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1968-07-01 00:08:29
Previous:
Fantastic Four #79
Up:
Main

1968 / Box 4 / Silver Age

Next:
Doctor Strange #170

Doctor Strange #169

Issue(s): Doctor Strange #169
Cover Date: Jun 68
Title: "The coming of... Dr. Strange"
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
Dan Adkins - Penciler
Dan Adkins - Inker

Review/plot:
Strange Tales has been rechristened Doctor Strange and the series begins with an extended retelling of his origin.

Dr. Strange is having a nightmare...

...and feeling guilty about his previous life, wondering if he's really worthy of his current station.

Even though this issue had a lot more space to work with than the original story, it's still not very decompressed. For example, here's a doctor giving Strange the bad news right on the operating table, immediately after surgery.

In any event, there don't seem to be any significant revisions in this telling.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: At the end of this issue, Strange receives a mental summons from the Ancient One and begins running down the hall to respond. Continues directly in the next issue.

References:

  • Most of this issue is a retelling of Strange Tales #115.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Doctor Strange #21

Characters Appearing: Ancient One, Dr. Strange

Previous:
Fantastic Four #79
Up:
Main

1968 / Box 4 / Silver Age

Next:
Doctor Strange #170

Comments

Well there's one unhealthy revision: Stephen really shouldn't be smoking after surgery. Maybe that's part of the karma being felt when he loses his hands...

Posted by: Ataru320 | May 30, 2013 8:59 PM

This issue was heavily criticized back then for Dan Adkins' swiping of panels from EC's "M.D." title from the mid-1950s.

Posted by: Mark Drummond | June 1, 2013 4:10 PM

Not to "well actually" you too much, but Strange totally lights up a cigarette while removing his surgical garb in the original origin story in Strange Tales 115. It's a canonical lack of proper hygiene! :D

Posted by: Cradicus | June 28, 2016 2:09 PM

The fanzine Marvel Mirror #3/4(3/68) also listed these artists that Adkins swiped from:Russ Manning, Alex Raymond, Wally Wood, Johnny Craig, Al Williamson, Jack Gaughan, and Gil Kane.

Posted by: Mark Drummond | January 17, 2018 8:17 PM




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