Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange #1 (2010)

In his castle in Europe, Baron Mordo plots to steal the secrets of his former master, The Ancient One. Sending his spirit form to Tibet, he causes Hamir to poison The Ancient One's food. From his NYC sanctum, Strange senses his master's plight, and challenges Mordo to a battle in their spirit forms. After, The Ancient One warns Strange that Mordo will be a danger to them both, as long as he lives.

Strange is lured into a trap in England by Baron Mordo, but defeats him with the help of a woman with latent magical talents.

Dr. Stephen Strange, a top neurosurgeon, damages his hands in an accident and seeks out a mystic for help. He saves the seer from his treacherous student, becoming his pupil and finding a new purpose.

Nightmare has discovered the ability to capture humans and bring them to his world for study while they sleep. The police ask Strange's help, as a "last resort," to discover the cause behind a rash of people unable to awaken. Strange tracks the cause down to the Nightmare World, and has a rematch with his old foe.

Mordo places a spell over Strange's house that causes it to vanish to another dimension. Strange manages to track Mordo down using his ethereal form, but it becomes trapped in Mordo's lair. Mordo goes to see The Ancient One, claiming he's changed his way, just so he can attack him unawares. But Strange had found a way to escape by going straight thru the center of the Earth itself, and warned his mentor in advance. Though defeated, both Strange and The Ancient One know Mordo is becoming more powerful all the time.

Using his "Earthly Scanner," in which is a small replica of the planet, Strange senses evil somewhere in Bavaria. In a remote village, he finds the townspeople the victims of some strange form of possession, and believes a supernatural force is at work. But he soon discovers it's really the work of aliens from another dimension. He sends them packing, and seals off the dimensional doorway forever.

Doctor Strange must rescue two thieves who unwittingly steal a magic gem from him and are trapped in a mystical dimension as a result.

Strange is on the scene to observe a TV crew as they prepare to enter & broadcast about a "Haunted House". Strange discovers something is amiss, as he is unable to enter via his spirit form. When the signal goes dead, Strange enters the house physically, and uncovers a surprising secret... the house is alive!

A phone call lures Strange away in his ectoplasmic form, so Baron Mordo can steal his body. Knowing that if the two are not reunited in 24 hours Strange is doomed, Mordo places a spell over the body so Strange cannot return to it. Using his amulet to retrace Mordo's steps, he finds Mordo, and his own body, in a wax museum. Tricking Mordo into fighting him in his ectoplasmic form, Strange turns the tables by trapping Mordo outside his body, and with Mordo held thus, is able to return to his own. Mordo warns Strange his unwillingness to finish him will be his undoing.

Weary from his struggles, Strange falls asleep, carelessly forgetting to cast a protective spell over himself, and becomes a prisoner of the Nightmare World! Nightmare imprisons Strange, then says he's bored and looks forward to other victims. But Strange summons The Gulgol, a creature that never sleeps, and Nightmare begs Strange to stop it. He does so, without uttering a spell, for in reality, Strange hypnotized Nightmare into seeing the one thing he feared; it was never there in the first place. Freed, Strange wakes up.

Strange practices the art of levitation. Meanwhile, in faraway Asgard, home of the Norse Gods, Loki, God of Mischief, plots as always. He contacts Strange and tries to convince him that he is a prisoner of Thor, who is evil and deceiving his father. Strange uses a spell to take Thor's hammer, but on examining it, can sense no trace of evil. Realizing he's been had, Strange battle Loki, who later swears vengeance against the mage.

Strange finds a woman wandering the streets under a spell. After guiding her to his house, he consults his mentor. Strange travels into the past, warned that if the candle employed in the spell goes out, he will be trapped there forever. In Ancient Egypt, he battles a wizard, Zota, then removes his power. While returning to the present, the candle flickers out! But Strange is able to use the light from his amulet to guide his way, just barely making it back. Strange reveals the woman is Cleopatra, sent to the future when she scorned Zota. He sends her back to her waiting Mark Antony.

Three followers of Mordo attack Strange in his sanctum. After dispatching them, he uses the Eye of Agamotto and his amulet to contact his mentor, but to no avail! Mordo appears saying he's captured The Ancient One. In their ectoplasmic forms, a running battle begins that takes them halfway around the world, until Strange locates his mentor in a half-hidden jungle somewhere in Tibet. The battle continues, until the light of Strange's amulet forces Mordo to give in and free The Ancient One. With Mordo apparently beaten "for a long time," Strange heads back to NYC.

Strange is whisked to the side of The Ancient One. The Dread Dormammu threatens to come to Earth! Strange's mentor is too old so Strange travels to his domain. He faces one danger after another, causing Dormammu's rage to build. A mysterious girl watches Strange's progress, finally revealing herself to warn him. Strange says he must face the Dread One, and she wonders why she risked his wrath to warn the stranger. Strange confronts Dormammu. But Dormammu demands The Ancient One face him. Strange tells Dormammu he cannot attack his mentor while he lives...and Dormammu accepts the challenge!

Strange confronts Dormammu but when Dormammu gets help from Strange to repel the Mindless Ones, he owes him a debt and promises not to hurt the girl nor to set foot on Earth. As a reward, Strange receives a new cape from his mentor.

Strange receives a desperate plea for help from a man who became the "disciple" of someone called "The Demon"! The Demon, sensing his disciple had fled to Strange, magically transports the man back to his lair and consigns the man to a pit beneath the floor. Strange tracks the man's location and soon confronts the evil mystic in an epic battle! Strange places a mystic veil over The Demon's mind, in time it will be lifted and he will know who it was that defeated him. Strange frees the disciple.

Strange refuses to appear on the TV program The Twelth Hour. The panel of 3 scientists who do appear reject him as an authority. In the middle of the show, all three mysteriously vanish! The show's producer calls Strange for help! He arrives and discerns the pagan idol they were debunking is a gateway to the dimension of Tiboro. Strange goes there. Strange manages to triumph and returns with the three men. But they want to do a TV show about it. He uses a spell of forgetfulness. As before, they arrogantly refuse to believe there's any such thing as magic.

Dormammu agrees to give Mordo power without limit so that he may destroy Dr. Strange. In Tibet, Mordo and two followers attack. Strange manages to whisk his aging mentor to safety. As Strange leaves his mentor with a loyal hermit, Dormammu sends spirits to search for him. Strange attempts to lure the spirits away from his weakened mentor. In Hong Kong, Strange contacts The Ancient One's accountant, who gets him a passport while he rests. Before long, Strange is surrounded by Mordo's minions, and after a short battle, is on the run again.

In the far East, Strange is on the run from Mordo and his minions, unaware that Mordo's increased power comes from Dormammu. As Mordo forcibly recruits more followers to search for Strange, the mage makes plans to hop a plane to NYC. The Wraiths discover him, and only by conning them into believeing he's vanished is he able to make his getaway

Strange reaches Greenwich Village safely, but one of Mordo's Demons has taken over his sanctum! In Tibet, The Ancient One's servant wonders what his near-unconscious master refers to by "Eternity". Using a disguise, Strange bluffs his way into his own house. But when he tries to consult the All-Seeing Eye, he finds out it's been sending a signal to Mordo & Dormammu! Clea senses Strange must be in danger. Mordo battles Strange fiercely. As Dormammu speaks thru his partner, Strange realizes who is behind the attacks-- just before he vanishes

While Mordo gloats, Dormammu tells him Strange has really escaped! Clea wishes she could warn Strange. Strange plummets thru dimensions in a world ruled by Shazana. Believing her sister has recruited Strange to overthrow her, she battles Strange into submission. Allowing himself to be imprisoned so he can recover from his earlier battle with Mordo, Strange gets the lay of the land, then helps Shazana's sister overcome the evil ruler, destroying the source of her power even as he uses it to begin his journey back home.

Strange returns to NYC and checks up on The Ancient One. He then goes to his master's home, but Mordo's spirits are after him again! Clea uses a device that weakens the barrier holding back The Mindless Ones, and they attack, causing Dormammu to leave Mordo as he battles them. Strange flies straight into the sun, the spirits fleeing and Mordo worried that it might spell his doom. Strange returns to The Ancient One, who speaks of "Eternity." Dormammu secures his domain, but wonders if someone has betrayed him. Strange begins to search for "Eternity."

In London, Dr. Strange goes to the secluded home of Sir Baskerville, a former desciple of Mordo's, who greets him as an old friend. Dormammu discovers that Clea is the one who unleashed The Mindless Ones, and swears she shall pay. Baskerville contacts Mordo, who sends an emissary to trap Strange. But it backfires, allowing Strange to discover that Dormammu is the one behind Mordo's attacks and his increased power. Strange hypnotizes Mordo's spirits into believing he's fled to the Netherworld, and by the time Mordo arrives, Strange has fled once more...

Dormammu imprisons Clea. Mordo tells Dormammu that Strange is searching for "Eternity", and cannot understand why this upsets the dark lord so. Strange continues his search, going from one practitioner of the arts to another without result, until the Aged Genghis tells him only he and the Ancient One know the secret. He gives him a scroll, which leads Strange to a being imprisoned in another dimension. But it turns out to be a trap, which he barely escapes. Back in Tibet, Strange tells his master's servant the only option left is to enter the mind of his master...

Desperate to learn the secret of "Eternity", Dr. Strange probes into the unconscious mind of The Ancient One, meeting one deadly trap after another, until he reaches the mind of his beloved Master. After recovering, Strange departs, and high atop a Himalayan peak, recites "one of the most potent spells of all time". When he's finished, his amulet floats into the air, expands in size, and a doorway opens-- thru which Strange steps. Seconds after the amulet vanishes, Mordo appears, too late.

In another dimension that defies description, Dr. Strange comes face-to-face with Eternity, who learns that Strange is indeed worthy of The Ancient One's trust. He knows that if Mordo & Dormammu are not stopped, all mankind will be in jeopardy. But after all Strange has been thru, Eternity tells him he already has the power he needs. Feeling dejected, Strange returns to the cave to find his master gone. Mordo's spirits lead him to Mordo, who tells Strange "The game is lost!"

Dormammu reveals The Ancient One, who tells Strange he must fight on, and he can only expect token aid. Dormammu forces Clea to watch Strange's defeat. Strange and Mordo square off and battle. After a time, Dormammu grows frustrated at how Mordo has been out-fought, and prepares to strike personally...!

Dormammu sends Strange, Mordo & The Ancient One to a "neutral" dimension, uses a sleeping potion on the Mindless Ones, so his domain will be safe from them temporarily, summons various rulers of nearby dimensions. Then, he arrives to challenge Strange! Dormammu declares they shall fight using only the "Pincers of Power", and no other spells or incantations. This way, it will be a battle of skill, not power. The battle is fierce-- but when it appears Strange is about to overcome his adversary, Mordo strikes Strange from behind...

Dormammu consigns Mordo to the Dimension of Demons. Strange declares he is able to continue the fight and manages to best him in combat! Dormammu swears not to attack Earth. Back in The Ancient One's home, Hamir prepares a banquet for Strange & his master. Dormammu banishes Clea to a place where Strange can never find her. The Ancient One assures Strange that there are many who may now be able to help in his search for the girl. The Mystic Globe shows traces of leftover evil spreading. Mordo's Demon & 2 disciples leave a trap for Strange: a bomb! Strange returns unaware of the danger.