Since the film’s ‘Doctor Strange’ release in 2016 his character and supernatural world in which he inhabits is as entertaining and thought provoking as the debut of Stephen Strange in 1951. In that issue of ‘Strange Tales’ Strange (co-created by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee) solves a problem by diving into a man’s nightmare. Within the past few years Strange has had to deal with the disappearance of magic, being stripped of the mantle of sorcerer supreme and a host of other issues. However at the end of 2019 Stephen Strange has reasserted himself as protector against supernatural threats and a practicing surgeon.
‘Doctor Strange: Annual’ brings the reader to Halloween, Strange’s teenage apprentice and a pair of snakes. Brother Voodoo, Scarlet Witch, even Agatha Harkness have arrived to Bleecker St to help Stephen protect the sanctum for ‘A Hallowed Evening.’ It’s a rather calm day considering the conjuring of demons, ghost nuns and pumpkin pancakes. But the second story is far more interesting. In ‘Treat’ Wong, longtime servant of Strange now manager of a demonic hotel in Las Vegas has become a well-developed character. In this narrative Wong helps us understand the extent entities will go to, to rid themselves of Strange, more importantly Wong himself is a weapon. Both men have had a complicated relationship that in part is exemplified in the foster brothers who discover they have mystical abilities to rob people, until they don’t and meet a horrific end. The annual doesn’t tie things neatly together, rather it sets up the first issue of ‘Dr. Strange: Surgeon Supreme.’
Reminiscent of the title artwork from ‘Strange Tales’ and issue 169 (from 1968) of ‘Doctor Strange’ we find that Stephen is still the earth’s protector, but once again he’s a surgeon. In an issue from late 2019 he makes a deal with a demon to heal his hands in order to save a black boy from dying in a car accident. Stephen is a healer once again with a new perspective. The shallow neurosurgeon has been replaced with a man filled with a willingness to accept all these responsibilities. Still the balance he attempts to have becomes severely challenged. People are coming back from the dead, B-level villains have supped up powers and Stephen is unprepared.
The dominant factor in comic-books is the artwork and both the annual and the first issue of ‘Dr. Strange’ show all the facets of Stephen Strange. In his sanctum he’s the master of his house, who knows and understands the intricate workings of the previous inhabitants. With the first issue of his new life we see Stephen in well-fitted suits, scrubs and the cloak of levitation enveloping him when he’s on the verge of exhaustion. As a longtime fan of the Sorcerer Supreme, in the air there’s a feeling of promise for the upcoming storylines. The joining of both issues is that an unknown person or persons wants to find a way to end Strange, but won’t do it themselves. Tini Howard’s Strange, P. Pichetshote’s Wong aren’t passing the mantle to Mark Waid and Kev Walker’s Dr. Strange, instead it’s the continuation of Stan Lee’s and Steve Ditko’s legacy. Stephen Strange is man with issues and though his hubris is now not the primary source, there’s still a lot that needs to be dealt with.
On the next to last page there’s a ‘To be continued?’ That question mark becomes an exclamation point when we see the black and white art for the second issue. One wonders if Stephen Strange will survive his own comic-book.
Leave a Reply