Doctor Strange facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Doctor Strange |
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Textless cover of Doctor Strange #2 (January 2016)
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Strange Tales #110 (July 1963) |
| Created by | Steve Ditko |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Stephen Vincent Strange |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations |
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| Partnerships |
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| Notable aliases |
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| Abilities |
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Doctor Stephen Strange is a superhero character from American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by Steve Ditko and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 in July 1963. Doctor Strange is known as the Sorcerer Supreme. This means he is Earth's main protector against all kinds of magical and mystical dangers. He was introduced during the Silver Age of Comic Books to bring new types of stories and themes of mysticism to Marvel Comics.
The character's story begins with him as a brilliant but very proud brain surgeon. He gets into a car accident that badly injures his hands. Doctors tell him that he can't do surgery anymore because of severe nerve damage. Unable to accept this, he travels the world looking for other ways to heal. This journey leads him to the Ancient One, who is the current Sorcerer Supreme. Strange becomes the Ancient One's student and learns to master both magic and martial arts. He gains many magical items, like the powerful Eye of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation. He then lives in a special house called the Sanctum Sanctorum in New York City. Strange takes on the title of Sorcerer Supreme and, with his friend and helper Wong, he protects the world from magical threats.
In movies and TV shows, Peter Hooten first played Doctor Strange in a 1978 TV film. Since 2016, Benedict Cumberbatch has played Stephen Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Contents
Doctor Strange's Story
Early Life and Career
Stephen Vincent Strange was a very smart but very proud doctor. He was born in Philadelphia and grew up in New York City. After high school, he studied to become a doctor at Columbia University. He finished his training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. His success made him quite arrogant.
Strange was known for handling even the hardest surgeries. But he only cared about himself and money, treating only rich patients. One night, while driving too fast, he had a terrible accident. This accident broke the bones in his hands and damaged his nerves. Soon, his fingers shook uncontrollably, meaning he couldn't do surgery anymore. He was too proud to take a teaching job. Strange desperately looked for a way to fix his hands. He spent all his money on expensive treatments that didn't work.
Becoming a Sorcerer
Broke and alone, Strange became a wanderer. He heard two sailors talking about a wise old person called the Ancient One in the Himalayas. This Ancient One was said to heal any sickness. Even though Strange didn't believe in magic, he used his last bit of money to find the old mystic. The Ancient One refused to help Strange at first because of his pride. But the Ancient One saw a good side in him and tried to bring it out.
Strange then did something heroic. He found out that the Ancient One's student, Baron Mordo, was trying to hurt his teacher and take his power. Strange tried to warn the Ancient One. But Mordo used spells to stop Strange from speaking or moving. Desperate and wanting to help, Strange selflessly agreed to become the Ancient One's student. The Ancient One was happy with Strange's change of heart. He freed Strange from the spells and explained that he knew about Mordo's plans all along. Strange soon became Mordo's biggest enemy. The Ancient One trained Strange in the mystic arts. After his training, Strange went back to New York City. He moved into the Sanctum Sanctorum, a special house in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. His personal assistant, Wong, joined him.
Early Adventures
As the Ancient One's student, Strange faced many magical enemies. These included the scary Nightmare. He later met Dormammu, a powerful warlord from another dimension called the "Dark Dimension." Dormammu wanted to take over Earth. Strange was helped by a girl named Clea, who was Dormammu's niece. Strange helped a weakened Dormammu stop the wild Mindless Ones and send them back to their prison. Because of this, Dormammu allowed Strange to leave the Dark Dimension safely.
In one comic, Strange met Gwendolyn Poole. She told him she was from a reality where all Marvel characters were just comic book characters. Strange helped her find her home reality. He also helped her create a fake background in the Marvel Universe. This allowed her to get things like a Social Security number. During this, Strange found out that Benedict Cumberbatch was cast to play him in Gwen's universe. Strange thought, "I could see that."
Powers and Abilities
Magical Skills
Doctor Strange is a powerful sorcerer. He gets his magic from mystical beings like Agamotto, Cyttorak, Ikonn, Oshtur, Raggadorr, and Watoomb. These beings lend their energy for his spells. Strange also uses magical items. These include the Cloak of Levitation, which lets him fly. He also has the Eye of Agamotto, an amulet whose light can stop evil magic. The Book of the Vishanti is a magic book with vast knowledge of good magic. The Orb of Agamotto is a crystal ball used for seeing things far away or in the future.
Other Skills
Besides his magic, Strange is trained in several martial arts styles, like judo. He can also use magically created weapons, such as swords and axes. Before his hands were injured, Strange was a very skilled brain surgeon.
Eternity, who is the living spirit of the Marvel Universe, has called Doctor Strange "the mightiest magician in the cosmos." He also said Strange was "more powerful by far than any of your fellow humanoids." Strange became the Sorcerer Supreme in 1973 when the Ancient One died. He has kept this title, except for a few times. He gave up the title in 2009 but got it back in 2012. He proved he was willing to protect the world even without the title.
Magical Items
Book of the Vishanti
The Book of the Vishanti is a very important magic book. It is the greatest known source of good magical knowledge on Earth. No one knows who wrote it. The book contains defensive spells and cannot be destroyed. Its opposite is the Darkhold, which holds all the knowledge of black magic in the Marvel Universe. It also cannot be destroyed. If a page from one book is destroyed, a balancing spell in the other book is also destroyed. This keeps a mystical balance. Three powerful magical beings – Agamotto, Oshtur, and Hoggoth, known as the Vishanti – must allow a spell to be destroyed.
Even though the book is for good magic, its spells can be dangerous if used wrongly. For example, a young Strange once tried to use the Book of the Vishanti to bring his dead brother Victor back to life. But the spell, called the Vampire Verses, turned Victor into the vampire Baron Blood years later.
The first known owner of the book was an Atlantean sorcerer named Varnae around 18,500 BC. Later, the Babylonian god Marduk Kurios owned it. Marduk had a griffin guard the book. The Ancient One traveled back in time to about 4000 BC. He defeated the griffin and returned to the 20th century. The Ancient One owned the book until he decided his student, Doctor Strange, was worthy of it.
Doctor Strange keeps the book in his library in New York City's Greenwich Village. He once lost the book when he destroyed his home. He did this to stop the alien wizard Urthona from taking his magical items. But Agamotto saved the book. He took it to his realm and later returned it to Strange.
Cloak of Levitation
The Cloak of Levitation is a powerful mystical cloak worn by Doctor Strange. Its main purpose is to let its wearer float and fly. The cloak can also change its shape. It often acts like "another set of hands" to attack enemies when Strange can't use his own body.
Doctor Strange has worn two different cloaks given to him by the Ancient One. The first was a long, blue cloak with minor abilities. The second is the red cloak that Strange usually wears. The blue cloak first appeared in Strange Tales #114 (November 1963). The red cloak first appeared in Strange Tales #127 (December 1964). The Cloak of Levitation is in many battles and often plays a very important role. It is very strong, but sometimes it gets damaged. To fix it, Strange needs help from an ally called Enitharmon the Weaver.
In the live-action movie Doctor Strange (2016), the cloak is called a "relic." In this movie (and other MCU films), the cloak seems to have a mind of its own. It rescues falling people by itself. Also, when Strange reached for a weapon, the cloak pulled him towards a different item.
Eye of Agamotto
Orb of Agamotto
The Orb of Agamotto is another magical item Doctor Strange owns, besides the Eye of Agamotto. It is a powerful scrying crystal ball. The Agamotto entity powers it to find magic being used anywhere in the world. It shows Strange where the magic is and what it looks like. It can also check the shields that protect planets, which are created by the three sanctums. If Agamotto is inside the Orb, it becomes Strange's best source of knowledge.
The Orb of Agamotto is in Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum. It is in a room called the Chamber of Shadows. It usually sits inside a display case with three curved legs. When Strange calls it, the glass cover lifts, and the ball floats. The Orb is powerful, but very strong magic users (like Umar) can block it if they don't want their location known. Once, it was used to open a portal to Agamotto's realm. In the movie Thor, the Orb is briefly seen in Odin's Trophy Room in Asgard.
Doctor Strange's Enemies
Doctor Strange has faced many foes. Here are some of them:
- Aggamon – The ruler of the Purple Dimension.
- Baron Mordo – An evil wizard and former student of the Ancient One.
- D'Spayre – A demon who eats fear and is part of the Fear Lords.
- Dagoth – A sea demon.
- Dormammu – A demon who rules the Dark Dimension.
- Dweller-in-Darkness – A demon who creates fear and is part of the Fear Lords.
- Enchantress – A sorceress from Asgard.
- Kaecilius – An evil wizard who works for Baron Mordo.
- Kaluu – A 500-year-old wizard and a former classmate of the Ancient One.
- Mindless Ones – Creatures from the Dark Dimension who serve Dormammu.
- Mister Rasputin – A sorcerer who is said to be related to Grigori Rasputin.
- Necromancer – The version of Doctor Strange from Counter-Earth.
- Nightmare – The ruler of the Dream Dimension.
- Paradox – A being created by Doctor Strange to fill in for him.
- Satannish – A very powerful demon from another dimension.
- Shanzar – The Sorcerer Supreme of the Strange Matter Dimension. He once took over Hulk, turning him into Dark Hulk.
- Shuma-Gorath – A very old, many-angled creature.
- Silver Dagger – A religious sorcerer.
- Sons of Satannish – A group that worships Satannish.
- Tiboro – A humanoid who says he is from the Sixth Dimension.
- Umar – A resident of the Dark Dimension and Dormammu's sister.
- Undying Ones – A race of demons from another dimension with various magic and forms.
- Yandroth – A Scientist Supreme from the planet Yann.
Doctor Strange in Other Media
Television Shows
- Doctor Strange appeared in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends in the episode "7 Little Superheroes." John Stephenson voiced him.
- He made a quick appearance in X-Men: The Animated Series in "The Dark Phoenix Saga (Part 3)."
- Doctor Strange appeared in his own episode of Spider-Man: The Animated Series. John Vernon was his voice.
- He was in The Incredible Hulk episode "Mind Over Anti-Matter." Maurice LaMarche voiced him.
- Doctor Strange appeared in The Super Hero Squad Show, voiced by Roger Rose. He first appeared in "Enter: Dormammu!" where he acted strangely because of an Infinity Fractal. Later, he hosted the squad, fought the Enchantress, formed the Defenders, and helped Chthon.
- Doctor Strange appeared in the Disney XD Marvel animated series Ultimate Spider-Man, Avengers Assemble, and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.. Jack Coleman first voiced him, then Liam O'Brien.
- He was in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers. Yasunori Masutani voiced him in Japanese, and Wally Wingert and Liam O'Brien in English.
- Doctor Strange appeared in Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
- He was in Marvel Future Avengers, voiced again by Yasunori Masutani and Liam O'Brien.
- Doctor Strange appeared in the Spider-Man episode "Amazing Friends." Liam O'Brien voiced him again. This version is an Avenger.
Movies
- Doctor Stephen Strange appeared in a 1978 film with his name. Peter Hooten played him. In this movie, he was a psychiatrist.
- The movie Doctor Mordrid was first planned as a Doctor Strange movie. But the studio's license ended before filming began. So, the story was changed, and the main character's name was altered.
- Doctor Strange appeared in Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme, voiced by Bryce Johnson.
- He made a quick appearance in Planet Hulk as a member of the Illuminati.
- Doctor Strange appeared in Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Doctor Stephen Strange appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies. Benedict Cumberbatch plays him. He first appeared in his own live-action film in 2016. In this version, he is a rich and successful brain surgeon. After a bad car accident, he gets seriously hurt. This leads him to travel the world looking for ways to heal. He ends up in Kamar-Taj and becomes a Master of the Mystic Arts. He also appears in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Different versions of Strange from other timelines also appear in the Disney+ animated series What If... ? and Spider-Man: Freshman Year.
Video Games
- Doctor Strange appeared as a character you couldn't play in The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin. He was Spider-Man's advisor.
- He was a playable character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by James Horan.
- Doctor Strange appeared in Hsien-Ko's ending in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. He later became a playable character in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, voiced by Rick Pasqualone.
- He was a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Charlie Adler.
- Doctor Strange was a playable character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
- He was a playable character in Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth, voiced by Chris Cox.
- Doctor Strange was a playable character in Marvel Heroes, voiced by Nick Jameson.
- He was a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes, voiced again by James Horan.
- Doctor Strange was a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions.
- He was a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers. Wally Wingert voiced him, and Jack Coleman voiced the version in the "All-New, All-Different Doctor Strange" DLC.
- Doctor Strange was a playable character in Marvel Future Fight.
- Two versions of Doctor Strange, "Stephen Strange" and the "Sorcerer Supreme," were playable in Marvel Puzzle Quest.
- He was a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
- Doctor Strange appeared as a playable character in Marvel Powers United VR, voiced by Liam O'Brien.
- He was a playable character in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
- Doctor Strange was a playable character in Marvel Future Revolution, voiced again by Liam O'Brien.
- He was a playable character in Marvel's Midnight Suns, voiced again by Rick Pasqualone. In this game, he has a rivalry with Iron Man.
Novels
- In 1979, Pocket Books published Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts: Nightmare, by William Rotsler.
- In the 1968 book The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, Tom Wolfe wrote about Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters' interest in comics. He specifically mentioned Doctor Strange.
- In the 2006 novel Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours, by author Jim Butcher, Strange briefly appeared. Spider-Man asked him for help during a fight with Morlun's siblings.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids.
