In a 1985 interview, Stan Lee cited this movie as the Marvel television project of the 1970s that he wound up giving the most input, and noting he became very friendly with Writer, Executive Producer, and Director Philip DeGuere, Jr. Lee added that next to The Incredible Hulk, this was the live-action adaptation of a Marvel character with which he was most pleased at the time. Lee was disappointed by the movie's low ratings, which he attributed to being aired against Roots (1977).

The starburst on Dr. Strange's (Peter Hooten's) costume is not on his comic book outfit. While it is similar to one that ordains the costume of another Marvel Comics hero, Captain Mar-Vell, this particular television movie costume starburst design is a tell-tale "signature" of Costume Design Consultant, and former Dr. Strange comic book artist, Frank Brunner. Brunner uses that starburst on many different design projects and incorporated it, as a more television-friendly replacement to the "demon" symbol usually worn by the comic book Dr. Strange. Although not named, the creature that Morgan LeFay (Jessica Walter) serves, was visually inspired by Dr. Strange's comic book archnemesis, Dormammu, while Morgan could be seen as being inspired by Dormammu's sister (and Strange's foe), Umar.

Morgan LeFay appears as Doctor Strange's foe in this movie. Oddly enough, Morgan LeFay was introduced to the modern era of Marvel comics in Spider-Woman #2 (after an appearance in a dream in Son of Satan #8), just a few months before the air date of this movie, and did not encounter Doctor Strange until Avengers #240-241, published in 1984.

Morgan LeFay was the first Marvel foe to be adapted to live-action. She was later joined by the Kingpin in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), and the Red Skull in Captain America (1990).

Thomas Lindmer is a replacement for Dr. Strange's comic book mentor, the Ancient One, a native Tibetan who was the former sorcerer supreme.

Re-adapted as Doctor Strange (2016), which added the character of Dr. Stephen Strange to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

When Thomas Lindmer first enters the hospital, there is an intercom calling Dr Larry Ferrari to the ER. Larry Farrari was an organist and had a show, The Larry Ferrari Show, on WPVI in Philadelphia from 1954 to 1997.