When Marvel plays the esoteric card… Less identified by the general public than the publishing house's star superheroes (Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, etc.), Doctor Strange displays a personality all his own, dark, sulphurous and mysterious. Adored by many fans of the original comics, this specialist in black magic fascinates as much as he questions. Discover its origins, while the film of the same name is broadcast this Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 9:10 p.m. on TF1.
Really super powers!
The character was born in 1963 from the pen of Steve Ditko, one of the great creators of Marvel, dad, with Stan Lee, of Spider-Man. He reached his peak in the pages of the magazine Strange Tales in the 1960s and 1970s. In the wake of the peace and love movement, he evolves in parallel universes, masters telepathy, telekinesis, hypnosis and teleportation. Stephen Strange owes his superhero character to a tragedy. A brilliant but cynical and selfish neurosurgeon, he is the victim of a terrible car accident in which he loses the use of his hands. Unable to resume his work, depressed, he goes in desperation to Nepal, to the heights of the Himalayas, to meet a healer named the Elder, who introduces him to the mystical arts. Transformed, holding the unlimited powers of witchcraft, he now wants to do good. But his enemies are numerous…
From shadow to light
With his long red cape and his graying locks, Doctor Strange has long appeared dated, symbol of a bygone utopian era. For years, the character attracted little interest on the small or big screen. A TV movie, a few small appearances in animated series, and that's it. Change of gear in the 2010s. The success of all its superhero films encouraged Marvel to bring to the screen the adventures of more secondary characters, such as Ant-Man (2015), Black Panther (2018) et… Doctor Strange (2016). If it does not panic the counters as much as the Avengers saga, the hero, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, is holding his own, with nearly 2 million fans in France and $677 million in international revenue. Enough to win your ticket for the rest of the events (see box). Strange or not, the doctor hasn't finished his consultations yet!
