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Doctor Strange (1974) #68-74
Doctor Strange: Into the Dark Dimension
Collects Doctor Strange (1974) #68-74.
Doctor Strange, the master of the mystic arts, starts his day by curing a mystically cursed sword and ends it by overthrowing a dimensional dictator! The Sorcerer Supreme faces threats on cruise ships, military bases and alien planets, seeking to restore the cosmic balance! And as the origins of the Dark Dimension stand revealed, Strange's true love, Clea, heads the rebellion against her evil mother, Umar! Featuring the Black Knight and the Beyonder!
Doctor Strange, the master of the mystic arts, starts his day by curing a mystically cursed sword and ends it by overthrowing a dimensional dictator! The Sorcerer Supreme faces threats on cruise ships, military bases and alien planets, seeking to restore the cosmic balance! And as the origins of the Dark Dimension stand revealed, Strange's true love, Clea, heads the rebellion against her evil mother, Umar! Featuring the Black Knight and the Beyonder!
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Roger Stern
1,591 books113 followersRoger Stern is an American comic book author and novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 6, 2016
Rebellion is growing in the Dark Dimension, led by Doctor Strange's former girlfriend and apprentice, Clea. Can Doctor Strange help Clea unseat the unrelenting Umar, sister of the Dread Dormammu?
By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth, this was pretty good for an 80's comic. Doctor Strange helps the Black Knight overcome his madness, helps Clea, and encounters the Beyonder.
Roger Stern's writing is ahead of its time, not so bogged down and wordy as many comics from this period. With Paul Smith, Bret Blevins, and Mark Badger doing the art chores, it's got a nice feel to it, although I don't think the craziness of the Dark Dimension was depicted as well as Steve Ditko did it. I did like how the art team handled the Mindless Ones, however, and some of the creepy crawlies were suitably Lovecraftian.
The book end tales of the Black Knight and the Beyonder weren't as good as the meat of the book, Strange going to the Dark Dimension to help Clea. It's a shame that Marvel usually uses Doctor Strange as a plot device rather than a character. There's a lot of potential for whacked-out stories with the Sorceror Supreme. I'm betting they'll push Doctor Strange much harder in the coming months to tie in with the upcoming movie.
By the seven rings of Raggador, I award this book Four out of Five stars, adjusted for the time period it was written and the Sphere of Cittorak.
By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth, this was pretty good for an 80's comic. Doctor Strange helps the Black Knight overcome his madness, helps Clea, and encounters the Beyonder.
Roger Stern's writing is ahead of its time, not so bogged down and wordy as many comics from this period. With Paul Smith, Bret Blevins, and Mark Badger doing the art chores, it's got a nice feel to it, although I don't think the craziness of the Dark Dimension was depicted as well as Steve Ditko did it. I did like how the art team handled the Mindless Ones, however, and some of the creepy crawlies were suitably Lovecraftian.
The book end tales of the Black Knight and the Beyonder weren't as good as the meat of the book, Strange going to the Dark Dimension to help Clea. It's a shame that Marvel usually uses Doctor Strange as a plot device rather than a character. There's a lot of potential for whacked-out stories with the Sorceror Supreme. I'm betting they'll push Doctor Strange much harder in the coming months to tie in with the upcoming movie.
By the seven rings of Raggador, I award this book Four out of Five stars, adjusted for the time period it was written and the Sphere of Cittorak.
June 8, 2012
Great story here by Roger Stern, which depicts clearly Dr. Strange’s characterization. Stern established early on in this collection that Strange is a mage of great ability and is often called upon by his peers in the superhero community to solve their magical maladies and other eldritch ailments. But his custom isn’t limited to earth but other dimensions as well that are within his authority as Sorcerer Supreme. He has trained novices, policed other realms for magical misconduct and put down inter-dimensional despots. This is the Strange that I expected and I am hard pressed to recall other stories that capture the essence of the character and where he is no mere plot device. This is Strange at his most vital era, perhaps even more than when Steve Ditko introduced the character.
Paul Smith’s art is appropriate for the fantasy epic Stern has penned here. I never warmed up to Smith’s short run in Uncanny X-Men but I enjoyed his interpretation of the Doctor and the unearthly realms he roams, especially since it is inked by Terry Austin. Though the Doctor’s magical signature here deviates from the geometric forms Ditko used to illustrate spells, Smith’s is much more eldritch and animated.
Paul Smith’s art is appropriate for the fantasy epic Stern has penned here. I never warmed up to Smith’s short run in Uncanny X-Men but I enjoyed his interpretation of the Doctor and the unearthly realms he roams, especially since it is inked by Terry Austin. Though the Doctor’s magical signature here deviates from the geometric forms Ditko used to illustrate spells, Smith’s is much more eldritch and animated.
February 4, 2017
Vote: 3,5
Dormammu's secret origin and the nuclear nightmare in warlord Chayn's dimension issue drawn by Bret Blevins are the best things in this saga of the Doc together with Paul Smith's art (love his old run on Uncanny X-Men).
I liked much more Roger Stern's Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment graphic novel.
Dormammu's secret origin and the nuclear nightmare in warlord Chayn's dimension issue drawn by Bret Blevins are the best things in this saga of the Doc together with Paul Smith's art (love his old run on Uncanny X-Men).
I liked much more Roger Stern's Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment graphic novel.
March 27, 2017
Sometimes you just want to read some mid-80s Dr. Strange.
In this collection, Roger Stern has the doctor help out Dane Whitman (The Black Knight) while ramping up the main plot, which features his old lover/disciple (no comment) Clea taking on Umar, the sister of Dread Dormammu. When Umar decides Strange is at the root of her evils, she attacks, causing him to join forces with Clea and the resistance.
At the end, in a horrible issue, the Beyonder shows up and Strange tries to show him humanity. It's awful, with terrible art, too.
Still, the main plot is a solid adventure, nothing fancy, just enjoyable, and there's nothing wrong with that. Combined with Paul Smith art that's so amazingly slick--the lines flow and the figure work is crisp, with each character looking unique and intimately detailed--and some Blevins art that's pretty good, too (I think he actually captures the Ditko Dimension feel a bit better than Smith), and you have a nice slice of Strange from 30 years ago that reminds me of why I like a lot of comics from that time.
In this collection, Roger Stern has the doctor help out Dane Whitman (The Black Knight) while ramping up the main plot, which features his old lover/disciple (no comment) Clea taking on Umar, the sister of Dread Dormammu. When Umar decides Strange is at the root of her evils, she attacks, causing him to join forces with Clea and the resistance.
At the end, in a horrible issue, the Beyonder shows up and Strange tries to show him humanity. It's awful, with terrible art, too.
Still, the main plot is a solid adventure, nothing fancy, just enjoyable, and there's nothing wrong with that. Combined with Paul Smith art that's so amazingly slick--the lines flow and the figure work is crisp, with each character looking unique and intimately detailed--and some Blevins art that's pretty good, too (I think he actually captures the Ditko Dimension feel a bit better than Smith), and you have a nice slice of Strange from 30 years ago that reminds me of why I like a lot of comics from that time.
June 23, 2011
Closer to 3.5 stars. These are reprints from Doctor Strange #68-74 (from 1974) and are largely a mixed bag. Paul Smith does a pretty good job of recapturing the weird, other-worldliness that Steve Ditko inaugurated in the 60s. The first and last stories aren't nearly as satisfying as the five issues sandwiched between them, but those five are worth the price of admission.
April 18, 2014
Roger Stern continues his work on Strange with an amazing epic that transformed both Umar and Clea into strong characters. He's also assisted by Paul Smith, whose artwork is breathtaking. It's an amazing package, sadly saddled with an ugly epilogue not done by Stern and Smith and a tie in to the atrocious Secret Wars 2 crossover event. Ignore that and enjoy the rest.
March 15, 2018
A big selling point here is Paul Smith’s artwork, in the shadow of Ditko (as Dr Strange artists often are) but with plenty of the soft, hi-gloss touch that made Smith’s X-Men run so fondly remembered. It’s a shame romance comics were so dead in the 80s - nobody drew hot yuppies like Paul Smith, and he’s most at home here in the issue where the Black Knight shows off his bodacious bod on a cruise ship. The only downside is his oppressed peasantry look bucolically well scrubbed - but then some of the tension in the story is that for an issue or so you’re not sure quite how oppressed they actually are.
A few years later, post-Watchmen, this story might have gone to more interesting places, questioning the morality of Clea’s rebellion (or of the lady herself). But Roger Stern doesn’t follow up on the few hints he does drop - this is a straightforward goodies and baddies yarn from a safe pair of hands. In the final issue Peter Gillis pops in for probably the best encapsulation of Secret Wars II’s themes that benighted event ever produced, as the Beyonder enquiries about the meaning of life from one of the few Marvel heroes to give the matter serious thought.
A few years later, post-Watchmen, this story might have gone to more interesting places, questioning the morality of Clea’s rebellion (or of the lady herself). But Roger Stern doesn’t follow up on the few hints he does drop - this is a straightforward goodies and baddies yarn from a safe pair of hands. In the final issue Peter Gillis pops in for probably the best encapsulation of Secret Wars II’s themes that benighted event ever produced, as the Beyonder enquiries about the meaning of life from one of the few Marvel heroes to give the matter serious thought.
September 11, 2011
When Doctor Strange's former disciple, Clea, stages an uprising in her home dimension, tyrannical ruler Umar is convinced that Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, Strange, is behind it. Trying to seize the advantage, Umar strikes at Strange on Earth, ironically drawing him into a conflict of which he was previously unaware. Strange enters the Dark Dimension, but will his might be enough to help the rebels win?
This book collects stories towards the end of the run of Doctor Strange as a regular, ongoing comic. As such, it builds on decades of backstory; Clea is Strange's former disciple and lover, Umar is the sister of deposed Dark Dimension dictator, the Dread Dormammu, who also happens to be one of Strange's archenemies, and so forth. It is to writer Roger Stern's credit, working with artists like Paul Smith and Bret Blevins, that the stories give the reader enough information to follow what's going on, without the need to read those decades of backstory.
Stern also provides a thrilling fantasy adventure story in its own right. He manages to make the magic used through the course of the story a weapon in the characters' arsenals without it turning into a all-purpose answer to everything. The resolution to the Umar story is based in character, not superpowers or magic. The story also includes some twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
The art, mostly by Paul Smith, is clean and beautiful. His storytelling is clear and detailed, and he draws his characters to look like easily identifiable individuals. The fantasy landscapes allow his imagination to run wild, while still feeling like a place people could actually live. The other artists, Bret Blevins and Mark Badger, are every bit as perfect for the story.
The main Dark Dimension story is bookended by a relatively self-contained tale about the redemption of Marvel hero the Black Knight, and an epilogue to the Dark Dimension story that is also a crossover with Secret Wars II. The Black Knight story is a fun one, drawn by Paul Smith, with lots of cool other-dimensional vistas reminiscent of Strange creator Steve Ditko's work. The Secret Wars II story, written by Peter Gillis and drawn by Mark Badger, is less accessible. It does present an alternative view of Strange's origin, but doesn't provide much context to the overall story of the Beyonder (the main character of Secret Wars II). However, it does wrap up the Dark Dimension story nicely in its first few pages, and doesn't really leave the reader hanging too much.
If memory serves, this was the last time Doctor Strange had any kind of successful ongoing comic. It proves that, if the character is handled well, great stories can be told about him that are more interesting than the average superhero tale.
This book collects stories towards the end of the run of Doctor Strange as a regular, ongoing comic. As such, it builds on decades of backstory; Clea is Strange's former disciple and lover, Umar is the sister of deposed Dark Dimension dictator, the Dread Dormammu, who also happens to be one of Strange's archenemies, and so forth. It is to writer Roger Stern's credit, working with artists like Paul Smith and Bret Blevins, that the stories give the reader enough information to follow what's going on, without the need to read those decades of backstory.
Stern also provides a thrilling fantasy adventure story in its own right. He manages to make the magic used through the course of the story a weapon in the characters' arsenals without it turning into a all-purpose answer to everything. The resolution to the Umar story is based in character, not superpowers or magic. The story also includes some twists and turns that I didn't see coming.
The art, mostly by Paul Smith, is clean and beautiful. His storytelling is clear and detailed, and he draws his characters to look like easily identifiable individuals. The fantasy landscapes allow his imagination to run wild, while still feeling like a place people could actually live. The other artists, Bret Blevins and Mark Badger, are every bit as perfect for the story.
The main Dark Dimension story is bookended by a relatively self-contained tale about the redemption of Marvel hero the Black Knight, and an epilogue to the Dark Dimension story that is also a crossover with Secret Wars II. The Black Knight story is a fun one, drawn by Paul Smith, with lots of cool other-dimensional vistas reminiscent of Strange creator Steve Ditko's work. The Secret Wars II story, written by Peter Gillis and drawn by Mark Badger, is less accessible. It does present an alternative view of Strange's origin, but doesn't provide much context to the overall story of the Beyonder (the main character of Secret Wars II). However, it does wrap up the Dark Dimension story nicely in its first few pages, and doesn't really leave the reader hanging too much.
If memory serves, this was the last time Doctor Strange had any kind of successful ongoing comic. It proves that, if the character is handled well, great stories can be told about him that are more interesting than the average superhero tale.
June 23, 2017
Fantasy done very well by Paul Smith. Too bad he didn't do more Marvel stuff after the 80's. An extra bonus, at least for me, one of the issues is done by Bret Blevins. He did a long stint on New Mutants in the 80's that is some of the best stuff they ever put out. But back to this volume. Some neat ideas and the writers doing something a little bit different with Doctor Strange. Too bad that last issues is necessary to tie up loose ends. Maybe 10 pages has to do with this story and the rest is a bunch of very poorly drawn Beyonder nonsense from Secret Wars 2.
January 12, 2017
The Dark Dimension
This was a great collection of classic Strange comics that really gives us a look into his character and the lives of other characters he influences along the way. Especially loved all of the old pop culture references in this set as well.
This was a great collection of classic Strange comics that really gives us a look into his character and the lives of other characters he influences along the way. Especially loved all of the old pop culture references in this set as well.
March 19, 2017
Vintage Dr. Strange - this is a good collection of Strange tales. A good read with good artwork.
December 18, 2017
2.5 stars. This collection of issues from 1985 doesn’t hold a candle to the graphic art of today. It does, however represent the stylistic differences between then and now.
I picked this up after seeing the movie, and reading it many months later just makes me want to see the movie again.
Here are my issues: sexism and racism. The kick-butt heroine wins her battle and is suddenly less clothed. She just wants Strange to hang out and be her consort, because she’s not confident she can rule now that she’s won. Blech. Couldn’t the men creating this comic just giver her the victory without making her so dependent on a man.
I was also offended by the racist portrayal of Strange’s employees/servants. Wong is so stereotypical it is just wrong. Although these issues don’t address it, I think Sara is meant to be Native American. She wears feathers and has red skin. Ya think? Again, it’s just wrong. Even In the 1980s when these were originally published, that was inappropriate.
Aside from all that, the stories of Doctor Strange battling evil throughput the dimension were fun. Not Earth shattering, but okay.
Now where’s that movie?
I picked this up after seeing the movie, and reading it many months later just makes me want to see the movie again.
Here are my issues: sexism and racism. The kick-butt heroine wins her battle and is suddenly less clothed. She just wants Strange to hang out and be her consort, because she’s not confident she can rule now that she’s won. Blech. Couldn’t the men creating this comic just giver her the victory without making her so dependent on a man.
I was also offended by the racist portrayal of Strange’s employees/servants. Wong is so stereotypical it is just wrong. Although these issues don’t address it, I think Sara is meant to be Native American. She wears feathers and has red skin. Ya think? Again, it’s just wrong. Even In the 1980s when these were originally published, that was inappropriate.
Aside from all that, the stories of Doctor Strange battling evil throughput the dimension were fun. Not Earth shattering, but okay.
Now where’s that movie?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2021
Most of these issues are written by Roger Stern and penciled by Paul Smith and feature consistent quality with some interesting anti-war and anti-nuclear weapons stories before entering the much teased story-arc with the rebellion in the Dark Dimension. Clea really takes the center stage, taking on the final showdown herself. An enjoyable read that's consistently quality until issue 74 which features an unsatisfactory denouement written by Peter Gillis and designed to tie into Secret Wars II. The art by Mark Baker I found even less to my taste.
July 6, 2018
Una gran bella sequenza dalla regular del Dottore, scritta molto bene da Roger Stern e magistralmente disegnata da Paul Smith, artista che mi è sempre piaciuto, ma chissà dov'è finito.
In pratica una avventura nella dimensione oscura, alla salvezza del suo vecchio amore, Clea.
Nonché alla ricerca delle origini familiari della stessa e del suo legame con la tremendissima Umar, sorella di Dormammu.
In pratica una avventura nella dimensione oscura, alla salvezza del suo vecchio amore, Clea.
Nonché alla ricerca delle origini familiari della stessa e del suo legame con la tremendissima Umar, sorella di Dormammu.
January 28, 2026
This one was a bit hard to read since there are some backstory that I was missing. I knew of the characters but never about their relationship.
It still made me feel like I was in the middle of the drama though. I thought it had a slow start but honestly the ending was good. The artwork was amazing.
We have characters like the Black Knight, Umar, Dormmamu, Clea, Wong, Sara, and the Beyonder! Last issue was a tie in for Secret Wars II but still felt connected with the previous issues.
It still made me feel like I was in the middle of the drama though. I thought it had a slow start but honestly the ending was good. The artwork was amazing.
We have characters like the Black Knight, Umar, Dormmamu, Clea, Wong, Sara, and the Beyonder! Last issue was a tie in for Secret Wars II but still felt connected with the previous issues.
June 8, 2022
This is an epic collection, one of the best storylines of Dr. Strange I've read. it explains a lot of backstory into the Dark Dimension and Dormammu which I enjoyed. Steven Strange is always the Master of the Mystic Arts, but now he must lead a rebellion against Umar, sister of Dormammu! I had a lot of fun reading this one.
February 7, 2025
Oddly enough, this volume only had one story that was not in the previous volume I read. Strange that it was the only story not written by Roger Stern. It was the introduction to The Beyonder, a being or entity with matchless powers trying to find enlightenment by becoming a human.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2018
A nicely told story, with great artm
May 23, 2019
One of my personal favorite Doctor Strange runs. Good fun.
November 17, 2020
Holds up better than I expected for an older comic. I haven't read a ton of Roger Stern's work, but I've really enjoyed what I have read.
July 13, 2014
Roger Stern was a cut above the other writers of that time. While none of his work leaps out as "classic must have!" like a Frank Miller or Alan Moore would be, he could be depended upon to write solid stories of the characters and have a nice take on those characters (although his run on Captain America with Byrne is my fav). Doctor Strange has always been one of those great characters that lacked a "Definitive" run. Daredevil as Miller, X-Men has Claremont and Byrne, but Doctor Strange has always been a great character with some good stories but not great ones. Where does this collection fall? Well I am happy to say I enjoyed it, but can't go overboard and say "must have!!". I think if you like the character this is an EXCELLENT idea of how he should be used. Good use of magic, imagination, but still you see the human and the doctor. The main focus of half the stories is a rebellion in the Dark Dimension led by Strange's ex-pupil and ex-lover Cleo. I would say, for the 80's this is a nice arc. But in today's comics the whole rebellion is rushed a bit. Today's comics allow for a story to breathe more and build up the drama (sometimes TOO much) but for this arc the whole thing plays out fast and is wrapped up nice and quick. Good for a light read but loses its drama because of it. The other stories are nice fillers and the art of Paul Smith is very creative and is a wonderful nod to Steve Ditko (who really will always be the best artist for that title).
We never really feel Doctor Strange is in any real danger but the stories are still interesting enough that I can overlook that. The Beyonder story tacked on at the end is a little odd and I remember being so upset by Marvel and that Secret Wars II and the Beyonder with the horrible 80's perm, but in truth it is a nice tag story that has an interesting look at Doctor's strange origin.
Another weakness is that the secondary characters (Wong and Sara - I have no idea who Sara is but Wong is a faithful companion for Strange throughout his history) get some screen time but never explored. I am sure some of these arcs were being developed for later titles but seem out of place in this collection.
Overall, buy if you are a Doctor Strange fan or love Paul Smith's art (I used to but it feels more dated now and less polished than I remembered it) but not a must have otherwise.
We never really feel Doctor Strange is in any real danger but the stories are still interesting enough that I can overlook that. The Beyonder story tacked on at the end is a little odd and I remember being so upset by Marvel and that Secret Wars II and the Beyonder with the horrible 80's perm, but in truth it is a nice tag story that has an interesting look at Doctor's strange origin.
Another weakness is that the secondary characters (Wong and Sara - I have no idea who Sara is but Wong is a faithful companion for Strange throughout his history) get some screen time but never explored. I am sure some of these arcs were being developed for later titles but seem out of place in this collection.
Overall, buy if you are a Doctor Strange fan or love Paul Smith's art (I used to but it feels more dated now and less polished than I remembered it) but not a must have otherwise.
February 15, 2017
This is the first Doctor Strange story I've ever read, and it was a good one. While it dragged a little here and there, the Dark Dimension rebellion was a great read, and Clea a great character. There are some obvious Tolkien influences here, and it works well in the world of Doctor Strange. And the art is great--the dark dimension is weird and zany. Looking forward to more.
May 18, 2018
Ah the 70s, full of hope and psychedelia and ladies in really odd shiny clothes. Even back then the females show far more flesh than was credible and feminism meant being strong, independant and semi-clothed. There are some odd images in this comic and attitudes. At times the Doc came across like Classic david Niven in his charming ways and a bit too old school for the master wizard he is but all is forgiven when you read the story and check out the fantastic art.
Never mind the marvel tropes and style decisions when it comes to dressing their women, there are a number of great and interesting tales here all of which benefit hugely from the fact this whole story is set in a mystical universe of parallel and alternate dimensions. This allows for a freedom of storytelling which encourages the writers to try out surprisingly detailed and subtle political tales of rebellion. Not book level nuance clearly but more than you would expect from a comic of this era. The artist also goes for it and there are some amazing images and moments in this book. Its a genuine pleasure to read,
Despite the occasional dip into exposition and semi-religious ramblings to introduce back stories these were fine tales and worth of reading. I did get into them and the did stand up rather well. The last one was not, A relatively mundane ‘what is it to be human’ kind of story that does absolutely nothing new. The rest though is like going back to a trippy 70s TV show, only with effects that have not aged at all.
Never mind the marvel tropes and style decisions when it comes to dressing their women, there are a number of great and interesting tales here all of which benefit hugely from the fact this whole story is set in a mystical universe of parallel and alternate dimensions. This allows for a freedom of storytelling which encourages the writers to try out surprisingly detailed and subtle political tales of rebellion. Not book level nuance clearly but more than you would expect from a comic of this era. The artist also goes for it and there are some amazing images and moments in this book. Its a genuine pleasure to read,
Despite the occasional dip into exposition and semi-religious ramblings to introduce back stories these were fine tales and worth of reading. I did get into them and the did stand up rather well. The last one was not, A relatively mundane ‘what is it to be human’ kind of story that does absolutely nothing new. The rest though is like going back to a trippy 70s TV show, only with effects that have not aged at all.
July 16, 2015
Entertaining book, but with no standout stories. Probably the best thing about this book is the Paul Smith art, which is pretty spectacular. He seems born to draw Doctor Strange. The first couple of stories team Strange up with the Black Knight, but the bulk of this story surrounds Strange assisting his former apprentice Clea with unseating a tyrant named Umar in another dimension. When considering this book as a standalone reading experience, the alternate dimension stories lack some of the punch they should have mostly because the book doesn't really spend much time convincing the audience that they should care about Clea. If you appreciate who the character is, and care about her, I can see this storyline being more meaningful. Without that, the story lacks the emotional punch it should have because we are never really given much reason to care about Clea, and are only sympathetic to her because of her ties with Dr. Strange and the fact that Umar is clearly so evil.
Read
December 26, 2016I bought this because it was in the sale and Peter Gillis was listed as one of the writers; alas, he only contributes the final issue, which is better than a Secret Wars II crossover fill-in has any right to be, but still hardly essential. The rest of it is Roger Stern, and as hokey as he and his generation tended to be - though in fairness that's still much better than their predecessors. And while the script may be clunky and catchphrase-heavy in places, elsewhere it's surprisingly astute, with Strange only dragged into Dark Dimension politics by attacks which proceeded on the assumption he was already involved and a populace unsupportive of rebellion simply because their ruler, Dormammu's sister, isn't as bad as her brother was. Smart artwork, too - less outright crazy than Ditko's planar visions, but still rendering fantastic vistas solidly, only to then undercut them by having holes appear through the panel to the white beyond.
October 22, 2013
The evil fiend, Dormammu, has been vanquished from the thousand dimensions. But, more importantly, so has Steve Ditko. Stan Lee and Ditko created The Master of the Mystic Arts in the early 1960s. It was of a piece with the psychedelic era of The Beatles and San Francisco poster art.,
This collection, hardbound in commic-book format, comes toward the end of that era. The series was never strong on plot, nor is the drawing quite up to its previous best. Yet, it still succeeds in finding a unique perspective that pits Dr. Strange against foes of eras past and future. His acolyte, Clea, is far away leading a rebellion of inter-dimensional creatures. There are other friends to help. Worth the read, if not a permanent place on the shelf.
This collection, hardbound in commic-book format, comes toward the end of that era. The series was never strong on plot, nor is the drawing quite up to its previous best. Yet, it still succeeds in finding a unique perspective that pits Dr. Strange against foes of eras past and future. His acolyte, Clea, is far away leading a rebellion of inter-dimensional creatures. There are other friends to help. Worth the read, if not a permanent place on the shelf.
May 20, 2015
An entertaining ride, with world-hopping, flashy fantastical magic, and lots of alliterative spell-casting. There are some story-threads I would like to follow up on in the future (what did The Beyonder make of himself? How does Clea handle her rule?), and the knight with the cursed blade was Cool. ^_^ I have mixed feelings about some elements, and the art is not a style I'm completely used to, but still - good read, would share with a friend.
December 11, 2014
Paul Smith's mosaic art style really made this something special. The inking and colors were beautiful and the story enjoyable. Loved the bits with The Black Knight.
January 1, 2016
Paul Smith is ridiculously good. This is the best of the Roger Stern years, in my opinion. It is decluttered writing to match Smith's delightful art.
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