The Sorcerer Supreme has received an uptick in popularity thanks to his appearance in the MCU, but where else can fans spot Doctor Strange?
Doctor Strange, as is typical of most MCU heroes, has gotten a resurgence in popularity as a result of his big-screen debut. While Doctor Strange was never considered a "B-Tier" hero per se, he didn't make a lot of appearances in non-comic book media. For some reason, he just didn't catch on with the public until rather recently.
That all changed with the introduction of Doctor Strange into the MCU. Benedict Cumberbatch might be the most iconic version of the character now, but there are a few other portrayals of the character that deserve a mention as well.
The first (and surprisingly far from the last) time Doctor Strange (played by Maurice LaMarche) meets the Hulk and She-Hulk is a fun time. In the episode "Mind over Anti-Matter", the usually Hulk-focused series starts with Doctor Strange fighting a creature in another dimension. Much to Strange's dismay, it manages to toss him back to Earth.
This appearance is another one of those "only a guest character" situations, but they make the most out of it. Also, fighting an evil being from another dimension and going through Hulk's mind to free him from said being's influence? A strangely familiar experience to anybody who has read the horrors of Hulk's mind in Immortal Hulk.
In a reversal of the situation from the 90s Hulk show, Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell has Doctor Strange (played by Liam O'Brien) asking for the Hulk's help in fighting a bunch of iconic Marvel monsters. The most interesting monster is Man-Thing, of course, one of the coolest-looking swamp monsters in comics.
There are a lot of awesome things in this movie. The Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. make an appearance and Bruce Banner fights dream demons in the Hulkbuster suit. While the movie is definitely more of a fun monster mash than a strong narrative, that's totally fine for a comic book movie meant for kids.
Disney XD had a significant chunk of shows that, much like the MCU, were interconnected. Doctor Strange (once again played by Liam O'Brien) appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., and Avengers Assemble. As was unfortunately common with these series, they did tend to be a bit more juvenile.
Thankfully, Doctor Strange was given the correct amount of maturity and mysticism. Although the beard looks like Batman hiding under Stephen's jawline, his personality is pretty on point for what Strange should be. Neurotic, slightly arrogant, but incredibly brilliant. These shows establish Liam O'Brien as the de-facto voice of Doctor Strange in the 2010s.
Marvel Future Avengers focuses on three children (Adi, Chloe, and Makoto) who were raised by Hydra under the impression that the Avengers were the villains. Over time, of course, they realize the Not-zis who raised them aren't good people.
After they escape, they are taken in by the Avengers to train them. Doctor Strange (again, played by Liam O'Brien) appears in the second season in a familiar role. Once again (before Endgame in fact), he uses time travel to save the Avengers, only this time by finding them in the 6th century.
The classic Spider-Man: The Animated Series was always beloved for handling all the cameo Marvel characters with the proper respect. Quite significantly, this show would be the first to introduce the character of Doctor Strange (here played by John Vernon) past a small cameo. It also introduces two important characters to his lore: Wong and Baron Mordo.
Funny enough, the Marvel Animated Universe (which included the 90s X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Man), never called Doctor Strange the Sorcerer Supreme. As far as adaptations go, fans can thank this version for setting the groundwork for the Sorcerer Supreme.
Set in the Ultimates universe (loosely), Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme tells a condensed story. It goes through all the hits of Doctor Strange's (played by Bryce Johnson) early career. This version of Strange is one of the most gifted, as he defeats not just Baron Mordo, but Dormammu in basically a single sitting.
This movie has the most in common with the eventually famous MCU counterpart. It's a relatively well-known fact that the MCU was also loosely inspired by the Ultimates, especially at the start. Wong is the hypercompetent one, Strange is an incredibly quick learner, and a non-traditional Baron Mordo are elements the MCU would incorporate as well.
What If...? is without a doubt the darkest take on the character in any Doctor Strange adaptation. Most of the adaptations seen show a wise Doctor Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch), a man with a good heart despite his arrogance. What If...? shows viewers what happens when a man with nigh-unlimited mystical abilities does everything in his power to save the woman he loves.
And it all goes horribly wrong. What If...? acts as a deconstruction of Doctor Strange's best and worst traits. Yes, he is a brilliant sorcerer, more so than any other Sorcerer Supreme before him. However, unlike Spider-Man, Doctor Strange never learned when to stop with his power. So much so, that it cost him everything. Not a metaphorical everything. Literally everything.
Not a shocker, but Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of the Sorcerer Supreme is considered by fans to be the absolute best of the character. In the same way that Robert Downey Jr. was born to play Iron Man, the same is said for Benedict Cumberbatch and Doctor Strange. Doctor Strange in the MCU is impressively close to the spirit of his comic book counterpart.
There are a few changes here and there, of course. The Cloak of Levitation is much more adorable, Strange relies on trickery as opposed to raw magical power, and of course, he's slightly nicer than he is in the comics. MCU's Doctor Strange is effectively a 1:1 adaptation of the beloved sorcerer, and fans can't wait to see him again in the Multiverse of Madness.
