Is He Really A Doctor?
As a matter of fact, yes! Stephen Strange’s title of Doctor is more than just a clever superhero name. Before he put on the cloak, Strange was a gifted neurosurgeon, but was extremely selfish and only cared about the wealth he reaped from his career. After a car accident damaged the nerves in his hands, he stubbornly refused to take a teaching or consulting position, opting instead to find a way to restore his prized tools. After many failed attempts, he finally found his way to the Himalayas to ask for help from The Ancient One, a mysterious hermit. The Ancient One refuses to help him at first due to his selfishness, but after Strange stops an assassination plot on the elderly sorcerer from his apprentice Baron Mordo, the Ancient One decides to teach Strange about the mystical arts. Abandoning his attempts to heal his hands led him on a new path, and once his training was complete, Strange became Earth’s new Sorcerer Supreme.
He Has His Own Base And Servant!
Every superhero needs a nice place to stay on their time off and Doctor Strange is no exception! Living in a three-story mansion in Greenwich Village, he resides in The Sanctorum. It would be an understatement to say this building is a peculiarity. Like the TARDIS from Doctor Who, the Sanctorum is bigger on the inside, and contains many of Strange’s magical artifacts.
Fun Fact: The Sanctorum also came in handy post-Civil War as a hideout for superheroes refusing to register with the U.S. government.Every Great superhero needs help sometimes, in Doctor Strange’s case, Wong is here to help. Descended from an ancient order of Chinese monks, Wong was sent by the Ancient One to serve Strange, and over the years the two have become close friends. Though he doesn’t have any superpowers or magical abilities, Wong is knowledgeable about the mystic arts and is a talented martial artist who has trained Strange in self-defense, as well as taught some other Marvel characters a few moves. When Doctor Strange comes out in 2016, Wong is a must-have character for the supporting cast.
Is He A Team Player?
Dealing with hermits all the time must play a factor to dealing with a team right? Strangely enough (pun intended) it doesn’t seem to play a factor. Doctor Strange is typically off doing his own thing, but he’s also been a member of several teams throughout the decades. In the ‘70s, he led The Defenders, a lineup of not as well-known characters that included Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Silver Surfer.
Since the Defenders of the MCU will consist of street-level heroes like Daredevil and Jessica Jones, its doubtful Strange will be a member of this incarnation. His chances of joining the Avengers are more likely considering he’s been a part of the New Avengers on and off since Civil War ended. Strange is also a member of the Illuminati, a group of superheroes that have secretly guided events in the Marvel universe. Alongside original members Iron Man, Black Bolt, Mister Fantastic, Namor and Professor X, Strange helped make several crucial decisions to keep Earth safe, including hiding the Infinity Gems and launching Hulk into outer space.
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