Whatever It Takes

Nightmare:

Good-bye, Doctor Strange!

[Giant-sized Nightmare crushes Strange in his grip.]

Dagger:

Cloak—he—he just exploded—became so many streamers! …But the—the streamers are still fighting Nightmare!

Nightmare:

No, Strange! You can’t do this! You can’t trick me—

Doctor Strange:

But I can, Nightmare! This way, I can envelope you, limit you…

[Nightmare shrinks back down to human size.]

…until we are more evenly matched!

Nightmare:

Strange—you—you fool!

Doctor Strange:

Oh, I know! I have defiled my body with this black trick—I have warped my self and my spirit in terrible ways—but I am indeed fool enough to fight you whatever it takes!

Nightmare:

…You would rather make yourself pay the price for using dark magic than sacrifice others! Your false nobility will be your downfall!

…For all your prowess, Strange, you are still a mortal—full of trivialities, quirks, and limits! Even though you burst your bag of skin, you reweave it—if badly…!

— “Strange Tales” #7 (1987)

Used without permission.

This scene has stayed with me across the decades—and primarily the dialogue written by Bill Mantlo. Larry Alexander’s artwork shows a magic that probably should not have been performed, but Doctor Strange’s verbal admission of how it has defiled his body and warped his spirit is crucial. Paired with that is Nightmare’s taunting retort on how Strange can reweave his bag of skin—though only badly. So evocative.