Episode 2 - "A Thing That Really Happened" (Silver Age Strange part 2)
Welcome back Weirdos! We've gotten some really great feedback from you guys on episode 1 (and by the time I actually get this post published, on episode 2 as well). Your enthusiasm for the show makes us even more enthusiastic about making it!
In episode 2 we concluded our Silver Age overview of Doctor Strange by discussing Doctor Strange volume 1, as well as Avengers #61 , Sub-Mariner #22 , and Incredible Hulk #126 , all written by Roy Thomas. Sadly, our appreciation for these particular issues was not as strong as our enjoyment of the Steve Dikto issues of Strange Tales.
In Doctor Strange #169 (which continued the numbering from Strange Tales), Roy Thomas and artist Dan Atkins give us a more detailed and nuanced retelling of Strange's origin.
In issue #170 we get the return of Nightmare, which I always enjoy, but we were both put off by how impish his appearance was, and the fact that he was inexplicably able to manifest physically on Earth.
Issue #175 starts an arc involving the Sons of Satannish, including a guest appearance by the Black Knight and a crossover with the Avengers. This arc actually started out fairly promising but unfortunately sent the entire series off the rails with the debut of Strange's "masked" costume.
Sigh
Sigh
Up next is an arc in which Nightmare somehow mystically binds Eternity, the embodiment of the entire universe. The culmination of this story is revealed to be the ultimate Deus ex Machina, in which
Eternity explains that he let himself be bound because it wasn't a big deal for him and that he was just tired of playing along now. Strange's reward for unnecessarily taking part in this bizarre debacle is for Eternity to erase all trace of Doctor Stephen Strange from existence and to replace it with Doctor Stephen Sanders, so that the superhero known as Doctor Strange can better act with impunity.
Eternity explains that he let himself be bound because it wasn't a big deal for him and that he was just tired of playing along now. Strange's reward for unnecessarily taking part in this bizarre debacle is for Eternity to erase all trace of Doctor Stephen Strange from existence and to replace it with Doctor Stephen Sanders, so that the superhero known as Doctor Strange can better act with impunity.
Sigh
Unsurprisingly, the next issue of the series is the last issue of the series. What is surprising, however, is the fact that it's the beginning of a three part story arc. In Doctor Strange #183, Strange answers a call for help from Kenneth West, an old friend of "Stephen Sanders". Strange learns that West has uncovered a cursed statue of a vaguely Lovecraftian being known as the Nameless One. Strange battles the Nameless One's followers the Undying Ones, and West is killed.
In Sub-Mariner #22, Strange manipulates Prince Namor into retrieving the statue of the Nameless One. Both Namor and Strange are pulled into the Nameless One's dimension, where Strange seemingly sacrifices himself to allow Namor to escape.
In Incredible Hulk #126 Bruce Banner is kidnapped by a cult of the Nameless One. Banner and dissenting cultist Barbara Norris are banished to an adjacent dimension with the intention of the Hulk to defeat the Nameless One's eternal enemy, the Night Crawler (no, not THAT Nightcrawler). There, we see that Doctor Strange is alive but trapped in some magic thingy. Barbara takes Strange's place in the magic thingy so that Strange and Hulk can escape back to Earth. Back home, Strange honors the memory of the woman who sacrificed herself for him by promptly retiring and forswearing sorcery forever.
In Sub-Mariner #22, Strange manipulates Prince Namor into retrieving the statue of the Nameless One. Both Namor and Strange are pulled into the Nameless One's dimension, where Strange seemingly sacrifices himself to allow Namor to escape.
In Incredible Hulk #126 Bruce Banner is kidnapped by a cult of the Nameless One. Banner and dissenting cultist Barbara Norris are banished to an adjacent dimension with the intention of the Hulk to defeat the Nameless One's eternal enemy, the Night Crawler (no, not THAT Nightcrawler). There, we see that Doctor Strange is alive but trapped in some magic thingy. Barbara takes Strange's place in the magic thingy so that Strange and Hulk can escape back to Earth. Back home, Strange honors the memory of the woman who sacrificed herself for him by promptly retiring and forswearing sorcery forever.
Sigh.
In our Get Off My Lawn segment, where we discuss comics that came after the Bronze Age, Herman talked about the first issue of the new Doctor Strange series by Mark Waid and Jesus Saiz ("Strange in spaaaaaaaace!!!!!!!).
I talked about the evolution of the character of Satannish over the years, culminating with Steve Englehart's revelation that Satannish is not only the true father of Daimon Hellstrom, but that he's also a creation of Dormammu (a discussion that I think broke Herman's brain).
*It came from the 2000 Hellcat series, but for the life of me I can't find the panels online that break it down*
I talked about the evolution of the character of Satannish over the years, culminating with Steve Englehart's revelation that Satannish is not only the true father of Daimon Hellstrom, but that he's also a creation of Dormammu (a discussion that I think broke Herman's brain).
*It came from the 2000 Hellcat series, but for the life of me I can't find the panels online that break it down*
Be sure to be on the lookout for episode 3 of Into the Weird, where we'll be firmly and finally in the Bronze Age and discussing two short backup stories: the first appearance of Man-Thing in Savage Tales #1, and the Doctor Strange's triumphant coming out of retirement in Marvel Feature #1.
Until then, stay Weird!
Until then, stay Weird!
I love this new podcast! if someone hasn't already clued you in about how Juggernaut got stuck in the crimson dimension, the answer is in X-Men #33, featuring a guest appearance by doctor strange. I kind of think juggernaut might have been conceived of as a guest star macguffin. in both of his first 2 appearances he shows up, he's more than the X-Men can handle so they call in help. the first time they call the FF and get only human torch and 2nd time it's Doctor Strange. so Juggs shows up, the X-Men can't deal. jean and prof x do some psychic stuff to learn more about Cyttorak, Doctor Strange's astral form senses their presence and shows up. they learn that the ancient one previously dealt with the last Juggernaut type herald of Cyttorak. he teaches jean and Scott how to enter the crimson cosmos so they can make a jem that will essentially send juggernaut into the crimson dimension ala superman and the phantom zone.
ReplyDeleteand that issue was also written by Roy Thomas.
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