MRL - Strange Tales
Jul. 24th, 2025 11:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sonotadreamStrange Tales (1951) #110-111, #114-122 - written by Stan Lee, art by Steve Ditko
Finally reading some actual Silver Age comics!
We are introduced to Doctor Strange as an established Master of the Black Arts, his Master, the Ancient One, and his rival, Baron Mordo, who wants to destroy the other two to become the only sorcerer around.
These are short stories and follow a few set beats: Mordo tries to attack either Strange or the Ancient One; Strange meditates to speak to the Master (how many times can you call the old man Master before it starts getting weird?); there's a fistfight in the Astral plane; the amulet of the Eye of Agamotto saves the day.
The origin story comes later, in issue #115. Strange was a selfish, egocentric surgeon, uninterested in helping others. One day, he crashes his car. The damage to his hands makes him unable to operate again and he spirals.
He hears of the Ancient One, a Master of the Mystic Arts with healing powers and goes to the Himalayas searching for him. The Master refuses to help him, because 9he's a selfish, egocentric man, uninterested in helping others.
Strange isn't happy, but he gets conveniently snowed in and has to stick around until he's able to leave. He also conveniently witnesses Mordo attacking the Ancient One with dark magic. He tries to warn the Master, but Mordo puts a spell on him and the only way around it is for Strange to ask to become the Ancient One's student, in hope of learning the way to defeat Mordo.
But TWIST! The Ancient One knew what was going on all along. Strange passed the test, showing he's capable of caring for other people and he's to become the Ancient One's heir and battle Mordo when the time comes.
Things get more interesting with Nightmare taking center stage in issues #116 and #122, with the art takes a more psychedelic turn. He also has much more style than Mordo.
Issue #119 has a lot of panels with Strange in silhouette, looking dark and mysterious with his (non-sentient) cape.
One unfortunate aspect is the Orientalist bent, not just because the Ancient One is Tibetan sage or because Wong is not really a character. Sometimes Strange's depiction leans into the trope too.
A fun note: despite trying to keep mystical goings ons under wraps, Doctor Strange is famous enough to get recognised in the street.
In conclusion, a nice introduction to the mystic side of the Marvel Universe, but I like old comics. The villains are a bit one note, but Doctor Strange's character is well defined already.
Finally reading some actual Silver Age comics!
We are introduced to Doctor Strange as an established Master of the Black Arts, his Master, the Ancient One, and his rival, Baron Mordo, who wants to destroy the other two to become the only sorcerer around.
These are short stories and follow a few set beats: Mordo tries to attack either Strange or the Ancient One; Strange meditates to speak to the Master (how many times can you call the old man Master before it starts getting weird?); there's a fistfight in the Astral plane; the amulet of the Eye of Agamotto saves the day.
The origin story comes later, in issue #115. Strange was a selfish, egocentric surgeon, uninterested in helping others. One day, he crashes his car. The damage to his hands makes him unable to operate again and he spirals.
He hears of the Ancient One, a Master of the Mystic Arts with healing powers and goes to the Himalayas searching for him. The Master refuses to help him, because 9he's a selfish, egocentric man, uninterested in helping others.
Strange isn't happy, but he gets conveniently snowed in and has to stick around until he's able to leave. He also conveniently witnesses Mordo attacking the Ancient One with dark magic. He tries to warn the Master, but Mordo puts a spell on him and the only way around it is for Strange to ask to become the Ancient One's student, in hope of learning the way to defeat Mordo.
But TWIST! The Ancient One knew what was going on all along. Strange passed the test, showing he's capable of caring for other people and he's to become the Ancient One's heir and battle Mordo when the time comes.
Things get more interesting with Nightmare taking center stage in issues #116 and #122, with the art takes a more psychedelic turn. He also has much more style than Mordo.
Issue #119 has a lot of panels with Strange in silhouette, looking dark and mysterious with his (non-sentient) cape.
One unfortunate aspect is the Orientalist bent, not just because the Ancient One is Tibetan sage or because Wong is not really a character. Sometimes Strange's depiction leans into the trope too.
A fun note: despite trying to keep mystical goings ons under wraps, Doctor Strange is famous enough to get recognised in the street.
In conclusion, a nice introduction to the mystic side of the Marvel Universe, but I like old comics. The villains are a bit one note, but Doctor Strange's character is well defined already.
