House of Strange
By Michael Weyer
Some may not be as up on the crossover character as I hoped so here's the rundown on Dr. Stephen Strange.
First appearing in Strange Tales #110 (July, 1963), Strange was the second-most famous creation of Marvel writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Dikto (the first, of course, being Spider-Man).
At one point, Stephen Strange made House look like the most caring and humble doctor alive. A brilliant and talented surgeon, Strange was also incredibly arrogant and self-centered, caring less about his patient's health and more on how well they paid him. He considered non-paying surgeries "charity work" and held himself higher than anyone else.
Pride goeth before the fall and Strange's fall was hard indeed as he got into a serious car accident. He survived with little injuries but his hands were too damaged to allow him to perform surgical work. Naturally, Strange believed he was ruined, was far too proud to "lower" himself to do consultations and soon ran through his fortune attempting to cure his condition.
He was a homeless vagrant when he heard stories of a man in Tibet called the Ancient One who said to possess miraculous powers. Gathering the last of his money, Strange made his way to Tibet and the Ancient One's home in the mountains. The Ancient One refused the craven request to be healed but offered Strange the chance to serve under him as an apprentice.
Strange refused and was preparing to leave when he saw the Ancient One's current disciple, Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo, communicating with his true demonic master, the dread Dormanmu. Mordo cast a spell that prevented Strange from warning the Ancient One of what was happening. The moment shocked Strange as he realized how magic was real and the depth of Mordo's evil. Strange figured that if he could learn magic himself, he could fight Mordo on equal terms and went back to the Ancient One to accept the offer to train under him. The Ancient One was grateful to see Strange acting selflessly for another and agreed. He also removed the spell Mordo had cast, revealing he'd known all along with the man had been planning.
After seven years of hard study, Strange returned to America, now much more humble and more powerful. Upon the death of the Ancient One, Strange became Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, the most powerful mage alive, charged with protecting the Earth plane from all mystic threats.
Strange is a master of all mystic forces in the Earth plane. He usually wears blue robes with a red cloak that allows him to levitate. He also has the Eye of Agamotto, a talisman that increases his power. He lives in a mansion in Greenwich Village in New York where he studies and keeps an eye out for trouble. He has aid from his sometime lover, Clea, the resident of another dimension and Wong, the latest in a line of monks dedicated to serving Strange as an aid and keeper of his home.
Strange has often been used as a sort of "deus ex machine" by Marvel writers, often coming in to use his powers and save the day. However, in some cases (such as the current mini-series The Oath), he's been given more care and attention.
Aside from the magic angle, the fact he was once as arrogant as House is something I plan to play with. Hope you all enjoy the ride.