For over 60 years,Doctor Strangehas kept the Marvel Universe safe from all matters of magical threats, and he has sported a number of different outfits while doing it. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and first appearing inStrange Tales#110,Doctor Strange infused the nascent Marvel Universe with a vibe that was at turns colorful and horrific. The various outfits Doctor Strange wore reflect this.
However, Doctor Strange has worn many different outfits in the comics that are infinitely cooler than his movie duds, and here are ten of them.
In 2016, Doctor Strange made the leap to live action, as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The uniform he wore in this film closely resembled his red and blue outfit. This was fitting as this is Doctor Strange’s signature appearance. However, Doctor Strange has worn many different outfits in the comics that are infinitely cooler than his movie duds, and here are ten of them.
10The Classic Outfit Still Ranks as One of the Best
First Appeared in:Strange Tales#110, 1963
Comic fans, and mainstream audiences, are familiar with Doctor Strange’s classic blue and red ensemble, but it was not his first outfit.When Doctor Strange debuted in 1963, his outfit was largely all blue, with yellow accents all over. At the time, Strange did not possess the Eye of Agamotto, but instead was using the Amulet of Agamotto, and this can be found in the center of his chest.
Doctor Strange did not get an origin untilStrange Tales#114.
Doctor Strange would only wear this outfit for a short while. A few years into his career, Doctor Strange would fight and beat Dormammu in combat. As a result of his victory, Strange was awarded the Cloak of Levitation as well as the Eye of Agamotto, which paved the way for his classic red and blue outfit. Doctor Strange’s classic blue costume would return, sort of, in 2021’sThe Death of Doctor Strange.
9Doctor Strange’s First Time Wearing a Mask Made Him More Like a Traditional Superhero
First Appeared in:Doctor Strange#177, 1974
By the time the 1970s started, Doctor Strange had settled into a familiar routine, as well as settling on his trademark outfit. In an attempt to shake up this routine,writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan introduced a new look for Doctor Strange, one that gave the Sorcerer Supreme the appearance of a traditional superhero.For the first time, Doctor Strange was wearing a mask.
Doctor Strange’s “superhero” costume kept the classic Red Cloak of Levitation, as well as the Eye of Agamotto, but introduced a few other visual flourishes. The bodysuit Doctor Strange wore was also all blue, with blue gloves as well. While this look did not last long, and Strange would return to his conventional outfit, it did set a precedent for future Doctor Strange costumes.
8“Strange” Lived Up to the Name
First Appeared in:Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#61, 1993
By the time writer David Quinn and artist Mel Rubi tookover the reign ofDoctor Strange,the Sorcerer Supreme was no stranger to using masks, but his “Strange” persona made even more chilling use of it.This dark and twisted version of Doctor Strange sported a black and dull gray mask. “Strange,” as he came to be called, was actually an avatar created by the real Doctor Strange, one he lost control of.
Not content to wear an unsettling mask, “Strange” also sported spikes growing out of his arms, perfectly complementing the dark approach Quinn and Rubi were taking with the character.
“Strange” pushed the “superhero” aesthetic of Doctor Strange’s first time wearing a mask to its weird extreme. Not content to wear an unsettling mask, “Strange” also sported spikes growing out of his arms, perfectly complementing the dark approach Quinn and Rubi were taking with the character. “Strange’s” time was cut short, as was Quinn and Rubi’s run, leaving this version a curious–but cool outlier in the character’s history.
7Doctor Strange’s Most Radical Outfit Is His Least Popular
First Appeared in:Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#75, 1994
Another outfit that debuted in David Quinn and Mel Rubi’sDoctor Strangerun, this controversial look saw the character grow his hair long and wear a black bodysuit.Doctor Strange also wore magical glasses, and indeed, his whole appearance closely resembles John Lennon, of The Beatles. As explained in the story, this new version was createdwhen the real Doctor Strangeconfronted “Strange.” In the aftermath of their battle, this new and younger variant was born.
Writer Warren Ellis was tapped to replace David Quinn onDoctor Strange.
This new look proved controversial with fans, and only lasted a scant five issues before a new creative team was brought on board, and most of Quinn and Rubi’s innovations were ignored.The younger, hipper Doctor Strange was not popular with fans and, indeed, today this new direction could be seen as an act of desperation on the part of Marvel editorialat a time when the industry was teetering on the brink.
6Doctor Strangefate Was the Best of Both Worlds
First Appeared in:Marvel vs DC#3, 1996
Doctor Strangefate was created as a mashup of Doctor Strange and Professor X from Marvel and Doctor Fate from DC.His outfit captures the best of all of those individual heroes.Doctor Strangefate’s outfit largely resembles Stephen’s classic red and blue duds, and he wears Doctor Fate’s trademark helmet. In the DC Universe, Doctor Fate’s helmet is the source of his power and that also holds true of his Amalgam Counterpart.
This helmet, when combined with a classic Doctor Strange look, equals a character with undeniable visual appeal.
Doctor Strangefate’s outfit marks yet another outing wearing a mask for the Sorcerer Supreme, in this case the Helmet of Strangefate. This helmet, when combined with a classic Doctor Strange look, equals a character with undeniable visual appeal. Furthermore, the Helmet gave an aura of mystery to Doctor Strangefate. In the Marvel Universe, Doctor Strange cultivates such an aura, andhis Amalgam counterpart succeedsat it in spades.
5Doctor Strange 2099 Introduced Vests to the Mix
First Appeared in:Fantastic Four 2099#5, 1996
Doctor Strange’s 2099 variant introduced some interesting wrinkles to the Sorcerer Supreme’s classic outfit.The year 2099 already had a Sorcerer Supreme, who shared adventures with Spider-Man, but the real Doctor Strange paid a call on that era’s version of the Fantastic Four. The reason for his visit to that year was never revealed, and remains one of the character’s biggest dangling plotlines.
Despite this,the Doctor Strange of 2099 sported one of the coolest variations of his classic outfit.Many signature items, such as the Cloak of Levitation, and the Eye of Agamotto are present, as are the yellow gloves. However, this Doctor Strange variant sports a blue vest and a brown leather belt. The introduction of these new items put a new spin on Doctor Strange’s classic outfit.
4Doctor Strange’s “Street Clothes” Look Was Simple But Elegant
First Appeared in:New Avengers#51, 2009
In the aftermath ofCivil War, Doctor Strange made some morally questionable decisions, ones that resulted in him briefly losing the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme.In the wake of this loss, Doctor Strange overhauls his outfit once again, scaling it way back. Gone were the bright and flashy colors, replaced with a brown trenchcoat, black shirt and gray pants. It was simple, but elegant.
The “street clothes” he wore during this time reflected a period of soul-searching for Doctor Strange, and ultimately resulted in him not only recapturing the title of Sorcerer Supreme, but joining Marvel’s upper echelon.
This phase of Doctor Strange’s career could be viewed as his “wilderness years.” He was not starring in a regular monthly title, and in fact it would be several more years before he would score another ongoing book. The “street clothes” he wore during this time reflected a period of soul-searching for Doctor Strange, and ultimately resulted in him not only recapturing the title of Sorcerer Supreme, but joining Marvel’s upper echelon.
First Appeared in:Doctor Strange(Volume 5), #1 2018
Mark Waid is currently working his magic onJustice League Unlimited.
When Mark Waid and Jesus Saiz took over the creative reigns ofDoctor Strange,they kicked off in style by depriving Strange of his magic, as well as giving the character his first suit of armor.After he can no longer tap into his regular sources of magic, Doctor Strange must leave Earth to find new avenues of power. To help in his quest, Strange forges magical armor.
Although Doctor Strange had experimented with different accessories and looks, this was the first time he wore body armor. In space, Doctor Strange encounters a number of diabolical threats, and the sleek, black and white armor helps him meet his foes head-on. Doctor Strange retires the outfit when he returns to Earth, but there remains a possibility it could one day return.
2The Soldier Supreme Fights the Good (Magical) Fight
First Appeared in:Infinity Wars#3, 2018
The Soldier Supreme, a mashup of Captain America and Doctor Strange, was the product of the Warp World, a pocket reality consisting of “fused” heroes. In this world, the Soldier Supreme, or Stephen Rogers, once again volunteered for the Super Soldier program, only this time it was magical in nature. As the Soldier Supreme, he played an instrumental role in the Allied victory in World War II.
Doctor Strange’s Just-Concluded Series Was the Character’s Best in 30 Years
Jed MacKay’s run on Doctor Strange has come to a bittersweet conclusion, but in retrospect, it was arguably a career high for the character.
As befitting a combination of Doctor Strange and Captain America, the Soldier Supreme’s outfit was visually stunning.Combining Captain America’s mask (which featured a pentagram in the place of an “A”) with Doctor Strange’s classic blue and red color scheme, the Soldier Supreme perfectly mixed the two seemingly disparate characters' appearances. This made the Soldier Supreme one ofInfinity Wars’most endearing contributions.
1The Spider Supreme Was Four Heroes in One–And the Outfit Reflected It
First Appeared in:Secret Warps: Arachknight Annual#1, 2019
If the Soldier Supreme was an already bonkers mashup, then the Spider Supreme took it up a notch, adding in two other heroes—and creating a memorable outfit in the process.AfterInfinity Wars, the Soldier Supreme was fused with Arachknight, themselves a combination of Spider-Man and Moon Knight, to create the Spider Supreme. Using the name Peter Rogers as their civilian alias, the Spider Supreme was a visually stunning character.
The Spider Supreme boasted Doctor Strange’s trademark red cloak, fused with Moon Knight’s cowl. The Spider Supreme’s outfit also featuredDoctor Strange’sblue color scheme for the bodysuit, overlaid with a giant spider. Just like the Soldier Supreme, the Spider Supreme’s time was cut short, but his clever costume ranks as one of the initiative’s best.
