One with the Universe: The Construction of Doctor Strange’s Magic in 1973

Abstract

This article shows how Doctor Strange was configured at the beginning of the 1970s. At those moments, Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner were put in charge of the adventures of the character, and, through them, Doctor Strange came to reflect diverse esoteric trends, New Age thinking, the use of psychedelics, and Eastern mysticism. A fundamental aspect is that these elements were not seen necessarily just as sources of inspiration by the authors but also as integral components of their own system of beliefs. In this sense, the magic of Doctor Strange in this period became a conscious space and conduit in popular culture to discuss and share a complex network of ideas that not only belonged to the authors but also reflected a number of trends connected to religious thought at the time. The analysis in this article contributes to the study of religious thinking within the configuration of cultural objects and their interaction with society.