Doctor Stephen Strange is best known by his other name, Doctor Strange, Marvel's Master of the Mystic Arts. Before he became a sorcerer, however, Stephen Strange was famously a world-class surgeon. In the story “Don't Pay the Ferryman” in 1986's Doctor Strange #80 by Peter Gillis, Chris Warner, and Randy Emberlin, Doctor Strange performs his ultimate feat in medicine by operating on his own body.
The demon Urthona is vengeful and wants Doctor Strange killed. Rather than performing the act of killing the sorcerer himself, Urthona sends another demon in his stead. While out having lunch, Doctor Strange is attacked without warning by the demon. A battle ensues quickly with the armored creature towering over the mystic hero. The demon absorbs and deflects every attack Doctor Strange casts his way and the battle comes to a momentary standstill. It is in this moment, however, that Doctor Strange sees a column of light appear over his home, the Sanctum Santorum. Capitalizing off of Doctor Strange's distraction, the treacherous demon hurls a burning spear directly through the wizard's chest. Not even the awesome powers of the world's most powerful sorcerer are able to prevent the mortal wound from sending him to the threshold of death.
With his life hanging on every passing second, Doctor Strange projects his astral body to the only hope he has left: his secretary, Sara Wolfe. By co-inhabiting her body with his astral projection, Doctor Strange is able to guide Sara through the operation on his body. As Sara watches the head surgeon begin to operate on Doctor Strange's body, horrible tentacles burst forth from his chest and bind the surgeon's arms. Doctor Strange instructs Sara on how to cast the proper spells to ward off the magical attacks. Finally, with his heart having stopped on the operating table, Doctor Strange possesses the head surgeon fully and finishes the operation himself through her hands, saving himself in the process.
If this sounds familiar, that's because this scene was revisited in the 2016 live-action Doctor Strange film. In the film, Doctor Strange is attacked within the Sanctum Santorum by the villain Kaecilius and his underlings. Having been stabbed in the chest, Doctor Strange is only just able to teleport back to the hospital he used to work at and have Christine Palmer, his friend and colleague, operate on him. As Christine stands over Doctor Strange's body his astral form appears and guides her in saving him all while fending off the last of his attackers.
While the specifics were different in the comics, bringing one of Doctor Strange's most impressive moments to the big screen was a very thoughtful decision. Regardless of whether in the comics or in the movies, the event showcases all of Doctor Strange's abilities at once: his mastery of navigating the astral plane, his ability to fight magical threats and his masterful skills as a surgeon. Performing any one of those feats is impressive enough, but to do all of them at once and under the gravest moments of duress is a true testament to the resolve, discipline and skill of the Sorcerer Supreme. With this being showcased in his first film, it's exciting to imagine what other feats from the comics Doctor Strange will perform in his next film.
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