Silver Dagger
Real Name: Isaiah Curwen
First Appearance: Doctor Strange 1 (vol. 2)
What's His Problem? Isaiah, a former cardinal, was the Pope's choice for successor, but the College of Cardinals disagreed. Wandering into the Vatican's library to spend an entire week reading its large collection of black magic books, he left the Church to study with mystical masters the world over, plotting to slay them in the name of the Lord. Isaiah despised the arcane arts but nonetheless learned all he could about them to fight fire with fire. He eventually sought out the current Sorcerer Supreme, "whose death God decreed!" Alas, Stephen Strange's refusal to die coupled with his very existence (not to mention the return of a wayward left eye -- long story) has fueled Curwen's hatred no end.
Abilities: Ironically enough, Silver Dagger's religious beliefs take a back seat to the "filth" he expertly calls upon; he has used hypnosis, invoked superhuman strength, magickly enlarged animals, mystic energy bolts and even the famous Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Silver Dagger is also quite the public speaker and is no slouch with knives, guns or hand-to-hand combat. Makes you wonder just what they're teaching in the seminary these days, doesn't it? editor will-be-sure-to-speak-nicely-to-her-priest-from-now-on Jeanne.
Weapons: Curwen's namesake and weapon of choice is an enchanted silver dagger that can pierce even Dr. Strange's mystic barriers. At least once he wore a silver-laced outfit and used automatic weapons to shoot silver bullets. Silver Dagger once stole the Eye of Agamotto, so you can imagine his glee in finding the original Eye of Agamotto that Strange used in his first sixteen Lee/Ditko stories! Dagger placed the talisman in (yuck) his left eye socket and could project silver force from it (okay, long and nauseating story).
Favorite Quote: "My knowledge makes me every bit as powerful as your departed mentor, witch! Don't attempt such things again! Now excuse me, nature calls." (Doctor Strange (vol. 2) 5. Isaiah the evangelist takes five from "converting" Clea to slice up a meandering mannequin dressed like Strange and brag about it, then attend to more important things. In reality, the dummy was animated by the good Doctor's rather confused spirit. Rebirth is so much easier nowadays.)
Heroes He Keeps Running Into: Remember Stephen and Clea? I doubt they like to talk much about Dagger's few yet unsettling shots at gaining vengeance for the Lord (or himself). During such an instance in New Orleans, he slapped around Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel the first before getting stabbed by witch-queen Marie LaVeau. He also spent some time stalking Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, but that didn't go as well as he planned.
People Who Think He's Not So Bad: Silver Dagger fearlessly led his Sword of the Lord commandos against a werewolf motorcycle gang called the Braineaters; both sides were practically wiped out and Curwen's own troops nearly killed him thinking his blood tainted, lycanthropy-wise. This was a rare vacation outside the dimension of Agamotto of the Vishanti, the giant caterpillar (that's not a misprint) who kept Dagger around to alleviate its omniscience-induced boredom. It was "Aggy" the caterpillar who let him find the original amulet and, after he lent his real eye to Strange, escape.
Most Despicable Act: Isaiah Curwen knows you can't have a good crusade without shedding blood, and he has shed plenty besides Stephen Strange's. He sought to deprogram the "witch" Clea, and later yanked her soul into Agamotto's realm to be burned at the stake in mystic fire; thus she was briefly transformed into a fiery figure of intense power and evil more along the lines of her uncle Dormammu. Hardly the Lord's work. As Dr. Strange put it after being taunted by Dag, "I'll believe that when I see a written work-order."
by Ray Schaff
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