Doctor Stephen Strange, who first appeared in July 1963’s Issue #110 of Strange Tales , was created by artist Steve Ditko, and among the principal inspirations for Marvel’s mystical superhero was Chandu the Magician. Another inspiration? Legendary horror icon Vincent Price, who played a powerful sorcerer in a film (The Raven ) released the same year as Strange’s arrival!
Yes, the character was originally drawn up to look quite a bit like Price, and Strange’s middle name even paid tribute to the horror master. His full name? Stephen Vincent Strange, of course!
Vincent Price himself had a little fun with the Doctor Strange connection years later by voicing the character Vincent Van Ghoul in the animated series “The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo.” Like Strange, Van Ghoul has black hair with prominent streaks of grey on each side of his head, and in addition to dressing much like Strange, he even possesses magical abilities.
In January 1963, months before Doctor Strange’s debut, Vincent Price starred in a horror-comedy movie titled “The Raven.” In it, Price played the role of Dr. Erasmus Craven, a sorcerer who retires after losing his wife Lenore. Vincent Price’s portrayal of a sorcerer may have been what inspired character artist Steve Ditko to model Doctor Strange’s appearance after the actor. According to Goliath, Ditko even gave a tribute to Price through Doctor Strange’s full name, which is Stephen Vincent Strange. In talking about Doctor Strange over the years, Stan Lee even acknowledged the character’s similarity to Vincent Price.
They almost put a tribute to Price in the second Dr. Strange film.
That can be your opinion but it contradicts what is established in history. Frankly I don’t see it, and I’ve read all those old comics. (Doc is one of my two favorite superheroes.)
Also, come on… “Doctor Stephen Strange” was intended to be Asian? Really?! You think that’s the angle Marvel was taking?
Especially in the 60s, his name would be “Doctor Ling Wu” or something else clearly Asian. They weren’t exactly subtle about that sort of thing.
Although it was Ditko who designed the character and plotted the stories, it was Stan Lee who wrote the text. For all Ditko knew, Doctor Strange was just another superhero alias (that conveniently tied into the title of the comic book.)
Show me an editor’s note telling Ditko to make the character look like Vincent Price and I’ll buy it…but then wonder why Ditko drew him with Asian features.
In the earliest comics, Strange does have “Asian” eyes, and an elaborate “Fu Manchu” mustache. But the rest of his facial features could easily be modeled on Vincent Price.
Steve Ditko was never known for photorealism in his artwork, so I don’t think anyone can be precise about what he intended.
Given the popularity of Yellowface in the entertainment industry in those days, I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.
To late to edit my last reply. One last thing about his name and then I’ll drop it. I skimmed the Doctor’s first appearance and he isn’t given a first name. Like his Caucasian features, his full name came later.
Strange also seems to have been influenced by Ronald Colman in Lost Horizon. Here’s Colman in oriental dress, interacting with a Tibetan High Lama/Ancient One/Master.
