Marvel Age #2: Monster Moment

Doctor Strange vs. Dracula!

Marvel Age #2 solicits Doctor Strange Issue 60, a continuing battle between Dracula and Doctor Strange. Dracula just faced off against Thor, with a brief appearance by Dr. Strange to relieve Thor of the continued need to hunt the monster.

Let’s give some context first. Doctor Strange faces off against Dracula in Tomb of Dracula 44 (May 1976) and Doctor Strange 14 (May 1976), a two-part story where Wong is bitten by Dracula. In Doctor Strange’s attempt to save Wong, he himself is bitten, but uses his Astral form to save himself from the transformation and ultimately defeat Dracula, and save Wong. Readers get a glimpse of Hannibal King, Blade, Dracula’s origin and his wife.

For the research-reader, you might also check out Uncanny X-Men Annual 6 (1982). Dracula menaces the X-Men, but more importantly, you meet many of the supporting cast of Tomb of Dracula without having to read that entire series.

Now let’s talk about the issue we actually see solicited!

Doctor Strange 58-62 (Apr-Dec 1983), later known as the Montesi Formula story, sees Doctor Strange, Wong, Hannibal King, Scarlet Witch, and Captain Marvel unite to obtain the Darkhold, an ancient magical tome hidden in Avengers Mansion. Dracula builds an army of ancient warriors and empowered homeless to attack the mansion. Doctor Strange transports the Darkhold to the vacant castle of Baron Mordo before Dracula can obtain it. Blade and Frank Drake join Strange, Wong, and Hannibal King and travel to Mordo’s castle to investigate the Darkhold.

Within the Darkhold is a spell which will vanquish all forms of human vampirism, the Montesi Formula. The group defends Mordo’s castle against Dracula and his minions while Strange works on the spell. A nice sub-plot running through this series is the fact that Hannibal King is a vampire, and is actively working to eliminate all vampires, including himself. But, as the battle wages on, Strange is able to complete the spell, ending all vampires. With Wong’s help, Strange is able to do a transfusion and save Hannibal King as well.

Credits: Marv Wolfman, Gene Colan, Tom Palmer (Tomb of Dracula), Steve Englehart, Gene Colan, Tom Palmer (Doctor Strange 14), Roger Stern, Dan Green, Terry Austin, Rick Magyar, Steve Leialoha (Doctor Strange 58-62). The storytelling was great. Tomb was hard to pick-up with no context, but Doctor Strange 58-62 was a wonderful primer to the universe. Every issue of Strange made me want to read more of them. I’m especially interested in the Clea story that is summarized in 58. Tom Palmer is becoming a favorite of mine too.

This union of vampire hunters is known as the Nightstalkers, although never named that in this story. Blade and Hannibal King meet in Tomb of Dracula 45. Dracula’s daughter is a key character in the Uncanny X-Men Annual and is briefly seen at the end of Doctor Strange 62.

Thanks for reading! Tim B