Real Name: Stephen Strange
First Appearance: Strange Tales #110 (1963)
Affiliation: Student and ally of the Ancient One
Powers: Mystic spells, protective enchantments, and the ability to send his spirit beyond his physical body; aided by magical artifacts.

Doctor Strange protects people from dangers that cannot be understood through ordinary science. His introduction in Strange Tales #110 finds him investigating a man’s troubled dreams. The adventure opens a world of other dimensions and out-of-body journeys, presenting Strange as an already practicing mystic rather than beginning with his transformation into a hero.

His earlier life is explored in Strange Tales #115. Stephen was a wealthy, self-centered surgeon before personal tragedy sent his life in another direction. The contrast between that man and the patient, resourceful magician gives his adventures a moral dimension: learning to help others matters as much as acquiring power. His history also connects him to the Ancient One and to Baron Mordo, whose ambition makes him a recurring enemy.

Strange’s responsibilities reach beyond defeating an opponent. In Strange Tales #127, his conflict with Dormammu reveals a dangerous complication: the Dark Dimension also depends on its ruler for protection from the Mindless Ones. An unnamed woman helps Strange recognize the lives at stake. Protecting Earth without abandoning those people requires more than simply destroying an enemy. After this adventure, Strange receives a new red-and-gold cloak and amulet.

Mordo and Dormammu become an even greater threat when they work together in Strange Tales #130. Strange is forced onto the defensive while trying to protect both himself and the Ancient One. He must survive stronger opposition through caution, persistence, and judgment.

By Strange Tales #135, he is searching for knowledge of Eternity. A visit to Sir Baskerville, another former student of the Ancient One, leads him toward betrayal rather than reliable assistance. The search remains unresolved, and Strange’s mysterious ally in the Dark Dimension has not yet been identified.

Coverage: based on reviews published on Reviewing Comics as of October 23, 2026.