Every superhero has a unique fighting style that emphasizes that character’s strengths. Daredevil employs a blend of martial arts and American boxing, the Hulk smashes his enemies into submission, and Doctor Strange casts magical spells with effortless ease… or does he?
While Stephen Strange appears to be one hero who can best his opponents without getting his hands dirty, his early training tells a very different story. While Strange learned a lot about focusing his mind and spirit during his time with the Ancient One, some of his lessons were much more physical - including one where his teacher seemingly channeled Tyler Durden from Fight Club!
The shocking story took place in 2015's Doctor Strange #4 by Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo. In a flashback to Strange’s early magical lessons, the Ancient One takes the former surgeon outside of his temple and simply tells him, “Punch me as hard as you can.” His request baffles Strange, who protests that he can’t do that. Stephen’s reasons for not wanting to fight aren’t entirely altruistic - he’s worried that if he does hit the Ancient One, he’ll hurt his already nerve-damaged hands.
However, the Ancient One is adamant - and goes so far as to tell Stephen that if Strange doesn’t hit him, he’ll have to leave forever. Faced with no alternative, Strange takes a swing at his master – only for the Ancient One to erect a mystical forcefield that causes Strange to hit an invisible (and very hard) barrier. Furious, Strange asks why the Ancient One did that, and his teacher replies that the experience vividly illustrates that the harder Stephen punches, the harder he’ll get hurt - something that’s also true when sorcerers “punch” with magic. Confused, Stephen claims that he’s been casting spells all week with no ill effects. However, the Ancient One, who’s apparently been shielding Strange from the negative effects of his spellcasting, chooses that moment to drop those defenses. Immediately, Stephen starts vomiting uncontrollably, finally experiencing exactly what it feels like to be a magician.
It’s a funny scene (and one that makes the reader wonder if the Ancient One isn’t remote-viewing Brad Pitt movies while he’s supposedly meditating), but one that underscores a regularly repeated point in Doctor Strange comic books - performing magic inevitably takes a huge mental, physical, and emotional toll on sorcerers like Strange. It's a great metaphor designed to stick with both a young Stephen Strange and his readers, and a necessary tool in subtly rewriting Marvel's magical rules; something Aaron did multiple times in his run with the Sorcerer Supreme. Considering that Strange recently opened an academy for young magic users (and that the Ancient One is a teacher at the school), one wonders how long it’ll be before the Ancient One decides to use his Fight Club lesson on these new pupils.