First ‘Doctor Strange’ Photos Released; 5 Fast Facts About Benedict Cumberbatch’s Marvel Character

The first “Doctor Strange” photo has fans curious about the new film. The picture, which will be the cover of Entertainment Weekly’s Jan. 8 print edition, shows Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character. With his red cloak and the projection coming out of his hands, it’s clear that “Strange” is going to be a little different from the other heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Check out what you need to know about the character from the comics:

1. Sorcerer – No super suit or scientific explanations here. Doctor Strange is magical. He is “one of the most powerful sorcerers in existence,” according to Marvel.

2. Nerve Damage – Doctor Strange is an actual doctor of medicine. He was a surgeon, but nerve damage in his hands from a car crash put a halt to that career. He can’t perform surgery without some magical assistance.

3. Family Tragedy – Like many superheroes, Stephen Strange wasn’t always a hero. He had a fairly normal, but tragic, upbringing. First, his sister drowned while he was in college. During his residency, his mother died. His father grew ill a couple years after his mother’s death, but Strange couldn’t handle seeing another family member on their deathbed. After he didn’t visit his father, his brother Vincent came to confront him. However, after leaving Strange’s apartment, he was killed by a car.

4. The Ancient One – Strange was looking for a way to cure his nerve damage when he found the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). The powerful being refused, but after witnessing a mystical attack, Strange decided that he wanted to be taught how to use magic.

5. Powers – “The full range of his abilities is unknown,” according to Marvel. However, his known powers include teleportation, astral projection, mental possession, energy projection and animation of inanimate objects — just to name a few.

“Doctor Strange” is set to hit theaters Nov. 4, 2016.