Strangers (Marvel Comics)

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caption = Cover to "Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #61
Art by Melvin Rubi and Hector Collazo
character_name = Strange
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = "Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #61
creators = David Quinn (writer)
Melvin Rubi (artist)
alter ego = None
species =
homeworld =
Base of operations =
alliances =
aliases =
relatives =
supports=
powers = Aetheric energy blasts, super strength, near invulnerabilty

Superherobox


caption = Cover to "Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #63
Art by Johnson and Fred Harper
character_name = Vincent Stevens
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = "Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #62
creators = David Quinn (writer)
Melvin Rubi (artist)
alter_ego = None
full_name = Vincent Stevens
species =
homeworld =
alliances =
aliases =
relatives =
supports=
powers = Near invulnerabilty, possessionThe Strangers, individually named Strange and Vincent Stevens, are a fictional pair of magical beings. They are both owned by Marvel Comics and both exist in that company's main shared universe, the Marvel Universe. The two characters were created by David Quinn and Melvin Rubi.

In a year long storyline, published in 1994 and taking place in the comic book series, "Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme", Doctor Strange creates the Strangers out of aetheric energy. He does this as the beginning of a hastily put together plan to prevent the demon sorceress Salomé from taking his power, life and the title of Sorcerer Supreme.

The genesis of this storyline began a year before in "Doctor Srange: Sorcerer Supreme" #50 (February, 1993). There Doctor Strange loses access to the extradimentional entities who traditionally give him his magical abilities when he refuses to take part in the War of the Seven Spheres.

Later in the "Siege of Darkness" crossover, running through the Midnight Sons family of books, a weakened Doctor Strange cannot prevent his Sanctum Sanctorum from being destroyed in "Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #60 (December, 1993).

These two factors leave him open to the attack by Salomé that launches the storyline dealing with the Strangers.

Publication history

"Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #61 (January 1994) featured the first appearance of Strange, who replaced Doctor Strange for the remaining two issues of the Siege of Darkness crossover. Those final two issues were "" #18 (January, 1994) and "Midnight Sons Unlimited" #4 (January, 1994).

Vincent Stevens first appeared in "Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #62 (February, 1994) and the story of the Strangers continued in that series until the storyline concluded in issue #75 (March, 1995).

Strange made one guest appearance outside of the major storylines involving the two characters. This took place in "Warlock and the Infinity Watch" #36 (dated January 1995).

Fictional character biography

After losing most of his magical abilities due to his refusal to take part in the War of the Seven Spheres, Doctor Strange aides the Nine (the group the Midnight Sons family of titles was built around) in their battle against the demon Zarathos, the demon mother Lilith and her children the Lilin. During this fight Doctor Strange and the Nine take refuge within Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, which is then besieged and destroyed by the Lilin. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #60 (December, 1993)]

Doctor Strange and his allies eventually triumph over their foes, and banish Lilith and her children to another dimension known as Shadowside. The means they take to ensure this happens allows the Fallen (corrupted members of the ancient race known as the Blood) to return from their ages long extra-dimensional exile to follow their ancient leader - Zarathos. ["Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance" #17 (December, 1993)]

One of those who returns is Salomé, who in ancient times was Sorceress Supreme, and who wants her title back. Her first act is to attack Doctor Strange and infect him with a magical virus of her own creation called Salomé's Dance. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #61 (January, 1994)] Dying from this virus, Doctor Strange launches a desperate plan to stop Salomé. As he teleports away, two artificial beings, who Doctor Strange comes to refer to as the Strangers, are created using aetheric energy, only one being seen at first. This first being takes Doctor Strange's place in the battle against Zarathos and the Fallen and becomes known by the name Strange. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #61 (January, 1994)]

Doctor Strange takes refuge in a new Sanctum Sanctorum located underground beneath Trinity Church, and creates an aura there using aetheric energy that stops the progression of Salomé's Dance. Searching for a cure, Doctor Strange sends Strange out to procure objects of power, including the Oculus Oroboros from Romania, ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #62 (February, 1994)] The Song of the Blood Opal of the Whole Moon Hawk from Australia, ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #63 (March, 1994)] and the Coral Crab from Atlantis. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #64 (April, 1994)]

While all of this is happening, the second Stranger appears on the streets of New York, takes the name Vincent Stevens and quickly makes a name for himself as a psychiatric consultant and the owner of the office tower the Tempo. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #62 (February, 1994)]

Stevens' high profile and close appearance to his creator attracts the attention of Salomé who sends two of her followers to kidnap him. These two individuals are Wong (Doctor Strange's servant who currently serves Salomé) and Xaos -- Wong's deceased former love resurrected as an undead winged skeleton. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #66 (June, 1994)] Stevens is rescued from Salomé's lair by Strange and in the process both discover their true nature. They also discover the fact that their bodies are unstable and deteriorating and that they only way to survive is to merge together into one being -- something Stevens decides he doesn't want to do. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme Annual" #4 (1994)]

While Doctor Strange's creations are deciding what to do next, his former love Clea arrives in New York seeking him. She quickly finds his new Sanctum Sactorum and request his aid against her uncle Dormammu, who is once again the ruler of her native Dark Dimension. Doctor Strange explains why he can't currently help, but promises to send aid in any way he can. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #67 (July, 1994)]

Now knowing his full situation, Stevens begins to search for a way to escape his fate. Locating a collector of arcane artifacts named Mr. Azopardi, Stevens begins to subtlely press him to allow Stevens access to the Levant Rubric, an ancient book containing spells Stevens believes will save him without having to merge with Strange. Mr. Azopardi turns out to be a person of great paranoia, who suspects Stevens of being a demon who wants to steal his soul. Mr. Azopardi lures Stevens into a trap and attempts to kill him. His life is saved only when Strange arrives and kills Azopardi. In the process, the Levant Rubric is destroyed and an enraged Stevens totally rejects Strange. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #68 (August, 1994)]

Having been rejected by Stevens, Strange begins to seek another individual to merge with in order to save his existence. After failing to convince the X-Men's Polaris, ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #69 (September, 1994)] he next contacts Rick Jones. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #70 (October, 1994)] Seeking revenge, Stevens possesses the Hulk and uses him in an effort to destroy Strange. This effort fails and Stevens finally agrees to the merger. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #71 (November, 1994)]

It is at this point that Doctor Strange finishes his creation of a suit of armour made of aetheric energy that protects him from the effects of Salomé's Dance. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #72 (December, 1994)] He confronts the Strangers and attempts to reabsorb the aetheric energy he used to create them to use it in his coming confrontation with Salomé. ["Docter Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #73 (January, 1995)] Stevens rebels against his creator and is destroyed in the ensuing fight. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #74 (February, 1995)]

Seeing his chance to merge with Stevens and live is now gone, Strange flies into a rage, but is calmed by Doctor Strange. Strange is sent to the Dark Dimension by his creator and there he merges with a dying warrior named Nobel. The new combination of the two calls himself Paradox and takes his place alongside Clea. ["Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme" #75 (March, 1995)]

Powers and abilities

Both Strangers had bodies made of aetheric energy that healed almost any injury almost immediately.

The means they used the aetheric energy in their bodies differed from there. Strange displayed superhuman strength and the ability to project blasts made of aetheric energy, while Stevens predominantly used abilities to control and possess other individuals.

Footnotes