DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) A PREview REview. An 8th BLOGGIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION!

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Today, October 11^th (2016), being the 8^th bloggiversary of this SANCTUM SANCTORUM COMIX Blog, I am pleased to be able to commemorate this occasion by giving a REview of the PREview Event shown last night (see my blog post yesterday [HERE]) for the DOCTOR STRANGE film, directed by Scott Derrickson and starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

As this IS my  “bloggiversary” for this DOCTOR STRANGE-centric blog, it is an especially touching event to share with something as momentous as a DOCTOR STRANGE movie, (well, a 15-minute Preview, anyway,)since being an avid Doctor Strange reader/ collector/ archivist/ activist/ pontificator/ blogger/twitterer for a continuous 40 years*.

That the character who used to be my “solitary” championing focus, is now being recognized by the world at large; and while, I obviously know that I was not the only Doctor Strange fan in existence, and that we are, in fact, many, it seemed, however, especially in the days before the internet, that I could not help to feel like a “lone voice in the wilderness”. Yes, we were many, but we were also a very tiny minority, and becoming more-so, as more and more of us walked away – were pushed away -  by the lack of care shown for nigh unto 20+ years, by Marvel, his publisher.

But the universes are separate. There is the Marvel COMICBOOK Universe, and there is the Marvel CINEMATIC Universe, and it is of THIS Universe that I am now going to discuss.

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The DOCTOR STRANGE IMAX 3D Footage Event was a 15-Minute (PG-13) viewing of select scenes from the upcoming film. And, while only 15 minutes… packed in an insane amount of awesomeness and spectacle!

Drama, mild comedy, phantasmagorical visuals and ACTION!

The SUPERMAN movie of 1978 had at its tagline, “You will believe a man can fly!”

For the DOCTOR STRANGE 2016 film, the tagline is “Infinite Impossibilities” (but it should be “You will believe a selfish jerk neurosurgeon can totally wreck himself in a horrific, high-speed car crash, fall to ruin, slowly try and fail to build himself back up, STILL be a jerk, meet a mystic guru, be a jerk to HER, get his head set straight, learn of a broader reality – realities… begin to think of others besides himself, and fight to defend our reality from those who would tear open the walls between dimensions by opposing them using his mystical abilities to harness the forces of creation to warp the very fabric of time and space (while wearing a semi-sentient Cloak of fabric, btw)” – but THAT would be a bit hard to fit onto the posters.

Having been in a state of mild urgent, near-panic all day (should I leave early from work?, should I even go in at all, and just camp out at the theatre? Will I get a seat?) I ended up going in to work super-early and leaving at 4pm, arriving at the theatre three hours early for the 7pm show time at the Regal UA Westbury Theatre Stadium 12 & IMAX at 7000 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, NY 11590.  I was the first on line (ok, tied for first with a mother and her teenage son) and I was joined before long with fans of varying age and experience. Most of us joined in conversation, ranging from the recent New York ComicCon, Doctor Strange merchandise and, of course, the comics.

Let me say that I wasn’t even supposed to BE at work that day. I normally telecommute on Monday’s from my home in PA, but I made sure to come in – not because I had a lot of work to get to, or meetings that I needed to attend (both were true, and, because I’m a professional, I made sure to be there to do those things as well, but). No. I made sure to come in to work PRIMARILY to attend this showing, as there were no theatres near my home that were screening this event.

Dedication, people. Dedication.

We filed into the theatre and a huge photo of Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange was looming large on the screen; an advertisement for a snapchat filter.

(This was pretty SUPREME sized, I must say.)

(or, as the kids say; "he big")

And for those who don't use snapchat (like me) here is the actual filter that would appear around your photo.

 (snapchat filter)

It wasn’t long before the entire theatre was filled and the lights went low…

At first, upon wearing the IMAX 3D glasses (that are extremely uncomfortable, btw, as they don’t really have a notch for the bridge of your nose,) I was not impressed with what I saw; various ad spots and lead-ins to the preview. I thought it not much of a 3D experience, and couldn’t understand what the big deal could be.

THEN the actual preview started and I realized that none of the previous stuff was even in 3D because the Preview IMMEDIATELTY leapt out and smacked me in the face. The 3D effect was mind-blowing.

What follows now are my recollections of the preview, and I will go into detail so from here on out SPOILER ALERT…

I’ll first detail the events of the Preview and then will give my reactions to it.

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THE PREVIEW:

The trailer begins with Benedict Cumberbatch (as Doctor Strange) speaking with Rachel McAdams (portraying ER Doctor Christine Palmer). They have polite, friendly banter and definitely give a feeling as having once had a relationship.

Stephen asks her to attend some kind of medical symposium or speaking engagement with him and she declines. He says; “You used to enjoy coming to those with me.” She replies, still friendly, “No. YOU enjoyed them. It’s always about you, Stephen.”

We then cut to Stephen driving in his Lamborghini. He’s driving away from NYC and over what appears to be the George Washington Bridge to head out of Manhattan to some location out on the Hudson River. He’s driving on wet, slick roads, and he is driving like an entitled jackass; weaving around cars, using the opposing lane, and speeding way too fast.

He’s also committing the grievous sin of being a “distracted driver”, looking at his cell-phone digital display to see medical scan photos sent to him by someone at the hospital, with whom he is also speaking, discussing potential next-clients.

A few hints to the timeline are dropped here, as one of the cases is of a Marine Colonel who had been crushed inside some experimental exo-suit. This seems to refer to the events of IRON MAN 2, and placed Strange accident at that time, because Strange is about to have a Very. Serious. Accident.

Driving at top speed across a dangerous mountainside roadway that winds and twists like a fun-house slide, with a rock-face to his right and an abyss to his left, he once again takes his eyes off the road and he clips another car and spins out, his car losing all traction on the slick roadway. Spinning like a top, it is then jettisoned out over the guardrail like a projectile, to spin and crash, over and over, end-over-end, like a child’s toy thrown away in anger. The sports car’s engine whines as it races with nothing to hold it in check, its metal screaming and groaning with each successive twisting strike of an outcropping of rock or a tree. At this point we see inside the car and Strange’s hands lose their grip of the wheel and strike forward to then be enveloped and crushed within the dashboard, which has folded, sickeningly around them. Striking multiple times as it careens outward and downward, along the mountainside the car finally comes to a sickening crunch, inverted in what looks like a building site. Stephen Strange is bloody, pulped and barely alive.

Scenes follow, with a voice over by the Ancient One (played by Tilda Swinton), that portray a montage of events; a barely conscious Strange on a hospital gurney being wheeled into the O.R. by Palmer, a recuperating Strange in a hospital bed, his scarred hands held still by cables and clamps, Christine Palmer, again by his side, a wandering, destitute Strange journeying to far off Nepal.

Here the preview once again shows dialogue, as Strange meets the Ancient One in a lamasery retreat in an area known as Kamar-Taj.

She speaks to him and calls him “MISTER Strange”, to which he replies, curtly, “DOCTOR, actually.” And she retorts, “Not any more.”

She shows him pictures in books that show the body’s chakra points and one of an M.R.I., all the while, speaking of non-surgical cures and remedies and practices.

At this, Strange loses his composure; “I’ve spent my last dollar to come here and your showing me images from a new age gift shop.”

The Ancient One tries to assure him that there ARE means and ways and methods and energies that lie beyond what conventional “wisdom” say are the limits.

Strange won’t hear any more and bursts out; “…I don’t believe in chakras and the healing power of belief! We are matter and nothing more. There is no spirit! You think you can see through me, but I see through YOU!”

At this last word he pokes an angry finger at the Ancient One’s sternum and she grasps his arm, and then punches him in the chest, sending his astral form out of his body!

Strange’s astral self looks astounded at his hands, and then at his body below, which, now without animus, is only held upright by Mordo’s caring hands (Karl Mordo being played by Chiwetel Ejiofor). Mordo continues to hold him as the Ancient One makes a mystical pass and pulls Strange’s astral form back down into his body.

Strange, aghast and disbelieving accuses them of lacing his tea with some kind of hallucinogen. “What was in that tea?” “Just tea. With a bit of honey.” Comes the just-as-sweet reply.

The Ancient One is now beyond coddling him and she grasps his arm, placed her thumb upon his brow (where the 3^rd eye chakra is) and commands him “Open. Your. Eye!” This sends Strange jettisoned out backwards through the lamasery, and then out through the walls of reality.

“This isn’t real, this isn’t real, this isn’t real!” he tries to repeat to himself, as if repetition will make it true.

From dimension to dimension, we see Strange hurtling, buffeted by forces beyond understanding, with the voice of the Ancient One ringing around him. “There are other realities, other worlds, other dimensions…” “Some are good, some exist just next to our own, and others are Dark Dimensions with entities that only seek to do us harm…”

Strange is then flailing, screaming, through alien landscapes and cosmic vistas, at one point to see a monstrous façade, the size of a hillside, which has bands of flame and what appear to be two… searing… eyes…

Being turned inside out, having himself attacked by an endless multitude of grasping hands – each one growing from his own body and then the landscape around him, he is drown down into darkness, to emerge inside his own eye! Before falling down in its darkened recesses again.

We hear the voice of Mordo saying; “His heart rate is getting critical.” And soon we see Strange back at the lamasery, seated next to the Ancient One, who smiles and says, “He seems fine to me” and sends Strange BACK out into the void.

More otherworldly scenes await us and some of these phantasmagorical scenes are obvious homage to Steve Ditko’s early portrayals of otherworldly dimensions.

When Strange finally returns to earth, it is in a heap, tumbling across the floor, where he looks up, shaking, and says to the Ancient One, while on bended knee… his voice hoarse from his helpless screaming, no more than a whisper; “teach me.”

Next are a series of montages showing Stephen Strange training with other students at Kamar-Taj. While their gestures and strikes produce mystical formations, his do not. But still he seeks to catch up to them. At one point he asks the Ancient One, “How do I get from here to there?” (asking about how to bridge the gap from broken, mortal man to wizened sorcerer.) And the Ancient One relies with a question of her own; “How did you become a doctor?” Strange realizes the answer to her question is the answer to his own as he states; “Study and practice.” And then with a weight of realization, “…YEARS of it.”

Strange now meets (Benedict Wong, playing appropriately enough..) Wong: the keeper of the mystical library. Asking his name, the stoic Wong merely states “Wong”. Strange can’t help but let some of his jerk-humor escape as he chides; “Wong? That’s it? Like Adele?” Wong is still unresponsive to Strange’s “charm”. “Or… Aristotle?” Strange says trying to save face. Stephen also rattles off a few other mononymous individuals of note; including Bono and Eminem. All in an attempt to be “funny”.

“Hmmm…” Strange muses, “People usually think that I’m funny.”

“Do those people work for you?” Wong’s reply is pointed.

“Ookay… thanks for the books.” Strange is about to go, but is stopped by Wong.

Strange holds a book and Wong reproaches him that if any attempt to take a book from that library, they would be dead before they made it to the door.

“What about if they’re just late? Any late fees that I should know about, that perhaps are a bit less lethal?”

More montages follow. Now with Strange gaining ability and dressed in his sorcerer’s garb. Attempting spells and learning.

Wong and Mordo meet, “There is a strength to him.” “But is he ready?”

More montages show Strange opening the glass door in an antechamber to reveal a roiling sea/ he walks by the Cloak of Levitation, which reacts to his presence, as if aware and beseeching/ Strange is floating through another dimension to alight upon an alien landscape/ the flaming “face” appears yet again, looming before him…

Now we see the forces that Strange must face as Kaecilius is revealed (as played by Mads Mikkelson), a dangerous zealot who, with his followers, is out to destroy our reality by harnessing the mystical forces for his own ends.

A quick return to normalcy as we see a wounded Doctor Strange being administered to, once again, by Christine Palmer who thinks he has been drafted into a cult.

“It’s not a cult. I’ve been taught secrets of the universe.” Strange attempts to explain.

“So… a cult.” Palmer retorts. “No, it’s not a cult.” Strange laughingly replies. To which Christine smugly says, “Which is exactly what someone in a cult would say.”

And at this point the preview turns to all-out action, as Strange and Kaecilius battle, in alternating scenes; a hospital, an Asian city (or at least a “Chinatown”), as Kaecilius uses the mystic arts to cause wanton destruction, and to create weapons out of the very air and smoke. Once while his foe lunges at his throat with a conjured, glass-shard javelin, Strange is forced to halt – and reverse – the flow of time itself, casting his foeman away, and rebuilding the devastation to its previous state of being.

Kaecilius and his minions chase Strange and Mordo throughout an ever tilting, changing, warping cityscape.

Up the sides of buildings, across suspension scaffolding, through city streets; a dogged pursuit of a stronger malevolent force, chasing after the hero and his teacher, Kaecilius chases after Strange and Mordo.

Time and again Strange attempts to cast a spell to create a mystical portal, a swirling, golden disc through which to escape, and time and again he is hindered by the interference of his enemy.

Landscapes fold in upon themselves and alternate angles of reality are colliding and gliding past one another, as Strange and Mordo must jump (and fly!) and fall(!) between them, until finally, while running up the side of a building Kaecilius causes it to split, and bend as if tearing apart the double-helix of reality itself.

The biggest moment of the preview was when, attacked by Kaecilious, inside the Sanctum Sanctorum (the very home of the Sorcerer Supreme), Stephen is pushed over the railing of a third-floor balcony to his…apparent death, when, in a flurry of motion, a streak of scarlet is seen to rush past the villain and down, over the railing to follow the fallen hero…

Only to show Stephen Strange slowly arise, the CLOAK of LEVITATION draped about his shoulders, bringing him back into the fray.

While floating aloft, Strange conjures a fiery whip and uses it to strike at his enemy.

The world is besieged. It is being killed. And it needs a Doctor to save it.

DOCTOR STRANGE!

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The RE-VIEW:

While I MAY have forgot (or omitted) some scenes from the preview, I have to say, I am fairly sure that I have accurately described well over 95+%.

But that was just a description of the events that occurred on-screen. A play-by-play;

fleshed-out bullet-points, at best.

What is my intent NOW is to give some perspective, from a fan’s p.o.v. of what was seen, and how faithfully (or even how unique) the vision presented to us may be.

Here, there shall be 

SPOILERS APLENTY.

You have been warned.

It is obvious that Strange and Palmer once had some kind of romantic relationship, perhaps if only at its beginnings, but a relationship that now has cooled, obviously because Stephen Strange is an egotistical man.

It seems to me, that the film-makers opted to have Strange be merely a selfish egotist, and perhaps not a greedy, uncaring bastard (as he was portrayed, while still a surgeon, in the comics)

If Strange were a completely reprehensible person, it is highly unlikely that he would still retain the friendship of a former lover. It wouldn’t preclude him from retaining some kind of physical “love”-life with any number of women, but the fact that Christine Palmer still interacts with him on a one-to-one basis (even taking their professional co-worker relationship into account) means that he can not be beyond hope. So it is with this tie to another decent human being that we can safely conclude that this version of Stephen Strange isn’t an utter bastard.

I should say, the IMAX 3D, even in the most mundane scene, is stellar. Figures leap forth from the background and certain elements streak towards you with alarming virtual-proximity. Just watching Stephen and Christine walking through the hospital hallways is a wealth of 3D riches, as perspective and depth-of-field are in full heightened display.

Later, when we get to the point of Strange’s astral journeys through other dimensions, other realities, the 3D effect, at this point, is unbearable, as we, in the audience, are immersed in that unreal landscape and are in danger of falling headlong into worlds within worlds.

Speaking of those other dimensions, those other worlds; when we see that flaming façade the size of a hillside, it looks like a most familiar… face(?).

I’m only mildly holding back the reveal, but this was most assuredly the large and looming face of the despot of the Dark Dimension; the Dread Dormammu!

This is to be expected as, even the most casual research into the history of the characters in the film would show, Baron Karl Mordo is typically a thrall of Dormammu and can not be trusted for long. Kaecilius, who is the lead villain in this first film, was almost always a mere pawn of Mordo’s. So, it would stand to reason that while they are endeavoring to make Mordo a more well-rounded human character from his very 2-dimensional comicbook counterpart (with the same care going to transform Kaecilius from his ONE-dimensional comic appearances), that it won’t be long before Dormammu is revealed as being a source of power and temptation to Mordo as well as a source of power behind Kaecilius all the while.

Speaking of power sources, there is a book that is shown in the preview (and hinted at in many trailers and online interviews) and that is the Book of Cagliostro. The book of Cagliostro was indeed featured in the comics, but unfortunately for a portion of one classic 1970’s storyline (and then hinted at in an aborted 1990’s sub-plot). In the comics it was merely the book of spells and magic of the famed sorcerer; Cagliostro (who, in fact was a real historical person, albeit not quite the level of mystic that lore would have you believe). Caliostro, in the comics anyway, was a master of sorcery and possessed the secret of immortality. However, in the classic story told in the old Marvel Premiere series, Cagliostro was, at one point, impersonated by a time-traveling sorcerer named Sise-Neg. Since the manipulation of time seems to be a heavy aspect of this film (with the “Time” Infinity Stone seemingly at the heart of the Eye of Agamotto) it may be that the Sise-Neg/ Cagliostro time-manipulation aspect has been merged for the sake of the film, as Kaecilius definitely desires the ability to affect time.

While that was mostly a bit of conjecture on my part, so is this; the fact that in the preview and trailers, we don’t really see many instances of the classic spell-casting hand & finger position that closely resembles the “American Sign Language” formation for “I love you”, with the index and pinkie fingers extended, the middle and “ring” finger folded down and the thumb usually out to the side. 

Instead, (quite possibly because most people take the general hand-position as being the stereotypical, allegedly blasphemous, “devil horns” gesture, with the thumb tucked in and crossed over the two middle fingers,) the filmmakers have the sorcerers holding their hands either with open palm with fingers splayed, or in a position that is more known to be used by those in the Martial Arts, with the index and middle finger extended and the “ring” and pinkie finger tucked. The cheat here, is that the hands are held in the position with the two main fingers extended by the use of a magic ring, which aids the wielder to create golden portals of swirling energy.

That's not to say that Strange and the others WON'T make the classic Ditko-finger-pose, but it was sorely missing in the Preview and any teasers.

As for the “magic” shown, I am very grateful that there were other dimensional landscapes and surreal perspectives shown, as thus far, only the kaleidoscopic affect was ever really shown in the trailers, and that, I found to be sorely lacking.

Even the bending, folding cityscape (which many had likened to the effect seen earlier in the movie “Inception”) was not quite up to snuff.

None of these things spoke to me of the Doctor Strange that I had read for the past near-40-years. Doctor Strange has very little ability to affect the physical plane; his abilities being more attuned for the other realms beyond our own.

With each teaser-trailer that I saw, the more disinterested I became with this film, and more convinced that it was far from even coming close to capturing the otherness of the abilities and realities that ARE Doctor Strange.

However, aside from the reality-bending and building-warping effects shown in this 15-minute preview, there was also, thankfully, enough other-dimensional interplay that I feel that maybe – maybe – like the fact that there was ever only ONE hint at an Astral Form scene, that perhaps much of the weirder stuff is still being kept from us until we see that actual film.

So it is, while I believe, from what I’ve seen within this 15-minute glimpse, this is not quite the DOCTOR STRANGE from the comics of my youth, with not quite the same power-set of abilities as from those stories, I do believe that this is a DOCTOR STRANGE that I can willingly accept. I would prefer more of his persona and abilities to be directly ported from the 1960’s and 1970’s era stories, and even some from the 1980’s (and possibly a few from after that point), but this is the Marvel CINEMATIC Universe, and this is the DOCTOR STRANGE that many, if not most, new fans will consider to be ‘THE” definitive article.

At the VERY least, Benedict Cumberbatch is a better choice then Cammeron Powell; HIS mustache is too short. **

I have been told that I will be seeing the full film at a Disney/Marvel “friends and family” event on November 1^st in NYC. I will hopefully share more with you after then (but keeping a respectful silence until the 4^th, and with HEAVY “Spoiler” Warnings at the top of the page).

BONUS CONTENT:

HEAR myself, Dee and Howard Hallis all discussing this preview in EPISODE 11 of our DOCTOR STRANGECAST podcast [HERE].

Tamam Shud!

*(ok, in the interest of transparency, while I was reading comics since, at least, 1976, and MAY have seen him in one of those earlier comics, I only recognize having discovered Doctor Strange in late-1979/early-1980. I have been an avid fan ever since, having long gone back and not only reading every past issue, but having collected them as well – thus cramming 53 years of Doctor Strange into 36 years of Doctor Strange-specific time. /LegalDisclaimer)

** If you don't get THIS reference, then hang up your cloak and hit the books. You're not yet ready to call yourself a true Doctor Strange fan.

STRANGE BUT FAMILIAR: A Bit of FUN-KO POP-Culture. An IDOL PURSUITS: SPECIAL EDITION

Welcome back for a FUN...KO bit of POP Culture!

I'm just going to post a quick hit-n-run entry,  But before I do, let me hep you to a few projects that I'm in the middle of for this blog; such as...

1. Writing ALL-NEW blog posts, including; 

1a. A year-in-review post for the current Jason Aaron / Chris Bachalo DOCTOR STRANGE series

1b. Posts involving the (very soon) upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch MOVIE

1c. Assorted deep, introspective thoughts and reviews of other, older published bits of the Doctor Strange library and the swag from 40 years of comic collecting.

 as well as...

2. Gathering the data for updating long-running series on this blog:

2a. The IDOL PURSUITS series (my last entry was for the 1996 Doctor Strange action figure. There have been 20 YEARS of additional figures and statues since then, and I've got them ALL.)

2b. The STRANGE LOVES series (many new additions to the list of lady-loves in Strange's life)

2c. The MYSTIC GARB series (I've since acquired well OVER 100 additional garments, moving the total to OVER 200+, so I have a LOT of photos and descriptions to compile)

2d. the CLEA LOVES SEX series (Seriously. There are a LOT more instances to chronicle.)

2e. The SANCTUS INTERRUPTUS series. (Both Doc's and my OWN Sanctum Sanctorum have undergone destruction / reconstruction again and again since my last entry).

...and MORE besides!

(While we wait for me to get those new updates and posts, you may wish to follow the links above, in order to get started on reading what I've posted before now, so you'll be up-to-date when we really get rolling.)

In the meanwhile, THIS quick entry is a mix of at least three sub-categories of posts:

1. IDOL PURSUITS (as it deals with "toys / statues / action figures" of a sort)

2. GRAIL ITEMS* (actually this is a brand NEW category that I've only just begun to filter some old posts into, as some rarities are indeed, one-of-a-kind "Grail items". I'll filter more into it soon.)

3. FAME and FORTUNE (A tongue-and-cheek category, but valid, as I acquired the starring item via a Twitter caption contest with Funko)

You can find the categorical breakdown of ANY post at the end of that post, and also links to those subjects can be found on the left side-bar in alphabetical order

But, ENOUGH of this pre-amble... let's get to the SWAG!

If you follow me at my tag of @SanctumBlog on Twitter (and if not, why not? It's basically DOCTOR STRANGE 24/7/365 with some animal tweets and other stuff tossed in) you'll know that I have just recently received a rare and coveted PROTOTYPE of the DOCTOR STRANGE - CLASSIC Version- Funko POP!

I won this fantastic item during a "Caption This Photo" contest that was sponsored by FUNKO a few weeks ago. I'll include my entries at the end of the post.

I'll also post the photos of those selfsame Funko Pops from Funko's site.

And now, without further ado, are my entries into the "Caption This photo" contest.
While I have NO idea WHICH one garnered me the win, perhaps YOU'LL all vote for YOUR favorite(s) in the comment section.


THIS was the blank photo that FUNKO tweeted.

And THESE are my entries...
(I was the only person to actually use the photo itself as a mini-comic, adding word balloons. Everyone else just replied with their captions in text form within their tweets. ...slackers LoL).

So? What'cha think? Worthy of a win? But WHICH one? Maybe make your own! Take the blank image and submit your entires to ME. I'll post them in a follow up blog-post. Maybe I'll make a contest of it!
I must have some Doctor Strange swag to send (even if it's a hand-drawn sketch).

So, VOTE for which of mine you like AND/OR submit your own today!
Who knows... you might WIN ...er... something.

And HEY! Don't forget to check out the new additions to the DOCTOR STRANGE-CAST podcast (new posts will be uploaded SOON - [HERE] ), wherein we talked about THESE and MORE of the FUNKO POPs - and other similar collectible goodies.

www.DoctorStrangeCast.com podcast is ONLINE

As promised, the Doctor Strange podcast that I have co-founded in now online:

DOCTOR STRANGECAST

PTOR, D and HOWARD:
your hosts of
Doctor StrangeCast

Diedra ("Deee"), Howard Hallis, and myself share various thoughts and experiences with, not only Doctor Strange, but comics and pop-culture in general,
(But mostly Doctor Strange)
with my being on the East Coast and Howard and Diedra on the West.

There are 5 mini episodes online now:

1. - A "Mission Statement" of sorts.
2. - My being "interviewed" and answering the guest "questionnaire".
3. - Deidra answering the questionnaire
4. - Howard's turn to do so.
5. - Our predictions for the post-credits trailers for director Scott Derrickson's "Doctor Strange" film.

These are just the first few offerings, introductory teasers, if you will.

We've recorded others and shall record more still, and will upload them in time.

Now, Lest you walk into the gathering, unacquainted with your hosts, allow me to make the introductions:

Diedra ("Deee") is a noted Cosplayer and Dr. Strange fan. Her insights are valuable as not only a knowledgable and insightful Doctor Strange fan, but also can present us with a female perspective as well as a newer fan's viewpoint (although, she is wise in the ways of Strange far beyond her years).

Howard Hallis - owner of one of the World's Largest Doctor Strange collections, and Dr. Strange uber-fan, is the artist of the renowned "Picture of Everything" and is also a former associate of the late Dr. Timothy Leary.

PTOR - A renowned expert on Doctor Strange, having been a Dr. Strange uber-fan for nearly 40Years, I am also an owner of one of, and most likely THE World's Largest Doctor Strange Collections, as well as a writer/artist (having worked briefly in comics, as well as other media).

So come... join us.

We're Ptor, Howard and Dee...
and together we have a PHD in Doctor Strange.

Welcome to the Strangecast... [HERE]

www.DoctorStrangeCast.com podcast is ONLINE

As promised, the Doctor Strange podcast that I have co-founded in now online:

DOCTOR STRANGECAST

PTOR, D and HOWARD:
your hosts of
Doctor StrangeCast

Diedra ("Deee"), Howard Hallis, and myself share various thoughts and experiences with, not only Doctor Strange, but comics and pop-culture in general.
(But mostly Doctor Strange.)

There are 5 mini episodes online now:

1. - A "Mission Statement" of sorts.
2. - My being "interviewed" and answering the guest "questionnaire".
3. - Deidra answering the questionnaire
4. - Howard's turn to do so.
5. - Our predictions for the post-credits trailers for director Scott Derrickson's "Doctor Strange" film.

These are just the first few offerings, introductory teasers, if you will.

We've recorded others and shall record more still, and will upload them in time.

Now, Lest you walk into the gathering, unacquainted with your hosts, allow me to make the introductions:

Diedra ("Deee") is a noted Cosplayer and Dr. Strange fan. Her insights are valuable as not only a knowledgable and insightful Doctor Strange fan, but also can present us with a female perspective as well as a newer fan's viewpoint (although, she is wise in the ways of Strange far beyond her years).

Howard Hallis - owner of one of the World's Largest Doctor Strange collections, and Dr. Strange uber-fan, is the artist of the renowned "Picture of Everything" and is also a former associate of the late Dr. Timothy Leary.

PTOR - A renowned expert on Doctor Strange, having been a Dr. Strange uber-fan for nearly 40Years, I am also an owner of one of, and most likely THE World's Largest Doctor Strange Collections, as well as a writer/artist (having worked briefly in comics, as well as other media).

So come... join us.

Welcome to the Strangecast... [HERE]

LO! THERE SHALL COME... THE RETURN!

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(scan taken from Marvel 1980 Doctor Strange Calendar - of a panel taken from Marvel Feature # 1) *

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At long last… after many months away…

I AM RETURNED unto you!

After a gestation of 9 months… I am reborn!

Alright… I’ll stop the added melodramatics.

But seriously, I’ve been away from this blog for far too long, but I’m looking to make a return to producing posts wherein I discuss various subjects of nerdity; ie: Doctor Strange, Doctor Who, my “6-Dimensions” philosophy, comicbooks, pop culture, and showcasing my (admittedly awesome) collection.

Just as Doctor Strange has returned from (multiple) cancelations (although the last issue of his last true long-running series was in 1996, and we’re STILL waiting for the 1^st issue of a new series), and even Doctor Who came back from his own cancelation (in 1989 – although, the revitalizing made-for-tv movie in 1996 led to nothing [except a series of excellent audio dramas] and it took until the 2005 revival to really “regenerate” the series), so do I return to this blog.

Interestingly (and potentially cosmically-coincidental) is that TODAY is SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11th - the very same day and date which I started this blog 6 years back (as seen [HERE]).

Thus it is a perfect time to return to my blog.

But that isn’t the ONLY return that I am announcing here.

I am ALSO returning to REAL, gainful employment, utilizing my artistic abilities, as an illustrator and 3D designer. 

Even MORE “return” oriented is that the place where I am to work is the OLD place of employment where I worked back when I started this blog. After being “downsized” due to the collapsing worldwide economy (aka; Armageddon), I was occasionally still being commissioned by that selfsame corporation as a independent contractor / freelancer to produce artworks for them whenever something truly difficult came their way or the shit hit the deadline fan and they needed a miracle save. Luckily, I departed them with an air of professionalism, I continued to maintain my professional level during the freelance projects, and so when it came to thinking of whom to hire for a new 3D design position, my name was top of the list.

It is into this atmosphere of hope that I find myself now and while I will be initially sporadic in my blogging (due to the rigors of the new position and the insane commute / living arrangements where I’ll find myself [I’m living in Pennsylvania and the job is in New York on Long Island]), I do hope to develop a rhythm to my new life where blogging can be fairly consistent.

So, while I ask you to please bear with me during the rough starts and stops, I am not leaving again any time soon.

But, to quote a famous Sorcerer Supreme:

"I have once again picked up the mantle of Doctor Strange... 

And I can never again -- put it down."

*fun fact: the panel scanned atop this blog post is taken from the DOCTOR STRANGE 1980 calendar (which you can view in its entirety in this old post [HERE]) wherein they added a witty, yet apropos caption to a panel from (the back-up story in) MARVEL FEATURE # 1 wherein Doctor Strange returns to the role of Sorcerer after forsaking the role (one year prior [thankfully, I didn't take THAT long to return here], back in INCREDIBLE HULK # 126)… the title of that Marvel Feature story? Why, “THE RETURN” of course.

And as a treat, I’ll post that story here for you now.

(click pages to embiggen)

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PINBALL WIZARD ZEN Marvel Pinball : DOCTOR STRANGE

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It may be seen as anachronistic, or even retro-throw-back for modern computer-gamers (or are they predominantly "console gamers" now?) to want to play PINBALL, but it seems that they do, and because of that, pinball (or at least a virtual version of it) is seeing a resurgence in popularity not seen since the 1970's.

Now, while I do confess to rocking the flippers back in the arcades of my youth, I haven't had any real interest in playing in recent years until MARVEL started releasing platforms based on their characters and event storylines.

Perhaps it is fitting that ZEN Studios (makers of ZEN PINBALL) have just days ago released a DOCTOR STRANGE themed pinball table!

Check out some game-play!

This isn't the first time the good Doctor has been featured on a Zen Pinball game. He was also showcased in previous outings, such as the INFINITY GAUNTLET table (where he is seen pictured on the board, along with Strange-themed characters like ETERNITY, among others) and the PLANET HULK table  (where he emerges as a 3D character [in his ZOM-Possessed form from the story] to do battle with the Hulk.

However, NOW we have a solo board that features exquisite details, multiple characters and even event details and dialogue taken from various storylines from the comics and even his animated film.

Battle against BARON MORDO (the conjuring of mystic swords for a swordfight between STRANGE and MORDO is taken directly from the animated film), and NIGHTMARE! In a story taken directly from the first few issues of the SORCERER SUPREME title, DORMAMMU takes over the body of DOCTOR STRANGE while Doc is in his astral form! The mystic battle continues with each in their own form should you get to that level. And of course, the big bad of the board is SHUMA GORATH, seen looming over the background, and activated by reaching certain in-game criteria (hit the right lighted targets, get the right point-range, etc...)!

Personally, I only played a few rounds, and was able to access all the baddies EXCEPT SHUMA (argh!), but I will continue trying.

There are several in-game niceties to help ensure you come back for more; the EYE of AGAMOTTO is a section of the board that rises up to form its own mini-table, with smaller and quicker game-interactivity against which to battle, STRANGE interacts with the ball, conjuring forth an ORB of AGAMOTTO ball to send into play and plenty of flashing lights and sounds to tickle the ADHD/OCD centers of the brain.

Mentions of the ANCIENT ONE and DEFENDERS as well as dialogue from WONG, and CLEA doesn't hurt either.

For a few bucks you can download on a variety of platforms, including Xbox LIVE Arcade, Steam, Playstation Network (PS3 with Playstation Vita free, and PS4), iOS, Google Play, OSX and Kindle Fire!

I'm not sure if the price is the same across the board, but I DL'd for my PS3 (which came with a FREE DL for the Vita) for a scant $2.99!

This is ZEN Studios first table for their newly released ZEN PINBALL 2 (which has 3D capability, if you have a fancy-schmancy 3D TV or something). ZEN PINBALL 2 is a FREE download, so you have no excuse not to get it.

And fret not, if you've already purchased tables for the previous MARVEL PINBALL platform, you can import your purchased tables and sets to the ZEN PINBALL 2 interface free and easy.

On a personal note, I did find the game to be less pleasing than other, previous MARVEL PINBALL tables (but to be fair, as previously stated, I did only play a couple of rounds on a non-HD, non-3D, non-flatscreen TV, so perhaps I didn't get the full experience). I've really liked the PLANET HULK table, the BLADE table is awesome, GHOST RIDER is appropriately wicked-cool, and the INFINITY GAUNTLET board is challenging good fun.

What the DOCTOR STRANGE board has going for it (aside from the obvious DR. STRANGE lure for me), in addition to the intricate background details, or even the ability to battle classic foes is... almost more than anything else... the ability to TRULY be...

...a PINBALL WIZARD!

(By the way, knowing that I would write about this game when it was released, I have been DYING to use "Pinball Wizard" as the title for this blog-post since the first announcement was made back in October. You can't imagine my shock that NO ONE used that title for any of their articles - then, or now. Perhaps, like many gamers of today, they just aren't old enough to make the immediate connection to a classic 1969 album by THE WHO.)

The KING and I

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Jack Kirby at his drawing board, as seen in the documentary:

"With Great Power - The Stan Lee Story"

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Yes, I know… no sooner do I post a 5^th Anniversary Special, than do I seemingly vanish off the face of the Earth. No new posts for over a month – missing both; Halloween and Thanksgiving.

But what if I tried to make up for it by presenting a blog entry that is part “ghost story” as well as a testament of my deepest thanks? – Both aspects given to me from Jack Kirby – 20 years apart.

This blog entry is a true life story about how I met Jack Kirby, gave him a small gift, and how, over 20 years later, his “ghost” showed up and returned the favor.

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JACK “KING” KIRBY was not only one of the founders of the comic book medium, but perhaps its greatest talent as well.

The worlds that burst like lightning out of his mind, the fantastic imagery that exploded like a volcano from his hand, likened him to a god; a true “CREATOR”.

But this tale is not one that focuses on the myth of the man, nor on the legend that spawned such descriptors, but instead on a small personal history... and a mystery, sparked by a moment or two in time – one forever in amber within my memory – the other… captured forever on film.

Take a look at the photograph atop this post, of Jack Kirby at his drawing table.

Do you see the drawing of Captain America atop the King’s board?

The one with which he is posed, pen in hand, as if upon which he is putting some finishing touch?

That… is MY artwork.

Ah… I hope that got your attention.

Yes. That is MY drawing of Captain America, one that I gave to the King, when I had the pleasure to meet him at a comic convention back in (late) 1990  (or early 1991).

Not only that, but if you look even closer, you’ll note that the artwork is inside a black matt frame.

That is because when I frequented comic-cons during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s it was as a professional artist (having had some pro work with a few indie publishers) and I would sell my work – some; original art, drawn at request, and some; hand-colored photocopies of previously drawn illustrations, framed in those mats. It was one such piece that I gave to Jack Kirby.

I will provide PROOF of which here.

Here is a photograph of myself, taken expressly for this post, with not only a similar, colored photocopy… not only one in the exact same type of matt… but one that was taken from my flatfile archives, where it was stored away after being colored, matted, signed & dated in 1990! In my other hand is the ORIGINAL pencil artwork, drawn in 1989 (which shows what was obscured by the mat: the Shield & Eagle atop the flagpole and the rest of Cap’s left foot, as well as the remainder of the flag).

Just so you don’t think that I merely photoshopped my work into the photo (or drew it after the fact), please note that I discovered the Kirby photo while watching a documentary, on Netflix, this month: “With Great Power; The Stan Lee Story”, which was produced in 2010.

Here’s the pertinent clip from the show that shows the image shown in the photo atop this page:

Obviously, I could not have altered the image in an already-filmed documentary, which anyone can now go and verify. The Kirby photo is near the end of this clip (but around the 20 minute mark in the full video).

Now allow me to turn the clock back, for a moment of explanation as to the origins of how Jack Kirby came into possession of my work, and then I’ll turn the clock forward again, to early this month, when I discovered that the photograph of the King with my art even existed…

While I have already written of my meeting with Jack Kirby, back in an old post a few years ago [HERE], I’ll recap and continue the tale now.

As some readers of this blog may know (as detailed in several other old posts), I was a professional writer / artist for a few independent comic companies in the late 1980’s – early 1990’s (1987 – 1991 to be exact).

I had started out just as a guy with a rented table in the dealer’s room, who would either draw your custom art on the spot, or sell pre-drawn samples and even hand-colored photocopies of my work.

It was in that manner that I was “discovered” by some publishers and garnered assignments for published work. With actual published credentials, I then graduated to a free table in “artist’s alley”, the professional’s room.

Still, I was a young and inexperienced 20-something year-old “kid”, and every once in a while, a “real” pro artist would walk over to (or past) my table and we would get to talk about the industry.

At one weekend show in New York City, I met Jack Kirby. (I also met Stan Lee at the same show, but I've already told that tale [linked to HERE]). Jack was walking through the “artist’s alley” room, with his wife, Roz. I saw him, and immediately felt that I should say something… DO something… to express my gratitude for his immeasurable contribution to the field.

Suddenly, I KNEW what I could do. Like the tale of the “Little Drummer Boy”, I had a gift for the King, and while it wasn’t much, it was all that I had.

I looked at my artworks which surrounded and covered my table, and thought that, most of those characters were co-created by Stan Lee, and would not make an appropriate gift, as they might instead serve to rekindle the heated feelings that Jack Kirby may have had towards Lee and Marvel. No. Instead I would make a gift to him of the one character thereupon that was his – with no ties to Stan Lee…

Captain America.

I quickly grabbed a hand-colored copy of a drawing of Captain America that I had done, and vaulted over my table to go and meet this iconic industry giant.

I tried to gently shake his hand, but his wife, Roz said he was under strict orders by his doctor, not to do so. Understanding this, I then gave him the illustration of the comic character that HE had created - and bestowed upon the world - as a gesture of my thanks and admiration.

I embarrassingly asked for an autograph, but his wife explained that the doctor's orders to rest his hands carried over to this as well, and that if I gave my name and info, he would mail one to me at a later date.

I happily did so, saying that autograph or no, this was indeed an honor that I would never forget

While I never did receive the autograph, I took some small, humble hope that a piece of my work was in possession of the man. Although, truthfully, even that thought was fleeting, as I wondered why a giant such as he would even bother to keep such an offering. Looking at the illustration with the eyes of a more mature artist, I know that the illustration really isn’t very good. Sure, it has good qualities, but overall, it’s just not all that good. Not good enough for someone like Jack Kirby to keep it for long.

I thought that maybe he’d have tossed it in the back of a closet, out of a kind sense of thankful obligation, sort of how one might keep a received birthday card in a drawer and promptly forget about it for years. Such was the fate that I imagined for my artwork; gently forgotten in the back of a closet, until it would eventually be discarded.

Sadly, within 4 years of our meeting, the King was dead.

I couldn’t help but wonder over the years… Did he keep it? Did he like it? Would it be thrown away with the assorted junk that accumulates on the periphery of our lives?

A gift given. A memory made. And a mystery… in my mind.

Now please indulge me as I flash-forward to the present and my viewing of the documentary.

While flipping through the selections on Netflix, I was in the mood for some comicbook goodness, and thought a documentary would be perfect.
The selection; "With Great Power - The Stan Lee Story" sounded familiar, but I knew I had never seen it. Surprising since it was released in 2010.

It would be less than a half-hour before a point in my life of 20 years prior would leap into my present-day living room.

When the scene in question came on screen, it felt like an electric jolt went through my body. My body went rigid, my eyes opened wide, and my mind… my mind reeled.

I immediately recognized my work. But more importantly than anything, I immediately knew that Jack Kirby had kept my gift.

It was as if I were seeing a long lost friend, contacting me from beyond the grave to answer a question, long thought unanswerable.

To see that the great artist not only kept the piece, but had it close enough at hand for use as a prop in some photo-shoot truly brought a shock to my mind, and a sense of peace of mind as well.

But then it also brought further questions:

WHEN was this photo taken?

WHY? For WHAT purpose?

I can only imagine that when asked to pose for some photo opportunity (a magazine shoot perhaps), the photographer may have thought that a piece of Jack's own original black-pencil artwork might not have "popped" (which is unthinkable), or simply lacked the visual impact that a full-color illustration would instead provide. So the (ignorant) photographer just had Jack place an already-colored piece on the desk.

So, looking around his studio for a suitable image, of a character that would be recognizable, not only for who it was, but that it was one of his characters, my artwork simply fit the bill. Nevermind that it wasn’t drawn by Kirby, as his hand is positioned to block the view of my signature (a ~PCK~ in a scroll with the year beneath it) which I would guess was the photographer's direction; "OK, Jack... just move your hand over a bit...there!" Authenticity may have taken a back-seat to necessity.

I knew that there would only be a few people who could shine any light on these tiny mysteries (perhaps John Morrow from TwoMorrow's Press - publishers of the Jack Kirby Collector magazine, or someone from the Jack Kirby Museum project). However, I also knew that there was one other man who would not only have the best chance of knowing, but who might like to discuss this story with me, and so I contacted Jack Kirby’s long-time assistant & friend, Mark Evanier (who you'll note was shown being interviewed at the start of the video clip I presented above).

Mr. Evanier told me that Jack Kirby kept EVERY drawing that he was ever given by fans. He would keep them nearby in his studio, some hung up on the walls, some down leaning against the walls of the room, and that he would frequently interchange what was displayed on the walls and/or the floor stacks. Everyone got time to shine, and he didn’t judge the works on artistic merit more than the fact that he was thrilled that someone actually took the TIME and ENERGY to CREATE something. He was humbled, and gladdened that he was able to inspire anyone to do so, but it was the act of creation that he most admired and by which he was delighted.

Most others sent him drawings OF him WITH his creations. My gift, however, was one of an impromptu nature, given on a chance meeting, and as such, was only of one of his creations.

THAT, it seems is what might have been the reason that my artwork was placed upon his table for the photo. It would be unlikely for a drawing OF Jack and his characters to be drawn BY Jack, wherein my piece featuring only Captain America might have been a better fit for the photographer’s direction. That and/or the fact that without any other figures on the page, the one figure is full-sized and instantly recognizable to the viewer, if not the actual style or the fact that it wasn’t a Kirby drawing.

Sure, when I first saw the documentary photo, my mind had let fly with fanciful notions that maybe Jack Kirby had liked my work... and maybe had it on his desk because he wanted to send me an overlay drawing showing me the correct way it should have been drawn (as I know that it wasn't a great piece)... Or maybe, he saw some spark of talent in the drawing and wanted to mentor me... or maybe someone, somewhere saw this one piece and maybe wanted to contact me for some project...

All fanciful dreams...

The truth is most likely what I and Mr. Evanier both concluded; Jack was a class act and kept all things that fans gave him. His hands wouldn't allow for him to draw anything for that photo session, and maybe the color drawing just fit the bill as a prop.

That I had always sort of wondered whether he kept it, whether he liked it, whether it was lost in time... all those questions were answered by one photograph, over 20 years later. For that I am grateful. For the fact that he used my drawing, my tiny gift, for the photo (even if by random chance)... I am humbly honored.

And so, I just want to say once again, for all the wonders he has given the medium, all the enjoyment that he has given to me, and for the gratitude that I feel knowing that he liked and had my work near to him… THANK YOU, JACK KIRBY.

* UPDATE*

It is my pleasure to state that John Morrow of the aforementioned TWOMORROWS PRESS, has expressed an interest in publishing this blog entry in one of his publications! Most likely The JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR magazine!

He has asked for high quality images for reproduction of all the images seen in this post, so it should look quite nice.

I'll be sure to make the official announcement when the article is published.

*UPDATE 2*

After months of trying to orchestrate an open spot in the JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR, (because, as anyone with even a smidge of publishing understanding knows, space is a premium and stories crop up and drop off constantly,) my tale was published, in a truncated form, in the letters pages of issue #64.

While not the big feature story I was hoping for, it did contain most of the information from this post as well as photos seen in this post. Not too bad.

*UPDATE 3*

(01/01/2017)

While flipping around YouTube a day ago, I found ANOTHER documentary that shows the same photo of Jack Kirby with my artwork. This time, MORE of the photo is shown.

From the 1996 documentary:

 STAN LEE: The ComiX-Man

 (that it seems was broadcast in two segments on A&E)

 https://youtu.be/7vgapiQek7I

The photo is at the 14:52 - 14:55.5 mark.

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*UPDATE 4*

(11/13/2017)

A brand NEW documentary (series) has begun to air last night on AMC (American Movie Classics) titled:

ROBERT KIRKMAN'S SECRET HISTORY OF COMICS

and on the first episode:

The Mighty Misfits Who Made Marvel

,at the 28 minute mark, that image was used, yet again, when speaking of the mistreatment of Jack Kirby, and how, ironically, he wasn't being acknowledged for his artwork.

The episode can be watched for free on either YouTube OR the Google Play app/site.

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HOW many documentaries used this photo?

Now, more than before I am determined to find out WHAT this photo was for and WHY Jack chose MY piece with which to pose.

I may never know the answer, but I am filled with wonder.

Thanks, Jack!