Marvel 1976.05 - Doctor Strange #14

Tomb of Dracula #44

Title: His name is Doctor Strange

Writer: Marv Wolfman

Artist: Gene Colan

Regulars: Blade, Hannibal King

Guests: Doctor Strange, Wong

This month there's a two-part crossover story that begins in Tomb of Dracula #44 and ends in Doctor Strange #14. A short word about the background: Gene Colan has been the artist for Tomb of Dracula ever since the first issue, and he'll continue to issue #70. He's only recently started to draw for Doctor Strange, beginning in issue #6, and he'll continue to issue #18. Ever since he began to draw Doctor Strange, 15 months ago, fans have been writing and remarking on the similarity between the two characters. Yes, they are similar, although they're easy to tell apart. Dracula has a thinner moustache, and he's slightly more corpulent than Doctor Strange. This similarity has lead fans to request that the two should meet. These two expertly drawn issues show the differences between the two.

Doctor Strange returns home to his sanctum sanctorum, and his servant Wong is missing. He searches for him with the Orb of Agamotto, and he sees him lying dead. He also sees that he's the victim of a vampire attack. Doctor Strange brings Wong's body back to his sanctum, realising that Wong is undead and could rise again soon.

Dracula has recently killed Doctor Sun and has moved into his mansion. Doctor Strange visits the mansion, waking Dracula from his sleep. Doctor Strange demands that Dracula should free Wong from his spell, and a fight ensues. Doctor Strange says that he could easily kill Dracula, but he wants to capture him alive for Wong's sake. Doctor Strange enters Dracula's memories, taking the form of Turac, the one who first made him a vampire. Dracula awakes from his dream and sees Doctor Strange before him. He bites Doctor Strange and boasts that after three days he'll rise as his slave.

Note: this issue contains a few sub-plots. but I've refrained from discussing them, since they're not relevant to the story with Doctor Strange.

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Doctor Strange #14

Title: The Tomb of Doctor Strange!

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Dracula

Regulars: Wong

Night has fallen, and Dracula leaves Doctor Strange's body in Doctor Sun's mansion. We see that Doctor Strange left his body in an astral projection as he was being bitten. He attempts to return to his physical body, but it's not possible.

Doctor Strange flies to Dracula in his astral body to plague him. First he appears as Doctor Sun, then as Dracula's wife Maria. Dracula recognises that it's not his wife and thinks it's a demon. He pursues the illusion, not realising that he's flying ever closer towards the sun. Doctor Strange reveals himself as the true adversary, and Dracula flies back to Doctor Sun's mansion as fast as he can.

Dracula finds Doctor Strange's body just as he rises from the dead. He's now a vampire, but not under Dracula's control. Doctor Strange attacks Dracula, first trying to bite him, then pulling himself together. He calls on the power of Jehovah, the mightiest God that he's ever invoked. His touch burns Dracula and kills him.

Doctor Strange revives Wong, using the cleansing power of Jehovah. Then he cures himself, after which he has to sleep until dawn. Doctor Strange and Wong walk away, leaving Dracula's dead body behind them.

Dead? Yes, Dracula is dead, but as many, many films have made clear, it's easier to kill Dracula than to make him stay dead.