The Sorcerer Supreme of Earth, Stephen Strange, is back in Jed MacKay and Pasqual Ferry’s new Doctor Strange book. The first issue’s title page catches readers up on what transpired just before the story begins: Stephen Strange was, of course, dead. Clea took over in his stead. A group of people from other dimensions have crossed over to live on Earth. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s magic division, W.A.N.D., went rogue, but Clea stopped them.
Doctor Strange #1
Pasqual Ferry (Artist), Matt Hollingsworth (Colorist), Jed MacKay (Writer), VC’s Cory Petit (Letterer)
Marvel Comics
March 22, 2023
Now Stephen is back and ready to be Doctor Strange again. And so begins the comic, with Stephen making a calligraphy sign of “The Doctor is In” above the door to his home, the Sanctum Sanctorum. He’s decided to become a “consulting doctor,” advising other heroes whenever they have magic-related issues. For those who enjoyed Clea’s run on her own Strange book, also from MacKay, it seems that she’ll be sticking around for now, happily reunited with Stephen.
In a fun guest appearance, Peter Parker arrives to ask for help getting his soul back from a demon. Although he is the first, he certainly isn’t the last in the parade of characters whose lives have been affected by the new magical inhabitants of Earth. The issue weaves itself into other current arcs happening in the Marvel universe, but doesn’t require a reader to know all about the goings-on to understand this specific story.
The bulk of the story concerns conflict with Aggamon, the “so-called lord of the purple dimension.” Displaced refugees are being deported to his realm, so Stephen and Clea go to the purple dimension to confront Aggamon. After a particularly heinous act from Aggamon, Clea wishes to seek revenge, but Stephen tries to sway her toward protecting the refugees now under their care. This sets up a difference in perspectives between the two of them. How much conflict will this cause down the road?
The issue ends with a mini-story, written by MacKay with art by Andy MacDonald, that features the Agents of W.A.N.D. and their confrontation with one “Freaky Doktor Zee.”
Issue #1 is a great starting point for new readers of Doctor Strange. As mentioned, it catches readers up on the “Death of Doctor Strange” fall-out, but also sets up the reunion of Stephen and Clea and the nature of their ongoing team-up. It promises high stakes down the line, and the importance of both to the Marvel universe. Ferry’s art is easy-to-follow with clean panel placement and transitions, and Matt Hollingsworth’s coloring brings a balanced palette that compliments the moods of each scene. In the aforementioned full-page panel, Stephen observes his handiwork above the door of the Sanctum Sanctorum. The warm reds and cool blues of the scene help establish an elegance to the art, and Stephen’s pose, floating off the ground just slightly, sets up the ease with which he’ll approach his new life–for the first few pages, anyway.
Doctor Strange #2
Pasqual Ferry (Artist), Matt Hollingsworth (Colorist), Jed MacKay (Writer), VC’s Cory Petit (Letterer)
Marvel Comics
April 26, 2023
The second issue detours away from the Aggamon plot to investigate a mysterious sleep sickness Moon Knight has discovered in a child. The villain Nightmare is to blame, but, crossing into the dream realm, Stephen and Clea will find some surprising twists. They’ll face off against their fears as they get to the bottom of the child’s sickness.
This issue, however, doesn’t quite have the same tensions as the premiere. Although Ferry’s art brings a lot of appropriately-nightmarish style in its creepy monsters, the story never feels high stakes enough despite the peril in which our heroes find themselves. For a second issue, it’s an unexpected, mostly self-contained story that doesn’t comment on the shocking conclusion of the first issue until the very end.
Despite this, issue #2 might be setting up a trend of stories that feature the couple making “house calls” in an episodic style that complements a slowly-building overall arc for the book. Time will tell.
