Nicodemus West
Nicodemus West is a male comic character who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents[hide] |
Biography
Nicodemus West was a male human born in the modern age on Earth. By adulthood, he came to enter the medical profession where he became a long time admirer of Dr. Stephen Strange's surgical abilities. Dr. West performed the surgery that saved Strange's hands but left him with severe nerve damage following his automobile accident. (Doctor Strange: The Oath v1 #2) Racked with guilt over robbing the world of Strange's medical service, Nicodemus followed Strange to Kamar-Taj, arriving only days after Strange had completed his mystical training and departed. Concerned that Strange may not rise to the challenge of becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, the Ancient One elected to begin training Nicodemus in the mystic arts. After learning some of the essentials of mystic healing, Nicodemus departed Kamar-Taj without completing his training. Nicodemus was able to heal a young girl injured in a small town on the Tibet-India border. However, after returning to New York City, Dr. West attempted to heal Reginald Pavlish which resulted in Pavlish's untimely death. Fearing the repercussions of using magic, West accepted a position C.E.O. of Timely Pharmaceuticals on the conditions they protect him from the consequences of Pavlish's death and stop him from using any more magic. (Doctor Strange: The Oath v1 #4)
When his trusted assistant Wong became afflicted with an inoperable brain tumor, Doctor Strange sought out a mystical means of curing it. In the process, Strange acquired an elixir that could potentially cure every known disease. Timely Pharmaceuticals' Board of Directors saw this as a dire threat to their business and ordered West to find a way to take the elixir from Strange. West hired the professional thief, Brigand, to steal it. Brigand was successful, but nearly killed Strange in the process, and also murdered a doctor that Strange had sent a sample of the elixir to for testing. West did not approve of Brigand's ruthlessness, but also did not dare disobey his Timely superiors when they later ordered him to eliminate Strange and anyone else who knew of the elixir. He therefore summoned a monstrous demon known as a Marrakant Hellguard and sent it to Night Nurse's hospice, as she had been caring for Strange after he nearly got killed by Brigand. The Hellguard was immensely powerful and Strange found himself in dire straits, but he managed to slay the beast using the weapon Brigand had used against him.. (Doctor Strange: The Oath v1 #4)
He eventually reveals himself to Strange when he steals a special elixir that would threaten Timely Pharmaceuticals' business. They fight using their sorcery, but West is easily defeated by Strange. West dies when he temporarily becomes powerless and falls off the Pharmaceuticals building. (Doctor Strange: The Oath v1 #5)
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
He had limited training in the mystic arts by the Ancient One. (Doctor Strange: The Oath v1 #4)
Notes
- Nicodemus West was created by Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin where he made his first appearance in Doctor Strange: The Oath v1 #1 (December, 2006).
In other media
Films
- In Doctor Strange, Nicodemus West appeared in the setting of the live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was portrayed by actor Michael Stuhlbarg. Nicodemus West was employed as an emergency room surgeon on a night when he made an ill-judged call on the time of death of a patient. Dr. Stephen Strange intervened at the behest of Dr. Christine Palmer, and carried out a successful operation to remove a bullet from the patient's brain, leaving West to look the fool having already pronounced death on the now-recovering gunshot victim. Dr. Strange disappeared from Dr. West's life following a car accident in which Strange lost the fine motor control in his hands, but surprisingly returned to the hospital a long time after with an unconscious and critically injured woman. Strange looked about to put his old surgical skills to the test when he withdrew and requested Dr. West step in. West and the rest of the medical team were unable to save the woman, however. Her body had simply endured too much damage to sustain life.
- In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Nicodemus West made a brief appearance in the setting of the live-action film sequel set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was once again portrayed by actor Michael Stuhlbarg. He was among the many killed by Thanos during the Blip. When he came back, he found out his brother had died.
Appearances
- Doctor Strange: The Oath v1: (2006)
External Links
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