Doctor Strange #7 – Gather Round for a Show To Remember

Sorcerers throughout the Nine Realms are dying. Will Doctor Strange be next? Downfall escaped despite the combined might of Clea, Scarlet Witch, and Doctor Strange. Strange now returns to the Nine Realms to face Downfall alone while Angela and Rhiallaa prepare to stop a threat that only Vyrbodin sees coming. Will either group succeed?

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!

Did you miss Doctor Strange #6?

Creative Team

Writer: Derek Landy
Artist: Ivan Fiorelli
Color Artist: Dono Sánchez-Alamara
Letterer: Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Alex Horley

Writing

Derek Landy continues to do amazing work with Doctor Strange. This is obviously a very new Strange, but it still maintains the feel of old Strange comics that feel like a mystical whodunnit. I thought when the series started that Vyrbodin was an interesting character and Landy continues to make him a little more interesting with each issue. This issue moves forward with a real “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” vibe.

In addition to that overall vibe, Landy continues to make Angela an enjoyable character. I never thought I would see Peter Quill catching strays in a Doctor Strange comic, but here we are. Landy continues to make beautiful work of the Nine Realms setting for this series, allowing us to see Strange in new and unique ways. While Landy has introduced some exciting new concepts and magic, in this issue, it’s his approach to the rules of magic that really sets it apart while also calling back to earlier Doctor Strange writers like Jason Aaron. The introduction of Enchantress makes this a very satisfying connection to the current Mortal Thor series, now allowing the worlds of Doctor Strange, Mortal Thor, and Sorcerer Supreme to all kinda play in the same sandbox.

Art

Ivan Fiorelli, Dono Sánchez-Alamara, and Cory Petit continue to shine. In this issue. Fiorelli has taken this opportunity of this series to provide us some new and unique looks of old characters. First it was Angela and Doctor Strange and now we get a renewed look at Enchantress. Fiorelli’s line work is stunning particularly in the last panel of this issue.

It felt like Dono Sánchez-Alamara really cut loose on colors this issue. The subject material and art of this series often demands an artist capable of working a wide spectrum of colors, and Sánchez-Alamara nails that perfectly. The darker scenes contrast perfectly against more brightly lit scenes and characters like Doctor Strange or Enchantress. The coloring on Lord Strange allows Sánchez-Alamara to craft what is perhaps the most terrifying version of Strange since the introduction of General Strange. As the art really stands out, Cory Petit does a really good job letting the art sing. He finds perfect placement for Strange’s well-known internal monologue that is still easy to follow but doesn’t interrupt the story.

Final Thoughts

This is truly an intriguing issue. I thought with Vyrbodin defeated, we were simply jumping into a new story arc, but this creative team is experimental yet calculating. It seems now, things may be more connected than we let on. Angela continues to become a more likeable character, and the introduction of Enchantress further connects several ongoing series for Marvel, making this a truly enjoyable issue.

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

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