Editing Doctor Strange (section)

==Fictional character biography==
{{expand section|date=April 2020}}
Stephen Vincent Strange, M.D., Ph.D., is a brilliant but highly [[egotistical]] doctor. He was born in [[Philadelphia]] and raised in [[New York City]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kistler|first=Alan|date=September 27, 2016|title=Doctor Strange, explained| url= https://www.polygon.com/2016/9/27/13058882/doctor-strange-explained|access-date=August 29, 2021|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref> After high school, he went to New York College as a pre-med student, entered [[Columbia Medical School|medical school]] at [[Columbia University]] and completed his residency at [[New York-Presbyterian Hospital]], where his success made him arrogant.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Everything You Need to Know About 'Doctor Strange'| url= https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2016/11/doctor-strange-marvel-comics-facts/|access-date=August 28, 2021|website= Complex.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=August 26, 2021|title=Columbia University Is "Hiding an Infinity Stone," Embraces Its Most Famous "Alum"| url= https://insidethemagic.net/2021/08/columbia-university-doctor-strange-rwb1/|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=Inside the Magic| language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Stephen Strange as Doctor Strange (Earth-616) - Marvel Comics| url= https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/character/171/doctor-strange|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=leagueofcomicgeeks.com}}</ref>

Despite his reputation for being able to handle even the most complicated surgical procedures, Strange is self-centered and greedy, and only treats patients who can afford to pay his exorbitant fees. One night, while speeding in his car, a terrible accident shatters the bones in his hands, leading to extensive nerve damage. He soon finds that his fingers [[Tremor|tremble uncontrollably]], rendering him unable to perform surgery. Too vain to accept a teaching job, Strange desperately searches for a way to fix his hands and subsequently wastes all of his money on expensive, but unsuccessful treatments.

Broke and ostracized from his colleagues, Strange becomes a drifter. He happens to overhear two sailors in a bar discussing a [[hermit]] called the [[Ancient One]] (who is actually the Earth's Sorcerer Supreme) in the [[Himalayas]], who can heal any ailment. Despite not personally believing in magic, Strange uses the last of his money to track down the aged mystic. The Ancient One refuses to help Strange due to his arrogance, but senses a good side that he attempts to bring to the surface. He fails, but Strange then commits a heroic act when he discovers the Ancient One's disciple, [[Baron Mordo]], attempting to kill his mentor and usurp his power. After a confrontation with Mordo leads to him being shackled with restraining spells preventing him from either attacking Mordo or warning the Ancient One, Strange desperately and selflessly accepts the Ancient One's offer to become his apprentice to have some hope of helping the old man. The Ancient One, pleased at Strange's sincere change of heart, accepts Strange as his new student and promptly frees him from the restraining spells while explaining he was aware of Mordo's treachery all along. Strange soon becomes Mordo's most enduring enemy,<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=93}} {{blockquote|Dr. Strange's archenemy, Baron Mordo, was introduced in ''Strange Tales'' #111.}}</ref> as the Ancient One trains the doctor in the mystic arts.<ref name="ST115">{{cite comic| writer= [[Stan Lee|Lee, Stan]]|penciller= [[Steve Ditko|Ditko, Steve]]|inker= Ditko, Steve|story= The Origin of Dr. Strange|title= [[Strange Tales]]|issue= 115|date= Dec 1963}}</ref> After completing his training, Strange returns to [[New York City]] and takes up residence within the [[Sanctum Sanctorum (Marvel Comics)|Sanctum Sanctorum]], a townhouse located in [[Greenwich Village]], [[Manhattan]], accompanied by his personal assistant [[Wong (Marvel Comics)|Wong]].<ref name="tales110"/>

As the Ancient One's disciple, Strange encounters the entity [[Nightmare (Marvel Comics)|Nightmare]],<ref name="tales110">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Ditko, Steve|inker= Ditko, Steve|story= Dr. Strange Master of Black Magic!|title= Strange Tales|issue= 110|date= July 1963}}</ref> and other mystical foes before meeting [[Dormammu]], a [[warlord]] from an [[Parallel universe (fiction)|alternate dimension]] called the "Dark Dimension" who wishes to conquer Earth. Strange is aided by a nameless girl, later called [[Clea Strange|Clea]],<ref>DeFalco "1960s" in {{harvnb|Brevoort|DeFalco|Manning|2008|p=103}} {{blockquote|Clea, Dr. Strange's longtime girlfriend from the Dark Dimension, debuted in ''Strange Tales'' #126.}}</ref> who is eventually revealed to be Dormammu's niece.<ref>{{cite comic| writer= [[Roger Stern|Stern, Roger]]|penciller= [[Paul Smith (comics)|Smith, Paul]]|inker= Smith, Paul|story= Secret Origin|title= Doctor Strange|volume= 2|issue= 72|date= August 1985}}</ref> When Strange helps a weakened Dormammu drive off the rampaging [[Mindless Ones]] and return them to their prison, he is allowed to leave the Dark Dimension unchallenged.<ref name="tales126">{{cite comic| writer= Lee, Stan|penciller= Ditko, Steve|inker= Ditko, Steve|story= The Domain of the Dread Dormammu!|title= Strange Tales|issue= 126|date= Nov 1964}}</ref>

In ''The Unbelievable Gwenpool'' #3, Strange encounters [[Gwenpool|Gwendolyn Poole]], who explains herself to be from a reality where all Marvel characters are fictional characters in comic books. As Strange helps her locate her home reality to create a fake background for her in the Marvel Universe so that she can get a Social Security number, driver's license and other essential documents, he discovers that [[Benedict Cumberbatch]] has been cast to play him in Gwen's universe, remarking that he "could see that".<ref>{{cite web|last=Damore |first=Meagan |url=http://www.cbr.com/benedict-cumberbatch-receives-the-real-doctor-stranges-seal-of-approval/ |title=Benedict Cumberbatch Receives the Real Doctor Strange's Seal of Approval |publisher=CBR |date=June 23, 2016 |access-date= June 1, 2017}}</ref>