Dr. Strange--Disciple Of Evil!

Other than on rare occasion, you wouldn't be likely to encounter circumstances where Stephen Strange would find cause to clash with the Ancient One, the wise sorcerer who turned his life around and took him on as his disciple in the practicing of the mystic arts. Once Strange decided to abandon his arrogance and selfishness as a high-priced surgeon and open his mind to the teachings of his new mentor, he'd found a calling that offered direction and purpose, as well as a new regard for his fellow man whom he had once held in such disdain--and his devotion to the Ancient One, based in both gratitude and respect, was beyond reproach.

Yet if one were to select a point when Strange might have chosen the more expedient path to achieving all he wanted, it might have been at the time when this man was the most vulnerable--seeking out the Ancient One in the snowy mountains of Tibet, driven by the slim hope that the mystic would be able to restore his injured hands so that he could return to his medical career in America and the lifestyle to which he'd become accustomed. In our reality, the Ancient One was able to wait out his visitor's impatience and skepticism until Strange's more noble instincts finally surfaced; but a late 1979 story by Peter Gillis explores the possibility of Strange's baser instincts being exploited, instead, with the Ancient One paying the price.

And under the circumstances, the fellow pictured in the background has good reason to gloat.

Longtime readers of Strange's tales are no doubt aware that Baron Mordo was the viper in the Ancient One's midst--a self-professed disciple of Dormammu, out to supplant the Ancient One while under the pretense of being his student. In the story we know of, Strange happens upon Mordo taking steps to slay the Ancient One, and later doing what he can to expose Mordo's duplicity--but in Gillis's rendition, timing is everything, and Strange's sympathies align instead with the one who offers to cut through the Ancient One's red tape and grant him exactly what he came for without delay.

But there is a catch to the arrangement that Strange isn't made aware of--and due to the nature of Mordo's spell, the way is paved for Mordo's true master to proceed with his own plans for Strange.

With both Strange and Mordo now in the thrall of Dormammu, the Ancient One explores another possibility for his disciple. Yet where he chose patience in his efforts to have Strange assume that role, it's surprising to see him resort to bribery with his next choice--a man who isn't likely to be subservient to anyone, whatever their status.

Depending on Doom's mood, however, it's fair to speculate that he might just as easily have acceded to the Ancient One's request, if only to play along with the sorcerer in much the same way Mordo had (though no doubt taking greater care to conceal his agenda)--particularly given the possibility of acquiring the skill and knowledge to better approach the matter of gaining the freedom of his mother's soul from Hades. Again, timing has played a part here, with Doom obviously in a frame of mind which is best described as dismissive.

His road in seeking a disciple at an apparent dead end, and realizing that it will not take long for Dormammu to bring the growing power of his disciple to bear, the Ancient One assembles a cabal of Earth's other magicians as a sort of war council, along with introducing a powerful amulet that can open the door to the personification of the universe itself--universe permitting, that is.

As for Mordo--with Strange's star rising, it isn't long before Dormammu decides to hasten Strange's preparation and use him to dispose of Mordo, which Dormammu's new devout follower agrees to with no small amount of satisfaction. Yet Dormammu is unaware of a viper in his own midst--his powerful sister, Umar, who sets her sights on Strange and uses him to free her from exile and thereby become once again the bane of her brother.

Yet Umar (and perhaps even the reader) has failed to take into account just what kind of man Strange remains at this point. Having pivoted from the ruthless acquisition of money to that of power has only shifted his priorities and made him dangerous, willing to do whatever he needs to in order to secure it. In that, he and Umar are alike, though neither of them realize that each is stringing the other along for their own purposes.

However, their mutual personal scheming will have to wait, as Strange, backed by Dormammu's wraiths, makes his move on the Ancient One, as well as his entire sorcerous circle.

Though the group of eight's defense continues to hold, Strange's attack is formidable enough to rattle Dr. Druid, who, believing the situation to have grown critical, follows through on his unauthorized plan to use the Eye of Agamotto to call forth Eternity. The attempt fails disastrously, with the group (along with Strange) being swept up in a powerful vortex which deprives them of one of their number, the aged Genghis. Strange, also lost in the maelstrom, faces a more uncertain fate, as he encounters the very entity which failed to heed Druid's call but which stands in harsh judgment before the servant of Dormammu.

The aftermath of the meeting leads to two startling developments on both sides of the conflict. First, we find the Ancient One's group literally picking themselves up after surviving the effect of the vortex--all of them recognizing that they remain in great danger from another assault by Strange, who yet lives. It's then that the Ancient One makes use of three outside their circle--Victoria Bentley, Wong, and Hamir the hermit--to summon the spirit forms of the Vishanti, who offer much-needed guidance on how to proceed from here.

As for Strange, his anger and impatience are off the scale, thanks to his disparaging treatment by Eternity--but he goes too far in venting his rage to Dormammu, who responds by laying down the law in no uncertain terms.

The other development occurs when Strange and Umar are visited by a golden dove, which then transforms to, of all things, the Eye of Agamotto, apparently surrendered by their foes. Strange regards the gesture as a desperate bribe on the Ancient One's part; nevertheless, he uses the opportunity to push Dormammu for an attack on Eternity, following the final destruction of the Ancient One and his group.

Strangely enough, however, the following scenes of battle will convey the impression that all is going according to plan--but whose? And despite appearances, which plan will prevail? The answer will come down to one man's choice in a crucial moment.

For those who await on Earth, the outcome of the conflict between Dormammu, Eternity, and Strange is not immediately known when Strange reappears in their midst. Suffice to say that all assembled are relieved to see a man transformed in spirit--while we readers have the satisfaction of seeing a What If story which ends on an upbeat note rather than tragically for the title character.

A very gratifying wrap-up for the new Master of the Mystic Arts.

(Though this would regrettably be the only appearance of artist Tom Sutton's snazzy Dr. Strange costume.)