You keep using that word. I do not think it means, what you think it means. or "Ultimate" Marvel? Really??

Not that this is a new thought to ANYONE, by any stretch of the imagination, but it seems to me that MARVEL really doesn't know what the word "ULTIMATE" really means.

It's like the scenes from The Princess Bride (sorry, I never read the book - I only have the movie to reference here) where Vizzini keeps using the word; "Inconceivable", and Inigo Montoya finally replies; "You keep using that word. I do not think it means, what you think it means."

Such has been my state of thinking with pretty much ANYTHING from the Ultimate Marvel Universe.

I don't want to be one of those comic fans / readers / bloggers who does nothing but complain about what I'm reading.
Honestly, that's not me (usually).

More often than not, I'll be the one guy who LIKES the stuff that others think is crappy.
I've always been that way.

MAN-THING was / is one of my all-time favorite titles / characters!

The "B"-side of most old 45-rpm singles usually caught my interest far more than the hit release "A" side.
(Those who have never seen/played a 45-rpm single have NO idea what the hell I'm talking about here. Damn kids.)

Heck, when I was following sports (as a lad, in the 1970's,) I was a NY METS fan!
(even though I've long since given up on caring about sports, I always feel the pain when the METS choke midway thru the season... it's hard not to care about someone you once loved.)

So, please understand that when I loathe something, it's only because I can find NO redeeming qualities to it. NONE. NOONKA. NADA. ZERO. ZIP. ZILCH.

*NOTE: Some MAJOR SPOILERS are in this post for anyone who hasn't yet read the Ultimatum storyline or the first issue of
Ultimate FF. Requiem.
(lookin' at YOU "waiting for the trade" guys out there).
This is your ONLY warning.*

Such is my loathing for the ULTIMATE "Ultimatum" storyline and it's fallout.
(bear in mind I'm only referring to the STORY. The ART on most of those issues was some truly good stuff. I mean... the rendition of how the Blob was cannibalizing the Wasp was sublime. Dr. Strange's head popping like a zit? Exquisite. Louvre-worthy.)

However, as a Doctor Strange fan - which means that I even have to check in on the post death situation of "Ultimate" Dr. Strange (remember that part where I mention loving stuff that most people don't?) I felt that I should check in on the follow-up wrap-up events in the subsequent "Requiem" storylines.

Thus, I read Ultimate Fantastic Four ; Requiem # 1.

The issue is written by Joe Pokaski, pencilled by Robert Adkins, with inks by Marc Morales & colors by Guru FX.

Let me first state that the artwork & coloring on the issue is quite good. No problems there.
Now, I know nothing of Pokaski, and he might be an otherwise fine writer, as the majority of the issue seems fairly well penned... BUT... the major story beats can't possibly be all his doing, as the Ultimatum event was written and arranged by Jeph Loeb.

So, I can only feel it safe to guess that Loeb set up much of what I found objectionable in this issue that expounds upon the story of "Ultimate Dormammu" and the death of "Ultimate" Dr. Strange Jr, and just how Johnny (Human Torch) Storm found his way into a magic amulet around Dormammu's neck.

First up, how does Johnny GET to the Dark Dimension (or should it be "Ultimate Dark Dimension" - as anyone who read my write up on the events of Stephen Strange Jr's demise [HERE] knows, I brought up the question of how an alternate DIMENSIONAL entity could be affected by an alternate universe / Earth - shouldn't dimensions be beyond the physical plane of universes and earths? But I digress..)?

Turns out, that after the destructive tidal wave destroyed much of NYC, Johnny is screaming at the heavens (and, directing his speech at the physical Statue of Liberty in NY Harbor). Here's what happens next.

The Statue comes to life, speaks in an outragious French accent (that should come from a helmeted man atop a turreted castle - just before a cow is launched at invaders) and EATS the Human Torch, thus passing him through a dimensional portal to the Dark Dimension.

"I faart in your generaaal direction!
Your mozzer waz a hamster and your fazzer smelt of elderberries."

Yes.
I can't believe anyone thought of that and didn't immediately dismiss it is lame.
After Ghostbusters II, I thought it was obvious that animating the Statue of Liberty is just a poor idea.

Here, Loeb (c'mon... it HAD to be his idea) has Pokaski write that Dormammu enchanted the statue in order to suck down powerful energies to funnel them into his home turf.
But, the statue isn't ambulatory. So, it had to either "eat" the energies in a manner like a bottom feeding fish - just waiting for things to make their way into it's mouth - or, like in this case, actually LAND on it and wait to be ingested.

To make matters worse, Dormammu's dialogue patterns are just poor attempts at... well... pretty much everything; braggadoccio, humor, evil snappy patter, spoken words, writing...etc...

Here's how he introduces the arrival of Johnny.

Dormammu makes a "Poop" joke!

How much better would a "Heeeeeeeere's Johnny!" have been?
(OK. He probably wouldn't know the reference(s), but still.)

Beyond that, a POOP joke?
Really??
And... he actually says "POOPED"!?!?
It's hard to take a demonic overlord seriously, when they won't even say a word as harsh as "Crap", as in; "Look what that power-constipated city just CRAPPED out!".
But instead, the man with the flaming head says "poop".
I'm suddenly filled with the urge to leave him on my neighbor's doorstep, ring the bell and run.

Now, I won't go into Johnny's situation too much.
Basically, the Human Torch is kept as a prisoner and Dormy is sucking down his energies like a smoothie.

When he's good and full, Dormammu says he has an appointment to see a Doctor (Yes... Strange. C'mon... he knows what a doctor's appointment is, but never saw Johnny Carson or "The Shining"? bah).

I won't show the replay of the death of Stephen Strange Jr. (really, it's just a minorly redrawn version found in my previous write-up [again...HERE]), but immediately after Strange is turned to human bean curd, the THING and Sue (Invisible Girl) Storm show up and proceed to
KICK. DORMAMMU's. ASS.

Actually, it isn't even the THING who does it. He's fighting the grunt demons.
Sue (with an assist from Johnny) snuff Dormammu like a candle in a jar.

One more time;
Sorcerer who is supposedly TRAINED for such an event (well... barely, but he IS a mystic hero fighting a mystic threat): Killed without effort.

Two "regularly powered" heroes: SNUFF. DORMAMMU.

And this is why guys like neilalien and I sigh a lot.
Our mantra is; "It's so hard at times to be a Dr. Strange fan", and it's shit like THIS that does it.

Yes, Ben. So much needless death. Most of it of former LEGENDS by hacks!

The only possible silver lining here is just who the hell is "Ultimate Dormammu" if he looks like a skinny angsty twenty-something when he's not all godly?

Another possible clue (although, it could just be bad-writing) is that as soon as Sue shows up and starts insulting Dormammu with snappy patter (y'know... before she wrecks him)... she does the invisible act and Dormammu seems to have no way to know where she is.

"Which way did she go, George? Which way did she go?"

And to top it off, Johnny just calls him "dude".

No mystical senses that allow him to be able to "see what is unseen" or sense her human taint.... nope. She might as well have stayed visible and just put her hands in front of her face like a toddler saying "You can't see me!" (which is supposedly the first magic trick a young-PTOR performed as a toddler. Thank you. Thank you very much).

The rest of the issue deals with other events in the lives of the U.F.F. and the Dormammu / punk isn't seen again.

However, I'd imagine that this isn't the last the Ultimate Universe has seen of him OR of Dr. Strange (as seen - yup... one more time... [HERE]).

I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad about that.

Pen-Ultimate Doctor Strange? -or- Ding Dong, Dork Doc is Dead.

As a part of my recent reading my backlog of the past 2+ months' pile of comics, I came across the events of Ultimate Spider-Man # 131, 132 & Ultimatum # 4.

*NOTE: Some MAJOR SPOILERS are in this post for anyone who hasn't yet read the Ultimatum storyline
(lookin' at YOU "waiting for the trade" guys out there).
This is your ONLY warning.*

Ultimatum # 4
Cover "A" by David Finch and Variant cover "B" by Ed McGuinness

Before I get involved with the seeming DEATH of the Ultimate Universe's Stephen Strange Jr., I should note that in the events of those issues, the Sanctum Sanctorum was once again destroyed.

Anyone who has followed this blog long enough (or just lucked into the posts via a google search) knows that I had a long running, and extensive expose' on ALL of the varied times that the Sanctum was destroyed.

So, the other day, I added THIS instance to that series, found [HERE] in the next-to-last entry of that series.

HOUSING CRISIS : SANCTUS INTERRUPTUS - Part VII
- A look in the mirror before heading out: - The Finale.

(You may notice that I made a note of the add-on in the "SPELLS RE-CAST" feature on the sidebar. A handy place where I note any additional major tweaks to old posts.)


So, feel free to check THAT out, but not before you stick around and witness the apparent demise of "Ultimate" Doctor Strange
(and...just WHY is he called "Doctor" Strange if he isn't a doctor of any kind, anyway? I thought only Dr. Doom had the ability to pull that off. But I digress...).

OK.
So, back to the point at hand.

In the "Ultimatum" storyline (basically the equivalent of the "reboot" switch being thrown for the line of comics that, by the very nature of it's intended origin, should never have needed one) Magneto has finally become pissed off enough to warrant his laying waste to the Earth, in an attempt to punish homo sapiens for the death of his kids; Quicksilver & Scarlet Witch.

To that end, he has screwed up the magnetic fields of the planet and caused earthquakes, ice-ages and floods to crop up all over the world.

During the massive flooding of Manhattan, many heroes were killed - either by the disaster itself, or by altercations with villains.

"Strangely" enough, with the exception of the Hulk
the other 3 guys in this pic are now (or are claimed to be) DEAD.

One such instance was when Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum was destroyed (remember, check out the last entry at THIS post for the full scoop on that).
Spider-Man and the Hulk were battling against the various demonic hoards that erupted from the wreckage of the mansion, including the possessed form of Stephen Strange.
It seems that "Doc Jr." was knocked out and the entity; NIGHTMARE invaded his body.

"Who's been sleeping in MY head?"
(from Ultimate Spider-Man # 132 Bendis/Immonen/Von Grawbadger)

Nightmare-Strange then manipulates Spidey and Hulk to battle foes pulled from their own nightmares, and in doing so, causes the Hulk to go ape-shit and thusly destroy a vital mystic ward inside the Sanctum.

This isn't good.It's like that episode of Bugs Bunny where the gremlin is testing warheads with a hammer.
(also from Ult. Spidey # 132)

This dimensional barrier was the only thing keeping DORMAMMU from invading Earth, and with its destruction, the Lord of the Dark Dimension rose out of the ashes.

Ultimatum # 4 (of 5)
Jeph Loeb (half-assed story), David Finch (sweet pencils),
Danny Miki (crisp inks), Peter Steigerwald (pretty colors)

It would seem that THIS was sufficient to "wake" Strange, and for him to shake off the possession by Nightmare - although, the writing is so piss-poor that this, and other plot points, aren't clearly addressed.

For instance, WHEN in "Ultimate Doc's" published history has he been portrayed as being anything more than a 2nd rate sorcerer? When did he show that he could levitate without the Cloak of Levitation? When did he suddenly get the stones to go up against Dormammu of all things? (something Doc Sr. could do, but Jr. here just never seemed able to much beyond basic spells.)

I also find it a bit forced that Dormammu is brought up at all in this, since there's only ever been the most basic of mystical threats shown in the Ultimate U. At least where the resident "Sorcerer Supreme" has been concerned.
Xandu and Nightmare.
Pretty sure that's been the sum total.
So, Dormammu pops up with little or no explanation.
If someone were to read this issue having never read a "616" appearance of Dormammu before, they'd just think he was a generic flame-headed demon.
No biggie.
So. Chalk that up to piss-poor writing as well.
(Synonymous with the name LOEB)

(I SHOULD mention at this time that the artwork is beautiful. Finch, Von Grawbadger and Steigerwald really do themselves justice here. But, back to my rant about the writing...)

Also, when was the Human Torch shown to have been grabbed by Dormammu?
It's an off-panel event (unless I missed something. If so, please set me straight in the comments section).
Sure he's been MiA for a while in the Ult FF title, but there hadn't been any reason to think that he'd pop up in Dormammu's keepsake locket, right?

The Torch is being used as a fire source... and WHY is that?!? Sure, Dormammu is a Faltinian and flame is their natural state - so unless he required an earthly manifestation of fire to use as a catalyst, I don't see the need (although, we really don't know much about "Ultimate Dormammu" * ).

Don't start none - won't be none.
Well... I guess there'll BE some no matter what, really.

However, Dormammu isn't taking ANY shit from Junior here.
In a bit of dialogue that sets up the title of "Sorcerer Supreme" as a mantle passed down a blood-lineage (not sure how I feel about that really), Dormammu states that he is finally to rid himself of the last, and least of the line.

Dormammu pops Jr. like a boil on the ass of the world.

So, thankfully (and in reply to my many prayers for just such an occasion - many of which had been written ON THIS BLOG) "Ultimate Doc" is killed off as the punk that he is.
Good riddance.

Or... IS he really gone?

For we next see a shadowy form sigh and vanish with young Stephen Jr's bloody pulped body.

Perhaps it is Wong. I doubt that it is Stephen's mother, Clea. She wouldn't be casual enough to sigh at her son's horrific demise. Especially since her only appearance in the Ultimate line was as a worried-sick mother who did not want her son to follow in his father's footsteps (back in the Ultimate Team Up series - Issue # 12 to be exact. Ult Doc's first appearance).

Perhaps, and this is MY wish; it is DOCTOR STRANGE (Sr.) himself, free of whatever dimensional situation he vanished to all those years ago, returned to Earth, only to bear witness to his son's death.
That would finally make "Ultimate" Doctor Strange more than his son; "PenUltimate Doc".
If Stephen Strange Sr. comes out to play in the Ultimate universe, then I'll be happy.
(Well... relatively happy, since I really don't give a crap about the Ultimate U. thus far.)

So there you have it.
The "event" is not yet over at the time of this writing.
One last issue of the mini and a few "Requiem" issues to go, and then we'll see a new rebirth to the "Ultimate" universe.

Stephen Strange Jr.
R.I.P.
(Rest in Pieces)
2002 - 2009

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

* I had a thought.
If the Ultimate Universe is just another reality, and there have already been many examples of Marvel "616" characters being able to access other realities (since they are just other dimensions, really) - wouldn't that possibly make this "Ultimate Dormmamu" to simply BE the "616" Dormammu?

Sure, it COULD be another version of the entity, but WHY?
The Ultimate Universe should primarily be alternate versions of the PHYSICAL PLANE; i.e; people, planets, space, etc... and NOT the DIMENSIONAL aspects of reality.

But, then, they DO have an "Ultimate Asgard" don't they?
Is there an "Ultimate Living Tribunal" or "Ultimate Eternity"?
Having "Ultimate" dimensional entities just seems wrong to me.

Oh well... whatever.
"Ultimately"... does it really matter?

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

*UPDATE*

10/10/2009

Well, there's been some answers to my questions / points of problematic happenstance in this issue (published later in Fantastic Four: Requiem).

REVIEW and INFO can be found in a new post [HERE]

.

OF LOVE LOST :an examination of HULK # 10

***Wondering WHAT the deal is with Dr. Strange and the BLUE masked costume he's wearing?
READ ON... ***

I'm exhausted (oh, you have NO idea), so I'll try to make this a (relatively) quick entry...

HULK # 10 dropped to spinner racks across the comic-buying world a few days ago with a story by Jeph Loeb and artwork by Ed McGuinness.

McGuinness' visuals are things of beauty. That man was born to draw the hell out of this book.

Loeb's story, however, while big and blustery fun (and, merely setting the stage this ish), is also, shoddy - from any Dr. Strange fan's perspective.

The set-up is (and PLOT SPOILERS are here):

The Grandmaster, one of the Elders of the Universe, and his brother, The Collector are having one of their frequent "chess-game" like squabbles where they get various heroes and villains from Earth as pawns/combatants and set them up against each other in a "Contest of Champions".

Usually, some kind of wager is on the line, and whomever's team wins the battle wins the bet for their Elder.

In this foray, Grandmaster has promised Hulk that the Hulk's long-lost love, Jarella would be returned to him (from the dead) if Hulk's hand-picked team would win the contest against the Collector's team.

So, Hulk chooses the DEFENDERS to "defend" the lives of their one-true-loves.
While Hulk is allowed to chose the WHO of the team, Grandmaster, however, would select the WHEN of where the members would be selected.

---

Silver Surfer is chosen immediately after his sacrifice to become herald of Galactus, as he gives up his life on Zenn-La and his love of Shalla-Bal.

He is promised a way to be united with her.

---

Sub-Mariner is selected mere moments after the death of Lady Dorma, which was upon the day of their wedding.

He is promised her return from the dead.

---

Doctor Strange is taken from the very brief time that he was first wearing his blue-masked "superhero" costume.

Clea is by his side, fighting against Mindless Ones, when she is sucked away into some mystical vortex ( ...at least that's what it looks like. It's a rushed scene and it isn't really clear WHAT happened) before he is beset upon by hoards of Mindless Ones.

The ersatz-Defenders rally to his aid and Strange is promised her safe return should he join the team.

See the scanned pages below.

*click to make Supreme-Sized*

There are several problems immediately evident in this scene.
A few minor quibbles are:

• It's supposed to be the Hoary Hosts of HOGGOTH - not HOGGARTH.

• Hulk has always called Dr. Strange; "Magician" or "Stupid Magician", not "cape-man".

• Mindless Ones are (at least USED TO BE) indestructible!
  

Only recently (the past 3 years or so - first starting, I believe, in the comic; NextWave) that Mindless Ones have been shown to be vulnerable.
Before that, they were impossible to bust apart like this.

But those three points are neither here nor there.

The IMPORTANT things are:

First of all, when Strange was wearing that version of his costume, he was immediately involved in a series of events that led to his being engulfed in several cosmic battles that took him away from Clea - whom he had only recently rescued from exile and whom he left safely behind in the Sanctum.

These battles (with the Black Knight against Tiboro, with the Avengers against Ymir and Surtur, and then the near-final battle against the Undying Ones (wherein he first meets and teams up with Namor and then Hulk)- a battle where he, for all intents and purposes, sacrificed his life, choosing the be a willing prisoner within another dimension, to halt the advance of the demonic Undying Ones) were all in rapid succession, with little or no time in between for this scene to take place.

Also, of note, is that at this point in her life, Clea's mystic powers were at their nadir.
Frankly, Strange wouldn't have involved her in any battle, since she was practically useless, magically.

Certainly, she could just have been caught up with him in the battle and is reliant upon his spells to safeguard her (as it seems here), but since she and Strange had only very recently returned from the Dark Dimension, (after she was rescued from her long imprisonment in a lost dimension,) there seems little reason for them to return there so soon.

If Loeb wanted to find a point where Clea was taken from him, and where he would be hell-bent to fight to rescue her, there were two prior points wherein this could be taken;

Back in Strange Tales # 127, after Strange "defeats" Dormammu the first time, with the aid of Clea, Dormammu wishes to punish her, but promises not to do so, as payment for his debt to Strange.

Soon afterward, however, (in Strange Tales # 141) Strange defeats Dormammu in hand-to-hand combat, and the furious Lord of the Dark Dimension takes his revenge upon Clea, casting her into a dimensional abyss...

(handily recapped in this splash page)

Emo Strange is very emo.
Strange Tales # 144 - Stan Lee, Roy Thomas & Steve Ditko

Should The Grandmaster have selected Strange from this point in his life, it would have made sense.

---

Another (better) instance, was (in Strange Tales # 155,) where Strange now battled against the sister of Dormammu (and unbeknownst to all - Clea's mother), the Unspeakable UMAR.

Clea had just been released from her imprisonment because, due to Dormammu's "death" during a battle with Eternity, the power of his spell was negated, and Clea tried to make her way to Strange's side.
However, Umar stood between them and caused the pair to battle for their lives in an epic gauntlet of dangerous perils.

Some of which are seen below...

Realizing that Clea is in dire peril (again), this time from Umar, Strange calls to his mentor; The Ancient One for aid.
The Ancient One does the only thing possible to safeguard the mystic maiden...
cast her from this plane of existence to a realm of unknown origin - and no method of return.

By the Blue Balls of Belathouzer!
All pages from Strange Tales # 155 - Stan Lee & Marie Severin.

Strange is absolutely furious at the loss of Clea (so soon after being reunited with her) that he will do anything to win her safe return!
ANYTHING!

He's ready to move Heaven and Earth for the sake of his love!

THIS is the point from which Strange should have been plucked from the time-stream.

After this spell, Clea would be lost to him for YEARS.
He would eventually rescue her with the aid of Victoria Bentley in his first spin-off series; Dr. Strange # 171 - 172. Just prior to his donning the blue-masked costume.

---

One other point that might have worked would have been in the events of Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 1 - 5.

The villainous SILVER DAGGER, having effectively infiltrated the Sanctum and very nearly slaying Strange, absconds away with the Eye of Agamotto and Clea!

Strange, while trying to save his own life must also do all that he can in order to also save CLEA.
He risks all in a dire battle within the realm of unreality for this goal.

Would that Loeb had pulled Strange from this point in the time-stream, Strange would have been a near-fatally wounded (possibly adrift in the realm of unreality) man with mere hours to live. In this weakened state, he would have to succeed in his battle alongside these Grandmaster-gathered "Defenders" in order to continue his plight against Silver Dagger, winning his own life as well as Clea's freedom!

---

The only other point where Clea is taken from him would be MUCH later (in the classic Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 55). However, there, she leaves of her own free will - and Strange is so overwrought that he was an absolute wreck of a man.

That would ALSO have been an interesting point to make the selection.
Strange would have wanted to do ANYTHING to be reunited with her, but he was functionally useless. A great bit for storytelling purposes.

---

However, Loeb does not select any of these actual, in canon, time-periods for his out-of-the-time-stream version of Stephen Strange, instead choosing to make one up - and thus screw up any sense of chronology or consistency (you can see I'm trying not to use the other "C-word"..."Continuity").

In this story, modern-day Hulk asks why Doc is wearing a mask and Doctor Strange KNOWS who the rest of the Defenders are, even though, he would only first meet Namor and Hulk while IN this guise.

Hulk should know that Doc has worn a mask twice before while they had dealings together (ie: during their first meeting and many years later during "The Order"). It shouldn't be anything "new" to him.

The rub truly comes into play when Doc first met Namor and Hulk, it was at the very end of his time wearing this outfit. When he was at the end of his "last" adventure (where he first met Namor and Hulk) he was rescued from that alternate dimension and GAVE UP sorcery (for a time), removing this costume and not wearing it again until only a few years ago (during the Busiek-penned "ORDER series). Simply put, the fact that he KNOWS and has MET Namor and Hulk means that this would have to take place after his own rescue and forsaking of Sorcery!

The course of events is as thus:

• Doctor Strange vol. 1 - # 183:

Strange addresses the mystery of the Undying Ones...
His series is canceled and the story continues next in:

• Sub-Mariner # 22:

Strange inlists Namor's aid in retrieving a mystical idol so that Strange can journey forth to the dimension of the Undying Ones. (Strange sacrifices his freedom, becoming a prisoner in that dimension to stop the Undying Ones from gaining access to Earth. Namor is sent back to Earth).
The story continues in:

• Incredible Hulk # 126:

Bruce Banner is cast into that Dimension by cultists who seek to aid the Undying Ones by having the Hulk defeat their foe; the Dark Crawler. Hulk and Barbara Norriss (who would, years later, become the Valkyrie) aid Strange and free him (Norriss sacrificing her freedom to take his place in atonement of her sins).
Hulk and Strange return to Earth and Strange gives up sorcery, content to live life as a Medical consultant.

The next person to wear this outfit (after Strange gives up sorcery) would surprise you - and I'll add that tidbit to the very end of this post. *

Suffice it to say, that tale can be found along with Strange's return.
It shows the events, a year or so after the Hulk issue, Strange would once again wear the mantle of sorcerer, due to events that occur in a back-up tale within the Defenders first appearance.

• Marvel Feature # 1.

While Strange knows that the Surfer had been trapped on Earth for years, he only met the Surfer AFTER this stage of his life, at the original formation of the DEFENDERS.
Although, it isn't out of the question that knowledge of the Silver Surfer (or his plight) would be known to him. One discussion with any member of the Fantastic Four would reveal as much.

It all just seems like a bad (and sloppy) continuity-implant.

While he does select actual, canonical points in the lives of the other Defenders, for Strange, Loeb either doesn't do the research (unknowingly making something happen that, frankly "couldn't") - OR - he did something far more sly.

The ONLY way that Strange could LOOK like this AND have Clea by his side in a battle with the Mindless Ones (aside from cramming this event into Strange's time-line in a haphazard retcon)
would for it NOT to be the Stephen Strange of the "616" mainstream Marvel Universe.

The COUNTER-EARTH version of Doctor Strange wore this costume the majority of his career, and eventually went rogue, calling himself the Necromancer.

This version of Doctor Strange met the cosmic being known as Eternity many years before our own version of Strange did. The meeting was one of hostility, however, as the Necromancer attempted to attack Eternity, and was imprisoned within the vastness of the entity until MANY years later (during the Infinity War).
It was this meeting that Eternity had subconsciously passed along to the "616" Strange, so that is where the idea for the blue-mask costume would originate.
OUR Strange, unknowingly adopted HIS costume for a while.

However, before the Necromancer would take up battle against (and be imprisoned by) Eternity, he would have had similar adventures as did our own Strange.
Possibly, even having battles with Dormammu and a love for Clea.

She might not even have known that this version of Stephen Strange was NOT the one she had fallen in love with originally - especially as since each time "her" Strange had been united with her, he was wearing a different costume variation! - first in his Blue cloak, then the "classic" cloak.

So it could be THIS "counter-Earth" version of Stephen Strange who has been selected to be a part of this impromptu assemblage of "DEFENDERS".

However, if it IS... then the Collector's opposing team; The OFFENDERS (consisting of Red Hulk, Terrax, Tiger Shark and BARON MORDO) had best watch out... for the Necromancer version of Doctor Strange was eventually out to gain power... and to RULE!

Whether he was ready to do so at this juncture of his career, or if he was still the well-meaning pupil of the Ancient One remains to be seen.

The ENDING of this story-line really CAN'T go the way of the HULK and his team, since we know that lady Dorma stays dead, Surfer never really ever gets back together with Shalla-Bal, and Jarella, sadly, remained dead as well.

CLEA, however, lives to see another day.
So... either the Defenders WIN, but then have to forsake their wishes for the "greater good" or the "OFFENDERS" win - OR - some kind of plot-twisteroo occurs.
Maybe dealing with the fact that this isn't really Dr. Strange.

OR... and probably more probable... it isn't really CLEA.

---

* I should also toss out there (purely for the sake of completeness) that Baron Mordo ALSO dressed in that blue-masked costume, while he was masquerading as Dr. Strange!
This was shown in Marvel Feature # 1 (the Back-Up story wherein Dr. Strange returns to his role as mystic master) - after having given up the mantle following his adventure against the Undying Ones (with Namor and Hulk, upon their first meeting) after the end of Strange's canceled first title and guest spots in the other's titles (wherein his saga was, ostensibly, to have come to a close).

However, THAT would be too arcane for ANYONE (with the exception of Roy Thomas or Kurt Busiek) to delve into.

Sadly, I'm probably alone in this way of thinking, and Jeph Loeb may only have proven that Clea WAS indeed taken away by a Mindless One...

Himself.

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(OK. That was harsh. But it DID make for a catchy end-line, right?)

I DID enjoy the big, chunky fun of it, and if I have to, I can squeeze this event in at just before or after the last issue (# 183) of his first series.

But, if I wasn't this thorough... who would be?

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(Oh. And I'm so glad I kept this as a "quickie" - *sigh*)