Doctor Strange has been stabbed… again! For the next few issues, or the foreseeable future at least, Stephen Strange will be a vampire. In a tie-in event for Blood Hunt, Blade has stabbed Stephen and turned him into a vampire. What does this mean for him? Well, his loving wife will have a thing or two to say about this whole ordeal, and she will mean it. What does this mean for the issue? Well, strap in true believers, as Stephen will be a vampire for, as it appears, the summer and potentially onward; unless Clea has anything to say about it.
Marvel Comics
The issue focuses on Clea and Blade going back and forth, and it isn’t going well for either of them. While Clea has made it very clear what sort of revenge she intends on to seek upon him, Blade has made things far more complicated for bringing Stephen back to normal. As the issue progresses, the conflict further ensues and although the combat is quite intense, it’s the magic that sets it apart. The mysticism is further evident through the spooky paneling used in the issue. Furthermore, Pasqual Ferry does a brilliant job showing the grotesque nature of a vampire book while also having the same elegance as every other issue’s magical wonder holds. Additionally, Heather Moore does a great job at contrasting the varying forms of magic at play in the Sanctum Sanctorum with the typical vibrant tones found in her color palette.
What makes this issue a tentative hard sell, is it seems to require the reading of Blood Hunt (considering Jed MacKay is writing both the event itself and Doctor Strange). As a result, there’s a bit of a barrier regarding the necessity of this arc, as not every reader is likely to read the main event. Although the issue itself is rather enjoyable and shows Clea at her fiercest, it does so under circumstances that may confuse some readers. It’s unclear how dependent this arc will be on the main event itself, so this may become clearer in the next issue, but for now, it does feel as though this arc requires a bit more homework than usual.
Altogether, Doctor Strange #15 is an issue that balances the dire straits that the Strange’s have found themselves in while also attempting to coach readers into reading Marvel’s summer event. This makes for an engaging story with intense action sequences and a high emotional toll brought upon both Stranges needed to engage ongoing readers while being a strong partner series to Blood Hunt. Additionally, the issue’s cliffhanger shows how Stephen and Clea will have their own troubles ahead outside of the rampant vampires across the greater Marvel universe. Moreover, Doctor Strange #15 shows how to deliver an interesting story attached to a greater narrative.
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