A Strange Look at Beowulf

It is no surprise that many of the most admired comic book heroes of all time share traits with the ancient legends of literature. Many superhero values, such as using powers for good and placing society over the individual, can be traced back to the times of Gilgamesh, Odysseus and other epic heroes. Doctor Strange of Marvel Comics lore is probably not one of the more recognizable superheroes of popular culture. Though Strange certainly is not a one-to-one mirror of Beowulf, many of his core values emulate those of the Geat hero.

Both Strange and Beowulf arrive just when their assistance is needed most. For instance, Beowulf arrives in Heorot specifically to battle Grendel. He is not a subject of Hrothgar, nor does he have an immediately apparent vested interest in fighting the monster—indeed, his only motives to help the king of the Danes are self-promotion and a moral call of duty. Strange is much the same—after attaining mastery of his mystic powers, the Sorcerer Supreme largely acts as a consultant, rarely intervening in the mortal world except to help other superheroes banish the otherworldly demons of which only he has knowledge of. The difference lies in credit. Strange rarely receives recognition for his deeds and prefers to live in the shadows of other, more popular superheroes. Often, he helps well-known superhero teams such as the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers battle their foes and his without receiving public acknowledgement for his deeds and usually departing mysteriously afterwards. By contrast, Beowulf quite literally drinks to his own name, as the feast following Grendel’s defeat is dedicated to Beowulf’s heroic act. Hrothgar showers Beowulf with gifts of immeasurable value, and everyone in the hall praises his name. This disparity illustrates the importance of humility in comic books.

Perhaps an even greater similarity is the way in which both of these heroes handle their titles.  Beowulf eventually becomes leader of the Geats after Heardred is slain in battle, and he rules as king for fifty years until his death requires him to pass the title on. Doctor Strange gains the title of Sorcerer Supreme after his master, the former Sorcerer Supreme, is killed by an extradimensional demon. He, too, acts well in his position, fending off countless demons during his reign. Unlike Beowulf, however, Strange loses his title dishonorably due to his overuse of black magic.

The question of identity is where Beowulf and Doctor Strange differ the most. Beowulf generally fully embraces his prowess as a great warrior, and he does not hesitate to make it known to friends and foes alike. In dealing with the Unferth’s taunts about Breca’s defeating Beowulf in a swimming competition, Beowulf not only reaffirms his status as the “strongest swimmer of all,” but he also counterattacks Unferth, pointing out that Unferth was never “celebrated for swordsmanship / or for facing danger on the field of battle” (585-6). By his nature as a costumed crime-fighter, Strange is exactly the opposite. He normally does not reveal his identity to people, and on the one occasion that he accidentally does, he seeks the help of Eternity itself, and asks it to erase the memory from the people who learned his real name.

On the surface, Doctor Strange and Beowulf appear to have much in common. However, through close examination, it is evident that their personal values are what separate them. Whereas Beowulf essentially is the manufacturer of his own legend, Strange’s agenda is to selflessly hide himself away from the world, only appearing when it is absolutely necessary.