Dr. Strange Speculation (via My Cup O' Joe)

[stingerman]

Just wanted to throw this at you Strange fans.

From My Cup O' Joe Week 18 -

"WWH asks: is there going to be a new Dr. Strange?

JQ- Not quite sure what you're asking me WWH. Do you mean a new series or a new Doc Strange altogether? Ah, it doesn't matter 'cause the answers the same, wait and see."

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=92159514&blogID=416046739

[Asian_Invasion]

Yeah there was that talk between Iron Fist and Doctor Strange, because Iron Fist was losing his powers slowly. Doctor Stranger said the next in line were getting their powers.

[Expletive Deleted]

Eh, could mean anything.

That said, I don't think it'd be too problematic to transition Dr. Strange to an Ancient One type role. He's had apprentices and possible successors before. Making him a supporting player in another magical character's adventures actually has some potential.

Killing him off would be more problematic, but it's all in the execution. And, of course, as a magical character with occasional deus ex machina powers, it's not like a "permanent" death would be even remotely plausible.

[Monty_Cristo]

*cough* Ian McNee *cough*

[Peter F.]

*cough* Ian McNee *cough*

I hope so. I want to see what he's been up to since Mystic Arcana. And Ashake too.

[Thursaiz]

With what just happened in Captain Britain, it seems like the Sorcerer Supreme might be needed in the near future.

[Kid Impulse]

Yeah there was that talk between Iron Fist and Doctor Strange, because Iron Fist was losing his powers slowly. Doctor Stranger said the next in line were getting their powers.
That's not what happened, Danny was talking about Orson accessing the Iron Fist in his own title, and Strange was contemplating on the legacy aspect of their titles and that one hypothetical day in the future, there will be a new Iron Fist and a new Sorceror Supreme

[Wild Card13]

I read somewhere that Doom is next in line for the title of Sorceror Supreme, so Thor help us all if Strange bites it.

[DDM]

I read somewhere that Doom is next in line for the title of Sorceror Supreme, so Thor help us all if Strange bites it.

Doctor Strange will remain Sorcerer Supreme. His teacher, the Ancient One, was indeed ancient since he lived well until 900 years & died when Strange was forced to kill his teacher to save the universe from the Elder God, Shuma-Gorath. Relatively speaking, Doctor Strange is but a child.

Any new Doctor Strange or new Sorcerer Supreme--who is not Stephen Strange--will be temporary & given Joe Quesada's track record, a silly, superficial, shock tactic gimmick.

[DDM]

I read somewhere that Doom is next in line for the title of Sorceror Supreme, so Thor help us all if Strange bites it.

Doom may possess the sorcery, but his personality lacks anything to be Sorcerer Superme; the title requires one to be humble & wise. Doom may be wise, but he has a megalomaniac's ego.

[Cthulhudrew]

I can't really see where there would be a new Dr. Strange- unless someone else out there named Strange (or a relative) takes up the mantle. It would seem odd to me to have some differently named character take up the title Dr. Strange otherwise (not saying it wouldn't happen, but...)

As for there being a new Sorcerer Supreme? If they were to do something of the sort, at this point I'd say Adam Warlock- whose current incarnation appears to use magic rather than his previous energy manipulation powers- would certainly be in line for the title.

[Brother Zag]

I don't know... this sounds like one of Joe Q's cleverly worded non-answers. I think he means there is not going to be a new Dr. Strange title, and there will not be a new Dr. Strange. In the past, JQ has stated that while all his creative types want to write and draw Dr. Strange, and fanboys generally ask about a new or ongoing series for him, when the Doc Strange series come out, they don't generally do that well circulation-wise. Which is too bad. JQ has also said Strange is tough to write well because he can be such a Deus ex Machina, too powerful to create much drama... if you've got a guy who can get you out of anything, where is the tension? Although... he seems to have been trying to take Strange down a few pegs of late, esp. in WWH.

[Brother Zag]

As for there being a new Sorcerer Supreme? If they were to do something of the sort, at this point I'd say Adam Warlock- whose current incarnation appears to use magic rather than his previous energy manipulation powers- would certainly be in line for the title.

An interesting thought... and, yeah, Warlock is actually more like a... well, warlock this time around, isn't he? I like the way DnA are writing him in GotG... I had been worried he was too emo when they first brought him back in A:C, although he "matured" by the end of the minseries.

[stingerman]

If I remember correctly, in a previous My Cup O' Joe week, he said there is going to be a new Dr. Strange book. I'll see if I can find it.

I thought it was strange that they didn't say Sorcerer Supreme and said Dr. Strange (no pun intended ;) )

*btw, what's with the thread name change? Marvel getting to CBR, now, eh? ;)

[SquidSquod]

Dr. Strange would need to get depowered severely or what he gets is only a Mini. It's excruciating to write a supreme powered characer.

[Brother Zag]

Dr. Strange would need to get depowered severely or what he gets is only a Mini. It's excruciating to write a supreme powered characer.

Yeah, that's what Joe Q was saying, what I referred to before, the whole Deus ex Machina deal. I would argue that it's hard to do it well... but it can be done. It has been done. I've got the first three Strange Masterworks for that very reason.

I hadn't heard about any new Doctor Strange projects... but I'm always hoping for a new one. I'd be willing to write it myself (ahem)... lol!

It's a question of scale... he needs an opponent that can actually challenge him. I'm writing about supreme powered characters in my book - they've been considered gods - and the key is having something or someone that's an actual threat to them. Strange needs a magical threat on or above his level.

[Cthulhudrew]

I don't know... this sounds like one of Joe Q's cleverly worded non-answers. I think he means there is not going to be a new Dr. Strange title, and there will not be a new Dr. Strange.

I agree with you. The whole "the answer is the same to both questions" can be taken two ways- to mean that both questions are related, or that neither is related, but he is going to say the same "wait and see" for both. I take the latter position.

[stingerman]

Yeah, that's what Joe Q was saying, what I referred to before, the whole Deus ex Machina deal. I would argue that it's hard to do it well... but it can be done. It has been done. I've got the first three Strange Masterworks for that very reason.

I hadn't heard about any new Doctor Strange projects... but I'm always hoping for a new one. I'd be willing to write it myself (ahem)... lol!

It's a question of scale... he needs an opponent that can actually challenge him. I'm writing about supreme powered characters in my book - they've been considered gods - and the key is having something or someone that's an actual threat to them. Strange needs a magical threat on or above his level.

There seems to be a lot of that going around - The Sentry, The Silver Surfer. What happened to the house of ideas?

[Brother Zag]

There seems to be a lot of that going around - The Sentry, The Silver Surfer. What happened to the house of ideas?


Like everything else these days, maybe the ideas have gotten smaller? :wink:

[mdg1]

Yeah, that's what Joe Q was saying, what I referred to before, the whole Deus ex Machina deal. I would argue that it's hard to do it well... but it can be done. It has been done. I've got the first three Strange Masterworks for that very reason.

I hadn't heard about any new Doctor Strange projects... but I'm always hoping for a new one. I'd be willing to write it myself (ahem)... lol!

It's a question of scale... he needs an opponent that can actually challenge him. I'm writing about supreme powered characters in my book - they've been considered gods - and the key is having something or someone that's an actual threat to them. Strange needs a magical threat on or above his level.

I disagree. The problem with Strange isn't his power level, but that people keep focusing on his power level. IMHO, if I was writing a Dr. Strange book, I'd focus more on the Sorceror aspect, and less on the Supreme.

In other words, don't worry about how he does magic, but WHY. He holds the "mantle esoteric", which gives him a certain authority. What are the responsibilities of the office? There must be more to it than "levitating in a lotus position until Dormammu comes back".

Is it solely a combat position? Does it include a diplomatic function? Or, indeed, does he have a duty to find and train the next generation of magicians? (an idea David Quinn was toying with, as I recall)

Stephen Strange could do for Marvel what Sandman, Swamp Thing, and Hellblazer did for DC/Vertigo. But in order to do that, he HAS to break out of the "zap-kaboom" mindset.

[Brother Zag]

I disagree. The problem with Strange isn't his power level, but that people keep focusing on his power level. IMHO, if I was writing a Dr. Strange book, I'd focus more on the Sorceror aspect, and less on the Supreme.

In other words, don't worry about how he does magic, but WHY. He holds the "mantle esoteric", which gives him a certain authority. What are the responsibilities of the office? There must be more to it than "levitating in a lotus position until Dormammu comes back".

Is it solely a combat position? Does it include a diplomatic function? Or, indeed, does he have a duty to find and train the next generation of magicians? (an idea David Quinn was toying with, as I recall)

Stephen Strange could do for Marvel what Sandman, Swamp Thing, and Hellblazer did for DC/Vertigo. But in order to do that, he HAS to break out of the "zap-kaboom" mindset.

I think you actually agree with me, Mario. I know I agree with you... I didn't go into detail about what I meant by writing him well, but you outlined it there. Yes, enough with the "zap kaboom"! Plus, a lot of the "magic" that has accrued to the character over the years seems kind of silly now, Crimson Bands of Cyttorak (sp?), Veils of the Vishanti, etc. I like what Marvel did with "Mystic Arcana", esp. the Marvel tarot and the correspondences. That's the direction they need to take Strange in, IMHO...

[DDM]

I disagree. The problem with Strange isn't his power level, but that people keep focusing on his power level. IMHO, if I was writing a Dr. Strange book, I'd focus more on the Sorceror aspect, and less on the Supreme.

In other words, don't worry about how he does magic, but WHY. He holds the "mantle esoteric", which gives him a certain authority. What are the responsibilities of the office? There must be more to it than "levitating in a lotus position until Dormammu comes back".

Is it solely a combat position? Does it include a diplomatic function? Or, indeed, does he have a duty to find and train the next generation of magicians? (an idea David Quinn was toying with, as I recall)

Stephen Strange could do for Marvel what Sandman, Swamp Thing, and Hellblazer did for DC/Vertigo. But in order to do that, he HAS to break out of the "zap-kaboom" mindset.

I agree completely. I was about say something similar when I read your post.

Joe Quesada should not really be some hung up over Doctor Strange's power levels; instead, he should guide the editors to make some interesting stories from Doctor Strange's position as Sorcerer Supreme. As a reference, just go back to read Stan Lee's Doctor Strange in Strange Tales along Doctor Strange (second series) with good writers such as Steve Englehart & Roger Stern arcs, & Roy & Dann Thomas' HP Lovecraft inspired Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme from 1988.

However, since Joe misses the point with Spider-Man, X-Men, the Avengers, & Fantastic Four, I can see him missing the point with Doctor Strange. Joe gets the superficial stuff easily, heart of the whole characters goes over his head.

[Trey]

I while ago, there was a rumor in Lying in Gutters that a Strange book was coming, written by a British female writer of childrens books, or some such.

[sabongero]

Bye bye Dr. Strange ... I hope not. maybe Marvel's editorial board is thinking in the line of "copying" Captain Marvel's over at DC. Having Cap as Shazam and Marv Jr. becoming the new Captain Marvel.

So Doc Strange becomes the new Ancient One, and a new "Dr. Strange" steps up to the plate. Hey how about a Skrull Dr. Strange. Of course Bendis can show that the new Dr. Strange is a Skrull in the next mega crossover event in Marvel in lets say several years.

That way, if the new Dr. Strange doesn't work out with the fans, he can just be killed off in that mega crossover event.

[Tetsuo_man]

Bye bye Dr. Strange ... I hope not. maybe Marvel's editorial board is thinking in the line of "copying" Captain Marvel's over at DC. Having Cap as Shazam and Marv Jr. becoming the new Captain Marvel.

So Doc Strange becomes the new Ancient One, and a new "Dr. Strange" steps up to the plate. Hey how about a Skrull Dr. Strange. Of course Bendis can show that the new Dr. Strange is a Skrull in the next mega crossover event in Marvel in lets say several years.

That way, if the new Dr. Strange doesn't work out with the fans, he can just be killed off in that mega crossover event.

I think it's more like copying DC in general more than just Dc's work on Captain Marvel. Think about it at DC their killing off characters and replacing them with new ones over the last couple of years. Now look at marvel where First they kill quesar and replace and now Dr. Strange could be next.

[ichigaku]

I think like most of you...i think they should focus on the writing rather than the powerlevel... I mean Dr. Strange used to talk the living tribunal...and have amazing adventures...i miss those days :(