STEPHEN STRANGE/DOCTOR STRANGE

Full Name:

Stephen Vincent Strange

Nicknames:

Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, Master of the Mystic Arts, Doc, Steve

Gender:

Male

Age:

84; appears to be in his early 40s

Sexual Orientation:

Heterosexual

Location:

177A Bleecker Street, Manhattan, New York
Origin:

Marvel
Play-By:

Clive Owen

Height:

6'2"

Hair:

Black with white temples

Eyes:

Blue-gray

Typical Clothing/Uniform:

Doctor Strange's "uniform" can certainly be described as eccentric. Perhaps the most notable piece of this attire is the red and yellow cloak that drapes all the way down to his knees, with a collar that comes up to nearly the entire length of the back of his head. A long blue vestment - almost akin to a long leather dress shirt with tails that split at his belt and extend down to his thighs - is worn underneath, adorned with various golden mystical patterns that match the golden lining of the cape. A pair of slacks that are just a bit darker than the vestment give way to a pair of black combat boots, which match the equally black leather gloves he wears. Finally, the golden Eye of Agamotto pendant rests at his throat, clasped to the collars of the vestment and cloak.

There aren't many occasions when Stephen can actually wear something other than his costume. Due to his costume usually passing as civilian attire, he doesn't have to. When he does have the opportunity, he's certainly a man of taste. He opts for neutral colors, buttoned shirts, and simple slacks. Rather than his Cloak of Levitation, he usually wears a low-key brown overcoat, which more often than not is actually his Cloak in a transmuted form. In more private, casual situations, it's not uncommon to find him in flannel and jeans - a callback to his days on the Strange family farm.

In every sense of the word, Stephen Strange is an ordinary man. Genetically and physically, he is just an average human. However, he is the Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth Dimension, the dimension in which we reside. This title was earned through years of arduous training. This is no human or being in our dimension that can even rival him in the mastery of the mystic arts. Stephen's powers can be split into three categories:

Personal abilities - These are the powers that Stephen himself has through his training. Their sources are from his body and soul, be it his brain or his chi. Without having to channel any sort of mystic energy, he is able to astral project himself, hypnotize others, move things with his mind, communicate mentally, and so on. However, these abilities can be enhanced via mystic energy or mystic artifacts such as the Eye of Agamotto.

Universal sources - These powers are used by channeling our dimension's mystical and cosmic energies. By concentrating and utilizing this energy, he can fire energy bolts that can blow back a mouse or cause city blocks to explode, transmute objects and people, create protective shields, and so forth. This magic typically takes the form of "catastrophe magic," which is magic based on the potential for change, coincidence, and entropy. He is also able to use this energy to cast spells, the effects of which are almost infinite depending on what he so chooses, and are quicker than having to recite an incantation, but at the drawback of being less powerful than spells that channel divine sources.

Divine sources - By reciting incantations, or "spells", Doctor Strange can call upon the energy and sources of other beings, usually in other dimensions. In particular, he favors calling upon the energies of the Vishanti, who have given him their blessing to defend our world. Typically, a certain being has a section of spells associated with them, such as the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. In return for using their power, Stephen will often aid them if they ask him to.

Doctor Strange is to the supernatural what Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man are to science. He is the world's foremost authority on anything dealing with magic and the paranormal. His knowledge includes other dimensions, extraterrestrials, demons, monsters, spells, and so on; if it falls under the category of the public not believing in it, he is generally the go-to guy for it.

Prior to his fall from grace, Stephen Strange was considered to be the best neurosurgeon in the world. He commanded high prices because of his surgical skill and medical knowledge. To say he is an expert in the field of medicine is an understatement, with in-depth knowledge of anatomy (specifically neural anatomy), surgery (specializing in neurosurgery), psychiatry, and superhumans.

During his time in Tibet, Stephen gained a black belt proficiency in a variety of as-yet-unknown Oriental martial arts. Even without his magical abilities, he still poses a threat with his hand-to-hand combat alone.

Stephen possesses a variety of magical artifacts, devices, books, etc. that are kept in Sanctum Sanctorum. Some, such as the Wand of Watoomb and the Book of the Vishanti, are kept carefully under lock-and-key while others are often used by Stephen in his quests. They include:

The Eye of Agamotto - An amulet that is typically worn as a necklace, this artifact was constructed by the great Agamotto millenia ago. When the pendant opens, it reveals a golden eye, which can be used for a variety of effects. Foremost, it amplifies his psychic abilities, letting the doctor see through any illusion, lies, deception, false truth, and so on, or even free other people from illusions and mental illness. While using the key, he rivals the most powerful telepaths in the universe. The Eye can also open dimensional and universal portals, play back the events in a given area, or use its light to blind a person. No person can lie while under the Eye's light.

The Cloak of Levitation - This cloak allows Stephen to fly without expending any of his mystic energy, thus allowing him to freely move about unaided. The object is keyed to his thoughts and his alone. Even when he is not wearing it, the cloak responds to his thoughts, allowing him to use it as if it were an extra limb. The cloth is nearly indestructible: not even Wolverine's adamantium claws have been able to scratch through it. The cloak can even shapeshift, allowing it to take the form of other clothing.

The Orb of Agamotto - This artifact can quite literally see any point in time, space, or dimensional reality. Typically Strange uses it to display a copy of the Earth, with various mystical threats pinpointed on it. He can use it for scrying into other worlds and to witness events from afar.

The Sanctum Sanctorum - Doctor Strange's mansion itself is a magical artifact. Located at 177A Bleecker Street in New York's Greenwich Village, the Sanctum is a three-story-tall mansion that resides on one of the Earth's few focal points of magical energy. Throughout the years, the land the Sanctum occupies has been used to burn witches, to sacrifice virgins in pagan rituals, and as an Indian burial ground. Because of the magical energy that runs through the land as well as the spells Strange maintains upon it, the Sanctum itself is actually "alive" and semi-sentient. It's much bigger on the inside than the outside, with hallways and rooms that frequently change locations or furniture that will actually change appearance on its own. The Sanctum Sanctorum is protected from magical invasion by an intricate, permanent spell of mystical force constructed by Doctor Strange to interweave with the house's inherent energies. The entire third floor, known as the Chamber of Shadows, is where Strange keeps his collection of rare magical artifacts and texts for safekeeping.

Team Affiliation:

The Defenders, New Avengers

Personality:

Doctor Strange was once considered to be the most arrogant and selfish asshole on the face of the planet Earth. A tragic twist of fate and a long, difficult road of soul-searching, however, revealed that no matter how far a man falls, there is always the chance for redemption.

First and foremost, Stephen has a strong set of personal morals and ethics. In particular, if he feels that a person has been wronged in some way, he'll stop at nothing until justice is served and the person has achieved some sort of peace. Due to the numerous amount of governments throughout the multiple dimensions that exist, he has become a wanted man in some of them due to his code of honor and sense of justice, with the Dark Dimension in particular views him as a renegade. He is a bit of a hypocrite: despite believing in redemption, there are some people or beings that he won't grant a second chance to, as a result of his own moral stance. He is most certainly not above killing, though whether he actually "kills" anything is a good question, seeing as his enemies are often undead or have no definable souls.

Steve can be quite brash, and he's unafraid to show his eccentricities. He is also easily agitated when people do not do as he wishes them to, and he will resort to physical confrontation and somewhat reckless behavior to achieve his goals. He is extremely resourceful and quick thinking, able to spin things to his point of view, and can find positive outlooks in negative situations - and vice versa. He is somewhat more melodramatic in his brilliance in supernatural subject matter, going so far as to list his victories against vampires, werewolves, and even the Dread Dormammu just to prove a point.

Suffice to say, Stephen can be viewed as a bohemian, even an eccentric. His clothing style is somewhat quirky (after all, a man with a goatee and a red trench coat HAS to be), and the Sanctum can most certainly contribute to this perspective. The irony of the situation is not lost on the sorcerer himself, as he once was an arrogant man who thought of nothing more than money, and now has become a being that has transcended material possessions and has dedicated his life to fighting things that others don't believe exist.

He genuinely does care about other people and honestly wants the best for mankind. His abrasive personality is seen as charming by those very few who are close to him and who have learned to see past his rude front to view the man underneath. With this in mind, he can become emotional when necessary. Due to his time as Sorcerer Supreme, he has trouble accepting defeat or failure; for example, when a friend was killed and he couldn't bring her back to life, he feebly screamed, "I can do anything!"

He still shares other qualities of the man that he once was, not all of which are necessarily bad. He still possesses a love of classic rock music, for example, and is an accomplished pianist - on the rare chance his medication calms his shaking hands enough for him to work the keys. It should also be noted that Steve is a recovering alcoholic - sober since 2005 - and a recovering addict in general, with various drugs of the time having been used when he had been a wealthy doctor. But old habit die hard; in fact, his womanizing ways can sometimes creep their ugly head, and his addiction to various substances has been replaced with an over-reliance on sugar and caffeine to keep him going.

Overall, Stephen understands what his position means not only to the six billion souls on Earth, but to every being within our dimension. The slightest mistake could mean the collapse of the entire universe. Luckily for us, this is the man who once performed perfect subdural hematoma surgery while functioning on an hour of sleep and three rum and cokes.

Family:

Eugene Strange (father, deceased), Beverly Strange (mother, deceased), Victor Strange (brother, undead/deceased), Donna Strange (sister, deceased)

Marital status:

Single

Dr. Stephen Strange was born some 84 years ago in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania while his parents were on vacation, with his formative years spent on the Strange family farm in Papillion, Nebraska alongside his brother Victor and sister Donna.

As a child, he showed a strong desire for helping people, especially medically. This mainly stemmed from childhood trauma when, at the age of 11, his younger sister Donna drowned in a local river. Despite saving her from the depths, Stephen was unable to resuscitate her, as he had no knowledge of CPR or other life-saving techniques. He became obsessed from then on with ensuring the protection of others. For years, Donna's death haunted him, particularly in his dreams. It wasn't until he became a sorcerer that he learned that he had been tortured in his dreams by Nightmare, the demonic ruler of the Dream Dimension. These dreams marked Stephen's first brush with magic.

Although his parents only managed a meager income, with his good grades and intellect, Stephen was easily accepted into Northwestern University. Due to a dissertation on neurosurgery as it applies to the mentally handicapped, he was accepted into the prestigous Johns Hopkins School of Medicine after only three years of college. He graduated in record time, completing his residency in neurosurgery in 1953. During his internship, Stephen worked as a volunteer physician in Tibet, during which time he saved the life of the Ancient One, a man he would come to know later in life.

Not even Stephen could predict how skilled of a surgeon he would become. Considered by many to be the world's best neurosurgeon, his paychecks became bigger and bigger - and so did his head. At first, this arrogance wasn't outstanding. It was when his mother was diagnosed with a deep-seated brain tumor that he faced the greatest challenge of his life - and he failed for the first time. His mother's death marked the first time someone had died on his operating table. Stephen took it hard, falling hard into alcoholism, which in turn led him to become highly arrogant and selfish. If a person was unable to pay for surgery, then he simply didn't treat them. He forgot about what his occupation was really about: helping people.

Ultimately, he paid for this arrogance - twice. When his father was on his deathbed, he refused to be there for him, due to his guilt over his mother's death. His brother Victor angrily came to New York to demand an explanation, resulting in a fight between the brothers. When Victor stomped away across the street, he was struck by a car, killing him instantly. Unwilling to be responsible for losing another family member, he put Victor's body in cold storage, in the hope that one day he could bring him back to life.

The second time came soon afterward. One wintery night in 1963, he was caught in a drunk driving accident, killing his friends that were in the car with him as well as the people in the bus that he struck head-on. Aside from a few cuts and bruises, Stephen seemed to be okay. However, upon tests at the hospital, massive nerve damage was discovered. The nerves in his hands had become unstable, resulting in subtle shaking. However, this shaking prevented him from holding a scalpel straight, and as such, he could no longer function as a surgeon. Ever arrogant, he rejected offers to become a medical consultant. He lost his money and his home due to his lack of a job. Becoming a drifter, he tried any cure possible to heal his hands. Before long, he remembered the Ancient One in Tibet, who he knew could restore him to his former glory. With the last of his money and willpower, he travelled to Tibet, where he found the Ancient One's temple. Inside of Stephen, the Ancient One saw immense potential. He declined to heal his nerve damage, but instead offered to teach him the mystic arts. Not believing in voodoo boogymen, the arrogant Stephen rejected him, but couldn't leave the temple due to an immense storm.

While he stayed through the raging storm, Stephen met Baron Karl Mordo, the Ancient One's current apprentice. Mordo, headstrong and arrogant like Stephen, attempted to attack the Ancient One, but Stephen caught him summoning an army of skeletons. With his skepticism fading, Stephen was about to tell Ancient One about Mordo's treachery when the Baron cast restraining spells on him. With his belief in magic now fully real, Stephen began to evolve. The only way to stop Mordo from killing the Ancient One and destroying the world was to become the Ancient One's student. The Ancient One noticed that Stephen had overcome his selfish arrogance, and so he removed the restraining spells, knowing full well about them. He knew that Mordo was a traitor, but he sought to change him, as he did with Stephen. The surgeon trained with the Ancient One for many years nonstop, and once he was deemed ready, he turned to the United States in the late '60s. Strange set up shop at 177A Bleecker Street in New York's Greenwich Village. In the decades since, he became an urban legend due to his secluded nature, the mysteriousness of his home, and his unaging appearance.

In 1968, Stephen faced his first major threat in the form of Baron Mordo, who sought to replace every human soul in Manhattan with a demon under his own power. Though he saved the entire city, nobody was aware of Stephen's success, due to the hidden and shadowy nature of magic. In 1971, after the death of the Ancient One and the defeat of Dormammu, Stephen was awarded the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme. It was at this time that SHIELD initially approached the doctor. Stephen made it clear that he preferred to work alone, as he had to face threats that "normal" heroes would never even want to imagine, but he emphasized that if they ever encountered mystical threats beyond their control, he would be there to help. In the following years, he has aided SHIELD and other heroes when they needed him, but has opted to continue to fight on his own.

In 1972, an encounter with Death permanently halted Stephen's aging. He remains vulnerable to death through injury, and so an ankh will typically manifest on his forehead when he is in immense mortal danger.

In 1978, Stephen used his sorcery for his own selfish reasons. He attempted to use magic to resurrect his brother, who was still in cold storage. He succeeded in a way, but not how he had intended: Victor became a particularly powerful vampire, calling himself Brother Blood. He became a staple of Doctor Strange's rogues gallery, marking his greatest failure as a sorcerer, just as his mother had marked his greatest failure as a doctor.

In 1999, the Sorcerer Supreme left our dimension in order to participate in the War of the Seven Spheres on behalf of the Vishanti. Though he was only gone for four Earth months, he spent the equivalent of 5,000 years fighting this war. Many say that his return from this war was when Stephen began to display his cynical world view, as the thousands of years spent at war wore at his soul.

After the public revelation of The Avengers and the existence of both superhumans and aliens, Doctor Strange - who had once been viewed him as a mere charlatan - is quickly popping up on people's radars, especially SHIELD, whom he has had a tense relationship with for the last four decades.

Sample Post:
Vampires were like the pigeons of the supernatural community: there was always a nest of them, they contributed nothing to the world around them, and they always crapped on your car right after you washed it. Their commonality was why Doctor Strange usually left their extermination to such specialized vampire hunters, allowing him to focus his attention on more global affairs.

But sometimes, just sometimes, a nest grew out of hand, larger than even the most skilled of hunters could handle. In such an instance, the Sorcerer Supreme stepped in himself, living up to his position as the last line of magical defense.

Within a matter of minutes, the bloodpack that had nested underneath New York's Grand Central Station was nothing more than a floor full of dust. But the man in the dark red trenchcoat knew his work was not complete. Five had managed to escape when he initially burst into the nest - and it was those five that the Eye of Agamotto's light was now leading him to.

"Oooh, I like her hair!" One of the vampires that had cornered Rogue exclaimed with a grin. The group of five, after feasting upon some hapless tourists, had trapped the mutant in an alley in Lower Manhattan.
"Like a skunk." Another chimed in.
"Don't smell like no skunk." A third.
"I wonder what she really DOES smell like..." So said the fourth.
The fifth appeared to prefer actions over words, as he now pounced toward the mutant, fangs bared.

But in mid-air, that fifth scoundrel was consumed in a green ball of fire; in the less than a second that had passed since he first jumped forward, he burned into nothing more than ash. His momentum caused the ash and dust to continue on its path, unfortunately covering Rogue in the debris.

The remaining four turned to examine the source of the flames. There stood Doctor Strange, the remnants of the emerald fire dissipating from his enclosed palms.

"Why are you even after us?!" One of the thugs spoke out. "Strange don't come after vamps!" His reaction was one of anger and rage, for the vampires knew that their un-lives were at an end. He charged at the sorcerer, but was met only with a stake through the heart - or rather, a whitish-blue energy vaguely in the form of a stake that emanated from the doctor's right fist.

"I believe it was Blade who said, 'Some motherfuckers are always trying to ice-skate uphill.'" As he spoke the swear, Stephen's face took on one of disdain. He was above such casual swears, after all. That left the other three, who appeared ready to pounce at a moment's notice. Apparently the Eye of Agamotto didn't like the look of them, as the gold amulet at Strange's throat slid open to reveal that golden eye that rested within. Like some sort of cosmic searchlight, a beam of raw light shot forth, instantly incinerating the trio under its glowing gaze.

As his trademark amulet closed, Stephen turned to look at their would-be prey. Though he wasn't able to save the other group that they had fed on, he at least saved her. "Wait a moment..." His gray eyes narrowed as he looked closer. "You're one of Xavier's, aren't you?"