Neilalien : A Doctor Strange Fansite : A Comic Book Weblog  

Neilalien Votes! [Marvel's Top 100]

Under different circumstances, I would vote otherwise. But I'm not running just a Doc fan site here, but Doc advocacy site. I started it to get Dr. Strange the attention and treatment he deserves from his Marvel masters. So my goal is to incorporate as much of the Dr. Strange canon as I can into my five votes, to try and best represent his origins and his powers, the other characters with whom he interacts best (Spider-Man, Dormammu, Clea, and Baron Mordo), and his very best creators (Lee, Ditko, and Stern)- and squeeze in some personal inclinations as well. I make no claim that this is "The Best of Dr. Strange" or "The Best of Marvel." So, without further adieu:

  1. Doctor Strange #169 (June 1968)
    The full-issue-sized solid retelling of his origin by Thomas and Adkins.
  2. Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2 (1965)
    Spider-Man is definitely another favorite character of mine, and Doc-Spidey team-ups tend to be pretty good. Lee and Ditko shine here.
  3. What If #40: What If Dr. Strange Had Never Become Master of the Mystic Arts?
    First, this book is a personal vote. It's dated August 1983, the same as Alpha Flight #1, when I started my hardcore collecting phase of my childhood. This book was my first exposure to Dr. Strange, and I believe it instills a lot of interest, appreciation and respect for the character. Gillis and Guice spin a good yarn overviewing much of Doctor Strange canon. And I love What If. Probably never reprinted. (Spoilers: Stephen Strange ends up saving the Earth from Dormammu anyway, through his wild talent. Duh.)
  4. Doctor Strange #70
    "Deadly Exchange," a solid one-shot Roger Stern story, April 1985. The pocket dimension of Kobar steals a nuclear weapon from Earth, so Doc shows them in their minds exactly what a nuclear weapon does. Great anti-nuke angle. Many nice, competent uses of his spells. Probably never reprinted.
  5. Dr. Strange/Dr. Doom: Triumph and Torment Graphic Novel by Stern and Mignola.
    I doubt that votes for graphic novels are acceptable- but this is hands-down one of the best stories ever produced in the Marvel Universe. If not this, then I start to break down- but I'm leaning towards Doctor Strange #3, September 1974, which in turn reprints Doc's stories in Strange Tales #126 and #127, Doc's first successful handling of Dormammu by Lee and Ditko. So, I try to bend the rules here with a reprint book. In my defense, it's a cute story, and it has been a good two decades since the stories were accessibly reprinted.

Posted 27 February 02001 - Permalink

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Dr. Strange needs our help [SuperHero Fight!]

Posted 27 February 02001 - Permalink

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Spider-Man: Lifeline #2 goes 2-0 re: positive reviews on Fandom [Critiques, Judgments]

Posted 27 February 02001 - Permalink

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Marvel bleeding money, mainly because of the crappy toy business; publishing arm doing very well [full financial report on Excite via Splash]

Posted 27 February 02001 - Permalink

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Acquistion: New Doctor Strange Action Figure

This weekend I picked up the recent Dr. Strange action figure from the Dark Side series (which also includes Dormammu). I'm disappointed with this figure because:

(Whew, it's been a while since I had a four-entry day!)

Posted 26 February 02001 - Permalink

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Neilalien Having Tough Time With Marvel Top 100 Vote

If I vote for Marvel's best ever, like Amazing Fantasy #15, then I vote for stuff that's been reprinted to death already. If I vote for stuff I'd like to see reprinted out of curiosity, like that silent Snake Eyes issue of GI Joe, then I'm voting for stories I've never even read and may not even like. I could vote the personal angle, like the Marvel book that began my childhood era of major collecting (Alpha Flight #1), but they won't get the votes to be reprinted. I want to vote all Dr. Strange, but can we vote for two half-issues of Strange Tales as one vote? A lot of classic Doc has been reprinted already, too. Can we vote for the Dr. Strange/Dr. Doom: Triumph and Torment one-shot graphic novel? Where are the rules to this thing? Bullocks!

Posted 26 February 02001 - Permalink

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There's been a lot of Doc rumblings on Usenet recently.

Maybe it is time for more Doctor Strange in comics. Looks like Google is starting to get their act together re: Deja's archives. I'd post too, but my time is limited and I spew enough here. :)

Posted 26 February 02001 - Permalink

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First look at Spider-Man: Lifeline #2 [today's Continuum]
As you know, I enjoyed #1. Well, #2 has Doc on the cover and more Doc inside! Yes!

Posted 26 February 02001 - Permalink

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Positive review of Defenders #2 [Comic Reader]
Several mixed reviews are currently posted here [Comic Book Galaxy]

Posted 22 February 02001 - Permalink

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Review of Defenders #2 (Spoilers)

I absolutely love this book. Having said that...

Posted 22 February 02001 - Permalink

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The new Spider-Man action figure has 30 points of articulation. Now that's poseable! [IGN]

Posted 22 February 02001 - Permalink

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Browsing this site's archives reminded me that I was really waiting for Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Magazine at one time- because of the whole retro concept, and a Dr. Strange appearance in #3. Well, to update: the book is out, I have zero interest in it, and Doc's presence in #3 is minimal (granted, it was a nice moment to see the old masked identity again, and he at least competently rescues the other heroes in the story).

I was waiting for Spider-Man: Lifeline about the same time, for the same reasons (retro concept, Doc appearance). Well, to reiterate and contrast: #1 was excellent.

Posted 21 February 02001 - Permalink

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Neilalien Update

The last week has been a little bumpy for the Neilalien website, but all seems well again- and just in time for my First Blogday this week (25 February- hint hint). It was ultimately a good bumpiness- a new web host, less down time, the back-end is improved, I'm using server side includes now, and the potential for many new features and functionalities now exists. If I can only get around to reviewing Defenders #2 before #3 comes out, and voting in Marvel's Top 100- then I can take a short breather.

Posted 20 February 02001 - Permalink

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Stan Lee Media Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection [Press Release on Yahoo Finance]

A tough, tough break for The Man.

Posted 17 February 02001 - Permalink

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Recommendation: Spider-Man: Lifeline #1 (Mini-series)

This book is spinning a Spidey tale in the classic style- with some great historical elements, a couple old-school villains, many classic Spidey art-story-telling elements (like the half-Peter, half-masked faces), and an adult, old-fashioned, wise-cracking Peter Parker too. I loved it. And of course, a competent appearance by Doctor Strange (and it seems like there will be more Doc in this story).

Posted 15 February 02001 - Permalink

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Neutral review of Defenders #2 [Fandom]

Posted 13 February 02001 - Permalink

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First look at Defenders #2 [Continuum]

Posted 12 February 02001 - Permalink

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Marvel's Top 100 Of All Time Is In Full Swing

Vote for your favorite top five Marvel Comics single issues. They'll list the top 100- and reprint the top 25. Cool. [Vote here]
We have until the end of February. I'm going to have to think about this...

Posted 9 February 02001 - Permalink

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A Marvel Knights #9 review that's more my style- "not much happens" [IGN]
On Being A Collector [IGN]

Posted 5 February 02001 - Permalink

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Marvel Knights #9 review [Fandom]
The review is positive. I really don't see the lush environment of personalities in this book that everyone else is apparently seeing (this reviewer, in the book's letter column, etc.). Am I so wrong?
For the record, Dr. Strange is not mentioned in the review at all, confirming his non-appearance. A wasted opportunity.

Posted 1 February 02001 - Permalink

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