What were you asked to do with Doctor Strange back in 1978? I noticed the first story was more of a traditionally superhero type plot, compared to the cosmic Starlin-connected saga before. I imagine DEFENDERS was doing pretty well at that time and I enjoyed Namor's appearance in, what, 32 & 33? (And which came first, Dreamweaver the villainess or the song:)
I really enjoyed Englehart's work when I found it in ESSENTIALS years later; how did his approach figure into yours as you started your run?


Thank you, your Spidey stuff cheered me up when I was a child who knew I couldn't bug Mom for a comic every time we popped to the store, but who went out and played many adventures based on your stories.
Oh! I started getting a little dosh for my straight A's and chores just in time for Amazing Spider-Man #250. I was just hypnotized!

P.S. Ever hear from Cat Yronwode these days? I loved her letters.

Que?

One morning Archie Goodwin walked into the Bullpen, told me that Jim Starlin was leaving DOCTOR STRANGE, and asked if I wanted to write the book. Basically, he wanted me to keep the book going and not break it...and I did my best.

The story that Jim has started was so complex that it took me two issues to wrap it up. After all of that cosmic stuff, I thought it best to follow it up with something a little more down-to-Earth...which is why I wrote the one-parter with Nighthawk and Deathstalker.

Oh, and Gerry Rafferty's song Dreamweaver was the inspiration for the character.

Steve's DOC was undoubtedly a high-water mark for Doc, but I always tried to get a little more of the Lee-Ditko feel in my stories.







I last spoke with cat at a Chicago Con...must be over 25 years ago.

-- Uncle Rog

Any chance we'll get English language trades of your run on the title?

So nice of you, and with the humor of an artist, thanks. Glad to stir memories of Archie Goodwin, he seemed to bring out the best in people.

I didn't realise this was in "Ask Uncle Rog"! No wonder I was confused...!

I didn't even realise there was a Roger Stern section. I'm going to have to think of a question now...

Smitty.

Well, there's Essential Doctor Strange Volume 3...

...that collects up through my first three issues.

And there will be more in Volume 4, which I believe will be out sometime this year. That one covers stories up through DOC #56...so we're getting there.

-- Uncle Rog

Sweet. A shame it's split up like that. Not sure who your immediate predecessor on Dr. Strange was or if I'd even like his work. It's only $13 or so, though!

A shame DC is only Showcasing very old material. I think I'd buy a Showcase of your Legion material, since I've never read it before (I was strictly Marvel in those days).

Oh, Steve H! If you like the character, the above book is not to be missed! Uncle Rog aimed for a more episodic return to the series' roots (hey, good enough for Tom Wolfe) to differentiate from a run by Jim Starlin, master of the 70s cosmic comic, which Mr. Stern then graciously wrapped up (so if you liked WARLOCK #9-15, for example, or Dreadstar, here's yer man). Rudy Nebres and Frank Brunner provide gorgeous art in this volume, and Gene Colan outdid his 60s run, IMHO.
Englehart's writing drew praise here from Roger Stern himself, and I couldn't agree more. Philosophy and genuine occult ideas & history thread through some amazing, allegorical adventures, including a battle with Dracula, no less. Ever seen a hero die as a strategy for saving the day (um, well, we know of ONE such fairly famous story)? Or a profound statement on the nature of Satan as a story resolution? I think if Englehart and Starlin hadn't left at the end of story runs, those would be classics identified with both creators (fortunately Archie Goodwin tapped Marv Wolfman and Roger Stern to conclude them as great Doc Strange stories). Go in with a coupon if you can.
And volume 4 is definitely going home with me!
May the Vishanti watch over thee...and may your amulet never tickle!