By Benjamin Morin — Doctor Strange returns to comic shelves this week to take his final bow. After a rather sudden cancellation of the good doctor’s ‘Surgeon Supreme’ series last year, the Sorcerer Supreme has been playing a more minor role in the Marvel universe. He’s popped in and out of books like Spider-man and Black Cat, but now writer Jed Mackay and artist Lee Garbett have brought the hero back for a mini-event of sorts.

This debut kicks off with death hanging in the air. We open on Strange pondering the myth of Koschei the deathless, a Russian folktale centered around a man who trades part of his soul for immortality. Immediately readers are queued into the story's tone and style. The story then pivots to hitting the highlights of Strange’s life and mission as the Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, before seemingly killing him off. As a debut it works well at immediately drawing in the reader for its grand tale, but does suffer some pacing issues along the way.

One of the best aspects of this issue is its use of continuity. It establishes Doctor Strange for new and returning readers. Familiar readers will appreciate Mackay’s attention to detail as he picks up where the previous writer left off, while also adding in a healthy amount of easter eggs. At the same time, new readers should have no problem picking this issue up as it carefully introduces Strange’s character and role in the Marvel Universe.

Another cool part of the issue is how it reframes Strange’s role. Everyone knows Strange as a superhero who deals with the mystic arts and fights magical threats other heroes cannot. However, here Mackay reexamines Strange as a supernatural surgeon with the world as his patient. When a demonic threat arises in the middle of New York, Strange gets to work and uses his magic in a more surgical way. It’s an interesting way to characterize Strange and tie his superheroics to his life’s passion as a surgeon.

Despite all the great character work here, the issue can read a bit exposition heavy. The in-depth explanations of plot points come off as slightly heavy handed and wordy. It does help firmly establish the context of the series, but it lacks tact in making the worldbuilding seamless. This is a minor gripe but it does detract from the overall reading experience.

In terms of the artwork, this is a well crafted comic. Garbett and Fabela’s artwork comes off as clean and energetic. The action scenes in particular are fun as we are treated to Strange working his mystical surgery on demonic forces and teaming up with other heroes. The colors pair well here too and give the magical moments the pop they need.

Overall: The Death of Doctor Strange #1 explores what happens when the Sorcerer Supreme is murdered and all the magical barriers come tumbling down. It’s an ambitious debut. Though it gets bogged down with exposition at times, this is a debut that respects what’s come before and creatively utilizes the character’s mythos. Definitely worth a read for new and old fans alike. 8/10

REVIEW: The Death of Doctor Strange #1

The Death of Doctor Strange #1
Writer: Jed Mackay
Artist: Lee Garbett
Colorist: Antonio Fabela
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
DEATH COMES FOR THE SORCERER SUPREME! Doctor Stephen Strange is the world’s greatest neurosurgeon and Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. He defends our planet from the supernatural and interdimensional threats no other hero is equipped to handle. But what would happen if he unexpectedly died? Who would protect Earth and keep the mystical evils at bay? And most importantly…who killed Stephen Strange?! The final chapter in the life of Doctor Strange starts here by Jed MacKay (MOON KNIGHT, BLACK CAT) and Lee Garbett (CAPTAIN MARVEL)!
More Info: The Death of Doctor Strange #1

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Ben is a comic buff and film fanatic. A journalism major by day and a comic reviewer by night, he avidly consumes all forms of sequential art. On Twitter, he goes by @BiglikeBen.