Featuring: Dr. Strange
Release: September 8, 1964
Cover: December 1964
12 cents
Story by: Stan Lee, master of macabre menace
Art by: Steve Ditko, weaver of wondrous witchraft
Lettered by: S. Rosen, sultan of speedball sorcery
10 pages
| Previous | #263 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Strange Tales #127 | Reading order | Amazing Spider-Man #19 |
| Strange Tales #127 | Strange Tales | Strange Tales #128 |
Last issue saw the build-up to Dr. Strange’s fight with Dormammu. It established pretty clearly that Dormammu is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, on a level we can’t even comprehend. Dr. Strange has no chance against Dormammu. Last issue was quite clear on that, but then cut off just as they were about to battle.
The promised battle does not immediately commence. Dormammu gives Strange a chance to reconsider first, as this would be more slaughter than battle.
The girl from last issue finds Dr. Strange again, this time to show him the moral complexity of the situation. Dormammu poses a threat to Earth; that is why Dr. Strange must stop him. But Dormammu also rules his realm. Early indications are that he’s something of a tyrant, imprisoning people who question him or fail him.
He may be a tyrant; he may be evil; he may be about to destroy our world… but he’s also the only force standing between his subjects and the Mindless Ones. Whatever else he may be, he keeps his people safe. Even if Dr. Strange somehow succeeded in defeating Dormammu, the mystic shields sustained by Dormammu’s will would break, allowing the Mindless Ones to enter the Dark Realm, where they would proceed to kill all the inhabitants. Quite the moral quandary.
But Dr. Strange’s first duty is to Earth. Even though he will probably die, and whatever the consequences to the denizens of the Dark Realm, Dr. Strange must face Dormammu.
I’m not sure I’ve drawn enough attention to Dr. Strange’s fingers yet in this blog. Ditko contorts Spider-Man’s body into all kinds of unique configurations, as Spidey swings on his web or climbs a wall or does other feats of acrobatics. Spider-Man also gets cool finger motions that he uses to activate his web shooters. Dr. Strange is more likely to be standing normally, but Ditko can experiment with the contortions Strange’s fingers make, seemingly as part of casting spells. The Dr. Strange film made it a point to have the actors mimic Ditkoesque finger motions.
What happens in the battle is not always clear. Some spells are cast, some energy beams exchanged. We understand what we need to. Dr. Strange is doing better than expected, able to seemingly hold his own against Dormammu… for the moment. But Strange is weakening, and cannot hold much longer. Dormammu has limitless energy remaining.
But then something happens. Dr. Strange proves just enough of a challenge to require more of Dormammu’s attention than expected. And when Dormammu’s concentration slips, he focuses too much of his energy on his battle with Strange… and his shields weaken. The Mindless Ones attack.
Dormammu must turn from Strange to turn all his power against the Mindless Ones and save his people. Now, Dr. Strange has his only chance to defeat Dormammu and save the world. While all Dormammu’s energies are diverted, he can strike and end this.
Instead, he offers the power of his amulet to Dormammu, adding his own strength to Dormammu’s. Together, they repel the Mindless Ones.
Dormammu, we learn, has his own moral code. From our perspective he is evil, but his perspective is alien to ours. Dormammu protects his people. And Dormammu pays his debts. We might call him lawful evil.
However, he does not like being in debt. He agrees to Strange’s terms to discharge the debt, but will then seek revenge for having ever been in Strange’s debt. Dormammu promises no harm to the female and to never invade Earth.
Dr. Strange invites the girl back to our dimension with him. Pretty forward given that he hasn’t even asked her name yet. She will not leave her home, but implies she has feelings for Dr. Strange. I suspect we’ll see her again; maybe we’ll even learn her name one day.
The Ancient One is now stronger than ever; we see him effortlessly levitating. His apparent weakness was not (only) due to age, but also to a spell on him left over from his ancient battle with Dormammu. The curse of Dormammu is now lifted.
Dr. Strange receives two rewards: new, more powerful amulet, and a new cape. The coloring makes the cape look yellow, but we’ll see it’s actually red with gold trim. Presumably the cape will also offer some power and not just fashion. Having gained enough experience, Dr. Strange is leveling up.
I do have some questions for the Ancient One. If Earth was in that much danger, perhaps these new weapons could have helped. If Dr. Strange had died in battle and Dormammu had overrun the Earth, I bet the Ancient One would be kicking himself for not giving Dr. Strange the more powerful amulet sooner.
Invocations:
- Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth
- Ancient One calls upon the light of the Vishanti and the Omnipotent Oshtur.
- Dormammu calls upon the Seven Rings of Raggadorr.
- Ancient One refers to the day of his death as they day he will breathe the final Vapors of Valtorr.
- Stan Lee invokes the light of the Vishanti.
Rating: ★★★★★, 93/100
Significance: ★★★★★
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: Dr. Strange vol. 1. You can also find it in Dr. Strange Epic Collection vol. 1: Master of the Mystic Arts. Or on Kindle.
Characters:
- Dormammu
- Dr. Strange
- Girl from Dark Realm
- Ancient One
Story notes:
- The girl takes Dr. Strange to the outskirts of Dormammu’s domain, where the Mindless Ones dwell. Only the spells of Dormammu protect his realm from the Mindless Ones. If he were killed, the dimension would be overrun.
- Dormammu imprisons and plans to execute the girl for betraying him to Strange.
- Dormammu sees that he is stronger, but he is impressed by the courage and valor of Dr. Strange.
- The battle consumes enough of Dormammu’s energy to weaken the barrier, letting some Mindless Ones through.
- Dr. Strange gives Dormammu the light of his amulet, to give him enough strength to defeat the Mindless Ones.
- Dr. Strange recognizes Dormammu is evil by human standards, but not by Dormammu’s own moral code.
- Dr. Strange asks two things of Dormammu in payment for help against the Mindless Ones: to spare the female and never invade Earth. Dormammu makes these vows but also swears revenge.
- The girl makes a reference to her heart, implying she has feelings for Dr. Strange.
- Ancient One is stronger now, a spell Dormammu had long ago placed on him now broken.
- Dr. Strange rewarded for victory with a new cape and a new amulet.
| Previous | #263 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Strange Tales #127 | Reading order | Amazing Spider-Man #19 |
| Strange Tales #127 | Strange Tales | Strange Tales #128 |
Yes, it’s weird that “this female” would regularly show up over the next 20 issues, but she never gets a name until the end of Steve Ditko’s run, when we finally learn that she’s Clea. (I’ve heard that it was Daenny O’Neil, who scripted the last few installments of Ditko’s Doctor Strange, who came up with that name.)