Dr Strange's magic?

[Dark Traveller]

Marvel has previously stated an intent to more closely define the powers of Doctor Strange and perhaps magic itself in the MU.

What are your views on this ?

I think they have to be careful how they do it.
If they define them and perhaps limit them too closely, he could come across as just another special powered mutant
Part of the delight of magic, and indeed what makes it magical, is that it bends the rules of what is normally considered possible.
But the writers have to be careful how to do it, or it can just seem too unreal.
To reduce the unreal factor, does one surround Strange with the fantastic of superheros so that his powers seem more believable?
Or should they be kept at a distance so his character is grounded in a more normal world thus giving him a greater reality link?
The books of Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy and Susanna Clarke's 'Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell' for example, seem to make magic credible in worlds that are very much like our own. But where powerful magic is accepted to work.
That is the general populace don't go waving their hands about in disbelief or wondering if they've gone mad when magic occurs in their presence.
They accept it, and by their acceptance magic is made to seem more believable.

Views?

[tstrike99]

I'm okay with however they "define it" as long as we don't see it retconned next summer because the Spectre somehow is now making war on the magic of the Marvel Universe instead of DC!

[foxfire]

Dr. Strange is probably the most powerful human on Earth... restricting or limiting his powers would be kinda pointless, I think.

[DDM]

Trying to define or limit Doctor Strange's powers completely missess the point of his character; he is the Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth dimension. Therefore, he must have vague power sets because he has access to obscure, ancient spells as well as the basic sorcerer spells. Marvel is going to screw up another great character...

[scottv]

Dr. Strange is probably the most powerful human on Earth... restricting or limiting his powers would be kinda pointless, I think.


I agree. I think that it adds to the mystery that is Dr. Strange!


Edit: SOrry wasn't entirly clear... explaining what his powers would take away the mystery...

[OdinSon1]

Trying to define or limit Doctor Strange's powers completely missess the point of his character; he is the Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth dimension. Therefore, he must have vague power sets because he has access to obscure, ancient spells as well as the basic sorcerer spells. Marvel is going to screw up another great character...

Completely agree with you. He's Sorcerer SUPREME, none better, none more powerful. He is the be all, end all of mystics and magic in the MU, and if they simplify, and in essence de-power him how is he supposed to be a viable character? This sucks big time. He's a powerhouse and needs to stay that way, it just seems impossible that they don't ruin him.

[foxfire]

Unfortunately Joey Q's mostly only interested in character pitches that "redefine" characters and make them more accessible to new fans and have some brilliant new angle, instead of what made guys like Dr. Strange successful for 40 years.

[Kyle_Ion]

I wish that marvel would just leave Dr Strange alone, I say if it ain't broke then don't fix it and Mr. Q shouldn't mess with a character that has a lot of success the way he is.

[Alan2099]

Joey's said a few times in interviews that he's no fan of cosmic stuff, so him wanting to limt Dr. Strange really doesn't suprise me.

I just can't understand why he thinks that everybody has to like the same stuff he likes.

[Dark Traveller]

yeah, on one hand he says Strange is too hard to write for.
And then he admits he's beating the writers back with a stick who want to work on their own Dr Strange project. :confused:

[xzilledangel]

Personaly I would take a broad stroke on magic in the marvel universe and make it akin to how magic is supposed to work in the real world ( according to some wicca followers I know). Just add concequences for the use of magic in the marvel universe. I see magic as an universal underlying force that is essetialy is the master program for all reality. If you use it to change,control or direct one thing then to keep the balance something else changes.

This would give Dr. Strange the same abilities as he has now but also shows why he doesnt get involved with a lot of things in the marvel universe. His powers could do more harm than good depending on the situation. I would even create some form of enforcers of "magic" that keeps things from running amuck in any universe to keep reality rolling.

For Dr. Strange I would make him one of those enforcers as well for the MU realm. Which would show why he is called the Sorcerer Supreme. And gives him the right to protect the MU from invading parties from other realities ie Dormamu ect. If it were me I would have Strange the ONLY character to be able to travel to any Marvel Univerese ever created as he is now.

Ive been wanting to write a Strange book for a long time now and these have been my thought on the whole subject.

[rick]

Got news for you guys, but Doctor Strange is not what anyone could call a success.

How long has it been since he had a regular series?

10 years?

20?

The best he has had since sometime in the 80’s is a couple of mini series and a few Defenders revivals. Other then that the good Doctor has pretty much been nothing but a guest star and that’s about it.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the Doc.

I liked him under Ditko, Colan, Brunner and Rogers. I think he is just a great character and certainly a great artistic success.

But sales wise Doctor Strange is a total loser.

It was the Steranko SHIELD strips that made Strange Tales a hit. And when the title was turned into a Strange solo title it lasted less then 20 issues. Making it one of the very first comics from the “Marvel Age” to be canceled.

His series during the 1970’s and 80’s lasted a somewhat respectable 81 issues, but even then compare that to Thor or Iron Man or even Luke Cage, and the Doctor comes up pretty short.

Heck, even the Strange Tales revival only lasted 19 issues.

So, really, is there any real reason that the folks at Marvel shouldn’t consider reworking Doctor Strange?

It’s not like the current version, no matter how cool, has really done much to move any product for the company, so why shouldn’t they think about changing him?

It actually makes quite a bit of sense for them to do it.

[xzilledangel]

yeah Strange is a poor seller because of quite a few reasons.

First his power set does not relate or conect with todays readers. His top selling points were doing a time when mystisim was making a come back in everyday life unlike today where science is the mainstream thought process.

Secondly what really has he done in the mainstram MU. There have been plenty of chances for him to increase his cool point rating with readers in AoA, Onslaught and HoM storylines just to name a few. In all these cases he was a non factor or used like you would a mutant with power blasts.

Thirdly Strange is hard to characterize to where he connects with the reader. He has little to no fan base compared to other marvel characters and only is mentioned when paired with other heros. JMS did a good job overall in the retcon of his orgins but fell short when he made it seem like a mystical version of the matrix.

Personaly I would give Strange a more arrogant or I should say lofty attitude when it comes to what he would call "minieal affairs" of the world. I would even start bringing him into the realm of thinking himself MORE than human since this guy deals with all sorts of creatures from other places on a day to day basis. Then I would gather a story line that would show him that he is human and that those affairs DO matter. Bring him to bring him back down. But more so than anything I would give strange a pair balls. When Namor, Thor or any other powerhouse rolls up to him they would know Strange is not one to mess with. And with the power overhaul as I stated above would keep him from having the "superman syndrome" of being way over powered. His weakness wont be what he can or cant do but what he will or wont do because the cost is too high.

Example:

Reed richards: Dr. Strange we would like you to join the Illumanti to keep the peace on earth and to be an assest to be the last and first line of defence against any Villians of the world.

Dr. Strange: Dr. Richards I have fought back a demonic horde army, a mystical plot to destroy our reality, replanted the tree of life and spoke with Eternity and the Beyonder of future projects dealing with your family, and thats just ths week. I am the illumanati Dr. and I have no need for this group or its affairs. When and If you ever need me Ill already be there fighting what you can not. Good day.

[Kyle_Ion]

Joey's said a few times in interviews that he's no fan of cosmic stuff, so him wanting to limt Dr. Strange really doesn't suprise me.

I just can't understand why he thinks that everybody has to like the same stuff he likes.



One of the main reasons I have ever read anything of marvel/marvel universe is because of there full blown series and mini series that deal with cosmic characters. All I have to say is if Joey depowers Dr. Strange or completely forgets about the cosmic characters and the possiblities that they have, I will be very disappointed. If Joey can't handle or doesn't like the cosmic characters then he should just give someone who knows what they are doing full authority over anything cosmic including cosmic characters.

[Dark Traveller]

Got news for you guys, but Doctor Strange is not what anyone could call a success.

How long has it been since he had a regular series?

10 years?

20?

The best he has had since sometime in the 80’s is a couple of mini series and a few Defenders revivals. Other then that the good Doctor has pretty much been nothing but a guest star and that’s about it.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the Doc.

I liked him under Ditko, Colan, Brunner and Rogers. I think he is just a great character and certainly a great artistic success.

But sales wise Doctor Strange is a total loser.

It was the Steranko SHIELD strips that made Strange Tales a hit. And when the title was turned into a Strange solo title it lasted less then 20 issues. Making it one of the very first comics from the “Marvel Age” to be canceled.

His series during the 1970’s and 80’s lasted a somewhat respectable 81 issues, but even then compare that to Thor or Iron Man or even Luke Cage, and the Doctor comes up pretty short.

Heck, even the Strange Tales revival only lasted 19 issues.

So, really, is there any real reason that the folks at Marvel shouldn’t consider reworking Doctor Strange?

It’s not like the current version, no matter how cool, has really done much to move any product for the company, so why shouldn’t they think about changing him?

It actually makes quite a bit of sense for them to do it.

The Strange was pretty much always canceled when the stories flagged. Or they mucked with the formula.
When Ditko left the story, quality dropped like a sinker, even though Stan Lee (who had supposedly done them earlier with Ditko) was still working on them.
Dr Strange is suddenly arrogant beyond belief.
Roy Thomas takes him up and strange can't stop talking to himself. And boy does he talk.
Strange obviously needs locking up!
This is confirmed when Strange realizes that he's carelessly blurted out his hidden identity!
Except Strange doesn't have one!
Ditko's run clearly shows that Doctor Stephen Strange the magican is a well known public figure.
Strange now has to get another identity and wear a new costume with a mask.

Result: series cancelled.

Dr Strange gets a new start with his old self, which runs for 81 issues.
But these are only coming out once every two months.
So they put him straight into a new monthly Strange Tales run for 19 issues.
Marvel takes him straight from this, into his own monthly, which runs for 90 issues.
The stories aren't as good as Roger stern's run, but they're ok.
The trouble starts when Starlin starts doing his big event Infinity stories, and poor Dr Strange isn't given room to breath in his own comic.

Then "hey lets take away most of his powers"

Sales start to drop and some other writer happens to like the masked Strange that failed last time and wants to give him a new spin with a twist.

"now lets make look like a young goth type"

"OOps that's not working!"

"lets give him a big baggy untucked shirt and a trenchcoat and a big name writer. Then fire that writer after only 1 issue!"

"Yeah!" "These drugs are great!"

"Rewrite Strange's history a little, and cancel."

"lunch?"

[Doomas]

Well, from what I saw on the Ultimate Avengers 2 dvd, if the comic book version of Strange is not getting the proper respect at least the new Dr. Strange animated movie looks like it is shaping up to be pretty cool.

[Dark Traveller]

Just a passing idea.

I would like to see less straight teleporting.
And more opening a door in thin air running down a short (perhaps dark) Ditko style path, open another door (perhaps a natural one) and hey presto! Doctor Strange is in Paris or Scotland!
All this simple flash of light and suddenly they're there, seems boring and less mystical somehow.

Thoughts?

[cbjones]

Example:

Reed richards: Dr. Strange we would like you to join the Illumanti to keep the peace on earth and to be an assest to be the last and first line of defence against any Villians of the world.

Dr. Strange: Dr. Richards I have fought back a demonic horde army, a mystical plot to destroy our reality, replanted the tree of life and spoke with Eternity and the Beyonder of future projects dealing with your family, and thats just ths week. I am the illumanati Dr. and I have no need for this group or its affairs. When and If you ever need me Ill already be there fighting what you can not. Good day.

I like that. I agree that writers haven't gotten a proper handle of Dr. Strange, but I'm not sure that's the reason his books have been successful. I think the main reason is fanboys think (with good reason) that his book won't be a big slug-feast. Many (most?) comicbook "readers" love the big fight scene. You probably won't get that in a book with a magician as the lead character. I think this is a shame.

Btw, does anyone remember when Paul Smith was the artist for the Dr. Strange comic? I can't remember who wrote it (Roger Stern maybe?) but it was great. There was one tale in which this surfer dude was a reincarnated Lama that was just so clever. Great stuff.

[bd2999]

I thought his magic was already defined. He uses his own mystical energy, from study and such, and also draws magic power from "gods" like Cytorrak, Vissanti and Dormammu.