Dr. Strange

[The Toyroom]

How come the Master of the Mystic Arts hasn't been handled well in years? I'm talking as far back as the Englehart/Colan years in the 70s.

I've been picking up Iron Man, Daredevil and Captain America's books again and I'd like to see a Dr. Strange monthly to add to the list. That mini-series he had a few years back (I forget the name of it) where they tried to revamp his origin with a modern slant didn't do it for me. And I really don't dig him as a member of The Avengers (Spidey and Wolverine don't belong either IMO)...Defenders, yes. Avengers, no.

Dr. Strange should be a cornerstone of the Marvel Universe...his niche is to handle all of the mystic and bizarre threats and characters. Like Mephisto (sorry Spidey), Dormammu, Eternity, Mordo, Dracula.

[bobbait]

they dont use alot of good characters!! that's Marvel's frigen' problem! I agree, the new Avengers suck with who they have.

[BlackKnight]

Thats What Happens, when you Make "Marvel yours" With their "House of Ideas" Bobby.

[ShadowAvenger]

Mystical characters don't get enough respect in comics.

[The Toyroom]

Blame Quesada...he's ruining Marvel.

[ctc]

>Mystical characters don't get enough respect in comics.

Not consistently anyhoo. The books are angled towards whatever seems popular at the time: if sci-fi is cool, everyone starts fighting aliens. If politics are a big deal every book features intricate conspiracies and shadowy organizations. Dedicated supernatural characters like Strange are usually neglected until spiritualism/the occult are popular. Until then they sort of float around.

Don C.

[samurainoir]

Loved the Lee/Ditko stuff as a kid when I read them in pocketbook format, and I don't think anyone has quite managed to capture the same kind of spirit since then.

I think he's had some pretty decent one-offs...

I wish the writing in this one matched the magnificent art by Mignola and Badger...


Also worth checking out for the painted artwork and one of Dematties stronger eras (I think he was doing Moonshadow and Greenberg the Vampire around this period as well)


This recent BKV mini is worth looking at...


I actually think the Strange mini would have made a good movie treatment if it had been greenlit and filmed a decade earlier before every movie began knocking off The Matrix.


I think it was a valiant attempt to update Strange for a modern audience and the costume was pretty cool, however I don't think it was "Strange" enough when you place it next to the original Ditko material.

[fumetti]

Dr Strange is hard to write. He's really a transdimensional hero. Which is hard to relate to if you've never visited other dimensions.

And fans don't long support magical heroes. It's a shame, but it's not the fans' fault. Abstract villain after abstract villain becomes tiresome.

Marvel needs to bring him on home for awhile. Focus on the man. Lots of tragedy in Stephen's life.

[huedell]

Dr Strange is hard to write. He's really a transdimensional hero. Which is hard to relate to if you've never visited other dimensions.

And fans don't long support magical heroes. It's a shame, but it's not the fans' fault. Abstract villain after abstract villain becomes tiresome.

Marvel needs to bring him on home for awhile. Focus on the man. Lots of tragedy in Stephen's life.

Great points in a small post.

You either gotta team Strange up with other heroes to "mix it up" or
go heavy on the "human" side of the character to give him
any real long-term consistency and momentum.

I'm no comicbook expert like you guys...but its just logical

[Cosmicman]

Even though the new Dr. Strange DVD took on a new modern twist. I did like that. If you are up for something old like Dr. Strange with a modern twist, go pick up the new animated DVD that came out. That was pretty cool.

Anyone else see this?

[thunderbolt]

^^ Nahh, after watching the first Avengers and Iron Man, I gave up on the Marvel DVD's. Guillermo Del Toro has named Dr. Strange as the one Marvel character he'd like to direct.

[EMCE Hammer]

Even though the new Dr. Strange DVD took on a new modern twist. I did like that. If you are up for something old like Dr. Strange with a modern twist, go pick up the new animated DVD that came out. That was pretty cool.

Anyone else see this?

I just finally watched it the other night. I liked it better than the Avengers stuff, and a helluva lot better than the steaming pile of crap Iron Man effort. I admit I'm not up on the character, so if there's a lot of continuity problems for longtime readers they are lost on me. I'd like to see a sequel.

[The Toyroom]

I haven't checked out any of the Marvel DVDs...I was tempted on Iron Man but now I'm not so sure, hearing the negative reviews.

[Terron]

I thought Bryan K. Vaughan did an excellent job with the character in the 2007 comic mini-series "The Oath." It's a good read collected in a TPB: Amazon.com: Doctor Strange: The Oath (New Avengers): Brian K. Vaughan,Marcos Martin: Books

I had some problems with the Dr. Strange DVD but agree that it was the best of the weak animated lot that Marvel has put out recently. I actually think the DVD might be good for younger viewers (but not too young) who aren't that familar with the character. It might've actually been a decent weekly show...