Doctor Strange is a series of several comic book volumes featuring the character Doctor Strange and published by Marvel Comics, beginning with the original Doctor Strange comic book series that debuted in 1968.
Publication history Doctor Strange vol. 1 The original Strange Tales series ended with issue #168 (May 1968). The following month, Doctor Strange's adventures continued in the full-length Doctor Strange #169, with Nick Fury moving to the newly launched Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Expanded to 20 pages per issue, the Doctor Strange solo series ran 15 issues, #169-183 (June 1968 – November 1969), continuing the numbering of Strange Tales.DeFalco in Roy Thomas wrote the run of new stories, joined after the first three issues by the art team of penciler Gene Colan and inker Tom Palmer through the end. Colan drastically altered the look of the series, as Thomas recounted: "... he had his own view of what these other worlds should look like. Everyone else sort of copied Ditko's versions of those extra dimensions, which were great and wonderful. When Gene came on, he didn't feel a real rapport with that, I guess, so his extra dimensions tended to be just blackness and smoke and things of that sort... Sometimes it was a little strange for a dimension Doc Strange had been to before to look different when drawn by Gene, but nobody complained." Thomas recalled in 2000 that he returned to work a day late from a weekend comic book convention to find that Marvel production manager Sol Brodsky had assigned Doctor Strange to writer Archie Goodwin, newly ensconced at Marvel and writing Iron Man. Thomas convinced Brodsky to allow him to continue writing the title. "I got very possessive about Doctor Strange," Thomas recalled. "It wasn't a huge seller, but [by the time it was canceled] we were selling the low 40 percent range of more than 400,000 print run, so it was actually selling a couple hundred thousand copies [but] at the time you needed to sell even more."
Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts (Doctor Strange vol. 2) Doctor Strange's feature in the Marvel Premiere series segued to the character's second ongoing title, Doctor Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts, also known as Doctor Strange vol. 2, which ran 81 issues (June 1974 – February 1987). Doctor Strange #14 featured a crossover story with The Tomb of Dracula #44, another series that was being drawn by Gene Colan at the time.Sanderson "1970s" in In Englehart's final story, he sent Dr. Strange back in time to meet Benjamin Franklin.Sanderson "1970s" in In 2010, Comics Bulletin ranked Englehart's work on Doctor Strange with artists Frank Brunner and Colan ninth on its list of the "Top 10 1970s Marvels."
The series ended with a cliffhanger as his home, the Sanctum Sanctorum, was heavily damaged during a battle. The title was discontinued so that the character's adventures could be transferred to another split-book-format series, Strange Tales vol. 2 #1–19 (April 1987 – October 1988), which was shared with Cloak and Dagger.
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme Strange was returned to his own series, this time titled Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme, which ran 90 issues (November 1988 – June 1996). The initial creative team was writer Peter B. Gillis and artists Richard Case and Randy Emberlin, with storylines often spanning multiple issues. During this time the series became part of the "Midnight Sons" group of Marvel's supernatural comics.Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #60 (December 1993) to #68 (August 1994)
Jackson Guice's cover for Doctor Strange #15 (1990) used Christian music singer Amy Grant's likeness without her permission, leading to a complaint saying that the cover gave the appearance that she was associating with witchcraft. A US District Court sealed an out-of-court settlement between Grant and Marvel in early 1991 with a consent decree in which Marvel did not admit to liability or wrongdoing.
Doctor Strange vol. 3 As part of the Marvel Knights imprint, the third volume of Doctor Strange was released in 1999. Given the subtitle Flight of Bones, the volume was written by Dan Jolley and Tony Harris, and briefly ran for four issues.
Doctor Strange vol. 4 In 2015, Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo teamed up for the fourth volume of Doctor Strange. Writers Dennis Hopeless and Penciler Niko Henrichon took charge during the Secret Empire event in issues 21-24, with Bachalo still providing covers. Writer John Barber and Penciler Niko Henrichon took charge for issues 25-26. After the Marvel Legacy renumbering, writer Donny Cates and pencilers Frazer Irving and Chip Zdarsky took over at issues #381-390. Considering the legacy renumbering, the fourth volume actually has a total of 36 issues.
Doctor Strange vol. 5 A fifth Doctor Strange series was launched by writer Mark Waid and artist Jesus Saiz in August 2018. The series was concluded at a total of 20 issues.
Dr. Strange, Surgeon Supreme A short-lived sixth series, Doctor Strange: Surgeon Supreme, launched in December 2019 by writer Mark Waid and artist Kev Walker follows immediately after the storyline completed in the fifth series. The series was cancelled after six issues.
Death of Doctor Strange Being a mini-series, Death of Doctor Strange was written by Jed MacKay, and penciled/inked by Lee Garbett. With focus on the temporary death of the heroic sorcerer and the reactions of fellow heroes, the 5-issue series lasted from November 2021 to March 2022.
Doctor Strange vol. 6 This series (debuting with Doctor Strange #1, May 2023), headed by writer Jed MacKay and artist Pasqual Ferry, features the continued trials and tribulations of the recently revivified Stephen Strange as well as Clea's position in the series. The series connects to the Blood Hunt event and concludes after 18 issues.
Doctor Strange of Asgard Being written by Derek Landy, the series takes places shortly after the Blood Hunt event. The story arc focuses on the aftermath of Strange losing the title of Earth's Sorcerer Supreme to Doctor Doom but finding a new purpose in the mythical realm of Asgard. The series consists of 5 issues and leads into Volume 7 of the title.
Primary Series Doctor Strange is featured or co-featured in the ongoing series: Strange Tales #110–111, #114–168 (JulyAug. 1963, Nov. 1963May 1968) Doctor Strange #169–183 (June 1968Nov. 1969) Marvel Premiere #3–14 (July 1972March 1974) Doctor Strange vol. 2 #1–81 [#184–264] (June 1974Feb. 1987) Strange Tales vol. 2 #1–19 (April 1987Oct. 1988) Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #1–90 [#265–354] (Nov. 1988June 1996) Doctor Strange vol. 3 #1–4 (Feb.May 1999) Strange #1–6 (Nov. 2004July 2005): a six-part American comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics under their Marvel Knights imprint. Written by J. Michael Straczynski and Samm Barnes, with artwork by Brandon Peterson, Strange is a re-imagining of Doctor Strange's origin. Doctor Strange: The Oath #1–5 (Dec. 2006April 2007) Strange vol. 2 #1–4 (Jan.April 2010) Doctor Strange vol. 4 #1–26 [#355–380] (Dec. 2015Dec. 2017) Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme #1–12 (Dec. 2016Nov. 2017) Doctor Strange #381–390 (Jan.July 2018) Doctor Strange: Damnation #1–4 (AprilJune 2018) Doctor Strange vol. 5 #1–20 [#391–410] (Aug. 2018Dec. 2019) Dr. Strange #1–6 [#411–416] (Feb.Oct. 2020) Death of Doctor Strange #1–5 (Nov. 2021March 2022) Strange vol. 3 #1–10 [#417–426] (May 2022March 2023) Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise #1–4 (Jan.April 2023) Doctor Strange vol. 6 #1–18 [#427–444] (May 2023Oct. 2024) Doctor Strange of Asgard #1–5 [#445–449] (May 2025Sept. 2025)
Timeline
Contributors
Vol. 1 (1968–1969; 2017–2018)
Writers Years Writer Issues 1968-1969 Roy Thomas #169-178, #180-183 1969 Reprint of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 #179 2017-2018 Donny Cates #381-390
Pencilers Years Penciler Issues 1968 Dan Adkins #169-170 1968 Tom Palmer #171 1968-1969 Gene Colan #172-178, #180-183 1969 Reprint of Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 #179 2017-2018 Gabriel Hernandez Walta #381-385 2018 Niko Henrichon #386-389 2018 Frazer Irving #390 2018 Chip Zdarsky #390
Vol. 2 (1974–1987)
Writers Years Writer Issues 1974-1976 Steve Englehart #1-18 1976-1977 Marv Wolfman #19-20, #22-23, Annual #1 1976 P. Craig Russell Annual #1 1977 Reprint of Doctor Strange (vol. 1) #169 #21 1977 Jim Starlin #24-26 1978-1979, 1981-1986 Roger Stern #27-30, #32-33, #35-37, #47-62, #65-73, #75 1978 Don McGregor #31 1979 Ralph Macchio #33-37 1979-1981 Chris Claremont #38-45 1981 Bill Kunkel #46 1981 David Michelinie #46 1982 J.M. DeMatteis #54 1984 Carl Potts #63 1984 Ann Nocenti #64 1985-1987 Peter B. Gillis #74, #76-81
Pencilers Years Penciler Issues 1974 Frank Brunner #1-5 1975-1976, 1979-1981 Gene Colan #6-18, #36-45, #47 1976 Alfredo Alcala #19 1976-1977 Rudy Nebres #20, #22 1976 P. Craig Russell Annual #1 1977 Reprint of Doctor Strange (vol. 1) #169 #21 1977 Jim Starlin #23, #26 1977 Al Milgrom #24-25 1978-1979 Tom Sutton #27-30, #33-35 1978 Ricardo Villamonte #31 1978 Alan Kupperberg #32 1981 Kerry Gammill #46 1981-1982 Marshall Rogers #48-53 1982, 1984-1985 Paul Smith #54, #56, #65-66, #68-69, #71–73 1982 Brent Anderson #54 1982 Michael Golden #55 1983 Kevin Nowlan #57 1983 Dan Green #58-61 1983-1984 Steve Leialoha #62, #67 1984 Carl Potts #63 1984 Tony Salmons #64 1985 Bret Blevins #70 1985-1986 Mark Badger #74, #76 1986 Sal Buscema #75 1986-1987 Chris Warner #76-81
Sorcerer Supreme (1988–1996)
Writers Years Writer Issues 1988-1989 Peter B. Gillis #1–4 1989-1993 Roy Thomas #5-24, #26-47, #52-56, Annual #2 1989-1992 Dann Thomas #5-24, #26-40 1991 Fabian Nicieza #25 1992-1993 Len Kaminski #48-50, #52 1993 Geof Isherwood #51-53, #57-59, Annual #3 1993-1995 David Quinn #60-67, #69-79, Annual #4 1994 Dan Abnett #68 1995 Evan Skolnick #77-79, #82 1995 Warren Ellis #80-82 1995 Todd Dezago #81, #83 1995-1996 J. M. DeMatteis #84-90
Pencilers Years Penciler Issues 1988-1989 Richard Case #1–4 1989-1990 Jackson Guice #5-16, #18, #20-24 1990 Jim Valentino #17 1990 Gene Colan #19 1991 Ron Lim #25 1991 Chris Marrinan #26-30, #32-33 1991 Tony DeZuniga #31 1991 Dan Lawlis #34-36 1992 M.C. Wyman Annual #2 1992-1993 Geof Isherwood #37-53, #55-57, Annual #3 1993 Frank Lopez #54 1993-1994 Melvin Rubi #60-62, #64-65, #68 1994 Max Douglas #63 1994 John Hixson #66 1994 Mark Tenney #67 1994 David Brewer #69 1994 Kyle Hotz Annual #4 1994-1995 Peter Gross #70-73, #76 1995 Steve Yeowell #74 1995-1996 Mark Buckingham #75, #80-82, #84, #86-90 1995 Richard Pace #77 1995 Marie Severin #78-79 1995 Gary Frank #82 1995 Patrick Zircher #83 1996 Pasqual Ferry #85
Vol. 3 (1998–1999)
Writers Years Writer Issues 1998-1999 Dan Jolley #1-4 1998-1999 Tony Harris #1-4 1998-1999 Ray Snyder #1-4
Pencilers Years Penciler Issues 1998-1999 Tony Harris #1-2 1999 Paul Chadwick #3-4
Vol. 4 (2015–2017)
Writers Years Writer Issues 2015-2017 Jason Aaron #1-20 2016 Kathryn Immonen Annual #1 2016 Robbie Thompson Annual #1 2017 Dennis Hopeless #21-24 2017 John Barber #25-26
Pencilers Years Penciler Issues 2015-2017 Chris Bachalo #1-10, 12-16, 18-20 2015-2017 Kevin Nowlan #1, 6, 11, 20, 25 2016 Leonardo Romero Annual #1, #11 2016 Jonathan Marks Annual #1 2016 Mike Deodato #6 2016-2017 Jorge Fornes #6, 15 2016 Kev Walker #6 2017 Cory Walker #16 2017 Frazer Irving #17 2017 Niko Henrichon #21-24 2017 Juan Frigeri #25
Vol. 5 (2018–2019)
Writers Years Writer Issues 2018-2019 Mark Waid #1-20 2019 Barry Kitson #17 2019 Tini Howard Annual #1
Pencilers Years Penciler Issues 2018-2019 Jesús Saíz #1-5, 9-11, 18-19 2018-2019 Javier Pina #6-8, 11, 20 2019 Barry Kitson #12-17 2019 Andy MacDonald Annual #1
Vol. 6 (2023–2024)
Writer Years Writers Issues 2023-2024 Jed MacKay #1-18 2023 Amy Chu #3
Pencilers Years Penciler Issues 2023-2024 Pasqual Ferry #1-3, 5, 7-10, 13-18 2023 Andy MacDonald #1, 4 2023 Tokitokoro #3 2023 Juan Gedeon #6 2024 Danilo Beyruth #11-12
Collected editions