History
Early Life[]
Much of Doctor Strange's early life reflects that of his Earth-616 counterpart.
Stephen Strange was once a renowned surgeon driven largely by greed and vanity, until an automobile accident caused extensive nerve damage to his hands and ended his career. He became a vagrant, until he heard of a man with the supernatural ability to heal those no doctor could save. Instead, this man, the sorcerer known as the Ancient One, taught Strange that his suffering meant something, and took him as his pupil in the mystic arts. In time, Strange became a master of these arts and returned to New York. Aided by his servant Wong, Strange protected the city from mystical incursions, no longer asking for money or payment of any kind, having learned to respect life itself.[1]
Strange was given the powerful artifacts known as the Eye and Orb of Agamotto, using them in his quest to defend the world. In addition, Strange became the keeper and caretaker of many other magical items, such as the Book of the Vishanti, the Darkhold and Siege Perilous, dedicating his life to keeping these items from those who would use them for evil.[1]
Strange formed the Defenders, a group of heroes under his guidance fighting against the many forces of other worlds trying to breach into the material realm. In time, he found a disciple and lover in Clea, a native of the Dark Dimension.[1]
Mutation of Humanity[]
When the entirety of humankind was mutated, some began to accost Strange in his home, hoping to find a mystical solution to their transformation. Strange conjured several Mindless Ones to stand guard outside his Sanctum Sanctorum. When Daredevil and Spider-Man came to ask for his help in entering the Baxter Building, he advised them to look for the Invisible Woman.[2]
Unbeknownst to Strange, his servant Wong had also mutated, resulting in the emergence of a good and evil half. Wong began serving Mephisto and used both magic and simple suggestions to cause Clea to increasingly resent Strange. As Strange searched for a mystical reason and solution for mankind's mutation, Clea was encouraged by Wong to form a liaison with Loki, quickly falling in love with him and planning to end Strange. Clea put her plan into motion by killing his astral form, trapping his sprit in the Realm of the Dead but keeping his physical body alive so that he would not have access to his powers in that realm and would function essentially like a ghost, thus removing Strange's interference in any of Mephisto's plans.[3][4]
While Loki had played along with the ruse for his own purposes, he secretly warned Strange of Clea's coming revenge, allowing him to take steps to hide several of the most powerful artifacts under his stewardship before his death; the Book of the Vishanti and Darkhold were hidden within the Siege Perilous, while the Orb of Agamotto was entrusted to the Xen.[5]
Clea succeeded him as Sorceress Supreme, while his comatose body was entrusted to the care of his duplicitous servant Wong.
Realm of the Dead[]
Strange found himself trapped in the Realm of the Dead, where deceased heroes and villains fought a never-ending war, wholly unaware that they were dead. Since Stephen's body was still alive, he was one of few aware of his predicament. Here he encountered the Kree hero Mar-Vell. Mar-Vell was also aware of his death, and after receiving the Enigma Force from the recently deceased Arcturus Rann, he began plotting to kill Death itself and to create a Paradise for the deceased to inhabit. Mar-Vell recruited Strange to his side in this quest.[6]
Mar-Vell began appearing in the dreams of various living heroes, warning them of the coming end of Earth as a result of the Final Host of Celestials. This prompted Bruce Banner and Thor to seek Clea's aid in entering the Realm of the Dead to speak with Mar-Vell. The Hulk entered the realm, but instead of Mar-Vell found Strange. Strange told the Hulk not to worry about Mar-Vell, as he would come to them in due time. He told Hulk of his demise and Clea's betrayal, as well as Loki's potential for saving them all, before sending Hulk on his way.[7]
As a result of Stephen's revelation, Clea tried to trap Hulk and Thor in the Realm of the Dead, but was foiled by Strange. Abandoned by Loki, an enraged Clea attempted to destroy New York and was banished to Asgard by Thor.[7]
War Against Death[]
Strange spent the following three years helping Mar-Vell amass an army of super-humans to help in their quest, although Strange could do no more than provide his wisdom. When Mar-Vell succeeded, killing Death and building Paradise, he used his vast power to restore Strange to life.[8]
Strange learned that in killing Death, Mar-Vell had made it impossible to die on Earth. He relocated to Latveria to provide his medical and magical expertise to help ease the suffering of those who could not die. Wishing to free Clea, Strange sought the aid of Xen, Thor and Loki to travel to Asgard. Although they met opposition, they succeeded in freeing her, as well as further fulfilling Thor and Loki's plan to free Asgard from Odin's control. Upon returning to Earth, Xen, Clea and Strange had to work together to stop the resurrected Fin Fang Foom, and destroy the creature's body. After rescuing Clea, Strange begged her to forgive him for his neglect and for the two of them to be together. To his disappointment, Clea rejected him.[9]
Strange attended the wedding of King Britain and Queen Medusa. While there, he was asked by Namor for help with the curse placed upon him by Franklin Richards, which had caused half his body to burst into flame upon contact with the air. Stephen undid the curse, granting Namor full control over the flames. He also advised him to wear his scars proudly, rather than hide them as Strange had done with his own.[10]
Strange soon after returned to his doctoring, and offered his advice when a gathering of the world's most brilliant men contemplated how to create a new Death, found in the form of Jude the Entropic Man. When Mephisto invaded Britain at the head of an army of Deviants, Strange helped King Britain and his allies repel the Deviants, culminating in Mephisto's death. Afterwards, Merlin entrusted the training of his apprentice Psylocke to Strange. While Strange was hesitant in taking on another apprentice after his failures with Clea, he accepted following Merlin's encouragement.[11]See Also
- 29 appearance(s) of Stephen Strange (Earth-9997)
- 2 mention(s) of Stephen Strange (Earth-9997)
- 6 image(s) of Stephen Strange (Earth-9997)