HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! ...THANKS to DOCTOR STRANGE!

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TODAY is JULY 4th!

And for those of us in the UNITED STATES of AMERICA...

INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Today marks the 237th anniversary of the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence, which forever made us our own independent Nation - no longer under the yoke of Great Britain!

But... what would you say if I were to reveal that this (and other monumental historic) event(s) almost NEVER happened - if it were not for the "timely" intervention of DOCTOR STRANGE!

Such is the revelation told within the pages of the most unlikely of historic volumes...

SPIDEY SUPER-STORIES # 17

Jim Salicrup - writer

Winslow Mortimer - pencils

Mike Esposito & Tony Mortellaro - inks

A.J. Hays - Editor

John Romita - Art Director

SPIDEY SUPER-STORIES was a comic tailored to young children, who were learning to read - ostensibly via the aid of the children's television show; "The Electric Company" (with whom Marvel teamed in the production of this series).

So, it was to those children in 1976 - the Bi-Centennial of the USA - that this truth was made evident.

Behold as we go back in time (and where THEY also go back in time)... from 2013 to 1976 to 1776... and back again.

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We start at a Birthday Party for America, where many Super-Heroes (and Electric Company members) were in attendance.

(click pics to make FREEDOM-SIZED!)

Doctor Strange looking to use the culinary skills he picked up at the Learning Annex, if only IceMan wouldn't glom all the glory.

 While Captain America regales Spider-Man with a list of the forefathers in his "list of heroes", Doctor Strange can't help but overhear...

(The penciller, using issues of Defenders and/or Avengers as reference, seems to think Doc needs the "Evil Eye" in his hand to cast the spell - ala the Avengers/Defenders War)

For some weird reason, even though Strange says he will send the two heroes back 200 years, be ends up over-shooting the mark somewhat, and drops Cap and Spidey back in 1773 - December 16th to be exact. Right in time for the BOSTON TEA PARTY.

However, they are not the ONLY super-folk time-jumping in that era, for KANG the Conqueror has also jaunted back in time as well. However, KANG's impetus for doing so is because he is fed up with parades, fireworks and having the "MR ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD" show (no joke) being pre-empted for July 4th news. If there was NO fight for America's freedom, then Kang would be free to be KING of the COLONIES (and make sure that he wasn't bothered by those irritants).

However, as heroes are wont to do, Cap and Spidey foil Kang's plan of preventing Samual Adams and his men from tossing English Tea into Boston Harbor. And as villains are wont to do, Kang beats a hasty retreat - just in time for DOCTOR STRANGE to bring the two heroes back to the (then) present.

However, while it may say "The End", it is only the end of the first act, as soon, via the Orb of Agamotto, DR. STRANGE spies Kang smashing lanterns in Boston's Old North Church! With no lanterns HOW with Paul Revere know whether the British cometh by land or by sea? So... Strange sends his impromptu Defenders back in time to April 18th, 1775 to save the (yester)day!

After stopping Kang's act of sabotage, Spidey uses his "Spidey signal" to act as a stand-in for the single lantern which would alert Paul Revere!

However, as soon as that historic event was preserved, Dr. Strange sends the two heroes to follow Kang as the time-lord journeys (finally) to JULY 4th, 1776!

Kang has arrived at Philidelphia's Independence Hall to attach a bomb to the Liberty Bell which will destroy all of Philly and prevent the signing of the Declaration!

Luckily, Cap and Spidey beat back Kang, disarm the bomb and make it in time to witness the historic signing of the document.

With that, Doc brings the heroes (and their captive foe) back to the party where they seemingly torture Kang with a Bicentennial party (the likes of which he sought to prevent) and cake (seemingly iced by IceMan's own "icing").

So, this issue of Spidey Super-Stories not only sets up the formation of the SECRET DEFENDERS long before their formal formation, but also sets into motion much of the time-travel shenanigans which could be what started the breaking of the time-space continuum that is leading to all the INFINITY-related breaking of the universe that is being seen in current MARVEL comics NOW!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

It's been a Long... STRANGE Journey!

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE's DAY from DOCTOR LOVE: CUPID SUPREME

DOCTOR STRANGE – Master of the Mystic HEARTS

Dr. Strange says;

"You don't need a little blue pill. Just click any pic to make it larger."

---

With today being St. Valentine’s Day, it’s time to, once again, look into the romantic life of our favorite Mystic Master. People tend to call it “Valentine’s Day” and forget that it’s a day named after a man (well, there were actually several “St. Valentine’s" and no one is 100% sure which of them did what exactly, but at least  one of them was a man who)… was granted Sainthood for being martyred due to conducting secret marriages in defiance of Roman Emperor Claudius II. Thus, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight an instance when Dr. Strange risked his life in the course of true love.

However, since the day isn’t named after a horn-dog lothario like Don Juan, but instead St. Valentine, who was a man who helped others unite (giggety), we’ll not look at how Doctor Strange got his heart on, (giggety) [as I did in this old post {HERE},] but instead aided other young lovers, torn apart by the iron grip of a harsh regime.

In AVENGING SPIDER-MAN # 8, by writer(s) Ty Templeton & Dan Slott and artist Matt Clark, we find that Dr. Strange had the Princess Lenka of Symkaria, who is bestowed with high-mystic-potential (she’s the 7^th daughter of a 7^th daughter [yes, like a Biblical prophecy, Sinbad the Sailor, or Iron Maiden]) to be raised in secret, but now that she is 21, her father (who doesn’t believe the mystic mumbo jumbo) traded her to Doctor Doom as a peace offering between Symkaria & Latveria.

Strange hired Silver Sable to sneak the princess out of her country before the wedding to Doom (since Doom would do nasty things to her [no not THAT!, get your minds outta the gutter] in order to steal her mystic energies or whatnot).

Doctor Strange instructs that for the mystic energies to be safe, the princess must marry someone she loves, so, Doctor Strange and Silver Sable want to pay Spider-Man to be the new husband (since the princess has seemingly had a crush on him for the past 6 years), but Doom is not about to lose what “is his”.

Of course, it turns out that she doesn’t really love Spidey, she just thought he’d stand a better chance against Dr. Doom than her real love; Marek (a pastry boy in her father’s castle).

This is when Doctor Strange then reveals that actual LOVE is imperative in this “special marriage” because it must be consummated – physically (y’know… that stuff you thought Dr. Doom was going to do to her. Yowza!). 

So, Strange is totally pimping love and looking every inch the part in his classic duds and porn ‘stash.

But it isn’t all hearts and flowers here… Doctor Strange (and, y’know… Silver Sable & Spider-Man) have to battle against a pent-up Doctor Doom, in order for the young lovers to get secretly married in the basement safe at their Embassy and then… have Marek shoot his “cupid’s arrow” into Lemka’s… oh, you know what.

Despite Doom’s mopping the floor with them, the battle between Doom and the heroes is only stopped when Doom realizes that the newly married royal couple have… um… royally coupled.

It is then that the Doctor of Love... Doctor Strange knows that his work here is done.

With that, we here at the

SANCTUM SANCTORUM COMIX BLOG

would like to extend to you a St. Valentine's Day poem...

*ahem*

ROSES ARE RED.

VIOLETS ARE BLUE

BE WARY YOUNG LOVERS

AGAMOTTO's EYE MAY BE WATCHING YOU.

---

~P~

CHRISTMAS GIFTS (from the past)! 1998 Linens-N-Things catalog A "STRANGE SWAG" Post

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In year's past, I've posted Christmas/Holiday entries ranging from showing Christmas covers for various comics [HERE], [HERE], [HERE], [HERE] & [HERE], or "humorous" little video vignettes featuring everyone's favorite Latverian Dictator [HERE], [HERE] & [HERE], a look into Doctor Strange's holiday traditions [HERE], or even a quaint holiday Tableau - a comic cover brought to "life" as it were [HERE]...

But this year, I thought I'd not only try to bring the blog back to its roots (as a way to showcase my assorted collection of weird and wonderful swag)... but while doing so, also stick with the Christmas/Holiday theme.

And so I present to you...

 a 1998 GIFT CATALOG from LINENS -N- THINGS! *

OK. I can hear you all scratching your heads and wondering just what this is doing in my collection of assorted Doctor Strange and "6-Dimensions"swag?

Well, as we flip through the pages of the many assorted gift items, and thumb our way to the MEN'S section - whist looking for cool gift ideas "for the man who practices the ART of living well" in your life...

...and while a cocktail shaker or a CD/wine rack or even a comfy green robe are in my wheelhouse...you'll also find a nifty looking book lamp.

BUT...if you take a look at the pile of comics to the right of the nifty book-lamp, you'll find that there's something "for the man who practices the MYSTIC ARTS of living well"... a well-read copy of MARVEL TEAM-UP (v.1) # 50, featuring Spider-Man teaming up with DOCTOR STRANGE!

A CLASSIC COVER by Gil Kane (pencils) and Dan Akins (inks)

Sure, there are also a copy of 'Marvel Holiday Special' from 1991 and an old comic featuring the Molten Man (a No-Prize for anyone who can identify the issue, since I didn't feel like doing the detective work this time), but the Marvel Team-Up issue is the real gift here!

And thus it was that Doctor Strange was subliminally introduced to the average American consumer  during the holiday season of 1998.

*
Also, I thought it was high time I posted this item since it was something that I mentioned in my VERY FIRST post on this blog [HERE].


And so I would like to take this time to wish EVERYONE... whether they celebrate CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, KWANZAA, RAMADAN, SATURNALIA or FESTIVUS... a HAPPY and HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON!

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS -2011- A GIANT-SIZED TREASURY EDITION!

I just want to take this time to wish everyone all the Happiness of this
Holiday Season!

And to help celebrate your 

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS,

HAPPY HANUKKAH,

KOOL KWANZAA, 

WILD WINTER SOLSTICE,
and A FESTIVUS FOR THE REST-OF-US...

...I present to you this scene of

MARVELOUS MIRTH and MERRIMENT...

(click to make FESTIVE-SIZED)

This YULTIDE TABLEAU featuring; Doctor Strange, Spider-Man, Luke "Power Man" Cage, Nick Fury and the Hulk, is my own re-staging of the CLASSIC cover to the 1975 MARVEL TREASURY EDITION; GIANT SUPERHERO HOLIDAY GRAB-BAG!

It was bigger than most kids, and only $1.50! (sigh)

I wasn't going to use any photoshop re-touches, but I didnt have a Santa-Suit small enough for Hulk.
I didn't even have a "classic" Hulk figure, but had to substitute my "Professor Hulk" as a stand in. Nor did I have any dolls, er... action figures of a young, tow-headed lad. If I did, that would be weird. So, I had to draft a holiday elf as a stand-in. Then, I figured, what-the-heck, and tossed in a little colorful glow for Doctor Strange's mystic zaps - which otherwise is just a red twisty-tie thingee from a bread bag.
With the exception of Hulk and Kilkeel Elf, these are all MARVEL LEGENDS Action Figures (which, aside from the old MEGO figures, are the very best Marvel action figures - ever).

I was originally going to make it an animated gif with glowing and blinking lights on the tree, like on my "Sanctum Window" graphic, but then one might wonder why no one else was moving... so I nixed it. Sorry.


However, to keep up with modern trends of VARIANT EDITIONS of cover images, I present to you this alternate take, with the MAN-THING in the place of the Christmas Tree.

(click to make Giant-Size Man-Thing sized)

Dr. Strange, Man-Thing, Spider-Man, Luke "Sweet Christmas" Cage, Nick Fury, Hulk and Irish 'Kilkeel' Elf

- all balanced by hidden props and wires...er...Christmas MAGIC!

Let's all sing a chorus of "O Man-Thing Tree"...

"O Manny-Thing, O Manny-Thing, Thy leaves are always burning..."

...EVERYBODY!

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men-Things.

That 70's Show : Enter... DR. STRANGE ! -or- Doc and Spider-Man -vs- Ashton Kutcher - in bed!

I've posted several entries of Dr. Strange being featured, in one way or other, on various TV shows (cartoons, news shows, teen angst shows, etc...) and today I have another to add to that list.

On an episode of THAT 70's SHOW, the character "Michael Kelso", played by Ashton Kutcher, is holding a comic book while talking with his friends.

That comic book featured a guest-starring role by Doctor Strange and he is also featured on the cover.

Before I give it away, I'll show the clip so you can check it out for yourself.
(I'll show JUST the few seconds where the comic is featured - so FOX lawyers, cut me some slack. I promise to totally make it worth your while at the end of this post.)



Ahhhhh!!!!... Did you see how he man-handled that comic?
The episode should have had an "parental guidance" tag for "Violence against Comics"!

The comic in question was AMAZING SPIDER-MAN # 109 from 1972.

Strangely enough, they could just as easily used an issue of the reprinted version in MARVEL TALES # 88 from February 1978!

That would still be correct from a continuity standpoint, since the show takes place after the release of Star Wars in 1977 (as evidenced by all the Star Wars mania of Eric Foreman - as played by Topher Grace).

Such a swap would have been especially good because, while the original John Romita Sr. cover is nice, it fails in one major design aspect by having a major character with his BACK facing the reader!
The Marvel Tales version is "corrected", (albeit poorly,) so that Dr. Strange is now front-facing.


Besides, a copy of Marvel Tales # 88 would have been a much cheaper find and would be more acceptable for the kind of rough treatment given by Kutcher/Kelso.
...I'm just saying.

For those of you who came here while searching for some "sexy" images of Ashton Kutcher on a bed (that should bump up the google-search engine tally) here ya go:

That's the male version of a similar scene I featured  with Megan Fox lying half-naked while reading an issue of Doctor Strange (pic [HERE]).

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Hey, FOX legal department! Here's some "pay for play" for letting me use that clip:

That episode; "Who Are You?" is episode # 15 from Season 6 and can be purchased from this very blog (via AMAZON)!

So, hey readers... support your 70's flashbacks with more than just weed and old comics... buy a DVD boxed set today!

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"Tamam Shud!"
~P~

MIDNIGHT IMAGES Original Comic Artwork (2nd in a series)"Secret Defenders" - 1993

A few days ago (in a post seen [HERE]) I showed a little "mathematical equation" featuring a two-image teaser of Doctor Strange and Man-Thing as drawn by yours-truly.

That teaser was to hint at the contents of this post, which, while more revealing, is in itself but a teaser of the real content that can be found on my other - art blog - the MIDNIGHT IMAGES blog - found at this link ([HERE] - or click the Midnight Images logo at the end of this post).

Now, before you get upset at my shunting you onto my other blog (which is really the proper place for my artwork - like my Doctor Strange - Wizard magazine cover art samples that I presented here only a few days ago [HERE]), I will ask you...


How can you NOT want to know what the heck is going on with THESE image samples?

* click images to make more... "strange" *

Yeah... that's right.

Doctor Strange, Man-Thing, Scarlet Witch and Spider-Man in my very own "Secret Defenders" story.

It's odd. It's twisted. It's touching.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll be glad you clicked this link for my "MIDNIGHT IMAGES" blog.
.





Well?
Are you still here?

What are you waiting for?
Go check out the FULL 11-page story art over at my MIDNIGHT IMAGES art blog!

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For ALL of the installments in this series, visit these links:

1st in the Series - 4 Wizard magazine cover submissions - 2000

2nd in the Series - 11-Page "Secret Defenders" story- 1993

3rd in the Series - 6-Page "Doctor Strange" story - 1989
(with Stan Lee critique anecdote)
4th in the Series - "Doctor Strange" pin-ups - 1989 - 1980
(with John Byrne critique anecdote)

5th in the Series - web-site banner headers "Defenders" - 2002

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Tamam Shud!
~P~

Idol Pursuits: 6-Dimensions: PVC addendum 2: Mystics, Muck Monsters, Monarchs, Mutants and Many More Marvels

As noted in today's earlier post of the pseudo-Man-Thing figure (seen HERE), I'll be posting two back-to-back entries, as they are interlinked to each other.
They are also linked to my last entry for the Dr. Strange PVC figure (as seen HERE).

This 2nd addendum to the Dr. Strange PVC figure entry is merely to show some of the many other Marvel PVC figures that were released in that series of late 01980's - early 01990's PVC figures.

This first pic replicates (basically) the way that a few of these figures are displayed, in a display case, among the many figures in my "Sanctum" collection.

MY (PVC) Defenders!
Clockwise from far left:
Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man, (faux)-Man-Thing,
Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer

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A similar themed image, re-staging something from the
INFINITY GAUNTLET.
(a little something for Monique at Comixtravaganza)

Left to right: Silver Surfer, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Man,
(faux)-Man-Thing, Thanos (in extreme foreground),
Ghost Rider, Doctor Strange, Dr. Doom

---------

And lastly some other figures I had lying around...

Left to right:
Back row: Daredevil, Nightcrawler, Cyclops, (white) Vision, Iron Man, Thor
Mid-ground: Ghost Rider, Captain America
Foreground: Sentinel, Gambit, Magneto

"Daredevil going the wrong way and tripping over Nightcrawler" is the easy go-to joke.
(Yes. I took the low road on that.)

Thor smacking Iron Man in the junk with his hammer is an ode to 10-year old kids (in mind or body) the world over.

Gambit kicking Magneto in the face was all for Chris Sims at the-ISB.com.
(The-ISB; where kicks-to-the-face are a trademark of quality)

The Sentinel about to blast Gambit's head clean off is a favor to EVERYONE.
(You're welcome.)

Oh. I had done a basic (read; BAD) "re-paint" on the Cyclops figure (with Sharpie Markers).
He came in his blue and white "X-Force" outfit, that I just loathed, so, at some time, I gave him a re-deco to the Jim Lee era costume.

That last pic is filled with assorted figures that I really have no use for in my collection (with the possible exception of "white" Vision - which was my favorite incarnation of that character).
They were just extra items that I had added to my order - lo those 17 years ago, when I placed an order through a by-mail comics retailer.

I only added some of them to make sure I made the minimum order requirement - since I desperately wanted the Dr. Strange figure (as well as the Doom, and Scarlet Witch figures).

The saddest part of the tale is that after I pre-paid for them all, the order arrived with NO Dr. Strange figure!

I looked for one for a few years, finally thinking that his was one that was dropped from the assortment (as Doc items tend to do).

It wasn't for a few years later that I eventually FOUND the Dr. Strange PVC and bought a BUNCH of them. (I think I still have at least 3 or 4).

To that extent, now that I've dug these out of my boxes of spare figures, I'll have to load them up onto eBay or something sooner or later.

I mean... I can't keep everything that's even remotely affiliated to my "6-Dimensions of Doctor Strange" philosophy, can I?
No. I really can't. *



*(well... at least, that's what my wife keeps telling me.)

The "Magic" of Video - Part II : Dr. Strange in Animation - entry 1: Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends; 7 Little Super-Heroes - and more.

Another SANCTUM SANCTORUM VIDZ Presentation.

If you recall, in THIS post, we were talking about how truly criminal is Marvel's treatment of Dr. Strange in other media (not that he fares much better in their handling of him in PRINT oftentimes).

Unlike DC/Warner, who lavish truly mystical flourishes upon their Dr. Fate and his special niche in their mythos, while in animated ventures, Marvel can't seem to afford Dr. Strange the proper, sorcerous treatment, or even an approximation of his unique world(s) befitting his true, published, stature.

This started as far back as his 01978 TV movie (as showcased previously on this blog: the FILM, the SWAG, the ACTION FIGURE, the REVIEW).
An inaccurate and watered-down rendition of a character with an otherwise exciting and vivid potential.

Marvel's lackluster representations of Strange in other media then continued into the realm of animation. While he never had a starring role, he had guest-starred in several cartoons, the first of which was the series;

Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.

Strange appeared in one episode, quite possibly the most favored episode of the series:

• "7 Little Super-Heroes" - episode # 06 of the series.
  

and his costume appeared in two others:

• "The Triumph of the Green Goblin " - episode # 01 of the series.
  

• "Spider-Man Unmasked" - episode # 17 of the series.
  

(both of which I'll showcase at the end of this post, after the main entry).

But, first, we'll discuss, and view "7 Little Super-Heroes".

Title card for the 01981 episode.

Before I get too far along, allow me the indulgence of showcasing some collector's pieces pertaining to this animated episode... the first, and primary one being the animation character model sheet, original production cel of DOCTOR STRANGE featured last post - HERE.
(But I'll paste the pic and some basic info of it here as well - for completeness sake - just make sure to go back to the original post for even more detail.)

This is an extremely rare, authentic production cel for the episode.
Not just any production cell, but a even rarer "model sheet cel"... of DOCTOR STRANGE!

It's a bit hard to read, but it states:
Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends
Series # 6000
"7 Little Superheroes"
Prod. # 6006
Model sheet # 0
"Doctor Strange"
(c) 1981 Marvel Productions LTD

 (Don't forget to go back later to check out more info on this cel at its original post - HERE.)
 



Another piece of swag for the episode is this, the actual VHS tape featuring the episode.

Goldstar Video's official VHS release of 7 Little Super Heroes.

Back of packaging with write-up.

Thanks. Now that I have that taken care of, we can go back to the review and watching the episode(s).

This episode takes a riff from the classic nursery rhyme; "10 Little Indians" (which was the inspiration for a mystery story, and then was, in turn, adapted into several films; "And Then There Were None", "10 Little Indians", as well as the hilarious spoof "Murder by Death"), wherein a group of individuals fall victim to various accidents, (or in the case of the film and animated versions; guests are slowly and methodically eliminated by a mastermind with a grudge,) until, ostensibly, only ONE remains.

This episode followed the events of the villainous CHAMELEON who invites the heroes to the mysterious "Wolfe Island Mansion" for a social gathering for super-beings.
(There's a Wolfe Island in Ontario, Canada and while only accessible by ferry - or helicopter- or the power of flight, as a superhero might possess, is indeed reachable by ferry from Cape Vincent, New York. Most likely, this is the location.)

Spider-Man, Iceman, Firestar, Sub-Mariner, Doctor Strange, Captain America & Shanna; the Jungle Queen are all unknowing "guests" of the Chameleon!
None are aware of the others' invitations until they are all gathered within the walls of the castle.

Wolfe Island Mansion

Several liberties are taken for the story.
The major one being; these heroes have all been targeted since they, purportedly, have all dealt defeats to the Chameleon.
For the life of me, I can't imagine Shanna "the Jungle Queen" having any reason to interact with the Chameleon, much less Doctor Strange. Although, if pressed, I could imagine a story-point where Strange may have been able to thwart the villain's illusions - except... Strange has never had any altercations with him, and judging from the events of this episode, Strange doesn't seem to be able to do even that.

Sadly, in this story, the "Spider-Friends" are the real action heroes, while the other characters are just there to point and say "Hey, Look!"... or worse; stand around, slack-jawed, waiting to be taken out like chumps.

While it's always exciting to see Strange in this famous episode, Doc says little... and does even LESS!

After paying the hair-stylist to care for those sideburns,
there was no more money left to pay Strange for a large speaking role.

In the course of the episode you'll THRILL to the sight of:

Doc chillaxin' and kickin' it - old school!

This chair is the Venerated Vibro-lounger of the Vishanti!

Strange and the others caught by a hackneyed ruse!

"Oh, there, voice come from cow on wall..."
"Moose, moose you imbecile!"
"Mr. Lionel Twain, I presume."

Strange protecting Ms. Lion - the Lhasa Apso dog!

Dogs usually run AWAY from Doctors. Or is it JUST Veterinarians?

Doc standing around uselessly!

Well... in his defense, they're ALL standing around uselessly.

Doc getting a headache!

A... Aquaman? Is that YOU? I told you never to call me here.

Doc flying and pointing - at the same time!

invizible uru-hammrz! i haz one!

Doc doing the batusi!

The Shadow tested, Batman approved!

Strange not fighting a robotic-demonic robot/demon!

No joke here. This thing IS pretty cool.

Doc held prisoner in a dog kennel!

Walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage...
oh wait... they totally do.

...and much MORE (or less)!

OK... preview over.
Here...
Watch the episode via these three segments (sadly... my video editing software is still f.u.b.a.r. and as such, I'm recycling older clips - edited - poorly - by others).

We'll meet again and discuss after the episode.

-ROLL FILM-

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The Sanctum Sanctorum Comix blog

presents a Sanctum Sanctorum Vidz presentation

- of -

"7 Little Super-Heroes".

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part - 1




part - 2




part - 3




OK.

So...
Doc was exceedingly useless, was he not?

Remember the part early on, when the Chameleon gave that little roll-call while they were in the Mansion, and everyone is shown when he announces their name - except Dr. Strange?
When Doc is addressed, the director thought that a crotch-shot of Iceman was a better use of the time.
That exemplifies the overall gist of Dr. Strange's treatment in the episode;
Somewhere below Iceman's snowballs in priority.

The total extent of his "occult powers" was to receive a "psychic message" from Shanna, block a robotic-demon's zap with his cloak, use the Eye of Agamotto to make prison bars vanish and cast a spell to help Shanna fly off the doomed castle.

He couldn't even defend himself from a robot demon (or even TELL that it WASN'T the real thing!).
And, just between you and me, while it was VERY cool for the robot to be a take-off of the Dark Dimension's "G'Uranthic Guardian"... how the hell would the Chameleon know what THAT looked like?

The ONLY thing that this cartoon (like the others in the Spider-Man & his Amazing Friends series) got right is Dr. Strange's costume. They barely altered a thing.

And so, this appearance gets a rating of:
2.5 out of 5 G'uranthic Guardian robots.

/x X X

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Now, remember that Strange (or at least his COSTUME) appeared in two other episodes as well.

A minor honor indeed, Strange's costume is shown, being worn by a party-goer at a Comic-book themed costume ball, in the FIRST episode of the series:

"The Triumph of the Green Goblin"

"Strange" is seen dancing in the back left corner of the doorway - with a woman dressed as... Princess Python perhaps?

Disco... Dis-co Doc!

That's pretty much the entirety of the appearance. You can watch the entire episode if you wish, but if you're just looking for Strange's costume in action, the above pic is pretty much all you need.

But, here ya go. As a detail-oriented collector-monkey, I'll include the episode as well.

part 1
Strange gets down and boogies at the 6:30 mark.




part 2

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AND... if you're wondering just WHERE the guy obtained his costume... chances are it was from the same establishment shown in episode 17 of the series:

"Spider-Man : Unmasked"

"Stan's Costume Shop", as seen here specializes in super-hero costumes.

"Stan's Costume Shop" would totally be my personal haberdasher.

Strange's sorcerer's garb is shown along the back wall, worn by a mannequin.

This must be the "urban legends" section,
since the existence of all those figures is shrouded in mystery.
Especially "Dazzler". No way is she real.

That's all the Dr. Strange that you get for the episode. However, I'll present the entire episode for those who wish to view it.

Part 1




Part 2
Stan's Costume Shop comes in at 00:10. Strange's garb appears at 00:20.

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And there you have it; Doctor Strange's first foray into animation with appearances in the "Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends" cartoon series.

As I pontificated in a previous entry (HERE) Strange's appearance in his animated excursions are... meh. Not great. Barely a Sorcerer of any strength or ability.
And what's worse, is that his world; the world of magicks and dimensional whatnot, has barely been shown. When it has, it's been a watered-down version, at best.

These first steps into the Saturday morning world have nothing to stand out as spectacular or noteworthy. No real mysticism is shown, no otherworldly realms are visited. No love for the character is shown.

For a Dr. Strange fan, the only thing going for these are... well... Dr. Strange is at least FEATURED in a cartoon that hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of kids (and their families) have seen.

That's some magic in and of itself.