156 DOCTOR STRANGE
one of Strange’s long-standing rivals. When the Ancient One dies years later, to save the
collective souls of all humanity, Strange assumes the full mantle of Sorcerer Supreme
and guardian against all mystical threats to the Earthly realm.
Dormammu, an evil sorcerer from the Dark Dimension, is Strange’s original nemesis
and rival for supremacy in mystical abilities. Taking a devilish appearance, Dormam-
mu’s head is wreathed in fl ames, which indicate his dominion over his homeworld, the
Dark Dimension. Together with Dormammu’s niece, Clea, Strange eventually defeats
Dormammu in defense of Earth. Clea becomes Strange’s apprentice and wife, but they
separate when she returns to the Dark Dimension to become its guardian. Following
the diabolical theme set by Dormammu, Strange’s subsequent adversaries have included
vampires, demons, and evil sorcerers from alternate dimensions.
Strange’s stories frequently return to the question of his supreme responsibility
over the fate of humanity, for whose sake he must sacrifi ce his personal happiness and
compromise his integrity. Typical of his failed relationship with Clea, Strange has brief
friendships but shares few lasting bonds with others due to the weight of his respon-
sibilities. He resides in a Greenwich Village mansion, his “Sanctum Sanctorum,” with
his faithful servant Wong. However, when the realm of human existence is threatened
by the elder god Shuma-Gorath, Strange destroys the protections on his home to repel
the threat. In alliance with Kaluu, a black magician and former adversary of the Ancient
One, Strange uses black magic and permits the deaths of innocents before vanquishing
Shuma-Gorath and rejecting the ways of black magic once again.
Strange continues to be a morally ambiguous character, at times assuming powers
for himself that rightly belong to others, at other times withdrawing from confl icts well
within his powers to allay. He robs allies of their mystical powers, including Victoria
Bentley and Jennifer Kale, only to repent of his actions later. After the Civil War,
Strange goes into seclusion in Antarctica, but returns to lead the New Avengers. When
the crime syndicate of Hood threatens his home, Strange resorts again to black magic to
defend himself, only to leave Earth in order to contemplate the morality of his actions
and his worthiness as Sorcerer Supreme. As with many Marvel titles, these negotiations
between exercising power to achieve good consequences and refl ecting on the negative
eff ects of one’s actions on one’s character are a hallmark of Doctor Strange’s continuing
adventures.
Doctor Strange has appeared in several cartoons, the 2007 animated feature Doctor
Strange: Th e Sorcerer Supreme, and the 1978 made-for-TV movie starring Peter Hooten
in the title role.
Tim Bryant
