The ways of the weird
"I'd be lying like hell if I said I didn't love this."
Those who have seen the trailer of "Doctor Strange" might be disappointed, as it will remind them of "Inception". It seemed they haven't read Marvel comics. Yet.
Doctor Strange seemed to be a strange addition to the Marvel Universe, a sole creation of Steve Ditko. But think again. All superheroes are out of the ordinary. Stephen Strange was an egotistical neurosurgeon until a near-fatal car accident damaged his hands. He traveled the world, as he sought a cure. He ended up in the highlands of Nepal, where he met the Ancient One. He turned into a protector of Earthlings against magical threats.
You read too many literary classics to suspect Stephen Strange as a comic-book counterpart of a Dickens story. Ditko may agree with it, but it won't be Ebenezer Scrooge. Furthermore, the setting would be reminiscent of British society of yore. And why not. (Neil Gaiman was born in Portchester, once a small village in southern England. He imagined exotic locations, which were beyond imagination.) Authors write about their mundane existence without telling it like it is. If that is the case, then literature ceases to exist. And this might be how Ditko first thought of Doctor Strange.
Scott's Derickson's big-budget production of this Marvel superhero will hit the theaters five months from now. To make them more excited, it will be better to lay down some interesting facts about Stephen Strange. Let's look at the list:
Steve Ditko is a recluse. Stephen Strange believes that he's the only physician in New York who still makes house calls to his patients. He manages to meet different people despite his hectic schedule, but it's a (strictly) professional relationship. Other than that, he seems withdrawn from the rest of the world. Fans will be reminded of Steve Ditko, who co-created Spider-Man with Stan Lee. His reclusive nature turned him into a legend in the comic world. He doesn't grant interviews to the press. He doesn't have a Facebook account either. But an eight-year-old Spider-Man fan wrote him a letter last year. He asked about his inspirations. And he was delighted to receive a handwritten response from Ditko himself.
The Village is the place you might not want to be in. You could be a huge fan of Jack Kerouac to figure out what Greenwich Village stands for. This would be the place where the members of the Beat Generation met and talked about anything under the sun. (They might have talked about their struggles as well.) Bleecker Street would be your destination if you fancy tattoo and body piercing, but Ditko imagined Sanctum Sanctorum. Doctor Strange sensed its mysterious past. Street mystics, bacchanalian speakeasy, secret Satanic supper club. There might be a source of mystical power, which could be concentrated on a three-story house in 177A Bleecker Street. If you still have your courage with you, then why don't you knock the front door.
You might not have heard of the Bar with No Doors. If you have, then you might not be one of the millions of people with regular lives. This is the place where the wizards of the Big Apple hang out and not talk about the burdens of having magical powers. One issue saw Scarlet Witch as one of Stephen Strange's good friends. But don't expect romantic sparks. (One Marvel issue featured Vision walking down the aisle with Scarlet Witch. If you saw "Captain America: Civil War", then you already guessed it.) And there were tense moments with Monako, the Prince of Magic. Would he end up on the good side? You have to read every issue featuring Doctor Strange. It was a fascinating company, which would prompt you to wonder about the New Yorkers and their chances of survival.
Stephen Strange can see things. Doctor Strange has a third eye, which makes him a demigod. (You confused Ditko with Rick Riordan.) He could see microorganisms sticking to the faces of some commuters, and he wouldn't know if this was a parasitic relationship. But some would grow fangs. They would tear the soul of their (human) host. And they would seek this mysterious doctor.
"Doctor Strange" might pave the way for Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Eye of Agamotto, which can probe the minds of other people, might make some fans wonder if this is the other Infinity Gem. Let's say your guess is as good as anyone else's. Marvel Studios reveal a few details on the script, co-written by Derrickson, Jon Spaihts, and C. Robert Cargill. Baron Mordo would be one. Don't be surprised if a Marvel superhero makes a cameo appearance. After all, most superheroes are bound to the gems.
