Editing Doctor Strange (section)

===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>