Well, I've started reading The Essential Dr. Strange Vol. 1. Guess what that means boys and girls?

One nit about the book itself: On the spine it's called The Essential Dr. Strange Vol. 1. On the front of the book, it's listed as The Essential Doctor Strange.... The indicia also lists it as The Essential Dr. Strange... So, which is the correct title?

Strange Tales #110 (Why does that sound familiar?

For some reason, Steve Ditko seems to have given Dr. Strange Asian features - the Mage's eyes are slanted. Wonder how he was colored in the book? Perhaps this oriental look was based on the idea that Stephen Strange was trained by the Ancient One, who lived in Tibet?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Black Magic generally considered evil? I mention this because throughout this issue, Strange is refered to as a practioner of Black Magic. (Later, of course, he would become the "Master of the Mystic Arts".)

On page 2, panel 7, Strange refers to the Ancient One as "the Master, form whom all my powers stem." Um, I thought his powers stemmed from various incantations, potions and other spellcastings, not from someone else. Seems awfully inconvenient to live in New York City and have your power source be somewhere in the Tibetan mountains, don't it?

The story involves a man who is disturbed by the same dream night after night. He goes to Stephen Strange for help. While Strange astral projects himself into the man's dreams, he learns that the dreams haunting the man are due his guilt over the people he screwed over in business. Because Strange learns of this, the man (who is never givne a name), gets his gun. He plans to kill Strange. Strange, in the dream realm, sees that his body is about to be shot. Because the Mystic is busy with the entity known as Nightmare, he calls upon the Master to help him. The Master uses his powers to operate the amulet Dr. Strange wears. It hypnotizes the would be murderer long enough for Strange to return to the physical plane. I guess Stephen's would be murderer took his time about killing the Doctor. I mean, otherwise you'd think he'd've had plenty of time to pull the trigger. I mean, first the Doctor has to contact the Master. The Master has to receive the plea for help and take in the situation his disciple is in. Then the Master has to determine a course of action and act on it. That's plenty of time to put a bullet into Doctor Stephen Strange, doncha think?

By the way, is the amulet not the Eye of Agamotto?If it is, I thought Strange had control over it. And I wasn't aware that it had hypnotic powers. I know it can blind people and reveal the truth. But hypnotize?

This issue contains the first appearance of Wong, though he is unnamed. The first appearance of Nightmare. The first appearance of the Ancient One, though he is called the Master in this tale.

Note that Dr. Strange does not, as of this issue, have his cloak of levitation.

Excelsior!

isn't Black Magic generally considered evil?
Maybe Stan had never heard of White Magic? Then again, when did people start making a distinction?

On the other hand Strange does get more powerful as time goes by so maybe the Ancient One taught him all about Black Magic so he could deal with evil magicians then continued teaching him about other forms of magic so he eventually became a Master of the Mystic Arts?

This could also explain why his power comes from the Ancient One at this point.

From Aargh! To Zap! features a panel from Strange Tales 137 where his amulet is doing something he apparently didn't know it could do, so possibly he doesn't know everything there is to know about it.

I believe his cloak was given to him in a later story.

Seems awfully inconvenient to live in New York City and have your power source be somewhere in the Tibetan mountains, don't it?
Silver extension cord through the astral plane. ;-)

Strange Tales #111

This issue features the debut of Baron Mordo. One thing that I wonder about - why would a baron, one who presumably has a certain amount of political (unless the title is purely honorific) and wealth, seek to learn magic -- in the Tibetan Mountains. In the origin of Dr. Strange (Strange Tales #115), the Ancient One takes on Strange as a disciple because he knows there is a spark of goodness in Stephen Strange. Did the Ancient One also see such a spark in Mordo? Is this why he took the Baron on as a disciple? If not, why did he take Baron Mordo as a disciple, since presumably he would know Mordo is a man of evil? (If he can sense the spark of goodness in Strange, then he'd have to be able to sense the obverse in Mordo.) Why hasn't the Ancient One ever commented on the goodness that is deep within Mordo? (If it exists?)

Mordo takes possession of one of the Ancient One's servants (he's still called the Master in this tale). Using the servant, Mordo poisons the Master. Trouble is, Mordo for some silly reason uses a rather slow acting poison. Instead of killing the Ancient One instaneously, the Master has time to summon Dr. Strange. Stephen Strange has time to arrive, fight Mordo and cure the Ancient One before the poison kills the Master. I don't know about you, but if I'm gonna poison someone, it's gonna be with a substance that will kill them within a matter of seconds, not hours.

Strange still does not have his cloak of levitation in this story. He does have it in his next appearance - Strange Tales #114, though.

Strange and Mordo fight on the astral plane. Oddly, this fight, unlike later fights in the Dr. Strange canon, does not involve the weaving of spells and mystic blasts. It's a wrestling match.

To cure the Master of the poison, Strange directs a beam of light from his amulet. (Still not yet called the Eye of Agamotto, though it clearly is that device.) So, this amulet can cure poison, huh? What other diseases can it cure? Can it also cure cancer and AIDS? Wouldn't Strange casting a spell to fight the poison have made more sense, than using the Eye of Agamotto?

Incidentally, Dr. Strange still has the slanted eyes used to depict people of Asian descent in this story. Was Stephen Strange originally meant to be Oriental?

Excelsior!

Strange Tales #114

Baron Mordo strikes again. This time he impersonates an old acquaintance of Dr. Strange's - Sir Clive Bentley. As Bentley, Mordo convinces Strange to travel to England to help his old friend. Once in the castle of Sir Bentley's, Stephen Strange is "paralyzed" by the vapors given off by two candles in the room he enters. (The candles are, of course, of the mystical sort.) It is later revealed that Strange had sent a mental projection on ahead, until Strange himself could arrive. Okay. First of all, Strange is never really paralyzed, his arms repeatedly change positions while "held" by the candles. Second of all, it's not Strange who's "paralyzed" but a mental projection. So why was it affected by the vapors of the candles? Surely a mental projection can't smell the vapors of the candles. And without smelling them, how would Strange know they would magically paralyze him? Don't tell me Strange was faking it. Through his amulet, he projects his thoughts until he makes telepathic contact with a young lady and lures her to the castle to break the spell by putting out the candles. So, if Strange is faking it, he's going through a lot of trouble to make it look good. Not to mention putting a civilian in danger by luring her to the castle. And about that "mental projection", Strange, when he physically arrives, speaks of "uniting with (his) ethereal self". That sounds like he's talking about an astral projection. But on all other occasions, whenever he astral projects, his physical body is incapable of movement. So there's no way for him to just walk up and reunite with his spirit.

Stephen Strange is still shown looking like his an Asian.

In this issue, he wears, for the first time, a cloak. It's not, however, called a "cloak of levitation".

A minor potential subplot was introduced in this issue. The lady Strange summoned to help him is Lord Bentley's daughter. It turns out that she has the potential to perform feats of magic. She even states that she feels that her and Strange share a common destiny. As a matter of fact, she asks to be Stephen's disciple. Strange turns her down, telling her that the more she knows, the more Mordo will want to harm her. Wouldn't Mordo want to anyway, to keep her from ever developing her mystical talents more fully? However, as of Strange Tales #123, this subplot has not been picked up on. It seems to have been long forgotten.

"By the Vishanti!"

Strange Tales #115

The Ancient One's temple (also in later issues called a castle. Yeah, right. Not in the Tibetan mountains.) looks considerably different in this issue than it did in its debut in Strange Tales #110. Then again, this is the Origin Story for Doc Strange, so maybe the domed building was torn down later. Except, it appears in all subsequent apperances in the series.

At the end of the story, the Ancient One warns Strange that one day, the Mystic and Mordo will have to battle to the finish. Later stories will modify this stance. It seems that both the Ancient One and Strange do not believe in killing anyone - any more.

I know I've brough this up already, but why does the Ancient One take on Mordo as a disciple? He explicitly takes on Dr. Strange because he senses the goodness in the surgeon. Surely, the Ancient One would sense the opposite in Mordo and refuse to allow him to become a disciple?

By the Hoary Host of Hoggoth!

Strange Tales #116

A cop and a doctor walk into Dr. Strange's Greenwhich village home... Oops! That sounds like a joke. Anyway, it seems a "number of men" have been afflicted with a sleep from which they can't be awakened. After medical science fails to cure the men, they turn to Dr. Strange for help. As it turns out, the sleep is the work of Nightmare. Strange journeys to Nightmare's world to rescue the people who have been brought under Nightmare's control. I really thought that from the fact that the police went to Strange for help, that The Daily Globe had a front page article on the men, that there were at least twenty so afflicted. As it turns out, there's only three. I'm not sure that three people who suffer from being in a sleep from which they cannot be awaken justifies seeking help from the Master of the Mystic Arts. Then again, maybe Steve Ditko didn't want to draw that many people?

It's never said what Nightmare hopes to accomplish by putting these people into such a deep sleep. And why only three men? Why not hundreds?

To retrieve the three men, Strange must follow a path the mystic conjured up in the name of Hoggoth. As Stephen nears the prisoners of Nightmare, the demon disintegrates the path. Strange takes his sash off and uses it to complete the path again. That's an awful long sash when you consider how big a chunk of the path was knocked out by Nightmare. Then again, why does Nightmare allow Strange to complete the path again? Why doesn't the demon do all he can to prevent the completion of the path? He allows Strange to reach the men and set them on the Hoggoth path back home. It isn't until the men are on the path and Strange is just about there, that Nightmare does anything to thwart the rescue attempt. If it's so important to Nightmare to enslave these men, why does he let Strange so easily rescue them?

Strange Tales #118

In this issue, Strange uses a globe to find out if there is any evil-doings involving magic happening on Earth. It's a good thing the evil magicians of the world only operate one at a time, unlike regular supervillains, isn't it? Strange would have to decide what evil to fight first.


Curse me for a novice!

Strange Tales #119

In this issue, Strange invokes the name of the Dormammu in one of his spells. Interesting given that Dormammu would soon become one of Strange's greatest foes. What's really interesting is that no mention of the use of Dormammu's name in an incantation is ever made.

Strange still, btw, looks to be Asian.

Strange Tales #120

This issue marks the first time since Strange's debut that his amulet projects a mystical eye to see things magically. It's a power the amulet will use more frequently as the series progresses. Incidentally, I forgot to mention, the amulet is different than the one introduced in Strange Tales #110. In that issue it was circular. Here it's square. It's been that way since #116. Wonder if it's supposed to be a different amulet? Hard to say since it has pretty much the same powers as the round one.

Stephen Strange in this issue now looks European, rather than Oriental.

By the Vishanti!

Strange Tales #121

In this story, Baron Mordo has managed to trap Strange's ectoplasmic/spirit/astral projection form out of the Doctor's body. Stephen has 24 hours to reunite body and soul. In order to outwit Mordo, Strange takes possession of a wax figure and uses it to attack the Baron. I had no idea that wax statues were so flexible.

Astonishingly, the statue is able to move swiftly enough to put a gag on Mordo. Personally, I'd've tried to knock Mordo out. It would have been much more effective as a means of keeping the Baron from using any magic against Strange.

Strange Tales #123

Are Marvel Universe characters unaware of mythology? In this issue, Strange meets Loki, who convinces him that his half-brother, Thor, is evil. If Strange knew anything about Norse mythology, he'd know this isn't true. And somehow, I find it weird that of all people, Stephen Strange is ignorant of the myths.

The story ends with a caption that reads, "...just as every little Hoggoth grows up to be a deathless Vishanti." I personally, have always been under the impression that Hoggoth and Vishanti were separate mystical entities. As far as I can tell, this is the only reference made to the idea that they are so closely related. Of course, Stan Lee was very vague on these matters, and I don't think any of the subsequent writers of the series were any more explicit.

Strange Tales #124

A woman in a cloak with what looks like mosquito netting suddenly materializes in front of the good Doctor on the streets of New York. Strange is in his astral form. He sees the woman and pronounces it a "girl". Well, that was quite sexist. (But in keeping with the times, so...)

The woman seems to be caught in a spell, so Strange uses his magic to guide her to his Greenwich Village sanctum. The caption describes it as a "laboratory". Somehow, I don't think that the right word.

Oddly enough, Strange casts a "veil of invisibilty" on the woman and himself. That's a bit redundant, isn't it? I mean, in his ectoplasmic form, isn't Stephen already invisible to mortal eyes? Only those who are versed in magic can see him. (The Hulk was, however, an exception.)

To learn what spell has enchanted the woman, Strange travels back in time. Once he arrives at the point in time where the woman was from, Strange is captured by a "prison of rolling light". Strange notes that it has "no physical form." That doesn't sound right. If it's visible light, it must have some physical form, right?

Strange Tales #125

In this issue, Baron Mordo wears a cap that is in the shape of the haircut he's had for the first few appearances he made. Does anyone wear caps like that? It looks silly.

Praise the Vishanti!

Have you read the Norse myths, Benn? The Norse gods were not the nicest of people.
Besides which myths are generally one-sided, presenting the viewpoint that the worshippers want to believe.
Was Thor a hero or a psycho who went around slaughtering giants?
Interestingly enough the reason why Loki was imprisoned and punished by the gods wasn't because he had done anything evil, it was because he had basically just called all of them hypocrites and gave examples to back it up.

If it's visible light, it must have some physical form, right?
Physical? As in tangible or solid?

"Have you read the Norse myths, Benn? The Norse gods were not the nicest of people." - KAM

To be honest, KAM, no, I haven't read them. But I am perfectly aware that the Norse gods aren't portrayed accurately in Marvel Comics. (Contrast the portrayal of Thor in Marvel Comics to Neil Gaiman's portrayal of Thor in The Sandman story arc, Season of Mists.) On the other hand, nowhere, it seems, in the Marvel Universe does anybody question the concept of Thor being a hero. A noble hero at that. I suspect that Norse mythology is somewhat different in the Marvel U, than it is in Real Life. It's either that, or Norse mythology doesn't exist in the Marvel U. I could be wrong, though.

"If it's visible light, it must have some physical form, right?" - me
"Physical? As in tangible or solid?" - KAM again

Not tangible per se. What the issue actually says is (and I quote), "Wait...What is this beam of light?? It has no physical form, and yet it could imprison any man." Strange seems to think this is unusual. While I agree that light is in no way tangible, it does have physical properties to it. I guess the way he says it is what's throwing me off. Anyway, it isn't just a beam of light. It's several of them. Strange is surrounded by light beams.

"From Aargh! To Zap! features a panel from Strange Tales 137 where his amulet is doing something he apparently didn't know it could do, so possibly he doesn't know everything there is to know about it." - KAM the Man again

The amulet acted in that manner because of a spell the Ancient One had just taught Strange. It's one that allowed Stephen to travel to the dimension where Eternity dwells. Having never known of the existence of Eternity before, Stange couldn't have known his amulet could act in such a manner. (Of course, the previous issues featured Strange asking various people if they had ever heard of, or knew what "eternity" was. I kept waiting for someone to say, "Forever, and that's a mighty long time." You have to wonder how educated Strange was not to know what "eternity" is. I mean, if I were the writer, I'd've have the mystic trying to figure out why the Ancient One thought "forever" was so important. It would've been more of a surprise for readers [and Strange] to learn that "Eternity" was a person and not merely a noun meaning "an infinite state". But that's just me.)

Curse me for a novice!

Benn - One nit about the book itself: On the spine it's called The Essential Dr. Strange Vol. 1. On the front of the book, it's listed as The Essential Doctor
Strange.... The indicia also lists it as The Essential Dr. Strange... So, which is the correct title?
Since I believe the indicia contains all the legal mumbo jumbo I would say the indicia is the legal title. However I am not a legal expert, so I could be wrong.
When I make up a list of my comics I list them according to the indicia.

Strange is refered to as a practioner of Black Magic
As far as I can tell the term white magic may not have existed when these stories were being written. Looking at my Websters New Twentieth Century Dictionary Unabridged Second Edition
(printed in 1970) they have a listing for Black Magic, but not White Magic and most of the definitions for the various synonyms for magic or magician list trickery and/or evil.

"...just as every little Hoggoth grows up to be a deathless Vishanti."
It sounds like he's describing a race rather than specific entities. Deathless sounds like the Vishanti are immortal which would seem to cause problems if every Hoggoth becomes one.

I am perfectly aware that the Norse gods aren't portrayed accurately in Marvel Comics.
Oh, definitely, but then what comic book gods are portrayed like the myths?

nowhere, it seems, in the Marvel Universe does anybody question the concept of Thor being a hero. A noble hero at that. I suspect that Norse mythology is somewhat different in the Marvel U, than it is in Real Life.
Then again does anyone in the Marvel U honestly think Thor is the actual guy from Norse mythology? I would guess that most people who know of Thor think he's just a superhero who named himself after the Norse god.
In The Trial Of Galactus when Odin appears to give testimony Sue says, "He... he's so... imposing! We've all met Thor half a dozen times... ...but somehow I never made the connection-- Asgard! The ancient Norse gods! And Odin -- their ruler!"

Of course, my first brush with the Norse pantheon was Marvel comics, so if Marvel comics didn't exist would I have read the Norse myths? Obviously Stephen Strange didn't read Marvel Comics as a kid, so he might not have read up on those myths (although as a sorcerer who calls upon various entities & deities you'd think he might have.)
If we remove Marvel Comics from the equation, then the only other big cultural thing I can think of that dealt with the Norse gods was Wagner's Ring Cycle and that's uses the Teutonic names and Loki would be called Loge and he only had a small part in the first opera and was only mentioned in the last one, IIRC.
Sooooooooo, if Strange was not a fan of ancient mythology and the Ancient One's teachings did not deal with Norse magic, then I suppose it's possible that he might not know who or what Loki & Thor are.

"Wait...What is this beam of light?? It has no physical form, and yet it could imprison any man."
Okay, from my reading Strange is surprised the light can imprison him even though it has no physical form. I think you interpreted the statement wrongly. Barring the use of laser beams I wouldn't expect anyone to be held prisoner by light either because it's physical properties are so slight we don't even notice it.

Strange asking various people if they had ever heard of, or knew what "eternity" was. I kept waiting for someone to say, "Forever, and that's a mighty long time." You have to wonder how educated Strange was not to know what "eternity" is.
According to mythologist Joseph Campbell Eternity originally meant the absence of time.

Deedra's Chain!
(Ooops! Wrong series. ;-)

If we remove Marvel Comics from the equation, then the only other big cultural thing I can think of that dealt with the Norse gods was Wagner's Ring Cycle and that's uses the Teutonic names and Loki would be called Loge and he only had a small part in the first opera and was only mentioned in the last one, IIRC.

And in the Ring Loge is one of the most sympatheic characters, not the villian he is in the Marvel Universe.

Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts #14

This issue is a sequel to Tomb of Dracula #44. In that issue, Dracula attacked Strange's servant, Wong. The Sorcerer Supreme decides to track down Dracula in order to prevent Wong from becoming a vampire. At the end of ToD #44, Strange had fought Dracula and lost.

In Doctor Strange #14, Dracula refers to Wong by name. The problem is that Drac shouldn't know Wong's name. Strange never once refered to Wong by name. He only said that Dracula had attacked his servant.

After defeating Dracula, Strange casts a spell whereby "(he) abjure(s) the spell of darkness" from Wong, saving him from becoming a vampire. He then does the same thing to himself. Couldn't he have done that earlier - without having to fight Dracula? Moreover, couldn't he have used that spell to cure Dracula of being a vampire, rather than have to use the Montesi Formula later on?

BTW, am I the only one who finds it hard to believe that Dr. Strange, the Master of the Mystic Arts, this dimension's Sorcerer Supreme, couldn't put the whoopass on Dracula? That just doesn't ring true to me.

By the Vishanti!

To Catch A Magician! Strange Tales #145 Reprinted in Giant-Size Defenders #1
A thug comes into Dr. Strange's hospital room and says, "I dunno how that creep Rasputin knew where he was". Problem is earlier Rasputin only told the thug to check hospitals as that where Strange might be (since Rasputin had shot him earlier) not where he was.

Let There Be Victory! Strange Tales #141 Reprinted in Marvel Tales #29
Page 3, Panel 6. The Dread Dormammu's Pincers of Power are yellow instead of red.

Page 4. Dormammu's pincers are orange.

Page 5, Panel 3. Dormammu's pincer is yellow.

Page 5, Panel 5. Dr. Strange's Pincers are suddenly orange when previously they were red.

When Strange was fighting Dormammu in another dimension an enemy of Strange's planted a bomb in his sanctum. Now that Strange has returned the bomber says, "I must activate the trigger device slowly--gently--so he does not detect it--!"
Say what?
It's a non-magical bomb. How could he detect it? Besides how do you slowly activate a push-button trigger? Once the trigger is activated a signal is sent... Boom! You can't slowly send the signal.

Benn - Using the servant, Mordo poisons the Master. Trouble is, Mordo for some silly reason uses a rather slow acting poison.
Wasn't it because he wanted the Ancient One to tell him all of his secrets?

Strange still does not have his cloak of levitation in this story. He does have it in his next appearance - Strange Tales #114, though.
Except that it is colored the same as the cloak he wore previously, all blue (at least in the Marvel Masterworks collection). I haven't got to the story where he gets his red cape yet.

While not a nit one thing I found interesting about Strange Tales #123 was how easily Loki was putting the smack down on Doctor Strange. Normally Strange is either more powerful or just as powerful as his opponents, but here he was literally out of his class.

Benn - Using the servant, Mordo poisons the Master. Trouble is, Mordo for some silly reason uses a rather slow acting poison.
Wasn't it because he wanted the Ancient One to tell him all of his secrets? - KAM

I dunno. Could be. What issue was that? It's been so long, I don't rightly remember. You're gonna make me go back and re-read it, aren't you? Grumble, grumble, grumble.

Strange still does not have his cloak of levitation in this story. He does have it in his next appearance - Strange Tales #114, though. - me
Except that it is colored the same as the cloak he wore previously, all blue (at least in the Marvel Masterworks collection). I haven't got to the story where he gets his red cape yet. - KAM

Hey, I was working with a handicap - I was reading the black and white Essential Dr. Strange Volume 1. I believe the dialogue is what informed me that he did not, as of yet, have his cloak of levitation. I could be wrong. Again, it's been awhile since I've read that issue.

By the Vishanti!

Benn - I dunno. Could be. What issue was that?
You were nitting Strange Tales #111.

You're gonna make me go back and re-read it, aren't you? Grumble, grumble, grumble.
You make it sound like a chore. 8-O (For me, Ditko/Lee Doctor Strange is one Marvel's best 1960s offerings. The FF & Spidey being the other 2.)

Hey, I was working with a handicap - I was reading the black and white Essential Dr. Strange Volume 1.
Which is why I mentioned the color. Also IIRC that cape had a 'flattop' whereas his famous red Cloak of Levitation has those two 'bat ears' sticking up.

Also IIRC Strange mentioned that he was practicing levitation, implying to me that the power came from him while a Cloak of Levitation would have its own power.
(Okay, okay, Stan probably forgot Strange could levitate on his own when he made up the Cloak of Levitation, but it sounds like a good anti-nit. ;-)

Me - Except that it is colored the same as the cloak he wore previously, all blue (at least in the Marvel Masterworks collection). I haven't got to the story where he gets his red cape yet.
Dr. Strange gets his red & yellow cape & a more powerful amulet at the end of Strange Tales #127

The Demon’s Disciple! Strange Tales #128
The Demon traps Strange in the Crimson Bands of Cytorrak, shrinks Strange down, then tries to destroy him, but finds he can not. What appears to be Dr. Strange’s spirit self is flying around learning what spells the Demon is using. It is mentioned that the Demon can not destroy Strange because the real Strange had slipped out and left an imaginary vision image behind.
However if this is the real Strange, then why does he look like a spirit, why does he float through things, why is he missing his cape, why is he the same size as the image inside the bands instead of his normal size & why does he seem to need to rejoin the image to defeat the Demon?

Tiboro! The Tyrant Of The Sixth Dimension! Strange Tales #129
A scientist on the panel show The Twelfth Hour refers to Dr. Strange’s theories about Black Magic.
Since when has Dr. Strange gone around talking about the theories of Black Magic?

Black Magic is generally of a harmful nature, while White magic is generally of a benefical nature.

Me - As far as I can tell the term white magic may not have existed when these stories were being written.
And I was wrong. I've discovered that stage magicians in the 1800s used the term, presumably to avoid the claims of working with the devil. (Not that it stopped such claims.)

The Oath Chapter One Doctor Strange: The Oath Halloween Comic Fest 2015 #1

The opening scene with an injured Arana & Iron Fist in Night Nurse's waiting room feels like a rejected sketch from Saturday Night Live or Mad TV.

The decision to have Night Nurse work as a doctor on superheroes isn't necessarily a bad one, but the big waiting room and operating room makes me wonder why she doesn't seem to have any assistants?

Dr. Strange says he swore an oath to Hippocrates.
While that's consistent with a Dr. Strange who became a doctor in the 1960s, the sliding timescale of Marvel would mean that Stephen Strange would have become a doctor after doctors stopped swearing to the Hippocratic oath.

Ugh. So Stephen's doctor "friend" has stolen the cure for cancer and plans to dump it down the drain?
Yeahhhhhhh... Clearly the writer believes the nonsense of doctors and pharmacutical companies would destroy cures because it allows them to keep treating patients instead of curing them. This is rubbish, because there are hundreds, if not thousands, of diseases that the human race suffers from. So it's not like there is a shortage of disease out there that would keep doctors & "Big Pharma" from making money.