The non-comic reading world got an introduction to mystical superheroes with Doctor Strange (2016) starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Now part of the Infinity War movies, little did movie goers know that a long, strange history lies behind the character. A history that happened before the 1960s and Stephen Strange’s first appearance in comics. It all has to do with that title…DOCTOR.
The idea that an occult detective should be a respected member of the medical profession has its roots in the very first ghostbreaker stories. Samuel Warren’s “Passage from the Diary of a Late Physician” (1832) in Blackwood’s Magazine to Dr. Martin Hesselius in J. Sheridan le Fanu’s In a Glass Darkly (1871) to Dr. Abraham van Helsing in Dracula (1897) to Dr. John Silence (1908) to Dr. Moris Klaw (1921) to Dr. Jules De Grandin (1925) to Dr. Taverner (1926) and eventually to Dr. Gideon Fell (1933). They all form a chain that says only a doctor, even one steeped in occult phenomena, has the expertise to deal with the unknown.
Why should the comic books be any different? Perhaps a bit more flamboyant, the comic book ghostbreakers have to compete with costumed heroes, so I think we can forgive a cape here or there.
DR. RICHARD OCCULT aka Dr, MYSTIC October 1935
The very first Doctor hero was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the same men who created Superman. Dr. Occult first appeared in New Fun Comics #6 (October 1935). He is the oldest DC character still in use. For a time he appeared at DC, but in May 1936 he moved over to Centaur where he received a new name, Dr. Mystic. He would return to DC to appear in various comics.
Dr. Fate first appeared in More Fun Comics, #55 (May 1940). He was created by Gardner F. Fox and Howard Sherman. He is still active in the DC mythos, even appearing on Smallville played by Brent Stait, in 2010.
DR. STYX August-September 1945
Dr. Styx appeared in Treasure Comics #2-6. The writer and artist are unknown. Dr. Styx’s first episode may be the first Cthulhu Mythos comic. Dr. Styx is an undead ghost so he watches and can only intervene by speaking to people. He has not appeared since April-May 1946.
Dr. William Neff showed up May 1948 in Red Dragon Comics #3. The author is not known but Bob Powell did the artwork. He got his own comic in September, Ghost Breakers #1, written by Shadow writer, Walter B. Gibson also drawn by Powell. Charlton would resurrect him for Racket Squad back-up stories in 1951.
Dr Thirteen first appeared is in Star Spangled Comics #122, (November 1951). The writer who created the character is unknown but the first artist to draw him was Leonard Starr. His skeptical approach, like Agent Scully of The X-Files, often helped him face the unknown. Dr. Thirteen also hosted a House of Mystery-style anthology comic.
Dr. Druid (aka Dr. Droom) was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He debuted in Amazing Adventures #1 (June 1961). He has worked alongside such famous characters as the Fantastic Four, The Hulk and Ghost Rider.
Dr. Strange was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and debuted in Strange Tales #110 (July 1963). Despite being a late-comer, Dr. Strange is perhaps the most famous of all the Doctors. He is a member of the New Avengers and got his own big budget film in 2016.
Dr. Weird is an obscure character who appeared in the small-fun Star-Studded Comics #1 (September 1963). He, like Dr. Styx, is a ghost himself. He was created by Howard Keltner for Big Bang Comics. Perhaps the most interesting thing about him is that in 1970 George R.R. Martin and Jim Starlin both worked with the character.
The Doctor of the longest running SF show in the world first appeared in comic book form in TV Comic #674 (November 14 1964). He was drawn by Neville Main. The Doctor and his Companions have appeared in many comics since. Almost as many as there are Doctors.
Dr. Spektor was created by writer Donald Glut and artist Dan Spiegle as part of Gold Key’s 1970s line-up which also featured Glut creations Tragg and the Sky-gods and Dagar. Dr. Spektor first appeared in Mystery Comics Digest #5 (July 1972). Like Dr. Thirteen, he has played the role of host, offering up horror tales in an anthology fashion as well as working his own cases. For an interview with Don about this comic go here.
Dr. Gabriel Powers first appeared in Haunt of Horror #2 (June 1974). He was a professor at Columbia. (So he isn’t that kind of doctor.) After his wife dies, he becomes an ordained minister and goes after the monsters responsible.
Dr. Paul Geist was a doctor who dwelt in text stories. Created for Ghosts #75 (April 1979), he supplied text stories for many issues until his stories became one-page comics beginning Ghosts #96. He was largely written by Paul Kupperberg.
