Every day in April we will reveal the greatest stories ever told starring a particular character or written/drawn by a particular creator (and throughout the month, you'll get daily chances to vote for NEXT week's lists). These lists are voted on by YOU, the reader!
Here is the list of characters/creators featured so far (along with the rules on how to vote).
Today's list is the Greatest Doctor Strange Stories Ever Told!
Enjoy!
When appropriate, I figured I'd use the descriptions that P-Tor (from Sanctum Sanctorum Comix sent in with his votes
10. "Final Curtain" Doctor Strange, Master of Mystic Arts #10-13
Here's P-Tor:
Steve Englehart and Gene Clan present some truly epic stuff! The total destruction of Earth! No. Seriously. But what happens AFTERwards... ahhh
9. "The Origin of Dr. Strange" Strange Tales #115
Written by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and drawn by Ditko, I think this is definitely one of the very best origins of all Marvel Silver Age heroes. I think only one other hero's origin outstrips this one and unsurprisingly, it was the OTHER one by Steve Ditko.
8. "Oath" Doctor Strange: The Oath #1-5
This series, written by Brian K. Vaughan and drawn by the brilliant Marcos Martin (with inks by Alvaro Lopez), helped in a many ways to set up Doctor Strange for his inclusion in Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers. The series introduces a new take on the Night Nurse character, this time as an underground medic of sorts for superheroes.
7. "To Have Loved and Lost" Doctor Strange #55
Here's P-Tor:
Considered to be the BEST issue of Doctor Strange. Written by Roger Stern, This is the famous issue drawn by Michael Golden and Terry Austin) Part straight-up super-hero tale/part "It's A Wonderful Life". Awesome!
6. "The Domain of the Dread Dormammu!" Strange Tales #126-127
In a glimpse of what was soon to come, this is the first multi-issue arc in Strange Tales. The Dread Dormammu had been mentioned before, but in this issue Steve Ditko and Stan Lee finally introduce us to the villain as Doctor Strange comes into contact with him as well as Clea, who makes her debut in this story. At the end of the arc, when Strange has managed to keep Dormammu at bay, Strange gains his cloak of levitation!
The top five is on the next page!
5. "The Silver Dagger" Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts #1-2, 4-5
Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner give you a hint of the craziness to come in this arc when the FIRST ISSUE opens with Doctor Strange getting stabbed! Eventually, everyone gets trapped in the Eye of Agametto and chaos ensues!
4. “The Montesi Formula” Doctor Strange #60-62
It is a race against time for Doctor Strange to unlock the secrets of the Darkhold, specifically the Montesi Formula so that he can rid the world of the threat of Dracula forever! Roger Stern wrote and Dan Green and Steve Leialoha drew this three-parter, which tied in with Stern’s Avengers run.
3. Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment
In this graphic novel written by Roger Stern with art by a young (but still awesome even then) Mike Mignola, Doctor Strange is forced to help Doctor Doom try to save the soul of Doom’s mother, who has been doomed to hell. During their battle against Mephisto in hell, there are a number of twists and turns, all beautifully illustrated by Mignola and Mark Badger. While he had won the title of Sorcerer Supreme over Doom (Doom’s second-place finish is what put him into a position of requesting Strange’s help), it was this story that proved that Strange truly had earned the title.
2. "Time Doom!" Marvel Premiere #11-14
This is the story so controversial that Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner had to fake a fan letter to Marvel from a preacher so that Stan Lee would not apologize, as it involved Doctor Strange being present at the creation of the Universe!!! This is the first storyline where Doctor Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme.
1. "The Eternity Saga" Strange Tales #130-146
Here's P-Tor:
Classic Steve Ditko/Stan Lee/Denny O'Neil! These issues form an arc that is considered by many to be the FIRST true "American Graphic Novel" - it deals with Strange's search for Eternity and his being hunted and hounded across the globe by Dormammu and Baron Mordo. It's got EVERYTHING! Lots of mysticism! Doc has to escape from deadly foes blind & powerless while his head and hands are encased in irons! Dormammu vs Eternity! Steve Ditko INVENTING new visual techniques! What more do you need?) This can be found in the first Dr. Strange ESSENTIAL volume, but alas... the loss of color does take a little away from it all. THESE WERE reprinted in COLOR in the 4-issue *DOCTOR STRANGE CLASSICS* (a deluxe reprint series from the 1980's on beautiful white Baxter Paper) Of ALL the ways to get these stories, aside from MASTERWORKS hardcovers, this is the best way. But, then again, Marvel has released PAPERBACKS of some MASTERWORKS (Doc's got two already, and these issues are in the first).
That's the list! Agree? Disagree? Let us know!