The first Dr. Strange trailer presents us a very familiar scenario: a hard-nosed skeptic comes to believe in magic. In two minutes and two seconds we get the full Chick tract arc, as an atheist becomes a believer—”I don’t believe in fairy tales about chakras or energy or the power of belief” to a pleading “teach me.”
Marvel has accomplished wonders in the 8 years since the release of Iron Man. All those years ago no one could quite believe that anyone would buy comic book goofiness on the big screen. Since then our brains have become acclimated; millions cheered for comic minutiae moments like Vision lifting Thor’s Hammer (multiple exclamation marks and EPIC SCENE blares the title of the moment’s YouTube rip). Marvel ideas are powerful pop culture memes, an epidemic of new thought and taste.
Marvel can do anything.
So behold: the end of atheism…
On Nov. 4 we'll learn if atheism is doomed to die at the hands of Dr. Strange, as a new wave of occult belief sweeps the land. Once skepticism is dead, Marvel can tear down Christianity, introducing us to the wonders of the Living Tribunal, the One-Above-All, and its vassal pantheon of multiversal guardians. New faith shall be born unto this world.
Oh, also, Benedict Cumberbatch with an American accent sounds a hell of a lot like Hugh Laurie.
