Doctor Strange is Marvel's master of all things magical and has developed a following since the '60s. The Sorcerer Supreme has been hopping between dimensions, battling monsters and villains from the mortal realm and other planes of existence, and protecting the world from malevolent magic. With so many feats under his belt, his resume can be quite daunting.
For fans wanting to dip their toe in the Doctor's magical world, the character has been featured in a multitude of runs and exciting adventures with and without the Avengers. No matter their experience level with the character, Strange has several stories any would-be magician can enjoy.
Ditko Is... Strange
If readers want to start at the beginning, they won't be faulted for opening with his appearance in Strange Tales. Strange Tales was an anthology series that served as the springboard for Doctor Strange's mystical adventures. The original Doctor Strange stories were visual highlights of '60s-era comics, and a trip through other dimensions with the good doctor was a perfect platform.
Brought to fans by comics legend Steve Ditko, this collection of Doctor Strange stories covers the basic material of the character's origins, powers, feats, and famous foes. Consider it the essential introduction to the character.
Strange Origin/Season One
For those fans wanting a more modern adaptation, Strange Origin/Season One is also a solid choice to experience Doctor Strange in a contemporary timeline. As the title would suggest, the comic covers a new take on Doctor Strange's origin story but also focuses on his training in the mystic arts and relationship with his friend and comrade, Wong.
Those familiar with the MCU adaptation might find this story more or less familiar, and they wouldn't be at fault for choosing it over the Strange Tales series. At the end of the day, all heroes have to start somewhere and this adaptation is as good of a choice as any.
The Steve Ditko Run
If there's one name that will constantly be associated with Doctor Strange other than Benedict Cumberbatch, it's Steve Ditko. In no uncertain terms, Ditko made Strange. And it would be unfair to not include his original run of the Master of the Mystic Arts.
Ditko's original Doctor Strange stories can be found in Doctor Strange: Omnibus, and it's the ideal collection for fans of classic Marvel and all things magical. Tackling his origins, encounters with the various magical planes, and battling evil entities like Dormammu, it practically has anything and everything a Doctor Strange fan could ask for.
Defenders: Indefensible
Doctor Strange is great on his own or fighting alongside the Avengers, but he has also been seen working with the Hulk, Namor, and the Silver Surfer as Marvel's Defenders. Defenders: Indefensible comes with a bit of a far-fetched plot, but readers willing to suspend their belief will find an exciting adventure featuring some of Marvel's lesser-read characters.
The Defenders themselves seem like a mixed bag of heroes, but things definitely get interesting when Strange has to bring them together to fight a demon-possessed Wong under the control of Nightmare, Dormammu, and Umar. Personalities collide, demons are fought, and the fate of the world is waged. Easily an enjoyable outing for all heroes involved.
Doctor Strange Vs. Dracula: The Montesi Formula
Comic books, in general, require substantial suspense of one's belief. With that in mind, a title containing the phrase "Doctor Strange vs. Dracula" is definitely one that needs to be discussed. Because it's everything one could expect from that kind of title.
Not only does Doctor Strange fight the king of vampires, but he also does it with the help of Blade and the Nightstalkers. When Dracula plots to turn the earth over to the Darknoid, it's time to call in the professionals. The partnership of Blade and Strange alone is enough to warrant a read.
Time Doom And Sise-Neg Genesis
Being the Sorcerer Supreme and manipulating the powers of the Time Stone will undoubtedly send you into otherworldly places, but this pair of stories send Doctor Strange into the dawn of the universe itself. Featured in the issues of Marvel Premiere, this time-traveling escapade sees Doctor Strange chasing after Baron Mordo and encountering Sise-Neg, a 30th-century magician with desires of godhood.
Doctor Strange has been sent to several different realities, over 14,oo605 if you include Infinity War, but how often has he ventured to before time began? Those who enjoy interdimensional travel and warped realities will find magic and more in this trip through the timeline.
The Shuma-Gorath Saga
One of Doctor Strange's most terrifying foes is Shuma-Gorath, and while not as well-known to the mainstream as Dormammu, the tentacled terror is a cosmic hellspawn that would make the likes of H.P. Lovecraft swell with pride. What starts as a rescue mission turns into a battle with an Elder God of the multiverse.
This saga is great for anyone looking forward to the upcoming Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness, as it pits Strange against a powerful and deadly being, not of earth, a faraway planet, or magical land, but a ruler of multiple dimensions as old as the multiverse itself.
What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen?
The MCU adaptation was known for its heavy use of psychedelic imagery and mindbending visuals, the comic book equivalent of those design choices might just be What Is It That Disturbs You, Stephen by Craig T. Russel. As Doctor Strange is training his successor, Clea, the two sorcerers are flung into a spellbinding saga of magic and mayhem.
Along with the first appearance of Ditkopolis, referencing Steve Ditko, the stories contained within this spiral through the Sanctum Sanctorum are as mystifying as the Sorcerer Supreme himself. This essentially offers a greatest-hits type arrangement of Strange magic.
The Way Of The Weird
The MCU adaptation was phenomenal, but what about a comic series to match? If readers are entirely new to Marvel and the Multiverse, the 2015 series is a near-perfect entry that maintains Doctor Strange's mystical and enigmatic ways, but with a more modern flavor in its language and delivery.
The Way of the Weird serves as the introduction to this new interpretation, and it explores the actions and reactions of Strange's frequent spellcasting. Think of this series as the gateway into Doctor Strange's comics because it's a complete series that features many exciting and magical adventures that expand on the character and his world in a unique way not often seen in some of the older issues.
Doctor Strange: The Oath
This self-contained Doctor Strange story is considered one of the best, if not the best, entries in his entire catalog. Not only does it feature Strange interacting with characters from the farthest stretches of Marvel's multiverse, but has him also investigating his own attempted murder and saving Wong from succumbing to cancer. The story has magic, drama, and all the trimmings and trappings that make Strange's stories interesting.
The MCU definitely pulled a few spectral elements from this story, and it's clear why it won so much acclaim. As a one-off, it's easy for even casual fans to pick up and enjoy, and doesn't have tremendous weight in other series. Either way, it's one any fan of the Sorcerer Supreme should check out.