Doctor Strange #8 – Reason is a Very Overrated Quality

Downfall is slaughtering sorcerers across the Nine Realms. Doctor Strange, having convinced the dark wizard Vyrbodin to give up his battle is warned by the same wizard of the approach of Atho-Tet. As Strange and Angela try quickly to learn more about Downfall and Atho-Tet, they encounter The Enchantress, Amora. Strange and Angela return, armed with a strange crown promised by Amora to be able to stop Atho-Tet but only at great cost to the wielder. Now Strange has embraced his darker alter ego, Lord Strange to enter the God Quarry and collect information about Atho-Tet.

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

Creative Team

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

Writing

Another layer is revealed! Derek Landy continues to add new layers to this story, and I’m really enjoying it. Lord Strange is such an interesting character. He’s definitely unique, but obviously not immune to the same ego and bravado that Stephen Strange is a victim of. This story continues to be rich in lore, narrative, and action. Prior to Doctor Strange, I didn’t much care for Angela, but thanks to Landy, I look forward to each issue with her.

Landy does a really good job of making you feel the weight that Angela carries. She is a would-be Queen who refuses to hold the crown. She finds herself in an increasingly complex situation with a mortal whom she doesn’t exactly care for and an enemy they defeated that perhaps she must now trust. The humor she shows when explaining Strange’s astral form to Rhialla while Lord Strange is on his mission brought a smile to my face. Downfall continues to be a terrible and frightening villain that commands the scenes he appears in. As is the case for this entire series so far, Doctor Strange #8 pulls back the veil a little more on the picture while revealing new pieces of the picture we hadn’t seen before.

Art

Ivan Fiorelli and Dono Sánchez-Almara along with Cory Petit continue to craft beautiful art to go along with the narrative. Fiorelli teased a little bit last issue with Lord Strange, but got to go full bore this issue. Lord Strange feels both distinctly Strange as well as as a little more egotistical if that’s possible. As a character, Fiorelli draws him in a way that makes him engaging and interesting. Even in scenes with Downfall, Fiorelli has crafted a version of Strange that draws your eye and forces you to see him. That’s power and it’s impressive.

Dono Sánchez-Almara helps capture the impact of Lord Strange through the way he colors him. Colors on this entire series have been magnificent. Sánchez-Almara really shines when Lord Strange is visiting the God Quarry. It feels like looking into a modern rendition of the old Steve Ditko era of Strange. Those panels feel psychedelic, astral, and beautiful all at the same time. Cory Petit does a really great job helping you understand what conversations are and what Strange’s inner monologues are that he is using to share information with the reader. Petit also does an amazing job with placement for word bubbles and SFX to allow the art and words to blend perfectly.

Final Thoughts

Doctor Strange continues to be a well-developed and growing story. Each issue, we learn a little more and ask a few more questions. The art and colors are beautiful and befitting of a character for whom the art has always been a key piece of the puzzle.

Overall Grade: 9 / 10

How are you liking this Doctor Strange series? Let me know in the comments