Editing Doctor Strange (section)

==Publication history==
{{Further|Doctor Strange (comic book)}}

===Creation===
Artist [[Steve Ditko]] and writer [[Stan Lee]] have described the character as having been originally the idea of Ditko, who wrote in 2008, "On my own, I brought in to Lee a five-page, penciled story with a page/panel script of my idea of a new, different kind of character for variety in Marvel Comics. My character wound up being named Dr. Strange because he would appear in ''[[Strange Tales]]''."<ref>{{cite comic| story = "Toyland": "Martin Goodman/Stan Lee"| title= The Avenging Mind| publisher= Robin Snyder and Steve Ditko| date=April 2008| writer= Ditko, Steve}}</ref> In a 1963 letter to [[Jerry Bails]], Lee called the character Ditko's idea, saying:

{{blockquote|Well, we have a new character in the works for ''Strange Tales'' (just a 5-page filler named Dr. Strange) Steve Ditko is gonna draw him. It has sort of a black magic theme. The first story is nothing great, but perhaps we can make something of him-- 'twas Steve's idea and I figured we'd give it a chance, although again, we had to rush the first one too much. Little sidelight: Originally decided to call him Mr. Strange, but thought the "Mr." bit too similar to [[Mister Fantastic]] -- now, however, I remember we had a villain called Dr. Strange just recently in one of our mags, hope it won't be too confusing!<ref>{{cite web| url= http://themarvelageofcomics.tumblr.com/post/16306907460/a-letter-written-by-stan-lee-to-super-fan-dr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409065636/http://themarvelageofcomics.tumblr.com/post/16306907460/a-letter-written-by-stan-lee-to-super-fan-dr |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-04-09 |title=The Marvel Age of Comics, A letter written by Stan Lee to super-fan Dr |date=2014-04-09 |access-date=2017-01-23}}</ref>}}

===Early years===
''Doctor Strange'' debuted in ''[[Strange Tales]]'' #110 (July 1963),<ref>{{cite book |editor1-first=Tom |editor1-last=Brevoort |editor2-first=Tom |editor2-last=DeFalco |editor3-first=Matthew |editor3-last=Manning|title=Marvel Chronicle: A Year by Year History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WUlGLQAACAAJ|year=2008|location= London, United Kingdom|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|isbn=978-0-7566-4123-8 }} DeFalco in "1960s" {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=93}} "When Dr. Strange first appeared in ''Strange Tales'' #110, it was only clear that he dabbled in black magic and had the ability to project his consciousness into an astral form that could leave his physical body."</ref> a split book shared with the feature "[[Human Torch|The Human Torch]]". Doctor Strange appeared in issues #110–111 and #114 before the character's eight-page [[origin story]] in #115 (December 1963). His origin was later retold in ''Doctor Strange'' #169 (February 1968). Scripter Lee's take on the character was inspired by the ''[[Chandu the Magician (radio)|Chandu the Magician]]'' radio program that aired on the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] in the 1930s.<ref>{{cite book|last = Daniels|first = Les|author-link = Les Daniels|title = Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics|publisher = [[Abrams Books|Harry N. Abrams]]|year = 1991|location= New York, New York|page = 114|isbn = 9780810938212|quote= Inspired by the Mutual Network radio show ''Chandu the Magician'', which [Stan] Lee had enjoyed during his childhood, Dr. Strange was in fact a more impressive character than Chandu.}}</ref> He had Doctor Strange accompany spells with elaborate artifacts, such as the "[[Eye of Agamotto]]" and the "[[Wand of Watoomb]]", as well as mystical-sounding vocabulary such as "Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!".<ref name="Vulture">{{cite web |last=Reisman |first=Abraham |date=November 16, 2016 |title=The Creator of Doctor Strange Will Not See You Now |url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/steve-ditko-doctor-strange-c-v-r.html |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161115221750/http://www.vulture.com/2016/11/steve-ditko-doctor-strange-c-v-r.html |archive-date=November 15, 2016 |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |quote=Creeping conflict became apparent a few months after Spider-Man’s debut, when Lee first announced the impending debut of their next co-creation, a magician named Doctor Strange.}}</ref> Although these often referenced the names of established mythological beings, Lee has said he never had any idea what the incantations meant and used them simply because they sounded mystical and mysterious.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Thomas|first= Roy|date= August 2011|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|title= Stan Lee's Amazing Marvel Interview!|journal= [[Alter Ego (magazine)|Alter Ego]]|issue= 104| pages= 7–8|publisher= [[TwoMorrows Publishing]]}}</ref> Ditko showcased [[Surrealism|surrealistic]] mystical landscapes and increasingly vivid visuals that helped make the feature a favorite of college students at the time. Comics historian Mike Benton wrote:

[[File:PanelStrangeTales-110.jpg|thumb|Splash page, ''[[Strange Tales]]'' #110 (July 1963), the character's debut. Art by [[Steve Ditko]].]]
{{blockquote|The ''Dr. Strange'' stories of the 1960s constructed a cohesive [[cosmology]] that would have thrilled any self-respecting [[Theosophy (Blavatskian)|theosophist]]. College students, minds freshly opened by [[psychedelic experience]]s and [[Eastern mysticism]], read Ditko and Lee's ''Dr. Strange'' stories with the belief of a recent [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|Hare Krishna]] convert. Meaning was everywhere, and readers analyzed the ''Dr. Strange'' stories for their relationship to [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] myths, [[Sumerian religion|Sumerian gods]], and [[Carl Jung|Jungian]] archetypes.<ref>{{cite book|first=Mike|last=Benton|title=Superhero Comics of the Silver Age: The Illustrated History |publisher=[[Taylor Publishing Company]]|location=Dallas |isbn=978-0-87833-746-0|year=1991|page =63}}</ref>}}

"People who read ''Doctor Strange'' thought people at Marvel must be heads [i.e., drug users]," recalled then-associate editor and former ''Doctor Strange'' writer [[Roy Thomas]] in 1971, "because they had had similar experiences high on mushrooms. But I don't use hallucinogens, nor do I think any artists do."<ref>{{Cite magazine|author-link=Robin Green (producer)| last=Green| first=Robin| url=http://www.reocities.com/area51/Chamber/8346/rs91.facefront.1.html|title=Face Front! Clap Your Hands, You're on the Winning Team!|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|number=91|date=September 16, 1971|publisher=via fan site Green Skin's Grab-Bag| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101007234130/http://www.reocities.com/area51/Chamber/8346/rs91.facefront.1.html|page=31|archive-date=October 7, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Originating in the early 1960s, the character was a predictor of trends in the art prior to them becoming more established in the later [[counterculture of the 1960s]]. As historian Bradford W. Wright described:

[[File:DoctorStrange-177.jpg|thumb|alt=|''Doctor Strange'' #177 (Feb. 1969), the debut of Strange's short-lived new look. Cover art by [[Gene Colan]] and [[Tom Palmer (comics)|Tom Palmer]].]]<!-- credits per GCD -->

{{blockquote|Steve Ditko contributed some of his most surrealistic work to the comic book and gave it a disorienting, hallucinogenic quality. ''Dr. Strange'''s adventures take place in bizarre worlds and twisting dimensions that resembled [[Salvador Dalí]] paintings. Inspired by the [[Pulp magazine|pulp fiction]] magicians of Stan Lee's childhood as well as by contemporary [[Beat Generation|Beat]] culture, ''Dr. Strange'' remarkably predicted the youth counterculture's fascination with Eastern mysticism and [[psychedelia]]. Never among Marvel's more popular or accessible characters, ''Dr. Strange'' still found a niche among an audience seeking a challenging alternative to more conventional superhero fare.<ref name="Wright213">{{cite book|last1=Wright|first1=Bradford|title=Comic Book Nation: The Transformation of Youth Culture in America|date=September 18, 2003|publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]]|location= Baltimore, Maryland|isbn=978-0801874505|page=213}}<!--|access-date=9 April 2015--></ref>}}

As co-plotter and later sole plotter in the [[Marvel Method]] of scripting, Ditko took Strange into ever-more-abstract realms. In a 17-issue story arc in ''Strange Tales'' #130–146 (March 1965 – July 1966), Ditko introduced the cosmic character [[Eternity (Marvel Comics)|Eternity]], who personified the universe and was depicted as a silhouette filled with the cosmos.<ref name=st134>{{cite web |url= http://www.comics.org/issue/19306/|title=''Strange Tales'' #134|publisher= [[Grand Comics Database]]}} "Indexer notes: Part 5 of 17. First mention of Eternity. Strange would finally find it in ''Strange Tales'' #138 (November 1965)."</ref> [[Golden Age of Comic Books]] artist/writer [[Bill Everett]] succeeded Ditko as an artist with issues #147–152, followed by [[Marie Severin]] through #160 and [[Dan Adkins]] through #168, the final issue before the ''[[Nick Fury]]'' feature moved to its own title and ''Strange Tales'' was renamed ''[[Doctor Strange (comic book)|Doctor Strange]]''.<ref name="DeFalco128">DeFalco in {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p= 128}} "Hailing 1968 as the beginning of the 'Second Age of Marvel Comics,' and with more titles to play with, editor Stan Lee discarded his split books and gave more characters their own titles...''Strange Tales'' #168 [was followed] by ''Dr. Strange'' #169."</ref> Expanded to 20 pages per issue, the ''Doctor Strange'' solo series ran 15 issues, #169–183 (June 1968 – November 1969), continuing the numbering of ''Strange Tales''.<ref name="DeFalco128"/><ref>{{gcdb series|id= 1863|title= Doctor Strange}}</ref> Thomas wrote the run of new stories, joined after the first three issues by the art team of [[penciler]] [[Gene Colan]] and [[inker]] [[Tom Palmer (comics)|Tom Palmer]] through the end.

After plans were announced for a never-released split book series featuring Doctor Strange and [[Iceman (Marvel Comics)|Iceman]], each in solo adventures.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Marvel News|magazine=[[Marvelmania International|Marvelmania Magazine]]|issue = 5|year= 1970|page = 30}}</ref> Strange next appeared in the first three issues (December 1971 – June 1972) of the quarterly showcase title ''[[Marvel Feature]]''. He appeared in both the main story detailing the formation of superhero team the [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]],<ref>[[Peter Sanderson|Sanderson, Peter]] in {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=151}} "[Roy] Thomas and artist Ross Andru reunited [Doctor] Strange, the Hulk, and Namor as a brand new Marvel superhero team—the Defenders."</ref> and the related back-up story. The character then starred in a revival solo series in ''[[Marvel Premiere]]'' #3–14 (July 1972 – March 1974).<ref>Sanderson "1970s" {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=156}} "Dr. Strange began a new series of solo adventures. He got off to an impressive start with [a] story scripted by Stan Lee and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith."</ref> This arc marked the debut of another recurring foe, the entity [[Shuma-Gorath]], created by writer [[Steve Englehart]] and artist [[Frank Brunner]], who took over as the regular creative team starting with ''Marvel Premiere'' #10. Englehart and Brunner collaborated closely on the stories, meeting over dinner every two months to discuss the series, and their run became known for its psychedelic visuals and plots.<ref name="back71">{{cite journal |last=Brennaman|first=Chris |title=Marvel Premiere|journal=[[Back Issue!]]|issue=71|pages=22–23 |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|date=April 2014|location=Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref> In issues #8–10 (May–September 1973), Strange is forced to shut down the Ancient One's mind, causing his mentor's physical death. Strange then assumes the title of Sorcerer Supreme.<ref name="MP10">{{cite comic| writer=[[Steve Englehart|Englehart, Steve]]|penciller=[[Frank Brunner|Brunner, Frank]]|inker=[[Crusty Bunkers]]|story=Finally, Shuma-Gorath!|title=[[Marvel Premiere]]|issue=10|date=September 1973}}</ref> Englehart and Brunner created another multi-issue storyline featuring sorcerer [[Sise-Neg]] ("Genesis" spelled backward) going back through history, collecting all magical energies, until he reaches the beginning of the universe, becomes all-powerful and creates it anew, leaving Strange to wonder whether this was, [[temporal paradox|paradoxically]], the original creation. Stan Lee, seeing the issue after publication, ordered Englehart and Brunner to print a retraction saying this was not God but ''a'' god, to avoid offending religious readers. According to Frank Brunner, he and Englehart concocted a fake letter from a fictitious minister praising the story, and mailed it to Marvel from Texas. Marvel unwittingly [[comic book letter column|printed the letter]] in ''Doctor Strange'' #3 and dropped the retraction.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/12/22/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-30/|title= Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #30| first= Brian|last= Cronin|date= December 22, 2005|website= [[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120204213020/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2005/12/22/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-30/ |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=live|access-date=December 26, 2008|quote=We cooked up this plot—we wrote a letter from a Reverend Billingsley in Texas, a fictional person, saying that one of the children in his parish brought him the comic book, and he was astounded and thrilled by it, and he said, 'Wow, this is the best comic book I've ever read.' And we signed it 'Reverend so-and-so, Austin Texas'—and when Steve was in Texas, he mailed the letter so it had the proper postmark. Then, we got a phone call from Roy, and he said, 'Hey, about that retraction, I'm going to send you a letter, and instead of the retraction, I want you to print this letter.' And it was our letter! We printed our letter!}}</ref>

Due to the growing number of Doctor Strange readers,<ref name="back71"/> the ''Marvel Premiere'' series segued to the character's second ongoing title, ''Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts'', also known as ''Doctor Strange'' vol. 2, which ran 81 issues (June 1974 – Feb. 1987).<ref>{{gcdb series|id=2162|title= Doctor Strange ''vol. 2''}}</ref> ''Doctor Strange'' #14 featured a crossover story with ''[[The Tomb of Dracula]]'' #44, another series which was being drawn by Gene Colan at the time.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Wolfman, Marv|penciller= Colan, Gene|inker= Palmer, Tom|story= His Name Is Doctor Strange|title= [[The Tomb of Dracula]]|issue= 44|date= May 1976}}<br />{{cite comic| writer= [[Steve Englehart|Englehart, Steve]]|penciller= Colan, Gene|inker= Palmer, Tom|story= The Tomb of Dr. Strange!|title= Doctor Strange|volume= 2|issue= 14|date= May 1976}}<br />Sanderson "1970s" in {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=175}} "The great Marvel artist Gene Colan was doing superb work illustrating both ''Doctor Strange'' and ''The Tomb of Dracula''. So it made sense for ''Strange'' writer Steve Englehart and ''Tomb'' author [[Marv Wolfman]] to devise a crossover story."</ref> In Englehart's final story, he sent Strange back in time to meet [[Benjamin Franklin]].<ref>Sanderson "1970s" in {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=174}} "The year 1976 was the 200th anniversary of the United States' Declaration of Independence. So it was appropriate that several of the major events in Marvel history that year dealt with political themes... In September, just before departing from Marvel for DC Comics, writer Steve Englehart sent Dr. Strange back through time to meet one of the men responsible for the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin."</ref>

===1980s===
Strange met his allies [[Topaz (Marvel Comics)|Topaz]] in #75 (February 1986) and [[Rintrah (comics)|Rintrah]] in #80 (December 1986). The series ended on a cliffhanger as his home, the Sanctum Sanctorum, was heavily damaged during a battle. Among the losses were Doctor Strange's entire collection of mystic books and other important artifacts. As a consequence, Strange was now considerably weaker, and several spells designed to protect humanity from [[vampire]]s and the evil serpent god [[Set (Marvel Comics)|Set]] expired.

The title was discontinued so that the character's adventures could be transferred to another split-book format series. ''Strange Tales'' vol. 2, #1–19 (April 1987–Oct. 1988) was shared with street heroes [[Cloak and Dagger (characters)|Cloak and Dagger]]. This new Doctor Strange series resolved Strange's quest to reclaim his power and missing artifacts, as well as resurrecting the Defenders, who had died in the last issue of that team's title.

===1990s===
Strange was returned to his own series, this time titled ''Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme'', which ran 90 issues (November 1988 – June 1996).<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 3645|title= Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme}}</ref> The initial creative team was writer [[Peter B. Gillis]] and artists [[Richard Case]] and [[Randy Emberlin]], with storylines often spanning multiple issues. Strange lost the title of "Sorcerer Supreme" in issues #48–49 (Dec. 1992 – Jan. 1993) when he refused to fight a war on behalf of the Vishanti, the mystical entities that empower his spells. During this time the series became part of the "[[Midnight Sons#Publication history|Midnight Sons]]" group of Marvel's supernatural comics.<ref>''Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme'' #60 (December 1993) to #68 (August 1994)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix7/midnightsonsgr.htm|title= Midnight Sons|first= Jeff|last= Christiansen| date= August 27, 2015|publisher= The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151025015928/http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix7/midnightsonsgr.htm|archive-date= October 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Doctor Strange found new sources of magical strength in the form of [[chaos magic]],<ref>''Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme'' #80–90 (August 1995 – June 1996)</ref> as well as a magic construct he used as a proxy.<ref>''Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme'' #60–75 (December 1993 – March 1995)</ref> He would form the Secret Defenders with a rotating roster of heroes,<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=262}} {{blockquote|Writer Roy Thomas and penciller Andre Coates created this new series that ran until 1995.}}</ref> and reunite with the original Defenders. Strange regained his title in ''Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme'' #80 (August 1995).

Strange appeared with the Human Torch and the [[Thing (comics)|Thing]] in the [[one-shot (comics)|one-shot]] publication ''Strange Tales'' vol. 3, #1 (Nov. 1994).<ref>{{gcdb series|id= 12125|title= Strange Tales ''one-shot''}}</ref>

The character was featured in several [[Limited series (comics)|limited series]]. The first was ''Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones'' #1–4 (February–May 1999), with a series of [[spontaneous combustion]]s by criminals instigated by old foe [[Dormammu]]. Strange was the [[catalyst]] for the creation of a trio of sorceresses in ''[[Witches (Marvel Comics)|Witches]]'' #1–4 (August–November 2004). The ''Strange'' limited series (November 2004 – July 2005) by writers [[J. Michael Straczynski]] and [[Samm Barnes]] updated the character's origin.<ref>Manning "2000s" {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=323}} {{blockquote|Scribes J. Michael Straczynski and Samm Barnes, with artist Brandon Peterson, retold Dr. Strange's mystical origin for a new generation of fans in this six-issue limited series.}}</ref> Another limited series, ''Doctor Strange: The Oath'' #1–5 (December 2006 – April 2007), written by [[Brian K. Vaughan]] and illustrated by [[Marcos Martín (cartoonist)|Marcos Martin]], focused on Strange's responsibilities as sorcerer and doctor.

Doctor Strange has appeared in four [[graphic novels]]: ''Doctor Strange: Into Shamballa'' (1986); ''Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment'' (1989); ''Spider-Man/Dr. Strange: The Way to Dusty Death'' (1992); and ''Dr. Strange: What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen?'' (1997).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.drstrangearchive.com/graphic-novels.html|title=Graphic Novels|website= drstrangearchive.com}}</ref>

===2000s===
Strange appeared as a supporting character for the bulk of the 2000s. He appeared regularly in ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]'' under [[J. Michael Straczynski]], before being cast into a time loop by [[Baron Mordo]]. He later appeared on and off in ''[[The New Avengers (comics)|The New Avengers]]'', where he was stated as being part of the secret group known as the [[Illuminati (comics)|Illuminati]] to deal with future threats to Earth. Ultimately Strange joined the team and allowed them to use his home as a base after the events of the 2006 "[[Civil War (comics)|Civil War]]" storyline, which he sat out. Doctor Strange was critical of the federal [[Superhuman Registration Act]] and aided the anti-registration Avengers team led by [[Luke Cage]].<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Brian Michael Bendis|Bendis, Brian Michael]]|penciller= [[Leinil Francis Yu|Yu, Leinil Francis]]|inker= Yu, Leinil Francis|story= Revolution Part One|title= [[The New Avengers (comics)|The New Avengers]]|issue= 27|date= April 2007}}</ref>

During [[Brian Michael Bendis]]' time as writer, Doctor Doom attacked the Avengers and manipulated the [[Scarlet Witch]] into eliminating most of the [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] population. Doctor Strange's failure to recognize Doom's hand in the former and to stop the latter caused him to start to doubt his abilities.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=June 2015}} After he was forced to use dark magic to confront an enraged [[Hulk]],<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Greg Pak|Pak, Greg]]|penciller= [[John Romita Jr.|Romita, John Jr.]]|inker= [[Klaus Janson|Janson, Klaus]]|title= [[World War Hulk]]|issue= 3|date= Oct 2007}}</ref> followed by further use of dark spells to save the New Avengers from the Hood's supervillain army,<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Brian Michael Bendis|Bendis, Brian Michael]]|penciller= [[Carlo Pagulayan|Pagulayan, Carlo]]|inker= Huet, Jeff|title= [[New Avengers Annual]]|issue= 2|date= 2008}}</ref> Strange renounced his status as Sorcerer Supreme, as he felt that he was no longer worthy of it. The Eye of Agamotto passed the mantle on to [[Jericho Drumm]].<ref name="NA54">{{cite comic| writer= Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller= [[Billy Tan|Tan, Billy]]|inker= Banning, Matt|story= You shouldn't be here, Jericho|title= The New Avengers|issue= 54|date= August 2009}}</ref>

He was also featured in ''The Order'', which spun out of the 2001 ''Defenders'' revival, and the ''Indefensible Defenders'' mini-series.{{Volume needed|date=April 2019}}

===2010s===
Doctor Strange appeared as a regular character throughout the 2010-2013 ''The New Avengers'' series.<ref>{{cite web |title=''New Avengers'' (2013 - Present) |url=http://marvel.com/comics/series/16451/new_avengers_2013_-_present |date=2013 |publisher=Marvel Comics |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160531035328/http://marvel.com/comics/series/16451/new_avengers_2013_-_present |archive-date= May 31, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jericho Drumm]], now newly appointed Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Voodoo, sacrifices himself to stop the powerful mystical entity Agamotto from reclaiming the Eye.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller= [[Stuart Immonen|Immonen, Stuart]]|inker= [[Wade Von Grawbadger|Von Grawbadger, Wade]]|story= Um… Sshh! We are ready|title= The New Avengers|volume= 2|issue= 6|date= January 2011}}</ref> A guilt-ridden Strange rejoins the New Avengers, and he offers the team his valet Wong to act as their housekeeper.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller= [[Neal Adams|Adams, Neal]]|inker= [[Tom Palmer (comics)|Pamer, Tom]]|story= Look at me, Norman|title= The New Avengers|volume= 2|issue= 16.1|date= November 2011}}</ref>

Strange eventually regains his position of Sorcerer Supreme,<ref name="NA34">{{cite comic| writer= Bendis, Brian Michael|penciller= [[Mike Deodato|Deodato, Mike]]|inker= Deodato, Mike|title= The New Avengers|volume= 2|issue= 34|date= January 2013}}</ref> but is possessed by a demon{{Volume needed|c=y|date=December 2014}} and becomes leader of the [[Black Priests]].<ref>{{cite comic|writer= [[Jonathan Hickman|Hickman, Jonathan]]|penciller= Kudranski, Szymon|inker= Kudranski, Szymon|story= Triage|title= The New Avengers|volume= 3|issue= 27|date= January 2015}}</ref>

After the various Marvel universes merge into one, Doctor Strange acts as righthand man of Doctor Doom, who has become the ruler of this world after erasing all recollection of the previous separate realities that existed. Circumstances force Strange to open a pod that releases the surviving heroes of the original Marvel continuity, known as [[Earth-616]]. Doom kills Doctor Strange.<ref>{{cite comic|writer= Hickman, Jonathan|penciller= [[Esad Ribić|Ribić, Esad]]|inker= Ribić, Esad|story= The Eye of Doom|title= [[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]|issue= 3|date= August 2015}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Jason Aaron]] and [[Chris Bachalo]] teamed up for the fourth volume of ''Doctor Strange''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stroz |first=Casey |url=http://badcoyotefunky.com/doctor-strange-last-days-of-magic-brings-new-characters/ |title=Doctor Strange - Last Days of Magic Conjures Up New Characters! |publisher=BadCoyoteFunky |access-date=January 7, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227130802/http://badcoyotefunky.com/doctor-strange-last-days-of-magic-brings-new-characters/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> A new character, reluctant librarian Zelma Stanton, agrees to reorganize Strange's magical library.<ref>''Doctor Strange'' vol. 4, #1</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=September 2017}} [[Jericho Drumm|Jericho Drumm]] returns, and the series and a spinoff, ''Dr. Strange: Last Days of Magic'', sees such characters as Medico Mistico, [[Magik (Illyana Rasputin)|Magik]], Scarlet Witch, Mahatma Doom, Professor Xu, [[Daring Mystery Comics#Characters|Monako]], and Alice Gulliver.<ref>''Dr. Strange: Last Days of Magic'' #1</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=September 2017}} With the laws of magic fundamentally altered, and with the loss of his former resources, Doctor Strange is forced to depend on his own physical skills and inventive use of his few functional spells. He eventually no longer has access to most of his former spells or his levitating cape.<ref>''Doctor Strange'' vol. 4, #10</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=September 2017}}

During the "[[Infinity Countdown]]" storyline, Doctor Strange goes on a space mission. He encounters [[Super-Skrull]] who has the [[Time Stone]]. After defeating Super-Skrull, Doctor Strange claims the Time Stone.<ref>''Doctor Strange'' vol. 5, #1–3. Marvel Comics.</ref> Doctor Strange then tracks down the Mind Stone and finds it in [[Turk Barrett]]'s possession as Turk manages to evade him. When [[Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)#Clone of Natalia Romanova|Black Widow's clone]] arrives seeking out Doctor Strange where she wants to dispose of the Space Stone, he does not want to take it as he knows what would happen if they are in proximity. Using a magic spell, Doctor Strange speaks to the holders of the [[Infinity Stones]] and requests a parley to reform the [[Infinity Watch]]. He states to [[Adam Warlock]], Black Widow's clone, Captain Marvel, [[Star-Lord]], and Turk Barrett that they need to safeguard them from such calamities even if one of them is [[Thanos]].<ref>''Infinity Countdown'' #5. Marvel Comics.</ref>