Since the 1960s, Doctor Strange has reigned in the minds of many a Marvel fan as the 'Sorcerer Supreme'. A master of mystical arts, his storylines often evoke themes of psychedelia and Lovecraftian horror. But if the '60s and '70s were marked with such thrills, the '80s turned out to be a more introspective decade. This was the time when comic book writers focused on Strange's own humanity instead of his powers.
His friendship with peers like Wong and his relationship with the sorceress Clea proved to be pivotal plot points in some of these stories. Apart from his main series, some of the special comics included a team-up with Doctor Doom and a scenario where he could decide the end of the world.
5 Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (One-Shot)
As the comic's title suggests, Doctor Strange agrees to team up with the Fantastic Four comic book villain Doctor Doom for a journey to Hell. Even though Strange compromises his morals, he still empathizes with Doom as his mother is trapped in the dark realm.
The comic was one of Roger Stern's Doctor Strange storylines in the 1980s. Stern is notable for humanizing the character further rather than just focusing on his mystical powers. And if the writing wasn't enough, the vibrant art was done by Mike Mignola who enjoyed later fame with several Hellboy issues and Gotham By Gaslight. These aspects along with the unconventional team-up make Triumph and Torment a must-read for fans.
4 To Steal The Sorcerer’s Soul (Marvel Fanfare #5)
Nicodemus West was the man behind Doctor Strange's ill-fated surgery that left his hands immobile. While he had been riddled with guilt ever since then, this alternate version of the surgeon is a villainous wizard with power lust. While Doctor Strange and the sorceress and his romantic interest Clea are willing to subdue him, Strange also knows that Nicodemus isn't inherently an evil man. So, both sorcerers end up transferring their powers to him to a point where he becomes a Dormammu-like entity. The aim is to overwhelm him with so much power that he can't handle it.
Apart from revealing Nicodemus' poor understanding of magic, the comic also shows the immense power that Strange and Clea hold. Their romance is also explored in a few pivotal moments of the story. The relevance of this Marvel Fanfare issue also lies in the fact that it is written by the legendary Chris Claremont who was already busy writing some of the best X-Men issues of the '80s.
3 To Have Loved And Lost (Doctor Strange Vol 2 #55)
To quote the ending monologue on To Have Loved And Lost, Doctor Strange's life has always been 'a plunge into the deep depths of sorrow'. His sorrows continue as he copes with Clea's death, prompting him to teleport to an alternate reality. In this timeline, he never became Doctor Strange. In fact, this variant of Doctor Strange is a fictional character in this universe with his own comics and films. When the original Strange attempts to understand this changed reality, he's sent to an asylum. Paranoid and confused, Strange is given the option to kill himself to escape from this nightmare. But when he figures out a dark force at work, things start getting clearer.
The story's Kafkaesque premise makes the story funny, frightening, and of course, 'strange'. It's also an essential collector's item for the subtle Easter Eggs it drops. For instance, the alternate version is created by two comic book writers called Less Tane and Ted Tevoski (anagrams of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko). The merchandising of the character through films obviously foreshadows Strange's eventual presence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
2 Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa (One-Shot)
This 1986 storyline is one of Doctor Strange's most spiritual and enlightening adventures as he's faced with a moral dilemma that tests his limits. After he's summoned to the Ancient One's Himalayan home, Strange finds that his former master has bestowed the gift of a dimension on him. When he enters this dimension called Shamballa, he's granted the power to end all of humanity and start all over again. Restarting society would be the best option for humanity to achieve perfection in this case. In this way, the fate of the world rests in his hands.
Into Shamballa is clearly a standout story for Doctor Strange given how it's much more than psychedelic thrills and magical villains. There's no clear distinction between a hero and a villain in the story. All that matters is Strange's own free will and the decisions that he would take along with it. Writers J.M. DeMatteis and Dan Green raised questions that continue to hold relevance even in modern depictions of Strange in media like Avengers: Endgame and What If...?. In both of these cases, Strange is aware of several possibilities that can change the world, and yet he has to choose one.
1 The Tongues Of Men And Angels (Doctor Strange Vol 2 #81)
Wong and Topaz have been constant allies to Doctor Strange. So, it's no surprise that he's willing to give it all for them when they are transported to the evil alien sorcerer Urthona's realm. Strange not only fights Urthona with his own powers but he takes control over the minotaur-like creature Rintrah. While Wong extends his gratitude, Topaz wishes to go on 'a long dark journey into the light'.
Topaz's death marks the end of the second volume of Doctor Strange comics. Instead of a happily-ever-after ending, The Tongues Of Men And Angels unleashes Strange's emotional side. Despite his confidence in his powers, he fails to save one of his closest associates. The guilt would riddle him for the rest of his life even though Topaz assures him that his time had already come. And that moment alone marks a perfect finale to an iconic comic run.
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