Doctor Strange (2023) #1-4

Doctor Strange #1-4

Originally released in 2023

Written by Jed MacKay

Art by Pasqual Ferry (#1-3), Andy MacDonald (#4)



Doctor Strange has died.  He got better, as superheroes tend to do, and now he's looking into any problems that arose while he was away.  There's an influx of magical creatures in New York, his wife Clea is the Warlord of Manhattan (and was Sorcerer Supreme of Earth in his absence), and Wong has joined a magical spy organization called W.A.N.D.



Also, someone is going around killing magical threats.  The Sorcerer Supreme of the Purple Dimension is one of those threats; as he dies, he shouts out "STRANGE!", which could refer to Stephen, Clea (who made it clear that she wanted to kill said Sorcerer Supreme after he murdered a prisoner for cruelty's sake), or it could just be a misdirect. (or a time traveling future version of Stephen or Clea; I'm not ruling anything out at this point)



For the most part, this series is a bunch of one-shot storylines so far; the mystery surrounding the deaths of various magical threats is present, but it's very much in the background, with Clea being treated like a suspect so often that it comes across as a clear red herring. (if she actually was the killer, I figure they wouldn't be pushing the possibility so hard)



Issue 3 has Dormammu visiting Strange for a parley, possessing a worshipper and slowly burning out that worshipper's body from the inside.  As Strange reflects on all of the times that they've fought over the years (and Dormammu taunts Strange with his failure to save this life), Strange reveals that he's found a way to save this worshipper as well, getting him to turn his back on Dormammu.



It makes Dormammu seem pathetic, far from the eldritch imposing figure that he was in the original comics or in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  It makes his history with Strange seem like nothing but failures on his end, and he can't even get a minor victory.



MacKay's dialogue is great; even with my lack of familiarity with Strange's history, I've been able to follow what's going on even if the specific events that are being referenced (such as Clea's friendship with Moon Knight or the manner of Strange's death) are ones that I'm unfamiliar with.



It's clear that the bond between Strange and Clea is the core of this series, with the standard solution to fighting evil doppelgangers (switch who's fighting who) is framed like a married couple helping each other out with their problems and concerns. It's another part of why I don't think Clea is responsible. (Maybe it's a Doctor Strange from an alternate timeline who never met Clea, grew hardened and darker, and is out to protect the multiverse from these threats in a way that the main Stephen couldn't or wouldn't do)



The series feels relaxing, almost cozy for the lack of a better word. The cliffhanger of issue 3 (leading into issue 5) involves a wedding invitation from Clara's mother (and Dormammu's sister) Umar, of all things.  It does a good job mixing the magic and the mundane, and the portrayal of Clea and Stephen's relationship is a good one.

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