Dr. West Is Much More Important In The Comics Than Doctor Strange Movies
Dr. Nicodemus West may not factor largely in to the Doctor Strange films, but he does serve a crucial role in the comic books. Seen in 2016's Doctor Strange, Dr. West (Michael Stuhlbarg) is Stephen's rival in neurosurgery and is often portrayed as incompetent. He assists in saving Strange's life after his car accident and even attempts to save the Ancient One, though he ultimately fails with the latter. While his appearances throughout the 2016 film and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness are minor at best, Dr. West's character in the comic books has a far more interesting and compelling arc.
Dr. West returns for a bit part in the second Dr. Strange, confronting Stephen during Christine's wedding. West is a changed man since the first movie, having lost his brother and cats during the five years Thanos snapped him and countless others out of existence. Embittered by the experience, West's chat with Stephen provides emotional resonance in the wake of such a catastrophic event, and shows just how many ordinary people were affected. Despite this touching moment, Dr. West does not appear again in the film.
Related: Where To Spot Sam Raimi's Signature Easter Egg In Doctor Strange 2
In the comics, Dr. West teaches a very important lesson on facing consequences. Written by Marcos Martin and Brian K. Vaughan, the comic series Doctor Strange: The Oath features West also learning sorcery. Though his exact powers aren't fully revealed, he can cast a variety of healing spells and astrally project. After Strange's car accident, West, unable to forgive himself for not being able to fix his hands and indirectly contributing to the end of Strange's medical career, follows Stephen to Kamar-Taj and is trained by the Ancient One.
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