system: You are Mark Davy, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Comics message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to David Harding about "The new dr.strange".

They wrote:
MD> Dr. Strange is a character that can't hold his own in the comic
MD> himself.  A Graphic Novel here, a guest appearance there, a solo
MD> story once a year... that's the way to go.
DH> That's exactly what I'm suggesting.  I think that as the Marvel
DH> Universe's "Sorcerer Supreme", he's just too valuable a character to
DH> kill off... especially on a short-sighted whim (which I believe
DH> killing Doctor Strange off would be).  Keeping him handy for
DH> occasional guest-appearances across Marvel's entire line of books is
DH> perfectly acceptable to me.  Giving him an occasional solo special
DH> or mini-series or perhaps a regular gig in a team book to keep him
DH> from becoming only a "plot device"... and I think good old Doc could
DH> be at least kept in the public's eye... and favorably too.
DH> Question: is the Doctor Strange you're referring to was the one
DH> in his more classic look (withouth the mask and with the cape...
DH> not that stupid trenchcoat).
MD> He wore what?  Oh, dear Gawd, that is horrid.  Keep the man in his
MD> cape!
DH> I agree.  The trenchcoat was the same colour as the cape (red
DH> with that yellow squigly trim)... but it didn't work for me.  I like
DH> my Doc Strange to maintain that definitive look he's worn so well now
DH> for almost 30 years.
MD> That's the way the fans seem to like him best (and with good
MD> reason.
DH> Unfortunately, even the "classic"-looking Doctor Strange doesn't
DH> appear to have enough fans to keep his book going in the long run.
MD> For example, why not have Werewolf By Night, Dr. Strange, Ghost
MD> Rider, Hellstorm, and The Incredible Hulk work together on
MD> something.  Kind of like a diabolical version of the original
MD> Defenders.  It could work...
DH> This is where we're gonna disagree.  I think that if Marvel were
DH> to ever decide to re-invent the Defenders... they should stick to the
DH> original concept and put in a mixture of characters.  I could see
DH> using 2 or 3 of the characters you mentioned and fleshing them out
DH> with other characters... but I don't think a team completely composed
DH> of intense characters like the ones you mentioned would work very well
DH> in the long run.
MD> And "Fate" SUCKS compared to the brilliance of the "Dr. Fate" line
MD> of comics.  What was DC thinking about?  Creating a "Moon Knight"
MD> for their own purposes?
DH> Why do you think Fate was an attempt by DC to create their
DH> version of Moon Knight?

Write your reply.

assistant: ... we all know what went on here, so we can all move on ...
Yes, I do believe you are correct.  It would be interesting to see
Wolverine and Dr. Strange work together more often.  I've seen
Spiderman, Namor, The Incredible Hulk, and Ghost Rider all work
alongside Dr. Strange, as well as the Silver Surfer and Dr. Doom
(in that brilliant GN which I don't own).  I can't remember who
else Dr. Strange has worked with though.  Could you give me a list of
whom you can remember?
    ... what do you mean that the message goes on from here? ...
It's not only definitive, but not as tasteless as many of the other
costumes that I've seen on people.  Then again, seeing Dr. Strange
fight some evil demonic entity in an Armani suit would make him seem
far more Mephistophelean, now wouldn't it? {grins}
Most of his fans will buy him when he's involved with other characters.
Most of the Dr. Strange solo storylines are boring and convoluted.
When he is working with others, he takes on a new presence which he
can't create by himself (IMHO).  Think about it for a moment.  Does
Martian Manhunter of DC Comics have HIS own comic book?
THen have them show up occasionally, like that Martian Manhunter
team in the DC Universe.  I think it was called "JLA: Special
Missions" or something like that.  I liked the idea of an ever-
changing team where specialists were summoned as needed.  I never
bought an issue, but I loved the stories within. {smiles}
Look at him?  "Oh, I'm such a hardcore character, going around,
kicking butt and getting mystical items."  Not exactly like our
man Marc Spectre(?), but a similar concept.  When did the change
from Dr. Fate to Fate happen, anyway?
... Passion without purpose is meaningless; purpose without passion, lost.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]