Grant Morrison once suggested that while writing your version of a character, it’s best to write their birth and death. Well, Jed MacKay has done just this, but in the inverse. MacKay began his time with Doctor Stephen Strange just over two years ago, in The Death of Doctor Strange, which followed Stephen Strange’s attempt to uncover who murdered him. This led to the miniseries Strange, which followed Clea Strange assuming the role of Sorcerer Supreme of Earth in her husband’s absence. Now, Stephen Strange is back in action and things seem to be going great. For the first time in a while, Stephen and Clea are happily married, and Stephen’s life seems relatively routine. So this is the perfect time for the hierarchy of the magical world to change. Jed MacKay, Amy Chu, Pasqual Ferry, Andy MacDonald, and Tokitokoro all partner together in the first volume in a brand new era for Doctor Strange to deliver a spectacular supernatural story!
There are essentially three moving parts to the first volume, with the first two at the evident forefront. The primary focus is on the Stranges’ daily lives together. A lot has happened to the pair over the past few years, and it’s been a while since the two were happily married. Throughout the first volume, MacKay puts a lot of work into showing how compatible the two are (and aren’t). No one’s perfect, and neither is love, but Stephen and Clea remind readers that trust and support go a long way, especially in the face of adversity. Their dynamic is certainly one of the strongest parts of the series, as they fill in the gaps of each other in a harmonious way that makes for an enjoyable story. Separate, neither Stephen nor Clea are people to be opposing you, but when they’re a united front it only spells trouble for any who oppose them. Furthermore, the dynamic between the two furthers the story through their nuanced behavior towards one another.
Additionally, Wong and Pandor Peters have reinvented the wheel at W.A.N.D. (the Wizard Alchemy Necromancy Department) by taking up a new approach to the organization. The two are partnering up to help make the world a better place for those in it, and there’s a lot of work ahead. Their first big goal: figuring out who’s been lurking in the shadows murdering supernatural beings left and right. Their primary suspect might be closer than you think, but does that mean it’ll be who you think? Despite Doctor Strange #4 having a jarring placement in contrast to the rest of the issues, it is still a good story with important details for readers to familiarise themselves with. This is more efficiently handled in the backup story “Close Encounters of a Strange Kind” which features Nico Minoru taking on the Dead Dormammu! This fun backup introduces readers who may be unfamiliar with Nico to a major character for the Runaways. It’s a story that’s rather unimportant to the rest of the volume but serves its purpose well for being a delightful final note for the graphic novel. Moreover, both backup stories are enjoyable reads.
The art in the issue is truly spectacular. Pasqual Ferry’s pastel artwork is perfectly complemented by the aura of the story. His work, while on the softer side, is very expressive and helps bring the issues to life. Additionally, Andy MacDonald does a great job contrasting Ferry’s work with an issue that features thicker linework. This creates a more somber tone for readers to balance with Ferry’s more extravagant style. Tikitokoro’s art in the final backup is similarly welcoming to readers by having a very animated style. Overall, this is a beautifully drawn volume, where thankfully none of the pages feel cut off by the binding and should leave many readers engrossed in the story.
The Life of Doctor Strange is a great new volume that introduces a new threat for all variations of readers to enjoy. The supporting cast is masterfully interweaved in the story to elevate the world around Doctor Strange. Whether you’re new to the character or a returning fan, this volume is the perfect jumping point to the Sorcerer Supreme.
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