Compilations | 1st Appearance | Origin Story | Main Publication History | Secondary Publication History | Key Storylines | Media Source Material | Key Issues
by snowbi-wan, updated Jun 2019
Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange, M.D. is Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme. A brilliant but egotistical surgeon, Strange's hands were severly injured in an accident. His refusal to accept that they couldn't be repaired somehow ultimately led him to the Ancient One, where he became a student of the mystical and martial arts. Along with knowing many powerful spells, Doctor Strange wields a pair of mystical objects--the Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto--which give him additional powers. Stange's aptitude for the mystical arts has allowed him to ascend to the position of Sorcerer Supreme, although he has not kept the title continuously throughout his publication history. Doctor Strange has had a long publication history. He has been a key member of the Defenders and a pivotal member of the Illuminati. Doctor Strange experienced a resurgence in popularity due to the November 2016 release of his self-titled film, which is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). His first appearance and origin go back to the late 60's with several series published over the decades.
Compilations
In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of Doctor Strange comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with Doctor Strange. The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).
Marvel's EPIC COLLECTION is a line of economical black and white trade paperbacks that reprint early material in bulk. They are not usually published in order, so gaps will appear in the list below until they are all published.
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| Cover | Release Month | Series / Number / Storyline | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Quick View | Oct 2018 | DOCTOR STRANGE EPIC COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 01: MASTER OF THE MYSTIC ARTS CURRENT PRINTING |  | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2016 | DOCTOR STRANGE EPIC COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 03: A SEPARATE REALITY CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Sep 2019 | DOCTOR STRANGE EPIC COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 08: TRIUMPH AND TORMENT | UNAVAILABLE | $25.99 | |
 Quick View | Oct 2017 | DOCTOR STRANGE EPIC COLLECTION [2016-TPB] VOL 13: AFTERLIFE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Dec 2016 | DOCTOR STRANGE [2015-TPB] VOL 01: THE WAY OF THE WEIRD CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jun 2017 | DOCTOR STRANGE [2015-TPB] VOL 02: THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2017 | DOCTOR STRANGE [2015-TPB] VOL 03: BLOOD IN THE AETHER CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Dec 2017 | DOCTOR STRANGE [2015-TPB] VOL 04: MR. MISERY CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | May 2017 | DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME [2016-TPB] VOL 01: OUT OF TIME CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Nov 2017 | DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME [2016-TPB] VOL 02: TIME AFTER TIME CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jul 2018 | DOCTOR STRANGE: DAMNATION COMPLETE COLLECTION [2018-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2018 | DOCTOR STRANGE: DAMNATION [2018-TPB] CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Jun 2018 | DOCTOR STRANGE BY DONNY CATES [2018-TPB] VOL 01: GOD OF MAGIC CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Oct 2018 | DOCTOR STRANGE BY DONNY CATES [2018-TPB] VOL 02: CITY OF SIN CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Dec 2018 | DOCTOR STRANGE BY MARK WAID [2019-TPB] VOL 01: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | May 2019 | DOCTOR STRANGE BY MARK WAID [2019-TPB] VOL 02: REMITTANCE CURRENT PRINTING | | Go to Amazon | |
 Quick View | Aug 2019 | DOCTOR STRANGE BY MARK WAID [2019-TPB] VOL 03: HERALD | UNAVAILABLE | $11.69 | |
 Quick View | Dec 2019 | DOCTOR STRANGE BY MARK WAID [2019-TPB] VOL 04: THE CHOICE | UNAVAILABLE | $10.39 | |
 Quick View | May 2020 | DOCTOR STRANGE, SURGEON SUPREME [2020-TPB] VOL 01: UNDER THE KNIFE | UNAVAILABLE | $11.69 |
1st Appearance
The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in Doctor Strange, if it's within your budget.
- STRANGE TALES [1951] #110 (1st appearance of Doctor Strange)
Origin Story
The original presentation of an origin story or a retelling/recounting of it can be a good place to get started with a character or subject. Doctor Strange's origin has been retold several times and reinterpreted a couple times over the years.
- STRANGE TALES [1951] #115
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1968] #169 (origin retold)
- MARVEL PREMIERE [1972] #11 (origin retold)
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #21 (origin retold)
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #56 (origin retold)
- UNCANNY ORIGINS [1996] #12 (origin retold)
- STRANGE [2004] #1-6 (modern origin by J. Michael Straczynski)
- DOCTOR STRANGE: SEASON ONE [2012-HC] (stunning hardcover graphic novel reinterprets origin with Wong recast as a peer)
- DOCTOR STRANGE: MYSTIC APPRENTICE [2016] #1 (one-shot w/new classic story plus reprint of 1st appearance and origin)
Main Publication History
Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for Doctor Strange comic books. Doctor Strange has had a long publication history stretching across decades.
- STRANGE TALES [1951] #110-111, 114-168
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1968] #169-183
- MARVEL FEATURE [1971] #1-3
- MARVEL PREMIERE [1972] #3-14
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #1-81
- DOCTOR STRANGE CLASSICS [1984] #1-4
- STRANGE TALES [1987] #1-19
- DOCTOR STRANGE, SORCERER SUPREME [1988] #1-90
- STRANGE TALES [1994] #1
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1999] #1-4
- DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH [2006] #1-5
- DOCTOR STRANGE [2015] #1-26
- DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE SORCERERS SUPREME [2016] #1-12 (second monthly title parlaying the success of the MCU film)
- DOCTOR STRANGE [2018A] #381-390 (return to legacy numbering)
- DOCTOR STRANGE: DAMNATION [2018] #1-5
- DOCTOR STRANGE [2018B] #1-20 (flagship title relaunch)
- DOCTOR STRANGE ANNUAL [2019] #1-
- MARVEL TALES: DOCTOR STRANGE [2020] #1 (reprints classic stories)
- DOCTOR STRANGE [2020] #1- (flagship title relaunch)
- DOCTOR STRANGE: THE END [2020] #1
- STRANGE ACADEMY [2020] #1- (Doctor Strange's school for the Mystic Arts)
Selected Key Storylines
This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for Doctor Strange, any one of which can be a good place to get started.
| 1963 | STRANGE TALES [1951] #110-111, 114-115 (introduction and origin with mind-bending artwork from Steve Ditko) |
| 1964 | STRANGE TALES [1951] #126-127 (THE DOMAIN OF THE DREAD DORMAMMU, archenemy introduced) |
| 1965 | STRANGE TALES [1951] #130-146 (THE ETERNITY SAGA, best of Steve Ditko and Stan Lee's run) |
| 1973 | MARVEL PREMIERE [1972] #9-14 (ascends to Sorcerer Supreme, serious metaphysical story from Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner) |
| 1974 | DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #1-2, 4-5 (THE SILVER DAGGER, psychedelic story from Englehart and Brunner) |
| 1974 | DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #10-13 (FINAL CURTAIN, epic destruction of Earth) |
| 1981 | DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #48-53 (time travel adventure by Roger Stern) |
| 1989 | DOCTOR STRANGE AND DOCTOR DOOM: TRIUMPH AND TORMENT [1989-GN] (graphic novel, Stern story with Mignola art) |
| 2004 | STRANGE [2004] #1-6 (updated origin by J. Michael Straczynski) |
| 2006 | DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH [2006] #1-5 (modern reappraisal by Brian K. Vaugh) |
Media Source Material
If you've enjoyed non-comic media for Doctor Strange, this section describes the comic book source material for some of the most popular non-comic media. WARNING: This section may contain spoilers!
Doctor Strange has had two movies. The first, in 1978, was a low-budget made-for-television film. The second, from 2016, is a big-budget chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
The 2016 film, DOCTOR STRANGE, starred Benedict Cumberbatch and was directed by Scott Derrickson. The film is an origin story based on many elements from the character's early appearances in STRANGE TALES [1951], starting with his very first appearance, STRANGE TALES [1951] #110. The plot and tone of the film borrow from several eras of the comic character's long publication history, including Ditko's mind-bending artwork, Englehart's psychedelic and metaphysical storylines, and Vaughn's 2006 reappraisal series, DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH [2006] #1-5. The look and feel of the movie are a slight departure from standard Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) action superhero films. The main villain in the film is Kaecilius, a Master of the Mystic Arts who broke off from the group to pursue his own evil goals. Kaecilius was introduced in STRANGE TALES [1951] #130 as a low-level disciple of Baron Mordo. The film version of Kaecilius is a higher tier character, combining aspects of the comic book version of Baron Mordo. In the film, Karl Mordo is another Master of the Mystic Arts studying under the Ancient One when Strange arrives, just like his comic book origin in STRANGE TALES [1951] #111. The comic book version of Mordo was cast out of the groups for evil deeds, whereas the film version leaves due to his own ideology, setting him up as a future adversary. The comic book version is a recurring adversary for Doctor Strange. In the film, Kaecilius is ultimately revealed to be serving a higher master, Dormammu. Dormammu made his comic book introduction in STRANGE TALES [1951] #126 and has evolved into Doctor Strange's archenemy. In the film, the Ancient One is portrayed by Tilda Swinton, the first female version of this character. The Ancient One was introduced in the same issue as Doctor Strange, STRANGE TALES [1951] #110. The film also introduced some of Doctor Strange's objects of power. The first (blue) Cloak of Levitation was introduced in STRANGE TALES [1951] #114. The second (red) Cloak of Levitation was introduced in STRANGE TALES [1951] #127. The Eye of Agamotto was introduced in STRANGE TALES [1951] #115. An official prequel mini-series consisting of 2 issues was published before the film.
The 1978 television film was written specifically for television with a slightly alternate origin. But, since Stan Lee consulted with the writer, there seem to be some parallels with the story presented in STRANGE TALES [1951] #126-127 (reprinted in whole in DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #3).
Key Issues
A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with Doctor Strange, but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags.
*As an eBay Partner, I earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure
- STRANGE TALES [1951] #110 (1st appearance of Doctor Strange)
- STRANGE TALES [1951] #115 (origin of Doctor Strange)
- STRANGE TALES [1951] #126 (introduction of Clea)
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1968] #169 (origin retold; 1st issue of this series; continues numbering from STRANGE TALES [1951])
- MARVEL FEATURE [1971] #1 (1st appearance/origin of the Defenders)
- MARVEL PREMIERE [1972] #3 (Dr. Strange stories begin)
- MARVEL PREMIERE [1972] #10 (death of the Ancient One)
- DOCTOR STRANGE [1974] #55 (a fan-favorite stand-alone issue)