The character first appeared in The Oath #1 in 2006, as the surgeon who operated on Stephen Strange's hands following his car accident.

The character was created by Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin and appears in the limited series Doctor Strange: The Oath.

[2] 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.

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.