* LegacyCharacter: UltimateUniverse Strange lived and died like a normal man, and the office was occupied by his son until his own death in ''Ultimatum''.

* YourUniverseOfMine: The primary tension in his relationship with Clea, and the reason it ultimately failed. (They still love each other, though).

* SkunkStripe: A streak of white hair at each temple.

* PostDramaticStressDisorder: Extreme magical exertion is hard on him, and can bring on anything from momentary dizziness to coma.

** Strange was basically this for most of the 2000s. JMichaelStraczynski was supposed to write a regular Dr. Strange book, but for whatever reason the book never materialized, so Straczynski compensated by making Strange a supporting character in the SpiderMan book instead, suddenly being Spider-Man's closest superhero ally over Peter's more long-standing friendships, like with Daredevil and the Fantastic Four. It got to the point where Spider-Man fans groaned whenever Spidey came across some sort of mystical phenomena, knowing full well that he was going to make yet ''another'' trip to the Sanctum Sanctorum for help.

In the comics, Dr. Stephen Strange was a famous surgeon who lost his operating skills after his hands were injured in a car crash. Obsessed with finding a cure, Strange sought a "miracle worker" in Tibet: the Ancient One, who is actually the current Sorcerer Supreme. After passing a [[SecretTestOfCharacter subtle test of worthiness]], Strange was accepted as the Ancient One's student -- in place of his former one, Baron Mordo, who would become Strange's enemy. Dr. Strange returned to New York with the new mission of using his magical powers to secretly protect people from supernatural evil; Wong, a Tibetan servant, accompanied him upon his return. After the Ancient One's death, Strange gained the title of Sorcerer Supreme. Amongst Strange's most famous adventures were preventing the evil Dormammu from conquering Earth and falling in love with Dormammu's niece Clea (who eventually became his apprentice -- and lover).

* TheAlcoholic: His backstory was of an alcoholic doctor who eventually drove drunk and crashed his car, injuring his hands.

* AstralProjection: This is an incredibly dangerous spell that leaves the body vulnerable and is fatal after 24 hours. [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fire12_210.jpg Strange barely even hesitates to use it]]; in fact, it's one of his signature moves.

* BadassLongcoat: In "War of the Gems" he reconfigured the Cloak of Levitation into a red coat; he wears a trenchcoat or duster in ''New Avengers''.

* BoxingLessonsForSuperman: He has learned martial arts in case he needs to take care of business without the benefit of his mystical abilities.

* CollectorOfTheStrange[=/=]SuperheroTrophyShelf: Over his career he has amassed a number of mystical artifacts, including several trophies that imprison old enemies. When he was forced to destroy his collection to prevent Urthona from using it, it loosed so many enemies that he was busy for a year getting them bottled up again.

* DePower: Technically he can't be de-powered because he ''has'' no powers, just entities he can invoke and spells/practices he knows how to do. Nevertheless, his magical might has fluctuated over his run as he wins and loses the favor of certain entities, particularly the Vishanti.
** Actually, he ''does'' have some abilities of his own, such as PsychicPowers, though these are usually enhance by the Eye of Agammoto and other mystical artifiacts. He can also manipulate the magical energy that naturally permeates the universe for a range of effects, and can forcibly "take" the power of another entity through sheer force of will, though he considers this BlackMagic and rarely uses it (and the most famous time he ''did'' use it was against [[EldritchAbomination Shuma-Gorath]], and he had to kill himself because of it since Gorath would have simply been reborn within him and he couldn't control its powers anyway). However, his mystical backers still give him a huge boost of power, and without them he would never be able to fight on the level of his demonic and godlike enemies.

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