Writer: Skottie Young

Art: Humberto Ramos, Edgar Delgado, and VC’s Clayton Cowles

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 8th, 2020

Comic fans, it’s been a long time since STRANGE ACADEMY debuted… a little over two months ago! And in that first issue, fans merely received a taste of some of the main role players, what the lay of the land looked like, and a possible direction for the future. However, no true plot was determined. Plus, taking the COVID-19 Comic Hiatus into account, it’s as if fans are practically getting a new number one!! So, let’s take a look at STRANGE ACADEMY #2 by Skottie Young and see what’s conjured up as this series starts to take off!

Before I take the time to evaluate the issue, please let me start by giving my crucial component of this review. First, I think the analysis of STRANGE ACADEMY needs to be developed from two different perspectives. Is this book meant to be taken earnestly, in continuity, and established for adult readers only? Or, is STRANGE ACADEMY meant to be read more from children to adolescents with sketchy continuity taking shape within the narrative? This is actually really important to this review and comic moving forward. Where is it’s place? Honestly, I hate to read into things too much, even though it comes with the job, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say it’s more for teens and kids regardless of how it’s Rated.

Now, I know it’s Rated T+ but so is DR. STRANGE and many other titles that I wouldn’t necessarily deem solely for kids. My point: once you place the genre and clientele, the score becomes much easier to formulate. This series is meant to be fun, interesting, and sheer entertainment. Its purpose is to draw young readers into the comic landscape and I think Skottie Young does a perfect job of doing just that. I’m sure many other reviewers and comic book journalists have already made the comparison to Hogwarts but that’s basically what we have here, which is cute in its own unique way. Long time Marvel Comic fans get to see Sorcerers and Heroes they’ve grown up with intermingle as teachers in intimately funny ways. Young uses his own brand of magic to blur the genre line just enough that children, teens, and adults can all enjoy this mystical tale.

Furthermore, Skottie Young decides to poke at the “price” of magic. There appears to be something under the surface involving an expenditure of mysticism that the children will probably uncover at some point which will get them into a heaping pile of trouble. However, we will have to wait and see if that transpires in the future. Nonetheless, the potential for something small scale is relaxing at times and offers a cool down from the Universal threats that happen almost daily in comics. I, for one, am excited to see where this book is heading and plan on reading it with my boys.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Readers, nothing really comes to pass this issue. From the standpoint of wanting something epic to arise, it doesn’t happen. If you’re searching for monumental action and intriguing plot twists, you won’t find them in this issue or possibly this series (as of yet). However, if you’re looking for a book for young readers or something to share with your children, this could be tons of fun to read TOGETHER. The series has characters hardcore Marvel fans should know well mixed with new youthful characters for the next generation. From this perspective, it’s like SCOOBY-DOO! TEAM-UP! meets Harry Potter… but in the Marvel Sorcery Universe. Doesn’t that sound fun? Currently, the series is very endearing and wonderfully enjoyable. My biggest knock on the title to date is that we had two issues in three-ish months with little plot and direction. My hope is that STRANGE ACADEMY #3 really draws parents and their kids deeper into the narrative before the series stalls out. But as of right now, I’m still all in and I hope you and your family will give it a try.

8.3/10

If you want to get your hands on this week’s issue of STRANGE ACADEMY, click the Amazon link HERE. Additionally, if DOCTOR STRANGE titles are your jam, click HERE to grab the latest titles. Also, if you’re looking for a great series to read together with your kids, click HERE to try LOCKJAW AND THE PET AVENGERS or message me for even more recommendations. And finally, if you’re looking for something else to read, check out my Amazon Online Comic Shop by clicking HERE. Thank you all for the read and continued support. Stay safe and stay healthy.