Strangers (Marvel Comics)
Strange | |
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Melvin Rubi (artist) | |
In-story information | |
Abilities | Aetheric energy blasts, super strength, near invulnerability |
Vincent Stevens | |
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David Quinn (writer) (artist)Max Douglas | |
In-story information | |
Full name | Vincent Stevens |
Abilities | Near invulnerability, possession |
The Strangers, individually named Strange and Vincent Stevens, are fictional magical beings appearing in
In a year-long storyline published in 1994 in
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
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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3] 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.[4]
Doctor Strange takes refuge in a new Sanctum Sanctorum located underground beneath
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.[8]
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
While Doctor Strange's creations are deciding what to do next, his former love
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 subtly 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.[12]
Having been rejected by Stevens, Strange begins to seek another individual to merge with to save his existence. After failing to convince the
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.[16] 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.[17] Stevens rebels against his creator and is destroyed in the ensuing fight.[18]
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.[19]
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
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #60 (December, 1993)
- ^ Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance #17 (December, 1993)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #61 (January, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #61 (January, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #62 (February, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #63 (March, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #64 (April, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #62 (February, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #66 (June, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme Annual #4 (1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #67 (July, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #68 (August, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #69 (September, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #70 (October, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #71 (November, 1994)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #72 (December, 1994)
- ^ Docter Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #73 (January, 1995)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #74 (February, 1995)
- ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #75 (March, 1995)