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Strange Tales (1951) #110-129
Stan Lee Presents Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic Arts
Stan Lee Presents Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic arts #1 (Full Color; Marvel Comics Series/ Pocket Books 81447-8; June/1978); selected Strange Tales #110-129 Reprints; Frank Brunner Cover; Steve Ditko art.
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1978
About the author
Stan Lee
7,600 books2,370 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 14, 2017
Stan Lee Presents Doctor Strange Master of the Mystic Arts #1 compiles together 18 of the earliest classic Doctor Strange comics (Strange Tales # 110 and numerous others up to #129).
Doctor Strange has always been one of my favorite super-heroes.
These were written by the legendary Stan Lee (of course!) and the art is by Steve Ditko (probably best known as the artist of the original Spider-Man comics).
I started reading this when I was 10 years old and have read this dozens of times since then (Goddamn I'm ancient!).
These stories pit Doctor Strange against several of his most fierce arch-villains; Dormammu, Baron Mordo, and Nightmare. Among others.
Steve Ditko really went all out on the artwork, creating images I will forever have lodged in my mind's eye.
The only thing a little disappointing is that this book is not comic book sized. It's a pocket book and a little harder nowadays for me to read the small print and one of the only things I have to give in to and put my reading glasses on to read (dammit!) :D
It's still a classic read and fully enjoyable.
I will have to track down a bigger book collection of these and further Doctor Strange comics. Seeing the movie and re-reading this recently has got me pumped up on the Master of Mystic Arts known as Doctor Strange .
Still the best Doctor I know.
May 25, 2022
The original run of Doctor Strange: ‘Stan Lee presents’ - but I came for the art of Steve Ditko. His realism - Ditko characters are rarely ‘muscle men’ superheroes - is combined with surreal, dreamlike, mystic imagery that anticipated the psychedelic movement. All the more impressive when you consider Doctor Strange was only published in 1963.
Being a early sixties comic from with Lee’s dialogue however, the written style has a declamatory and explanatory quality - with more than a dash of carnival barker:
‘It is a great pleasure and privilege for the editors of Strange Tales to present, quietly and without fanfare, the first of a new series based on a different kind of super hero ...’
For those used to the cosmic level dramas of the Doctor Strange films, these early stories present him as a bit like a practicing psychoanalyst. The first story has the Doctor receiving a patient who has trouble sleeping. While there is a twist at the end (that also shows the Doctor is a detective) overall it has a 'Superman rescues a cat stuck up a tree’ quality to it. Battles between Strange and his enemy Baron Mordo consist of the characters essentially throwing glowing colours at one another. This is great for Ditko’s artwork, but lacks a certain dramatic tension as the reader has to be constantly informed that a major battle is definitely going on.
The later stories, when Strange fights the god-like ‘Dread Dormammu’ and ‘Tiboro the Tyrant of the Sixth Dimension’ are when the character-drama gets going. Strange considers the psychological depth and complexity of his opponents, and also gets to explain his somewhat elitist views about why humanity needs to be shielded from knowing the true multidimensional nature of the universe. The invitation to the reader to consider themselves part of a special shared knowledge that others cannot understand is of course central to the construction of the nerd culture of comics - small in its day but now a massive cultural force.
Being a early sixties comic from with Lee’s dialogue however, the written style has a declamatory and explanatory quality - with more than a dash of carnival barker:
‘It is a great pleasure and privilege for the editors of Strange Tales to present, quietly and without fanfare, the first of a new series based on a different kind of super hero ...’
For those used to the cosmic level dramas of the Doctor Strange films, these early stories present him as a bit like a practicing psychoanalyst. The first story has the Doctor receiving a patient who has trouble sleeping. While there is a twist at the end (that also shows the Doctor is a detective) overall it has a 'Superman rescues a cat stuck up a tree’ quality to it. Battles between Strange and his enemy Baron Mordo consist of the characters essentially throwing glowing colours at one another. This is great for Ditko’s artwork, but lacks a certain dramatic tension as the reader has to be constantly informed that a major battle is definitely going on.
The later stories, when Strange fights the god-like ‘Dread Dormammu’ and ‘Tiboro the Tyrant of the Sixth Dimension’ are when the character-drama gets going. Strange considers the psychological depth and complexity of his opponents, and also gets to explain his somewhat elitist views about why humanity needs to be shielded from knowing the true multidimensional nature of the universe. The invitation to the reader to consider themselves part of a special shared knowledge that others cannot understand is of course central to the construction of the nerd culture of comics - small in its day but now a massive cultural force.
March 8, 2012
Ah, the earliest Dr. Strange stories! They are so modest compared to most stories that feature the character today, but they still hold up. There is an obvious spiritual tone the character, even before the story revealing his origin. "The House of Shadows" was a real treat for me. It cast Strange in the role of supernatural investigator, much like his forerunner/prototype Dr. Druid, which was interesting. Plus, it harkened back to Marvel's monster comics era. I understand that that particular monster appeared a few times later. I'll have to track down those stories.
Stan Lee obviously enjoyed playing with language with these tales. And as for the artwork? It has been said that Steve Ditko's art was never beautiful but always effective. Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. With so many artists after him trying their best to duplicate his knack for surreal and psychedelic imagery (that did not make this reader think of drug use, but rather simply completely alien territories), his art's effectiveness in never in doubt.
Dr. Strange can never again be as grounded as he is here. This is not a complaint, just an observation. As his mastery of the mystic arts grew, so did his nemeses. But it is nice for this reader to know that he began with a series of simple tales about a man allowing a higher power into his life so that he could be redeemed.
Stan Lee obviously enjoyed playing with language with these tales. And as for the artwork? It has been said that Steve Ditko's art was never beautiful but always effective. Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. With so many artists after him trying their best to duplicate his knack for surreal and psychedelic imagery (that did not make this reader think of drug use, but rather simply completely alien territories), his art's effectiveness in never in doubt.
Dr. Strange can never again be as grounded as he is here. This is not a complaint, just an observation. As his mastery of the mystic arts grew, so did his nemeses. But it is nice for this reader to know that he began with a series of simple tales about a man allowing a higher power into his life so that he could be redeemed.
August 23, 2016
It's not often you get to see comic-book characters in their original, primitive states - especially ones with extensive pop-cultural morphology like Dr. Strange. Like few other characters in the Marvel or DC canons, Strange occupies a unique spot: he is well-known by name recognition and even base familiarity with his powers, but many of the specifics of his character are so wild, obscure, and experimental that it lends an alluring, mysterious quality to him.
This comic is remarkably modern for the early 60s. This was a pre-psychedelic world, and it shows. Hints of Steve Ditko's later experimentation only pops up briefly, but it is noticeable. The mythology, too, benefits from these early steps.
But the most enduring quality of the early Strange Tales, and one that would change in decades hence, was that Lee-esque characteristic of bold, sweeping heroic claims. Time and again, in the direst of straits, Dr. Strange boldly faces off against petty criminals and omnipotent gods of evil with the same conviction. He recites as casually as he would any other fact: Good must defeat evil because it is good, and evil is evil. And as long as there is good in this world, evil can never win.
We can hope for the same optimism this November. May the mighty Vishanti protect us...
This comic is remarkably modern for the early 60s. This was a pre-psychedelic world, and it shows. Hints of Steve Ditko's later experimentation only pops up briefly, but it is noticeable. The mythology, too, benefits from these early steps.
But the most enduring quality of the early Strange Tales, and one that would change in decades hence, was that Lee-esque characteristic of bold, sweeping heroic claims. Time and again, in the direst of straits, Dr. Strange boldly faces off against petty criminals and omnipotent gods of evil with the same conviction. He recites as casually as he would any other fact: Good must defeat evil because it is good, and evil is evil. And as long as there is good in this world, evil can never win.
We can hope for the same optimism this November. May the mighty Vishanti protect us...
October 14, 2007
This is the first serious comic that I ever remember reading! I was into "books". The only "comics" I remember reading before this were Richie Rich, Archie and the Sunday funnies.
I think we got this at our local used bookshop and I don't remember if I saw it first or if Dad saw it and brought it to me (to this day my Dad brings me cool books). Ever since Doctor Strange introduced me to Stan Lee & Steve Ditko, comic books have been part of my book collection.
Sure its "campy" but the camp works as comic relief against some gritty story lines. Ditko's art is timeless and Stan Lee is well, THE Stan Lee. (btw, I still have the well worn copy that I read back in the 80's)
I think we got this at our local used bookshop and I don't remember if I saw it first or if Dad saw it and brought it to me (to this day my Dad brings me cool books). Ever since Doctor Strange introduced me to Stan Lee & Steve Ditko, comic books have been part of my book collection.
Sure its "campy" but the camp works as comic relief against some gritty story lines. Ditko's art is timeless and Stan Lee is well, THE Stan Lee. (btw, I still have the well worn copy that I read back in the 80's)
November 13, 2007
Doctor Strange is truly a Master of the Mystic Arts. Well, no he isn't really, he's a comic book character invented in the 1960s by one of the oddest mainstream comics artists ever, Steve Ditko. Marvel's Stan Lee scripted the stories in this book, but they are pretty much out of the warped mind of Ditko.
These are reprints of the first 18 Dr Strange stories, and while they are reprinted in tiny pocketbook paperback size, they are in color, and retain their timeless mindblowingness.
These are reprints of the first 18 Dr Strange stories, and while they are reprinted in tiny pocketbook paperback size, they are in color, and retain their timeless mindblowingness.
February 23, 2016
It's interesting and nostalgic to read old comics collections, but most of them aren't exactly... literature, if you know what I mean. And this one is a somewhat lesser entry in the silver age Marvel canon. Dr. Strange didn't have the adolescent turmoil of the better titles, but it's fun.
May 31, 2008
Reprint of first 18 Dr. Strange stories from Strange Tales
Read
August 24, 2009I will sleep better knowing that a master of the arcane spells of the Vishanti is protecting the world from evil. (Thanks, Bryn)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews