10 strangest things about Marvel’s superhero sorcerer Doctor Strange

By Rick Marshall August 7, 2016

Brace yourselves, Marvel movie fans: Things are going to get weird in Marvel’s cinematic universe with the arrival of Doctor Strange, the superhero sorcerer with a penchant for bending reality as we know it to defend the mortal realm from supernatural threats.

Created by legendary artist and writer Steve Ditko in 1963, Doctor Strange will make the leap from comics to the big screen later this year, with Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch (as seen in the behind-the-scenes images above) playing the lead role in the film. While the film is expected to formally introduce occult elements to Marvel’s movie universe, fans of the character know that the adventures of surgeon-turned-sorcerer Stephen Strange have long been a magnet for the bizarre stories — both in print and outside the pages of the comics.

What could be so strange about the history of the man called “Doctor Strange,” you ask? You’ll find 10 examples in the gallery above along with some fun footage from the film set.

If that’s not strange enough for you, you don’t have long to wait for more superhero sorcery. Doctor Strange hits theaters November 4.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…

Entertainment

The best superhero deaths in movies, ranked

Robert Downey Jr. In Avengers: Endgame.

One of the most common features in superhero movies is someone close to the protagonist getting killed off. Gwen Stacy's brutal death in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Jonathan Kent getting killed by a tornado in Man of Steel are just two such tragedies that come to mind.

Although rare, there are times when the heroes themselves get the ax. Many movies have shown superheroes die in ways both noble and tragic, from self-sacrifice to a brutal battle with the film's villain. The demises on this list prove that being a crime-fighter isn't all fun and games, so be prepared to cry all over again with the best superhero deaths in movies.

Entertainment

Every Marvel villain ranked from worst to best

Loki fighting Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War.

Over a decade in, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is still going strong. Its projects might not be as universally beloved as they once were, but there's no denying that they remain hugely influential. Fans still run to theaters to watch them, and critics still enjoy dissecting them and analyzing their effect on modern cinema. Through highs and lows, the MCU has given us some of the best superhero movies of all time, cementing many classic heroes as pop culture icons and elevating some D-list characters into the big leagues.

Still, if there's one aspect where the MCU is more divisive, it's in the villain department. Most MCU antagonists go from forgettable to just OK, barely scratching the surface of villain greatness. Of course, there are some exceptions, and several MCU baddies have elevated the material, going past the films' limitations and becoming legends in the process. After 29 films and almost as many villains, here's a definitive ranking of which villains reign at the top of the mountain of evil and which can barely call themselves bad guys.
27. Aldrich Killian - Iron Man 3 (2013)

Entertainment

In the MCU, Marvel’s most important stories are in its Disney+ shows

Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson in Falcon and the Winter Soldier wields Captain America's Shield

At this point, just about everyone is familiar with the entertainment juggernaut that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become. The premiere of a new MCU movie is now a global event, with a long list of box-office records metaphorically incinerated by the ticket-buying crowds that turn out for each installment of the biggest film franchise in Hollywood's history.

But here's the secret that all of those breathless headlines about Marvel movies are hiding: The best storytelling within the MCU is actually happening on a much smaller screen.