Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Pasqual Ferry
Color Artist: Heather Moore
Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
Dr. Strange has been through much in the last year and had to face another grave threat to the Earth during the Blood Hunt event. And in order to save the world, he put his trust in someone most would say not to: Dr. Doom. Doom aided him and saved the world, but only by wielding the powers and mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, which Strange willingly gave to him so long as he returned them after the crisis was over. But Doom extended the terms of their deal and now remains Sorcerer Supreme, while Strange has to figure out what to do next as we see in the series finale of Doctor Strange #18.
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Review:
Okay, if you’re reading this then you’re either caught up on the Blood Hunt main event and the rest of the Dr. Strange series. Or you’re not. If you’re not, then huge SPOILER ALERT! I have much to say on this issue and the wider series, so I’ll divide this review with the first half about the issue and the second half about the series as a whole. Alright, let’s get to it.
So, Dr. Doom helped save the world during Blood Hunt event in a key way. Now, he’s Sorcerer Supreme, thanks in part to Dr. Strange giving it to him. And Doom played the classic trick of extending the details of their deal so he remains Sorcerer Supreme for a while longer. As Doom is not yet finished saving the world. This issue is essentially Jed MacKay covering his bases and showing why Strange can’t get the title and power back just yet. Showing those who won’t help Strange and how Strange can’t get it back without resorting to methods he finds unforgivable.
The issue isn’t the concept of Dr. Doom becoming Sorcerer Supreme for a while. That’s actually a great idea that I’m utterly shocked hasn’t happened in the main universe yet. The problem is the execution. See, why would the Vishanti allow Dr. Doom, one of the most egotistical human beings in all Reality, to retain the power and mantle of Sorcerer Supreme? They wouldn’t. MacKay tries to say through Strange that the reason why they do is to spite/punish Stephen for disobeying them and not killing General Strange. But aside from that not being in-character, if we followed this reasoning, why would the Vishanti think Dr. Doom, who plays by his own rules more than anyone, would follow their orders? He wouldn’t and they would know this. But we got what we got. The only real upside in this comic is the wholesome conversation between Stephen and Clea, showing that no matter what the future holds, he’s still Dr. Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts, and they’ll face it together.
Review of the Series:
Alright, let’s get a quick review of the entire run of Dr. Strange by Jed MacKay. I’ll start with the positives then lean into the negatives. Firstly, MacKay did an excellent job with giving Dr. Strange a character voice and personality that feels wholly his own and distinguishes him from most mainline Marvel heroes. Second, he did a great job with fleshing out the chemistry and relationship of Stephen and Clea. He made her a vital part of Stephen’s life, showing how they complement each other at home and in combat. Ultimately, he did a great job making the two a loving power couple.
Now, the flaws. Some of the biggest issues of this comic run of Dr. Strange come down to several problems: poor Villain writing, wasting W.A.N.D., General Strange’s lackluster story, and getting the Vishanti wrong. First, MacKay doesn’t write villains well, with a few exceptions like Dr. Doom who has a very defined personality. He writes Dr. Strange’s rogues gallery like they’re from a bad Saturday Morning Cartoon. None of them have any teeth to them, no one’s menacing, not even Dormammu or Nightmare. Heck, this comic shows how badly he writes Baron Mordo, making him a joke instead of a genuine threat to Dr. Strange who never feels in danger and treats Mordo like a nuisance.
Of course, MacKay really goes to bat for his own creation General Strange, but even he fails to be menacing or compelling due to his lackluster story. He really tries to make General Strange’s story tragic and harrowing with his original idea of the War of the Seven Spheres. But he fails to make the concept of General Strange and the War of Seven Spheres convincing and compelling. It didn’t help that the majority of this series centers on the General Strange storyline. So if you’re not a fan of it, then you’re sadly stuck with it for quite a while. Then there’s W.A.N.D. MacKay brought back the magical spy organization with Wong in charge trying to make them a more positive group for magic, but aside from helping defeat General Strange and showing up in the Blood Hunt tie-ins, W.A.N.D. really did nothing in this series. I won’t say I’m a big fan of the organization, but I was willing to see what MacKay would do with them, and he didn’t do much with them.
The last bit about getting the Vishanti wrong ties in with the General Strange storyline and the latest issue. What I mean is that in order to make General Strange, the War of the Seven Spheres, and even Dr. Doom becoming Sorcerer Supreme a thing, MacKay had to write the Vishanti too different from how they usually are. Granted, they were never perfect patrons, but they’re meant to be wise, enlightened, and helpful spiritual overseers. Yes, it’s okay for Strange and the Vishanti to argue over some things, but this stuff crosses the line for their character. But because MacKay want these things to happen, then consistent characterization is thrown out the window to make them happen. In the end, the series isn’t great but it’s not terrible. For all of its wasted potential, lackluster villains & underwhelming conflicts, it did a good job bringing back some love and heroism to the life and character of Dr. Strange.
Final Thoughts:
Dr. Strange #18 shows how the aftermath of the Blood Hunt event’s finale affect Stephen Strange. The comic has some good and bad parts. The bad parts include Baron Mordo’s appearance which feels like an afterthought, and the unsatisfactory explanation of why the Vishanti won’t take the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme away from Dr. Doom and give it back to Strange. But the best parts are the emotional moments with Dr. Strange as we see him at his lowest, at his most furious, and at his most wholesome with Clea. It’s not the strongest series finale, but it has some nice parts to it.