Not your average handsome heroic type, Dr. Stephen Strange rose from humble (and, ironically, arrogant) beginnings to become of the most memorable and intriguing superheroes of the 1960s. Here are his life and origins at a glance:

Dr. Strange first appeared in Strange Tales #110 in 1963. Created by legendary writer Stan Lee and phenomenal artist Steve Ditko, Dr. Strange filled the last five pages of the book and arrived with little to no fanfare.

The character’s arc slipped from the pages of later issues, after just two appearances, but he quickly returned to issue 114. By #115, his story filled eight pages, instead of five. After only a year, he received two more pages and a small mention on the cover.

By then, Lee gave the again magician-like hero a backstory. Before becoming something of a mystic, Stephen Strange was a stodgy, renowned and pompous surgeon. But after his hands lost their precision in an accident, he slid into a dark depression before visiting The Ancient One, a Tibetan monk of sorts.

The Ancient One only agree to train Strange in the mystic arts after Strange proved his loyalty by attempting to uncover a plot on the part of The Ancient One’s mentee, Mordo.

Though co-creator Ditko’s illustration seemed integral to the character’s success, the artist left Marvel Comics in 1966 and was replaced by Sub-Mariner creator Bill Everett. Later, other important artists would take turns with drawing Dr. Strange, including Marie Severin and Gene Colan.

After five years toiling between the pages of the Strange Tales title, Doctor Strange earned his own comic when fellow Strange Tales character Nick Fury received his own title. With Nick gone, Strange was free to dominate Strange Tales until the book was retitled in his honor.