In 1928, Stephen Strange returns to the city of New York twenty years after losing his wife in a car crash.
He joins the New York City police force as a traffic officer, but after five years of service loses his job.
The loss of his job occurs at the same time as the death of his colleague Inspector Wong, as a result of whom he must become a private detective.
With his new career, Strange tries to find the murderer of Wong. He meets Wanda Maximoff, a criminal psychologist, in the course of his investigation.
The two become friends, and Strange opens up about how the death of Wong affected him. He tells Wanda that the day he discovered Wong was dead, he suffered a psychotic breakdown.
He and Wanda become lovers and even though there are risks involved, they decide to continue their relationship.
Later, Wanda is kidnapped by a man named Mordo. Mordo and Strange went to college together, where they were friends.
Mordo grew jealous of Stephen and they got into a big fight, which ended their friendship. It is revealed that Mordo had become a serial killer, and he was the one that killed Wong.
After Wanda is kidnapped by Mordo, Strange tracks him down to an underground bunker where he saves Wanda. However, Mordo escapes.
Wanda soon discovers that she is pregnant and she tells Strange about it. Strange is happy for her, but he begins to doubt that they should continue their relationship.
He knows that if they keep their relationship going, Mordo will find them and do something horrible.
Meanwhile, Wanda looks into Mordo's background. She learns that Mordo's mother died giving birth to him. Mordo was abandoned at a train station and was taken in by an elderly widow.
The widow abused him, often beating him. To escape the abuse, Mordo killed her.
With this new information, Wanda sets out to find him. However, Strange tells her it is dangerous for a pregnant woman to go after a serial killer. They get into an argument, and she insists that she can take care of herself.
Mordo shows up at Stephen and Wanda's house and attacks them. He reveals that he has been planning to kill both of them, but Stephen fights back.
Strange tries to tell Wanda to stay back, but she refuses. She attacks Mordo, but he manages to stab her in the stomach with a knife. Stephen goes on a rampage and breaks every bone in Mordo's body.
Stephen finally kills him with a piano wire.
In the aftermath, Wanda is no longer pregnant, and she and Strange breakup. Wanda quits her job and moves to Chicago, where she studies at a nursing school.
Strange is devastated by the end of their relationship. He eventually falls into a deep depression. He becomes addicted to alcohol and begins having hallucinations.
Wanda tries to contact Strange, but he doesn't want to talk to her. She eventually finds him, but it is too late. He is now a shadow of himself, as his mind is severely damaged.