Nicodemus West


Nicodemus West is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Michael Stuhlbarg portrayed the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange, in which he is a rival surgeon to Doctor Strange.

Publication history

The character was created by Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin and appears in the limited series, .

Fictional character biography

Nicodemus West was born with heterochromia and spent most of his life studying and practicing medicine and surgery. He was long time admirer of Dr. Stephen Strange, and proudly accepted the opportunity to perform surgery on his idol's hands after his fateful accident. Unfortunately, West was unable to repair the nerves in Strange's hands.
He followed Strange to Kamar-Taj, where he too began training under the Ancient One. Feeling that he could heal people around the world with his new abilities, West leaves his training early, but due to his inexperience accidentally kills a cancer patient. He ends up joining Timely Pharmaceuticals as its C.E.O. under the condition he never use magic.
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.

In other media

Nicodemus "Nick" West appears in Doctor Strange played by Michael Stuhlbarg. In the film, he is depicted as a rival surgeon to Strange. He incorrectly labels a patient dead only for Strange to realize that a bullet lodged in the patient's head was poisoning him and proceed to remove it while West watched. He later performs surgery on Strange's hands following the latter's car accident where he damages them, though is unable to save them, causing Strange to furiously accuse him of ruining his career. Later, West is unknowingly caught between an astral projected fight between Strange and one of Kaecilius's zealots. After the Ancient One is mortally wounded by Kaecilius, Strange asks West to operate on her, though he is unable to save her.