Since Avengers: Endgame, it seems that there has been more criticism towards Marvel films. Personally I feel that only a few of the films deserve the harsh criticism, films like Morbius and Venom: Let There Be Carnage. (Still need to see Madame Web) Marvel films have been a part of pop culture for almost eighty years now, in 1944 Captain America had a serial and the first feature length Marvel production was in 1977 with Spider-Man. I recently found Spider-Man on YouTube and decided its best to discuss that at a later time. But today, hop into the time machine as we go back to 1978 to experience the feature length TV pilot of Doctor Strange.

Universal City Studios, Shout Factory

Doctor Strange is directed by Philip DeGuere Jr, who would go on t o write and direct episodes of The Twilight Zone, gives us a time capsule of what comic themed media was like in the seventies. Peter Hooten plays Stephen Strange in this film/pilot and its really hard to even critique him as Doctor Strange. Hooten is only the Sorcerer Supreme for about 10 minutes of the 93 minute run time. He really does not capture the essence of the character. Wong is another example of not capturing the essence of the character. Despite Doctor Strange having a lot of shortcomings, there is one bright spot.

Emmy Award winner and the late Jessica Walter is a stand out as Morgan Le Fay. Doctor Strange was released in September 1978, while the character was reintroduced in Marvel Comics in Spider-Woman #2 which was released May 1978 (Le Fay was introduced in Black Knight #1 in 1955), feel like this is beneficial for Walter as she was able to chew on scenery. Walter’s performance was seductive throughout the whole film and makes Hooten’s Doctor Strange come off boring and forgettable.

Once Stephen finally becomes Doctor Strange and introduced to the astral plane it does become interesting. But watching this after the excellent portray of Doctor Strange from Benedict Cumberbatch and director Scott Derrickson in 2016’s Doctor Strange, it is difficult to get through this film.

Stars: 1.5 out of 5