The MYSTIC HANDS of DOCTOR STRANGE- An In-Depth REVIEW.

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The MYSTIC HANDS of DOCTOR STRANGE # 1.

Review
(Updated and edited - March 13, 2010)

(click to postersize)

Sure, a more truthful title may have been;
"The nerve-damaged Hands of Doctor Strange",
but that isn't quite as catchy.

With a gorgeously lavish and atmospheric cover, painted by Lucio Parrillo, the MYSTIC HANDS OF DOCTOR STRANGE # 1 is a "magazine-style" formatted (as touted with cover blurbs) "SUPER-ISSUE" with "More Pages" and "More Thrills" in "48 All-New Pages in Glorious Black and White!"

I can assure you, the blurbs do not lie.

----overview---

This black and white (and greytoned) artwork format "magazine" intentionally evokes the 1970's heyday of the oversized b/w Marvel Magazines (started as Marvel's "Curtis" publications) when more adventurous, "adult-oriented" takes on classic Marvel properties were paired with such classically beautiful artwork. Art that was frequently presented in its naked beauty. No garish colors to muck it up, or make murky the base structures of the artwork.

There was something special about those old black and white mags, because even though they still featured much of the same guys-in-tights that standard 4-color comics always did, there was something "more" to them as an art form.
What they lacked in color, they gained in non-comics-code-approved themes and more experimental styles of illustration and story presentation.

This new series of "SUPER ISSUES" that Marvel has recently been producing (previous entries being the "Shang-Chi; Master of Kung Fu", "The Indomitable Iron Man" and "Rampaging Wolverine" issues) are a welcome revival of style and format.

The only "down-side" to this new revival is that these "Super Issues" are not actually magazine-sized, instead just being regular comic-sized issues with extra pages.
More like the "Giant Sized" or Annual comics than anything else.
Still, the ability to rack and store these issues without undue stress for retailers and collectors alike has to be worth something.

With 4 stories (3 traditional "comic-style" and one prose story with spot illustrations) set (mostly) in the same time frame of those 1970's-era mags, each brings something different to the offering.

Let's go through the issue, story by story, (but without causing any -or many- spoilers):

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1st "Strange" Tale: "The CURE"
Writer: Keiron Gillen
Artist: Frazer Irving

OK. I should get this one thing out of the way immediately...
characters who need to have their names be READ rather than spoken, in order to "get it" are just unfortunate by-products of a visual medium.

A psychiatrist who goes by the name; "Doktor" is the baddie in this tale (although there IS a much bigger and badder villain in the tale as well but I'm not giving away that "detail" (hint, hint)), and he stipulates that he prefers to be called "Doktor" rather than Doctor, as he obviously has issues with his fellow medical professionals.

The "Doktor" mentions that "philosophically, I am from a different country. My name should make that clear".
He seems to be fixated by other such "Doktors"... Faustus being chief among them.

Well, unless it is pronounced; "Doc-TORE" as opposed to the traditional "Doc-TER" (and really, it could very well be), then he's just adding to the neurosis of his patients. Much like a rendition of the old "Who's on First?" comedy shtick, "Doctor?" "No, call me Doktor." "OK, Doctor." "No, Doktor!"...

Writer Keiron Gillen has the "Doktor" in question try to do "good" via evil means by utilizing foul sorcery in a deluded attempt at using his patient's "sick" perceptions of the world to change it from it's current "well" status quo. And it is up to Doctor Strange to see how far the "sickness" spreads and just how dangerous - or extreme - the "cure" might have to be.

Frazer Irving's grey washed artwork is very clean, yet filled with some nice "special effects" techniques to keep it interesting for the modern reader.

As the story takes place as stated in 1975, artist Frazer Irving seems to have taken a few stylistic pages from one or two Doc artists of that era.

The curly-cue aspect of the headpiece of Doc's cloak is directly from famed Doc-artist; Gene Colan's classic interpretation, a stylistic choice that was echoed by other artists who followed him thereafter.
One panel leaped right out at me, and it was an example of the Eye of Agamotto being summoned forth from it's housing in the Amulet, and looking like a rubbery doorknob stretching out from it's housing.
This look is a direct "homage", it seems, to Alfredo Alcala's work on Doctor Strange # 19. (See PICS).

Irving's fine portrayal of Dr. Strange...


including the riff on this old Alfredo Alcala bit.

Alcala was indeed one of those who also used much of Gene Colan's design template during his fill-in issue(s).

Coincidentally, one or two issue prior to Dr. Strange # 19 was exactly around the timeframe that this story would have taken place. Specific mention is made to one of my all-time favorite storylines wherein the Earth is destroyed and everyone, save Strange, is an exact replica - recreated by Eternity (Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 10 - 13). So, it seems to me, that Frazer Irving had that issue on hand to use as reference.

Kudos go to writer Keiron Gillen for using that story aspect as background material here.
Sadly, that plot was retconned out by editorial fiat by issue # 19, but it is wonderful that Gillen touches on the unreal nature of Strange's experience to aid him in his quest to infiltrate this "psyche ward".

Frazer Irving's Strange is a good example of making the character appear "real', not overly handsome and not "strangely creepy". He looks like a 50+ish man who appears tired and drawn, as would anyone, rightly so, who held the responsibilities (and off-hours) of the Sorcerer Supreme.

There are several subtle niceties to his artwork as well. One is that he is one of the few artists who doesn't slavishly draw Strange's hands in the

"American Sign Language" symbol for "I Love You"

- or as the "devil's horns". Several spells are shown with Strange having other distinct hand gestures and fingering positions.

That is something that I have always appreciated. I hate the laziness of many artists who don't bother to do anything more than the traditional finger pose.

Also, a nice look to Doc's astral form being shown in negative, as opposed to it being just a pale contour drawing.
I prefer it this way it adds to the "unreality" of the astral place, as opposed to making him look like Casper the friendly ghost.

I did get a sense that computer programs like sketch-up were used to form the buildings, and then Frazer just repainted them in washes.
Everything else in the art seems artistically organic except for the structures which appear "generated".

A minor quibble is that while it is always good to see Clea, I was not thrilled with the "teenage girl in a wig" aspect to her appearance.
Ageless interdimensional princess or not, she shouldn't appear like jailbait for an obviously older man like Strange.

Keiron Gillen's dialogue is quite excellent and his plot is an interesting, if not totally unique one.
"Faustian" pacts are a tale as old as any, (as are those when the pact is made by deluded acolytes) even in Dr. Strange's own published history (issue # 76 of the M.o.M.A. series, and even similarly in the "Flight of Bones" mini, to name but two) and the manner with which he sets his tale, as having those that society has deemed "deluded" be instruments of change is one that I've read and heard before (as anyone who had ever heard the John Lennon song "Imagine" would rightly attest), but it was a good vehicle for Doctor Strange.
Magician and HEALER.

My main beef?
The ending. I won't give it away, but while Strange has done things like that before, it is so rare as to make it almost unconscionable.

STORY = 3 out of 5 orange stars

ARTWORK = 4 out of 5 orange stars

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2nd "Strange" Tale : "MELANCHOLIA"

Writer : Peter Milligan
Artist : Frank Brunner

"Melancholia" is an apt name for this tale as it unfortunately fills me with that selfsame feeling.

The writing, by Peter Milligan is sadly more basic than what he is truly capable of, and in other places, it's even quite hackneyed. Here's one such line that was a "wha...huh?" moment:

"Time passes... For that is what Time, in its wisdom DOES..."

Wait... whazzaWHAT?!?!?
Not in my worst 9th grade creative-writing essays would I have written something that bad.
(Reminds me of the quote from the "Amazing" Criswell;
"We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember, my friends, future events such as these will affect you in the future.")

Peter Milligan even has Strange mention that should a grieving man who might seek his wife to be returned from the dead should (ill-advisedly) seek out a master of the DARK Arts instead.
Such a thing Strange would NEVER utter.

Another bit of off-character writing is having Strange actually AGREE to have the man forget his poor behavior with his late-wife instead of having him instead focus on the good times that they must have shared and then learn to come to terms with his less-than-kinder old ways and to then learn and grow from them.

Certainly, by the mid-point of the tale it seems that, as a Master of Mystics Arts, Strange must have already sensed that the man's wretched state had allowed demonic access to his subconscious, but even so, Strange would normally perform any magical "treatments" without the subject being any the wiser for it. There would be no costumed "showmanship" in any traditional Strange tale.

I DO like Milligan's usage of Strange's Sanctum as a magical entity all its own. Having rooms like the time-altered one is a nice touch, but unfortunately, in this instance, artist Frank Brunner dropped the ball, visually. It was written that when Wong LEFT the room it was marginally EARLIER than when he arrived, so, instead of the cliched floating clock-faces, having Wong pass HIMSELF (or walk THROUGH himself) in the doorway, (much like Albert Einstein's suggestion that passing through the singularity of a black hole would allow passage back in time and permit you to pass, while leaving, the earlier aspect of yourself that was just started going IN...) would have been much cooler.
Definitely a lost opportunity.

Not the best page in the issue, but not the worst. A medium example.

By tale's end, we know that Strange does indeed want the man to learn and grow from his past ways, but Strange's over-the-top histrionics just before and during the kitchen scene make it seem that a second battle-scene with possessing demons (or Nightmare) was edited out.

The wrap-up to the tale is utterly disappointing as it seems that Strange, after lecturing his patient against magically erasing bad memories had ignored his own sage council.
Doctor, heal thyself.

I expect much more from Milligan, as one who has worked on the DC / Vertigo series HELLBLAZER (among others), often hoping to see the mystic worlds of John Constantine adapted to the broader scopes of Stephen Strange. Sadly, this was not what I had hoped for.
Milligan also penned the oft loved "X-StatiX presents ; Dead Girl" mini series (which was really more of a Dr. Strange vehicle, although there too, he made missteps in regards to an "accurate" portrayal of Strange - not to mention a completely WTF? take on the Ancient One).

As for the artwork, well... this isn't your father's Frank Brunner. More's the pity.
Frank Brunner illustrated Doc's adventures during what is arguably the high-point of Strange's popularity - certainly a by-product of Brunner's fantastic visuals, which accompanied writer Steve Englehart's scripts in the 1970's - a run that stretched from Marvel Premiere # 9 - 14 and then directly into Strange's "new" title; Master of the Mystic Arts # 1 - 5.

Certainly, Brunner's Strange here still has a little something "magical" to it, especially when shown reclining in his Sanctum, but otherwise, the rest of it is a far cry from his best days all those years ago, which is in itself "strange" as I know that he still produces work of excellent quality. A shame that he didn't use this opportunity as a new "business card" for modern fans who may not yet know of him.


Grade:
STORY = 1 out of 5 yellow moons
(points ONLY for the time-altered room scenario)

ARTWORK = 2.5 out of 5 yellow moons
(Brunner's STRANGE still has something to it, but it might be nostalgia of better years)

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3rd Strange Tale: "So This is How it Feels..."

Writer / Artist: Ted McKeever

Ted McKeever is, as always, someone from whom one should expect the unexpected. The experimental. The "other".

This short story seems a bit lost in it's place in "continuity" as it features a drunk and derelict Stephen Strange, but one with whom the title of Master of Mystic Arts have already become enjoined.

It MAY take place after Strange's most recent loss of the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, but I doubt it, as Strange wouldn't sink to inebriation at that time, knowing full well that he needed to atone for his transgressions, not imbibe himself until lost once again in self-destruction.

Most of the story's dialogue seems takes from rambling "enlightned" generalities as might have been heard from a mararishi or yogi, and features the trite old plumb of not giving in to one's anger or self destructive nature.

It was good for McKeever to trot out the long since abandoned use of the "Ankh" appearing on Strange's forehead when life-affirmation is needed.

Possibly the only "coherent-looking" page in the story.

An interesting 11-pager featuring a derelict Strange, a wizened old bum-turned talking-head and a demonic thug. Sadly, while this might have been something that would pass for a good Dr. Strange story, IF properly presented, is poorly implemented here due to lack of proper "setting" or context. It survives purely on McKeevers "out-there" nature and the "granola" aspects of the message.

Oh, the story's last-sentence joke... makes me fearful that the fate of the "wise old bum" was predicated on that crusty old nugget.

STORY = 2.5 out of 5 green clovers

ARTWORK = 2.5 out of 5 green clovers

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4th "Strange" Tale : "Duel in the Dark Dimension"

Writer: Mike Carey
Artist: Marcos Martin


Much like the black and white marvel magazines of old, adding the finishing touch to this issue is this 3-page prose short story by Mike Carey with spot illustrations by Marcos Martin.

Written as an excerpt from the journal of Doctor Stephen Strange, while still a neophyte pupil of the Ancient One, this short story embarks Strange on his way as a new wanderer into the Astral Planes and presents but a few of the dangers which might present themselves therein.

Well written, with descriptive imagery and interesting concepts on the magical nature of the otherworlds, this was perhaps the most enjoyable of the pieces presented in this volume.

While that might be due to the fact that whenever I read comics, I always read the words first and usually only on my second pass, read and look at artwork more in detail.
This story allowed me to just immerse myself in the story and use my own imagination as palette and canvas.

There are very few prose-only stories featuring Doctor Strange, and those have always been my favorites.

That is not to say that there were NO graphic representations to be found in this story.
The wonderful Marcos Martin (who had illustrated the fabulous Dr. Strange miniseries "The Oath") who is ALWAYS welcome to draw Strange and his world, presents three illustrations for this story.
One a "cover" or "Splash Page" full-page frontispiece image and the other two more chapter-book style "spot" illustrations, highlighting single instances within the story, rather than panel-by-panel continuity style of "comic-illustration".

A must read for any Doc fan, this story fits perfectly in with Strange's continuity and unlike each other story in this issue, has no contradictory behavior by the Mystic Hands of Doctor Strange.

STORY = 5 out of 5 blue diamonds

ARTWORK = 5 out of 5 blue diamonds

(if only there were MORE of BOTH)



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A preview of the first 6 pages can be found [HERE].

My recommendation is that this is a MUST HAVE for any fan of the good Doctor, and for anyone who might not be a fan as of yet, but often wondered what the appeal Dr. Strange has on his die-hard following.

As you may have guessed by the measures by which I graded the strange tales within, I found
THE MYSTIC HANDS OF DOCTOR STRANGE # 1
to be "magically delicious" reading!


Tamam Shud!
~P~

WITHIN YOU - WITHOUT YOU

"...We were talking..."

As I had started pontificating in the comments section of THIS post (towards the end of THIS comment) the problem with Marvel's more recent handling of Doctor Strange is that most of the "modern" writers don't seem to understand mysticism.

It seems that only minds who have contemplated that plane of existence since the 1960's or 1970's - at the latest - seem to have any memory of magic - as if the "me-Generation"-years removed all knowledge and trace of magic from the collective consciousness/subconscious/unconscious.

Why do we have need for the ephemeral, the contemplative, the spiritual, when the TANGIBLE, the MATERIAL, the "REAL" is HERE and easily obtained?
Why seek the Madonna (Celestial or Christian or Spiritual) when the "Material Girl" was all the rage?

Most of those old-school writers were sent out to pasture - or - seeing the blood on the walls, got the hell out of Dodge - for sunnier climes, leaving younger "Youngblood" writers as the new guard.

And somewhere along the years... (as Larry Nivin correctly surmised); "The Magic Goes Away".

As to the NATURE of magic...
I've ALWAYS been of the mind-set that magic has COSTS. It requires EFFORT.
It does NOT come easy and should NOT be used (or taken) lightly.

That's something that Marvel doesn't understand.
They see ALL "powers" as "point your finger and a beam comes out - as easy as shining a flashlight."

And THAT'S why they can't seem to stop Doctor Strange from being a Deus ex Machina who is too powerful for the room.

Quesada complains about that aspect - all. the. time.
Frankly, I think HE has a better understanding of the nature of mysticism than he lets on.
Brian Bendis, on the other hand, who is the architect of the new "Who Shall be the New Sorcerer Supreme" storyline, that will be starting in New Avengers # 51 (I addressed this event HERE and HERE)... Well... let's just say, I have my doubts.

Bendis isn't a "magic" writer.
He's not really even a SUPERHERO writer.
He does CRIME stories. And, supposedly, he does them well!

Some of his super-hero stuff is alright.

I just read New Avengers # 50, and it was split down the middle between heads TALKING and heads getting KICKED IN.
(Mind you... I enjoyed the issue. Quite a bit, actually!)

And ONE LINE in that whole book shone out as a BEACON of hope for his treatment of Doc.

When asked where Dr. Strange is, Bendis has Luke Cage (natch) say:

"Walking the Earth like Caine in Kung Fu".

F#@%-YEAH!

That's a story I'd like to see.
And a way of TREATING Doctor Strange that, while not completely original, is dire missed lo' these last 15 - 30 years. Doctor Strange as spiritualist and MYSTIC!

Contemplative and seeking.
Learning as well as learned.

The old 01970's TV show "Kung Fu" holds many points that can easily be transferred to characters like Doctor Strange. Heroes (or at least, individuals who seek to do good and right in the world) who stride the line between the real world and the mystical. Philosophy and wisdom are as important to their arsenal as their fists and abilities.
Instead of the Martial Arts being learned, (although he DID learn that as well) Strange was taught the Mystic Arts and that was the basis for his spiritual journey and enlightenment.

This respectful journey for the "inner-hero" has been addressed a few times in Dr. Strange's history.

- Of course, some of the later Steve Ditko issues of Strange Tales gave a glimpse into that world.

- The original Graphic novel "Into Shamballa" (by J.M. DeMatteis - a writer who is no stranger to the spiritual, and Dan Green).

- Much of the 2nd volume of Strange Tales (written by Peter Gillis)

Yet, sadly each of them was an all-too brief glimpse into that aspect of Strange's world.

And... one other important instance...in Marvel Premiere.
Issue number # 12 especially, had a sequence that I hold as one of the highest points of the entire history of the character and his treatment by the creative minds behind the title.

It's one of my all time FAVORITE bits of Doc goodness.(And it's been something that I've been dying to "blog" about before the web even existed!)
After the "death" of the Ancient One, Doc is meditating in the Desert and gives this amazing credo about the Sanctity of Life and the responsibility of being its protector.

I present it to you here.

*click* images to make "Supreme-Sized"

Marvel Premiere # 12. Steve Englehart, Frank Brunner.

Awesome stuff.
Gets me in the gut each and every time.
That part with the lizard... as an animal lover, really speaks volumes to me.

Englehart, man.
He understood magic.
Not just the hocus-pocus of it, but the nature of life-forces in the Universe.

---
Allow me to type the soliloquy here, for the benefit of search engines:

"LIFE -- the OPPOSITE of life is not DEATH, but NON-EXISTENCE.
To DIE means HAVING LIVED -- but to NOT EXIST means being... NOTHING.
To LIVE means to INFLUENCE THE COSMOS. One's ACTIONS, one's PRESENCE -- changes every being he meets.

"The COSMOS is EVERYTHING! To affect any PART of the cosmos is to affect the TOTALITY!
LIFE is the most PRECIOUS GIFT the cosmos can BESTOW... and it is the lot of DOCTOR STRANGE to PRESERVE the gift."

"This lizard means EVERYTHING to me... just as ALL living things do! The lizard is SACRED in it's existence! For a few seconds, I held the life of a SACRED BEING in my hands. What an AWESOME responsibility!"

---
While a basic concept to anyone who thinks past their own needs and self, this is still mind-shattering if you take it to the logical conclusion.
EVERY life, every ONE is SACRED.
Strange understands that now... the life of EVERY person or thing affects everyone and everything else it touches.
ALL are ONE!
Doctor Strange as protector of the Earth dimension... suddenly, that isn't just a vague title.
It is a serious and detailed responsibility.
EVERYONE. EVERYWHERE. ARE. ONE.

Strange pulling a Quai Chang Caine (or a semi Christ-like) period meditating in the desert, sees the universe for what it is.
After all, he HAD recently seen the world re-created, met "god", and through the death of his master, been given a glimpse that the end truly isn't the end.

It is this touchstone that Strange needs to revisit on occasion.
Dark, brooding battles with Lovecraftian horrors are also a must... but when he is climbing back out from the darkness, he needs to know where the LIGHT can be found.

I first came upon this scene in the 01980 "Occult World of Doctor Strange" calendar (which I blogged about HERE). Long before I ever obtained the actual Marvel Premiere issue, I had the calendar, and so struck by the depth and truth of Strange's words, I photocopied it, hand cut and pasted it (this was long before photoshop and personal computers) and kept it hung on my wall to keep its positive message nearby.

1980 Marvel Calendar - the entirety dedicated to Doctor Strange.

I'm sure that my love for Strange is tied directly to my appreciation for the worlds of philosophy, faith and pursuit of higher understanding.

Such subjects always interest me, and I firmly believe that a touch of true mysticism and spirituality would be well suited (at least on occasion) to the mythos of the world of Doctor Strange.

However, what is NEEDED is a writer who understands and appreciates such things.
Strange doesn't (and has yet to) work as a "super-hero".

Strange should be a mixture of monk, guru, student, teacher, warrior, king, master, servant, priest, healer, guardian - mystic.
A western man steeped in Eastern traditions (as well as other-worldly knowledge).
One who understands the nature of the cosmos and the complexity of the human spirit.

While I also like a touch of the dispassionate mystic, who is aloof and distant... (and with a touch of his old arrogance - as his Hamartia; his "fatal flaw") he'd still be a hero who fights for us, protects us, and (as a Doctor, of sorts) heals us for he knows the preciousness of life, the sacred aspect of life, that it is a gift and that it must be preserved.

For to live means to have affected the world around you... and when you've passed away, what you've touched touches others in turn - on and on again and again... for...

"... life flows on within you and without you."

George Harrison's philosophical entry to The BEATLES album;
Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band

(I'd like to think that George would have been a Dr. Strange fan.)

"Tamam Shud!"
~P~

Silly Rabbit...

You ever have one of those times when you think of something... something so completely random and incongruous, something that would seem improbable that anyone else has given much thought towards... and then find that it is addressed and brought to your attention soon thereafter?

Sure. We all do.
However, the difference between those "normal" instances and something like this is that the object of contemplation was a minor, throw-away scene in a comic book published nearly 35 years ago.

Back in November 02008, when I was working on a mega-series of posts *, I came across a scene that, whenever I see it, always makes me wonder... "Whatever happened to that giant rabbit?"...

From Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 1 (01974), by Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner...

In order to take Strange's mind off of more serious matters, Clea performs a cute magic trick.


Afterwards, the villainous Silver Dagger, who had been hiding outside, casts a spell upon the rabbit causing it to grow in size...

... and bust through the Sanctum's sigil-window, breaking the mystic seals, the rabbit's egress allowing him ingress.

However, the rabbit is soon forgotten in the ensuing chaos of Silver Dagger's attack and his "killing" of Dr. Strange.

But, as an animal lover, (and obsessed comic nerd,) I always wondered... "Whatever happened to that poor 'little' rabbit?".

It seems, Kurt Busiek has also had that thought weigh heavily on his mind all these years, as we see in

MARVELS : Eye of the Camera # 2...

MARVELS : EYE OF THE CAMERA # 2
by Kurt Busiek & Jay Anacleto.

Kurt Busiek is such a comics nerd... how can you not love him?
Thanks, Kurt!

This, added to his cameo for Dr. Strange from issue # 1 (seen here), it seems to me that Doc might be treated as a behind the scenes "urban legend" that touches the periphery of this story.
If it is indeed to work out that way... that would be FANTASTIC!

***UPDATE***
There's also another cameo of Dr. Strange - AND the Man-Thing - in this issue, that was brought to my attention after making this post.
They're in a new blog-entry - HERE.
***END UPDATE***

By the way... if you haven't read the epic Silver Dagger story arc you really should!
And, for your convenience, you can do so in either of these volumes:

Doctor Strange : A Separate Reality trade paperback

(full color reproductions of the epic storyline - and more)

or

Essential Doctor Strange vol 3.
A TON of Dr. Strange stories, reproduced in black & white.

***UPDATE***
It seems that Steve Englehart had NOT left the poor "little" rabbit to an unknown fate.
In an updated post, I show what happend to the rabbit after the events of
Master of the Mystic Arts # 01.
Check that out HERE.
***END UPDATE***

*(This Clea / Silver Dagger "rabbit-trick" featured in part III of the mega-popular "Housing Crisis" series of posts - seen here in Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII & addendum)

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is the sight that greeted DR. STRANGE at just past midnight on New Year's Day 1969
(in issue # 181, just after what occurred in last night's post).

As long as this didn't happen to YOU this morning, 2009 is off to a good start!

Especially, dealing with the "Dream Haunting Hoardes of [Nightmare's] Nether Regions" ... That is NO way to begin a new year.

-------------

Instead, let's look at a DIFFERENT New Year's Day - 1974 - that was filled with laughter and celebration for life renewed.
(quite literally - since SeseNeg/Genesis destroyed and recreated the universe.)

This scene from Marvel Premiere # 14

(Steve Englehart & Frank Brunner)

So a HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL!
Let's all hope and strive for a bigger and better year than the last.

Come back tomorrow for some new stuff!

HOUSING CRISIS : SANCTUS INTERRUPTUS Part III - The Shadows on the Wall

*Continued from Part II in this series: here*
* Part I in this series: here*

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Have you ever entered a darkened room and the shadows that play upon the wall alter it's appearance? The room might seem larger - or smaller. Details become lost and your mind replaces features and surface textures that it imagines should be there.
That also occurs in the darkness outside of supposedly "haunted houses"; a loose shutter, a creaky screen-door, a dead, leafless tree casts shadowy tendrils across the eaves... reality is being played with. Mocked. What is - isn't. And what isn't certainly seems as if it might be.

Have you ever had a dream, from which you could not awaken? Or once you did so, pulling yourself free of the constricting clutches of coiled crabclaws-turned-covers... you are left wondering, while bathed in sweat... did it happen? Was it real?!?

It is there, in the shadowy nether-domains of illusion, unreality and altered perception that we stride with this entry.

So, stay ye close and follow me.

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Last installment showed an instance wherein Baron Mordo was able to remove the Sanctum Sanctorum from the Earthly plane via a spell.

Today's lead-off scenario is similar - in that the Sanctum has been removed from the Earthly plane - or HAS IT?
The tale found within Marvel Premier # 3 (the 2nd intro to a new series for the good Doctor after his last series ended, he abandoned Sorcery in Hulk # 126 and his eventual RETURN in Marvel Feature # 1) shows Strange being besieged by demons within his mind and subconscious - or truly, on another plane of reality; the Dimension of Dreams.
It is to that fertile landscape that the Sanctum was transported by Nightmare - who was a servant of : "He who sleeps, but shall Awake!"...
(aka: my all-time favorite Doc-foe; Shuma Gorath).

As always - all pages in these entries can be *clicked* to be made readable.

Sequence from Marvel Premier # 3
(written by Stan Lee with art by Barry Windsor-Smith)

While that trip to a realm of unreality was a danger most dire for the Doctor, despite having been smashed a bit and having windows broken and whatnot, regarding the Sanctum itself, however, it was merely an illusion.
To that end, it doesn't count as any kind of destruction (or even temporary disruption) of the "real-world" edifice.

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The very first issues of Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts shows that "through an orb darkly", in "a separate reality" and "amidst the madness", "where the bound'ries decay" the shadowy walls that exist betwixt and between the world of reality and the worlds of unreality are gossamer-thin at best.

The maniacal Silver Dagger knows that (now) there are substantial mystic wards placed over the Sanctum that would detect an attack from without and alert Doctor Strange to the presence of danger. But he knows that those selfsame wards would not be alarmed by activities from WITHIN!

He casts a minor spell that makes the spell by Clea upon a rabbit go awry, causing yet another WINDOW BREAKAGE!

Now, while THAT, in and of itself is hardly the destruction of one's home, the violent intrusion and stabbing to (near) death, and then the beating of one's servant, abduction of one's lover and taking of residence of the same "dead man's" home is the ultimate home invasion. The ultimate destruction of the sense of a home's security and... sanctity.

A journey to death and beyond in Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts # 1
(Steve Englehart, and Frank Brunner)

Strange would have to journey well into the realms that separate life and death, reality and unreality to overcome his situation.

And as Doc finds out in the realm of Agamotto - Reality or Unreality is pretty much the same thing; depending on your point of view.

-------------

Imagine then, that circa Doctor Strange # 12 and 13, your point of view is that of an ageless entity; ETERNITY, captured and placed in a sleep-state by Nightmare, and within your fevered dreams the END OF THE WORLD comes to pass.

For one such as Eternity, whose dreams are still the very fabric of our reality, the dreaming death of one world is nothing more than the loss of a single mote of dust that we may wipe away from our eyes after sleep.

However, the world was destroyed and it is only thru the intervention of Doctor Strange that a second, replacement Earth, complete in every detail, is set into the place of the doomed first.

So, that Sanctum Sanctorum was destroyed along with the rest of the world, but was reconstructed along with everything and everyone else by Eternity.

These scenes from Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts # 12 & 13.
(Story by Steve Englehart, art by Gene Colan)

However, this unreal situation becomes even more shadowy once it is later revealed (retconned) that this never happened, but was merely a test of the worthiness of Stephen Strange, by his aged and departed mentor, for his becoming "one with the universe".
An illusion. A shadow-play.

Ahhh.... you feel cheated.
Imagine what that feeling was like while reading the heady story only to have the literary rug pulled away in a "new writer, new direction" editorial edict.

Still, did it happen? Was it just a dream? A test? Who can truly say for sure.
All we do know is that for a moment, the Earth was no more, and no structure could hope to long withstand it.

-------------

What then of such a similar turn of events in the pages of Doctor Strange # 25, when tasked with foiling the machinations of the shadowy "CREATORS" (whose plotting and planning were the basis of the plot-twist-turn of the past destruction) caused the utter decimation of the "Cosmic Wheel of Change".
This caused the universe to be restructured in a haphazard manner, and the exploding of - and then immediate twisted reconstruction of - the world and the Sanctum Sanctorum.

A new world where animal versions of people roamed molten streets, men pulled cars like beasts of burden and buildings were constructed through the vision of fish-eyed lenses.

That was the world that Doctor Strange erroneously made manifest.
He unwittingly destroyed the world and it restructured itself as a funhouse mirror world.

Strange breaks the world and finds what new shape it has taken in:
Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts # 25
(Jim Starlin (Script), Al Milgrom (Pencils), Pablo Marcos (Inks))

Later still, he would be able to rectify this mistake, and aright the cosmic wheel, setting all as it once was.

Strange spins the wheel of fortune.
Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts # 28
(Roger Stern (Script), Tom Sutton (Pencils), Ernie Chan (Inks))

So, in THIS instance, an unreal event was indeed real and counts as a destruction, reassembly and then re-ordering of the Sanctum Sanctorum.

-------------

What then of a battle that takes place on another world in another dimension. Through the Black Mirror, as seen in Doctor Strange # 44.
A battle between Strange and a powerful rival mystic; Shadowqueen Shialmar!
Such a pitched battle that the effects of it appear in our own skies and mystic lightning strikes the home and Sanctum of Doctor Strange!

"The roof...the roof...the roof is on - FIRE..."
Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts # 44
(Chris Claremont (Script), Gene Colan (Pencils), Dan Green (Inks))

Sara Wolfe witnesses the impossible. What would normally be the possible destruction of the Sanctum that was immediately nullified by the house (be they spells of protection or the house protecting itself)!

-------------

Some otherworldly forces, however, don't strike from without.
Some work their way into the deepest recesses and emerge from within!

Such was the situation that faced Strange as his Sanctum was breached by the demonic N'GARAI!

Bursting and bubbling forth from the Sa'arpool, which serves as dimensional doorway to their stygian domain, the N'Garai demon pours forth hellish tentacled death into the basement of the Sanctum and promptly causes untold havoc.

It is only by the power of a spell cast with the lucky placement of 5 individuals present that Strange is able to seal off the portal and end the invasion.*

Mankind can't imagine what lurks within the basement of the Sanctum!
Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts # 44
(Chris Claremont (Script), Gene Colan (Pencils)).

Though not complete destruction of the Sanctum, it was a massive breach of it's borders, barriers, spells, wards and walls. It resulted in massive physical damage to the interior of the structure, if not it's facade.
This we'll consider a "maybe". There are times where to just pierce the mystical barriers of the Sanctum, can cause untold damage (and of course, a few where it doesn't. Every rule and all that...) .

* (The N'Garai eventually returned to reopen that portal, using the X-Man, Wolverine as their ensorcelled pawn. However, that portal was open and all activities happened on the other side of the aperture, as Strange and Logan battled against the demonic in Doctor Strange : Sorcerer Supreme # 41. So since nothing happened in the Sanctum - save for Wolverine attempting to kill the mystic, it doesn't factor into our exercise here.)

-------------

However, as we have seen through shadowy hallways, Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum is no mundane mansion. It has been known, as in the case of the fire, to take care of itself against intruders.

Shadows on the walls - the walls move like shadows!

Doctor Strange : Master of the Mystic Arts # 44
Roger Stern (Script), Paul Smith (Pencils), Terry Austin (Inks)

In fact, it has been known to have it's walls, staircases and doorways move on their own accord!

-------------

And as we will see tomorrow, on at least two occasions... the Sanctum Sanctorum was transported to and besieged upon...
the very streets of Manhattan!

------------------
Series Continues - here in:
HOUSING CRISIS : SANCTUS INTERRUPTUS
- Part IV - SANCTUM on PARADE
*a THANKSGIVING DAY SPECIAL EDITION*
-------------------

Idol Pursuits: Master of the Plastic Arts (Addendum) - The Rub n' Play and Marvel World standees

As promised, I will be showcasing the two play figures that, while not "action figures" in any possible way, are still the official predecessors of any other Doctor Strange figures (including last week's posted "jiggler" action figure from Ben Cooper).

As noted in that last write-up, neither of these were available separately, instead coming packaged with a larger product. The MARVEL WORLD playset and the SPIDER-MAN RUB n' PLAY * activity set.

While I WILL show both of them in this post, the overall bulk of this post is to be dedicated to the 2nd figure and the RUB n' PLAY product set of which it was a part.
But we'll get to that in a mo'.

------------

The FIRST figure is from the (possibly most coveted item by collectors of Marvel ephemera):
01975 "Marvel World" playset from Amsco.



I won't be giving a detailed write-up on this item now, since it deserves it's own post, but I will show the box and the Doctor Strange "play figure" that it contained.

Note the classic artwork.
(I'm of mixed mind on who has drawn this. Part of me thinks it was by "our pal" Sal Buscema, but another part thinks that's by John Romita Sr. Perhaps penciled by Romita and inked by Sal?)

The figure is 3 inches tall and has a mirror image on the flip side.
(If a character had an alter ego, the flip side would show that character in civilian guise. However, Dr. Stephen Strange is always Doctor Strange, so... just a mirror image.
It would have been neat if, for those without civvies, it had the same pose but drawn from the back, so for Doc it'd be mostly the Cloak of Levitation being seen. That would give a better feeling of "realism" for play. But, alas...no.)

I'll give an in-depth write up for this item next week.
OK? OK.

-------------

The next entry for a Dr. Strange figure is the one that came with:
the Amazing Spider-Man and the Marvel Heroes RUB n' PLAY Magic Transfer Set.



Produced in 01978 by the COLORFORMS corporation, (everyone remembers "colorforms" right? The die-cut rubbery clings that would come with a slick coated backdrop image and you would be able to position the clings over and over again many times), this Magic Transfer set featured rub-on transfers that the kids (and NOT adult nerd-collector's, right?) would position over pre-printed bases to make standee figures.

Each standee is about 5 1/2 inces tall.

Here's what was included:
- 3 plates of standee base-figures
- 2 rub-on decal sheets
- 1 "rubbing tool" (a wooden tongue-depressor / popsicle stick) to use as a burnisher

I'm not 100% sure why the set is "Spider-Man and the Marvel HEROES, since it featured some VILLAINS as well. A more accurate name would have been Marvel CHARACTERS, or something.
But, since there are only two baddies in the set, the bulk ARE heroes.
And while it is a staple of Marvel heroes to beat the living piss out of each other (in the typical "misunderstanding") they would eventually get their shit together to team up and turn the villain at large into paste, so we're glad they're included.

The list of characters is as thus:

- Spider-Man
- Captain America
- Hulk
- Thor
- Iron-Man
- Human Torch
- The Thing
- Invisible Girl (Ok. Not really, but it was the obvious joke.)
- Doctor Doom
- Green Goblin
- Sub-Mariner
and
- Doctor Strange

With that line-up of heroes, I'd wonder just what the hell Green Goblin is doing there?
Doom? Well, hells yeah. He can hold his own against almost all of these heroes by his self. So what the heck does the Goblin have to offer here?
Aside from Spider-Man, he's outclassed by every single hero in the set.

With nearly full base-compliments of DEFENDERS AND AVENGERS represented here, the only other logical choice of villain to be included would be LOKI.

However, I'd imagine that having the "GOD of EVIL" in a playset aimed at kids "ages 5 and up", wouldn't fly in the midwest.
For that matter, DORMAMMU would also be null and void, for the whole "demon / devil" thing.
And it goes without saying that MEPHISTO wouldn't be proper for an all-ages Spider-Man themed comic activity, right?
*cough* *cough*
Riiight.

But, I digress.
Here are the easy-to-follow instructions:
--------------

1. Place transfer sheet over matching outline of each part, shiny side down.

2. Hold transfer firmly. Rub back of transfer with tool. Be careful to rub colored areas only.

3. Carefully lift the transfer sheet revealing a beautiful color section.

4. After rubbing on the remaining parts punch out completed figure

5. Punch out stand and place in slot at bottom of each figure.

6. Now you are ready to have fun with your stand-up Rub and Play figures.

-------------

You kids today with your PSP's and iPod Touch don't know the sheer joy of playing gleefully with your paper-craft standees that you "made" yourself with a wooden popsicle stick and some minor hand-eye skills.
You think you're soooo cool.
You sicken me.
In my day, we played with paper and sticks and we LIKED it.

No. I kid. I kid.
I'd imagine that these didn't afford ANY kid much in the way of "hours of fun", but theoretically could have been cool to have standing on a bookshelf in your room.

I WILL state that, neither have I, nor do I plan to, actually er... rub these figures. However, I will show you the process via scans and through the magic of photoshop, I'll show you what a finished Dr. Strange standee would look like.

-----------------


Here is the base of the figure.
Printed on one side only of medium weight cardboard with perforated edges to easily "pop out" when ready.
Note that Doc's base is AWESOME!


This is the magic-rub-on portion.
Each of the characters had different amounts of rub-on decal to be applied.
If you look at the 2 sheets of transfers above, it's like a body-shop of limbs and torsos.
Doc, however, just needs the upper body to be applied.
You'll note that this image is the reverse of what you'll see in the final product (like an iron-on transfer).


This is what you'd have after you've positioned the decal over the base and used your stick "tool" to rub it on the body.
(Sure, I could have made that sound less pr0n-like, but I was using the terms written in the instructions. Ahh... it was a more innocent time.)

You'll, of course, recognize the oft-used Frank Brunner drawn pose (also used on the 'toon tumbler, mentioned here a few posts ago). However, it's been altered slightly, transforming the cloak from one that flowed out behind him (as if in a gale wind) into one that drapes down gracefully. I wonder if it was Brunner or a staff artist who made the change.
I'll have to dig around to see if there was a variation like this by Brunner for any other publication or product.
The fact that the golden trim on the cloak seems to have been drawn as if it was the bulk of the cloak seems to point to a well-intentioned, but erroneous staff artist.



And HERE'S what it would look like assembled and ready for "action".
Actually, that DOES look kinda cool. I'm tempted to (dare I say it)...
RUB n' PLAY.

-------------------------------------------------
NEXT ISSUE :
* MARVEL WORLD PLAYSET *
-------------------------------------------------

-------------

*At this time, I would like to say HELLO, sexy GOOGLE porn sex surfers!
All the mentioning of: rub, rubbing parts, rub with tool, "place in slot at bottom of figure", "your stick", golden trim, and of course, "rub n play" probably pulled in some soft core enthusiasts.
Heck, step # 5 ALONE, with the references to "punch out and stick in bottom of figure" probably drew in researchers of the "donkey punch". Crap. I've just made it worse.
No. Forget that. And don't look it up kids. Go read a nice wholesome comic.
Maybe one with Mary Jane Watson and Peter Parker, who were never married. Ever. Nope didn't happen.
They just lived together and didn't do anything. And, she may have walked around the apartment dressed in skimpy lingerie. No wonder Spidey had all that pent up need to punch out the Green Goblin. A lot.

So...Greetings surfers. No one is judging you here. Stay for awhile.
:-)

I should direct any of you who DID come here due to that, to the comments of last week's "jigglers" post where I mention a Jenna Jameson jiggler on sale elsewhere.
Consider that a gesture of good will for accidentally luring you here.
We all good? Awesome.

DOCTOR STRANGE HALLOWEEN-COSTUMES SPECIAL-EDITION!

The following is a

HALLOWEEN EDITION
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
of the
Sanctum Sanctorum Comix blog! *

I have no idea what this tv bumper is from. It was Halloween-themed, so I'm using it, although I'd much rather have used this old classic that I remember fondly (if only they weren't TV-themed):

Anyway... as you may remember, in last weekend's post, I was writing about BEN COOPER and their various Marvel character products (jiggler action figures at the time) and I mentioned the HALLOWEEN COSTUMES that the company produced in the 1960's, 1970's & 1980's.
In keeping with the focus of this blog, I'll be showcasing the DR. STRANGE costume(s), specifically.

(and if you're good... and stay until the end, you may get a treat.)

-----------------------

The Ben Cooper "garbage bag"-style costume was a ubiquitous staple for over 30 years in any department store's "Halloween" section. A kid could conceivably find a costume for nearly ANY marketable TV, comic book or video game property.
There were some awesome ones... and some LESS than stellar entries.


As you'll see with the pics below (All of which you can click on to make "Supreme" sized), the Ben Cooper costumes were all vinyl "jumpsuits" that came with a plastic face mask with holes cut out for the eyes, pinholes for the nostrils (if you were lucky) and, sometimes, a slit for the mouth (although, the Dr. Strange mask had neither nostril nor mouth holes) .

With the costumes made in Taiwan and masks in the USA, they were supposedly flame-retardant and non-toxic, but I'm sure that if you came anywhere near an open flame you'd go up like the "flames of the Faltine" and get a mighty wicked buzz from "Agamotto's hookah" at the same time.

During it's production history, the Doctor Strange costume came in 2 variations and also had 2 different style boxes.

While, sadly, they didn't come in Adult sizes (for the groovy, yet lazy, Doc-fan), they did come in three kid's sizes:

Child's Small (4-6) - fits child 41" - 46" tall
Child's Medium (8-10) - fits child 47" - 52" tall
Child's Large (12-14) - fits child 53" - 58" tall

(I have one of each size.)

-----------------------

The original 1978 licensed version is this one:

It had an all blue jump-suit with a representation of Dr. Strange (in a pose redrawn from a classic Frank Brunner illustration) and a mask that was supposed to be that of Stephen Strange.
You'll note that this version has very heavy paint above the eyes (eyelashes?) and green mascara-like coloring.

This version came in a box that was generically titled:

"TV - COMIC
Costume & Mask"

and had drawings of various cartoon characters that were also available in costume form.

(I own this in the Large size)

---------

By 1979, the costume changed dramatically.

The all blue suit was replaced with a yellow upper portion, but still with the same illustration and still with a blue bottom half.
Two less than subtle differences in the illustration are:
- the addition of lightning bolts (mystic energy?)
- a more basic coloring application (less differentiation of shades)

The mask also got a new paint job.
Less "strange" and more "Doctor", they ditched the green mascara and overly heavy eyelashes with a more "realistic" look.
The box stayed the same.

(for this, mine is the Medium)

---------

However, when the costume was reissued in 1980, the box was given an overhaul as well.

Gone was the generic TV/COMIC box to be replaced with a more dynamic (and appropriate):

"MARVEL COMICS
Costume & Mask"

complete with drawings of the four characters in that assortment:
- Captain America
- Red Skull
- The Thing
- Doctor Strange

(With the exception of Captain America, who replaced Spider-Man, these were the same characters that were sold together in the "jiggler" assortment.)

(and for this, I have the Small)

------------

As an added bonus, here's their page from the 1980 Ben Cooper catalog.

By the looks of it, those kids are at one heck of a disco Halloween party.
("...everybody was kung-fu fight-ing...")

But there ain't no way in hell the "Thing" or "Red Skull" are getting any good treats.

------------

Speaking of "treats", to end this post, I was going to include pics of myself in my very own, custom-made Doctor Strange costumes, but I thought that might be best left for a future post with some interesting anecdotes about my times in the robes of the Mystic Master.

So... instead of the "treat" I promised, it looks to be a "trick" instead.
My apologies.
(Please don't egg my blog.)

I WILL, however give you a tip to locate one such pic of me.
If you have a copy of WIZARD # 75... I was a winner in that year's (1997) 6th annual costume contest.

Yeah. Happy hunting on that.

*** UPDATE***
Now, one year after this post first upped,
I have fulfilled my promise and have posted pics of my Dr Strange home made costume(s) - [HERE]
Enjoy!
***END UPDATE***

And to all of you "Hoary Hosts" out there tonight...
---HAPPY--- / / V**V \ \ ---HALLOWEEN---

-----------------------------

* (the planned post - about pre-action figures- that was promised for this weekend will still be made at that time)