After 33 issues of writing the Sorcerer Supreme, author Jed MacKay closes the book on Stephen Strange in this issue. After killing Stephen Strange, MacKay brought him back to life in many ways. Not only was Stephen repositioned to be a fantastic blend of his traditional and modern selves, but his supporting cast was also revitalized. Clea Strange has been the most notable highlight of this series and its predecessor, which saw her take on the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme herself, as she has become one of the most prominent magical beings once again. However, all good things must come to an end, and so must this series. But how does it wrap things up?
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In the recent event Blood Hunt, Stephen relinquished the title of Sorcerer Supreme to Doctor Doom (yikes) in exchange for Doom promising to save the world. While it may come to no surprise, Doom has betrayed Stephen, and so our hero is no longer Sorcerer Supreme. While the last few issues focused on Wong and Stephen’s brother, this one places its primary focus on Stephen. This is seen through him reflecting on his recent decision with a heavily critical lens. Stephen becomes desperate to fix things, with his need and desire to return to his title all but rippling off the page. This all turns its head at one moment, where it becomes clear to both Strange and the reader that this might be the new norm for the near future.
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The story has an interesting way of depicting relationships with Stephen and does so well. We see the most important people in Strange’s life, for better or worse, reflect their relationship with Stephen through their support (or lack of) him at one of his lowest moments. Clea and Wong are at the forefront of this, showing their loyalty to him more than anyone else. This reflects the main theme of the series well through MacKay’s perspective of these relationships’ impact on Stephen. While Wong has been a bit at the backseat of the series in contrast to other times, he is always there when he needs to be and has shown himself to grow and flourish in his new role well. Meanwhile, Clea has been, outside of Stephen, the main character of this series, showing how MacKay has emphasized their marriage. From beginning to end, this run has put an emphasis on how Stephen will never be alone.
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One last time, Pasqual Ferry and Heather Moore do a spectacular job bringing this issue to life. Ferry’s thick linework has helped to bring a somber tone to the book, placing an emphasis on facial expressions and movement through his detailed linework. In addition, another strength here is his extraordinarily creative paneling. One of the best moments of this is when Strange is arguing, once again, with the Vishanti. The depiction of this moment is brilliantly shown through a kaleidoscope of overlapping shapes that come together to make a brilliant page. Heather Moore’s soft colors add to these high emotional moments with a unique soft vibrance that highlights these sequences. Altogether, this is another beautiful issue that closes out the series masterfully.
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As a whole, this issue is a strong goodbye to Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme. While he may not be man he was before, he is still a good man and a hero. While it’s unfortunate that the closing of this title occurred outside the series, thus making its emotional toll a little lackluster, this issue still does a splendid job wrapping things up. While there are still a few loose ends that don’t get tied up, things end on a hopeful moment that feels like a love letter to the character.
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