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Doctor Strange (2015) (Collected Editions)
Doctor Strange, Vol. 4: Mr. Misery
As magic faced its last days, Mr. Misery helped Doctor Strange defeat the Empirikul. But that doesn't make Misery a hero. Not one bit. Now the nightmarish creature is about to show Strange the full meaning of his name - and he'll do it by visiting pain and suffering on one of the Doc's closest allies! The Sorcerer Supreme won't stand for that - but to bring the thunder down on Misery, he needs a little help from Thor! Then, Clea walks back into Doctor Strange's life just as he's picking up the pieces from the worst beating he's ever taken. Is she there to make things all better - or will she make that battle feel like a walk in the park for Stephen? Plus, the dazzling debut of the Sorcerers Supreme! COLLECTING: DOCTOR STRANGE 17-20, ANNUAL 1
136 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2017
36 people are currently reading
452 people want to read
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,360 books1,682 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
January 24, 2020
Doctor Strange takes on Mr. Misery in the final volume of Jason Aaron's run.
And as much as I tend to love Jason Aaron, I'm kind of glad he's done with Stephen. Between the cost of magic thing and the insertion of Zelma into his and Wong's Sanctum, and the whole Empirikul (<--or howeverthefuckyouspelltheirname) thing - I'm just not as into this version of the Sorcerer Supreme as I thought I would be.
Honestly, I can understand why Wong got pissed off there at the end.
Doctor Strange Annual #1 has a fun appearance by Clea, but there are several little extra stories thrown into that one, as well.
All in all, it was a decent run, but I'm looking forward to something different.
And as much as I tend to love Jason Aaron, I'm kind of glad he's done with Stephen. Between the cost of magic thing and the insertion of Zelma into his and Wong's Sanctum, and the whole Empirikul (<--or howeverthefuckyouspelltheirname) thing - I'm just not as into this version of the Sorcerer Supreme as I thought I would be.
Honestly, I can understand why Wong got pissed off there at the end.
Doctor Strange Annual #1 has a fun appearance by Clea, but there are several little extra stories thrown into that one, as well.
All in all, it was a decent run, but I'm looking forward to something different.
April 29, 2019
Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo finish up their run by finally taking care of Mr. Misery. (Anyone else think of the Elliot Smith song, Miss Misery every time we hear this cancerous goo villain's name?) Hopefully the new creative team won't be so focused on having Strange eating gross food. I liked the little change in the status quo at the end of the story, which I hope will set up an interesting direction for Dennis Hopeless to take the series in.
December 13, 2017
After an excellent beginning and an unfortunate dip in quality in the middle of their run, Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo go out on a real high. This volume had everything I want from a Dr. Strange book (other than to have it read to me by Vincent Price) and I loved every little bit of it, especially the parts that made me laugh out loud and the parts that made me want to cry. Great stuff! I don't think I've ever enjoyed Dr. Strange this much...
September 22, 2023
This is a nice but rather slim volume that collects the last four issues of Aaron's run and a couple of stories from an Annual. It ties up the Mr. Misery story line satisfactorily, Zelda is fun, Jane Foster is cool as a brain surgeon like one of those chess masters playing twenty games at once, and it was nice to see Clea return briefly in a story by Kathryn Immonen. I could have done without Stephen's dietary proclivities. The art is from five different people but of generally high quality; I especially liked a couple of psychedelic spreads in the Chris Bachalo/Kevin Nowlan issue that looked Steranko-inspired. It's a quick, fun read; I suggest requesting it from your public library unless you've got twenty-five dollars you need to blow quickly.
March 24, 2018
And sadly we go out in a whimper.
This mostly is closing up ties to Jason's end. Try to cover it up and finish where it started. Doctor Strange has to help his follower get through a dark time. People are after him trying to kill him as always. Then we jump into the annual to kind of jump start the next run. It feels short, rushed, and not a great ending.
Good: I still love some of the art, mostly on Jason's issues. Also Jason still hits the tone and voice of strange well. I also liked that he got a new sidekick.
Bad: The fights weren't that great, the annual was honestly boring, and the new writer didn't really hit the voice of strange. It didn't end in a epic fashion that I think the character deserved and ended more on a whimper.
I'd probably end up giving this a 2.5 or so but honestly I'ma have to go with a 2 star just because it wasn't very impressive.
This mostly is closing up ties to Jason's end. Try to cover it up and finish where it started. Doctor Strange has to help his follower get through a dark time. People are after him trying to kill him as always. Then we jump into the annual to kind of jump start the next run. It feels short, rushed, and not a great ending.
Good: I still love some of the art, mostly on Jason's issues. Also Jason still hits the tone and voice of strange well. I also liked that he got a new sidekick.
Bad: The fights weren't that great, the annual was honestly boring, and the new writer didn't really hit the voice of strange. It didn't end in a epic fashion that I think the character deserved and ended more on a whimper.
I'd probably end up giving this a 2.5 or so but honestly I'ma have to go with a 2 star just because it wasn't very impressive.
October 26, 2017
After two lackluster volumes, Jason Aaron managed to somewhat recapture the magic of his first Doc Strange book in this final arc. It's a sweet, fun and quirky sendoff that almost makes me forgive volumes two and three for being as bad as they were. Aaron brings his story full circle, ending it right where it all started. I really liked this finale.
I am happy to see that another great Marvel writer, Dennis Hopeless, is going to take over the writing duties on Doctor Strange, and Marvel won't even reset the numbering of the issues! I only hope that Secret Empire won't eff everything up too much.
I am happy to see that another great Marvel writer, Dennis Hopeless, is going to take over the writing duties on Doctor Strange, and Marvel won't even reset the numbering of the issues! I only hope that Secret Empire won't eff everything up too much.
May 5, 2021
This review originally appeared over at my blog, The Grimoire Reliquary!
By Odin’s beard, it finally happened! A volume of Doctor Strange, as written by Jason Aaron, CLICKED with me! I think I’m starting to understand where Aaron’s strengths with Strange lie–he does a good job of exploring interpersonal relationships, the bread and butter of Mister Misery. The presence of Jane Foster’s Thor in two of the issues collected within this trade paperback helps, too!
Following after Mister Misery’s abduction of Wong at the close of the previous volume, the first issue opens with a reckless, frustrated Strange trying to figure out where his…uh, majordomo, has gone off to. We are given a few flashbacks that show the origins of this fruitful relationship, the antagonistic beginnings of Marvel’s most magical friendship! A conflict with the musician formerly known as Doc Strange’s dark little secret, here belovedly referred to as Mr. Misery, has been a long time coming and it went about the way I expected–but the challenges it offered along the way hit a personal note for Strange and for Jane Foster alike; seeing the two commit to a more unusual team-up was some of the greatest fun I’ve had with Aaron’s run on the character. I’ve mentioned in passing my love for Jane Foster’s iteration of Thor, and this was a welcome treat, considering it’s been several years now since Foster gave up the mantle.
The conflict with Mr. Misery is concluded within three issues, and we are given a forth, which allows Aaron to shore up the relationship between Strange and his intern librarian, Zelma. I keep forgetting to mention Zelma, but she’s the one character I’ve consistently enjoyed throughout the run, a nerdy book-smart twenty-something year old whose curiosity about the magical world is unending. The repercussions of that final issue will have a lasting impact on Doctor Strange‘s supporting cast, a development that surprised me and maybe took me out of the story a little bit. If you haven’t read it, I won’t spoil, but if you have…the character that leaves at the end, I thought they left somewhat unexpectedly, especially after some work had been done in prior issues to shore up the relationship.
My love/hate relationship with artist Chris Bachalo continues; he draws two and a half of the issues in the collection, and those weren’t entirely impressive. I was very taken with Frazer Irving’s art on Issue #17, which set an entirely different tone to Strange‘s adventures, one far more gothic and eldritch as compared to Bachalo’s drugged up Wonderland-like whimsy. Here’s a piece of Irving’s, not from the interior of #17 but quite enough to give you an idea of what to expect from him.
This is Aaron’s last volume on the Doctor Strange title, and I have to admit, this uneven run ended on a high note for me. From this point hence, we’ve got Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme by Robbie Thompson, whose Star Wars: Target Vader was mediocre, and a SECRET EMPIRE crossover volume of Doctor Strange, penned by Denniss Hopeless, who I’m not familiar with. I think I’ll play it safe and skip that volume–Secret Empire is one of the absolute worst, most boring events in comics I’ve read, and I can’t imagine this tie-in would be great. I am, however, excited about the two volumes written by Donny Cates–the first one features Loki as the Sorcerer Supreme, and I’m swooning with excitement about that one.
By Odin’s beard, it finally happened! A volume of Doctor Strange, as written by Jason Aaron, CLICKED with me! I think I’m starting to understand where Aaron’s strengths with Strange lie–he does a good job of exploring interpersonal relationships, the bread and butter of Mister Misery. The presence of Jane Foster’s Thor in two of the issues collected within this trade paperback helps, too!
Following after Mister Misery’s abduction of Wong at the close of the previous volume, the first issue opens with a reckless, frustrated Strange trying to figure out where his…uh, majordomo, has gone off to. We are given a few flashbacks that show the origins of this fruitful relationship, the antagonistic beginnings of Marvel’s most magical friendship! A conflict with the musician formerly known as Doc Strange’s dark little secret, here belovedly referred to as Mr. Misery, has been a long time coming and it went about the way I expected–but the challenges it offered along the way hit a personal note for Strange and for Jane Foster alike; seeing the two commit to a more unusual team-up was some of the greatest fun I’ve had with Aaron’s run on the character. I’ve mentioned in passing my love for Jane Foster’s iteration of Thor, and this was a welcome treat, considering it’s been several years now since Foster gave up the mantle.
The conflict with Mr. Misery is concluded within three issues, and we are given a forth, which allows Aaron to shore up the relationship between Strange and his intern librarian, Zelma. I keep forgetting to mention Zelma, but she’s the one character I’ve consistently enjoyed throughout the run, a nerdy book-smart twenty-something year old whose curiosity about the magical world is unending. The repercussions of that final issue will have a lasting impact on Doctor Strange‘s supporting cast, a development that surprised me and maybe took me out of the story a little bit. If you haven’t read it, I won’t spoil, but if you have…the character that leaves at the end, I thought they left somewhat unexpectedly, especially after some work had been done in prior issues to shore up the relationship.
My love/hate relationship with artist Chris Bachalo continues; he draws two and a half of the issues in the collection, and those weren’t entirely impressive. I was very taken with Frazer Irving’s art on Issue #17, which set an entirely different tone to Strange‘s adventures, one far more gothic and eldritch as compared to Bachalo’s drugged up Wonderland-like whimsy. Here’s a piece of Irving’s, not from the interior of #17 but quite enough to give you an idea of what to expect from him.
This is Aaron’s last volume on the Doctor Strange title, and I have to admit, this uneven run ended on a high note for me. From this point hence, we’ve got Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme by Robbie Thompson, whose Star Wars: Target Vader was mediocre, and a SECRET EMPIRE crossover volume of Doctor Strange, penned by Denniss Hopeless, who I’m not familiar with. I think I’ll play it safe and skip that volume–Secret Empire is one of the absolute worst, most boring events in comics I’ve read, and I can’t imagine this tie-in would be great. I am, however, excited about the two volumes written by Donny Cates–the first one features Loki as the Sorcerer Supreme, and I’m swooning with excitement about that one.
July 5, 2018
2.5 stars.
Certainly better than the last volume, but still not great. The good:
We got to see Clea again.
The art is nice.
The bad:
Ok, so you used to have to train to get magic powers, but now you can be infected with "magical antibodies" to get magic powers? So, like, you can get magical aids? This reeks of mitichlorians.
Bye bye, Wong. You deserved better. I know Marvel likes replacing straight white dudes with minority characters, but replacing a minority character with another minority character? I am sure someone should be angry at someone else for something in this situation...
Certainly better than the last volume, but still not great. The good:
We got to see Clea again.
The art is nice.
The bad:
Ok, so you used to have to train to get magic powers, but now you can be infected with "magical antibodies" to get magic powers? So, like, you can get magical aids? This reeks of mitichlorians.
Bye bye, Wong. You deserved better. I know Marvel likes replacing straight white dudes with minority characters, but replacing a minority character with another minority character? I am sure someone should be angry at someone else for something in this situation...
March 31, 2019
(Combined review for vols 3 and 4) Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo seem to feed off each others' weirdness, and it shows throughout this fun run on Stephen Strange's mangled soul. As I'd predicted at the low point of volume 2, it's far more interesting to see your characters struggling against odds they aren't overpowered for, so Aaron tore Strange back down to a hero who works hard to claw his way out of the pits of insanity.
Bachalo spent so much of this run drawing tentacles, teeth and goop that I wonder what his next book was, because this one was friggin mind-bending even moreso than "Frankenstein Guns" from (one of my favourite parts of) Wolverine and the X-men.
I will remember this run fondly - it is a brave mission, to nerf Dr. Strange and bring him back to the "relatable screwup" level of most Marvel "heroes looking up" (rather than the traditional "gods looking down" of the major DC heroes).
Bachalo spent so much of this run drawing tentacles, teeth and goop that I wonder what his next book was, because this one was friggin mind-bending even moreso than "Frankenstein Guns" from (one of my favourite parts of) Wolverine and the X-men.
I will remember this run fondly - it is a brave mission, to nerf Dr. Strange and bring him back to the "relatable screwup" level of most Marvel "heroes looking up" (rather than the traditional "gods looking down" of the major DC heroes).
March 28, 2018
A fun and choppy end to an entertaining run.
World: The art is fantastic, I've been a fan since the first issue and this does not disappoint. It's weird, it's colorful and not broody like most supernatural books, I like it. The world building this time around is pretty much self contained into Strange's world and more importantly Aaron's part. In the final arc we get the culmination of his story and a resolution of his world.
Story: A bit choppy, a bit too easy as a wrap up and a bit too pacey but overall a fun little read. Aaron has done things in his run that has changed the status quo, I don't know how much it will change with the new creative team but it was fun while it lasted. The tone of the book and the series was both fun and dark at the same time a balance that worked very well. The end of the Mr. Misery story was kinda meh and kinda expected. It was intimate, it was small and personal which I liked but a bit too convenient. The lasting thing that I personally will remember for this series and I wished we had more time to explore is Zelma.
Characters: Strange is interesting in this version, the Aaron version. I like how he's depowered and has a place to build up and I like how quirky and weird Aaron has made him. I don't know what's gonna happen with the new creative team but this was fun while it lasted. Zelma is the best addition and I am hoping we get more of her with the new team she is a great sounding board and our eyes into Strange's strange world. Wong was Wong, I think Aaron didn't really know how to deal with him and his relationship with Stephen so I guess the end is fitting. Mr. Misery was a visually interesting character but not really all the original and in the end his arc was kinda forgettable.
An interesting run that tried new things and created a character I really enjoyed.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is fantastic, I've been a fan since the first issue and this does not disappoint. It's weird, it's colorful and not broody like most supernatural books, I like it. The world building this time around is pretty much self contained into Strange's world and more importantly Aaron's part. In the final arc we get the culmination of his story and a resolution of his world.
Story: A bit choppy, a bit too easy as a wrap up and a bit too pacey but overall a fun little read. Aaron has done things in his run that has changed the status quo, I don't know how much it will change with the new creative team but it was fun while it lasted. The tone of the book and the series was both fun and dark at the same time a balance that worked very well. The end of the Mr. Misery story was kinda meh and kinda expected. It was intimate, it was small and personal which I liked but a bit too convenient. The lasting thing that I personally will remember for this series and I wished we had more time to explore is Zelma.
Characters: Strange is interesting in this version, the Aaron version. I like how he's depowered and has a place to build up and I like how quirky and weird Aaron has made him. I don't know what's gonna happen with the new creative team but this was fun while it lasted. Zelma is the best addition and I am hoping we get more of her with the new team she is a great sounding board and our eyes into Strange's strange world. Wong was Wong, I think Aaron didn't really know how to deal with him and his relationship with Stephen so I guess the end is fitting. Mr. Misery was a visually interesting character but not really all the original and in the end his arc was kinda forgettable.
An interesting run that tried new things and created a character I really enjoyed.
Onward to the next book!
May 28, 2018
Con este tomo se pone fin al Doctor Strange reinventado por Aaron e ilustrado por Bachalo, y estoy deseando ver el trabajo de otros autores. Ha sido una experiencia divertida e interesante, dicen en el epílogo que querían hacer algo lovecraftiano y con humor y se consigue, además de rescatar personajes míticos de Marvel y dar un giro a la magia, al Doctor y a sus colegas.
Este tomo en concreto sigue siendo igual de disfrutable. Las ilustraciones de Bachalo, que al principio me parecían confusas (y he visto en otras reseñas que no es solo cosa mía), en este volumen están mucho más depuradas, y el colorido del mundo mágico me encanta (me recuerda mucho a cuando sale Delirio en Sandman). En el primer capítulo las ilustraciones son de otro artista (desconozco el motivo), pero también me gustaron mucho.
Este tomo en concreto sigue siendo igual de disfrutable. Las ilustraciones de Bachalo, que al principio me parecían confusas (y he visto en otras reseñas que no es solo cosa mía), en este volumen están mucho más depuradas, y el colorido del mundo mágico me encanta (me recuerda mucho a cuando sale Delirio en Sandman). En el primer capítulo las ilustraciones son de otro artista (desconozco el motivo), pero también me gustaron mucho.
December 22, 2017
[Read as single issues]
Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo close out their Doctor Strange run by pitting Stephen against his worst enemy - the physical embodiment of all of the pain he has avoided for years, Mister Misery. He's gross, y'all.
After The Last Days Of Magic, it took a while for Doctor Strange's series to regain it's momentum, almost like it peaked too early. This final arc recaptures a little of that, with Mister Misery managing to deal some horrible blows to Strange's life and his connection to the few friends he has. I'm especially fond of the issue that has he and Jane Foster Thor performing multiple mystical surgeries at once, that's really well done.
Also included here is the lead story from the Doctor Strange annual, which brings back Clea and explains exactly what went wrong with their relationship, and why she and Stephen don't spend very much time together anymore. It's by Kathryn Immonen rather than Aaron, but it slots in nicely.
Chris Bachalo is on the main series art, and he's just as dark and dingy as before. He's an acquired taste, but I think he works for this kind of story, moreso than perhaps the more straight forward bits in earlier volumes. Leonardo Romero is on the annual, and I've just been singing his praises over on Hawkeye, so he's always a treat too.
Not quite a (Mister) misery, but not quite as impressive as before.
Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo close out their Doctor Strange run by pitting Stephen against his worst enemy - the physical embodiment of all of the pain he has avoided for years, Mister Misery. He's gross, y'all.
After The Last Days Of Magic, it took a while for Doctor Strange's series to regain it's momentum, almost like it peaked too early. This final arc recaptures a little of that, with Mister Misery managing to deal some horrible blows to Strange's life and his connection to the few friends he has. I'm especially fond of the issue that has he and Jane Foster Thor performing multiple mystical surgeries at once, that's really well done.
Also included here is the lead story from the Doctor Strange annual, which brings back Clea and explains exactly what went wrong with their relationship, and why she and Stephen don't spend very much time together anymore. It's by Kathryn Immonen rather than Aaron, but it slots in nicely.
Chris Bachalo is on the main series art, and he's just as dark and dingy as before. He's an acquired taste, but I think he works for this kind of story, moreso than perhaps the more straight forward bits in earlier volumes. Leonardo Romero is on the annual, and I've just been singing his praises over on Hawkeye, so he's always a treat too.
Not quite a (Mister) misery, but not quite as impressive as before.
July 1, 2018
I dunno if the problem was that Mr. Misery was a terrible foe (he was; entirely one-dimensional without any possibility for characterization, and now going down the dull route of punishing a hero by hurting the people he'd previously saved), or if it's that Aaron's Doctor Strange got very old very quickly. Whichever the case, the three-issue arc that takes up most of this volume just feels like a trudge to the end, even though it's got some of the quirkiness that made Aaron's first volume great.
The last issue is strong because it's all about a final reckoning with Zelda, who I dearly hope stays around as supporting cast after Aaron's departure. (The season-oriented design of comics in recent years has given new authors too much license to abandon everything that the previous author created.) The Annual also has a neat Clea story that nicely addresses that particular elephant in the room and is one of the better stories in this book ... and it turns out it isn't by Aaron. Huh.
Anywho, I read through all four volumes of Aaron's run, by the later volumes I was reading them well after publication because they weren't interesting me as much any more, and now I think they're all going to the used-book store.
The last issue is strong because it's all about a final reckoning with Zelda, who I dearly hope stays around as supporting cast after Aaron's departure. (The season-oriented design of comics in recent years has given new authors too much license to abandon everything that the previous author created.) The Annual also has a neat Clea story that nicely addresses that particular elephant in the room and is one of the better stories in this book ... and it turns out it isn't by Aaron. Huh.
Anywho, I read through all four volumes of Aaron's run, by the later volumes I was reading them well after publication because they weren't interesting me as much any more, and now I think they're all going to the used-book store.
June 3, 2019
3.5 🌟's
Magic was basically eradicated at the hands of the emprikul, however Doctor Strange and Co. prevailed, and now magic is slowly trickling back into the world.
Aaron and Bachalo have successfully maintained a fun, and quirky storyline that is focusing on the 'weird'. This volume serves as a descent 'farewell tour'
Unfortunately Wong has disappeared, and the doc is missing his bro. We also get Mr. Misery creeping about. That's what you get for not paying you're magical tab Doc. Aaron refers to this over and over. For whatever reason Jane Foster shows up as Thor, and tries her hand at brain surgery. No big deal right. Frazer Irving sits in on issue 17, and I have to say his art style was stand out really enjoyed that issue.
The rest of the volume adventures about and everyone continues to eat weird shit and vomit frequently. This has been going on for 20 + issues now so maybe it's a good thing Aaron is handing this title over to new creative team.
I am looking forward to volume 5. we get a little sneak peak at the end.
Magic was basically eradicated at the hands of the emprikul, however Doctor Strange and Co. prevailed, and now magic is slowly trickling back into the world.
Aaron and Bachalo have successfully maintained a fun, and quirky storyline that is focusing on the 'weird'. This volume serves as a descent 'farewell tour'
Unfortunately Wong has disappeared, and the doc is missing his bro. We also get Mr. Misery creeping about. That's what you get for not paying you're magical tab Doc. Aaron refers to this over and over. For whatever reason Jane Foster shows up as Thor, and tries her hand at brain surgery. No big deal right. Frazer Irving sits in on issue 17, and I have to say his art style was stand out really enjoyed that issue.
The rest of the volume adventures about and everyone continues to eat weird shit and vomit frequently. This has been going on for 20 + issues now so maybe it's a good thing Aaron is handing this title over to new creative team.
I am looking forward to volume 5. we get a little sneak peak at the end.
Read
November 9, 2017Concluding Aaron’s 20-issue run – a number which seems odd for modern Marvel, neither short enough to count as cancelled nor long enough to include a relaunch (and indeed, ahead of Legacy this was one of the first titles to get a new writer coming on board without a new #1). There’s a niggling sense of it not having quite lived up to its promise, though on the face of it Strange is back in play as a viable ongoing lead with a tweaked status quo and better defined power levels than he’s had in years. This goodbye also features guest spots from other Aaron favourites like Weirdworld and Thor (who asks, quite sensibly, whether all Strange’s team-ups are this bizarre and disgusting). It’s very pretty, too - Frazer Irving is probably the one artist who can excel even Bachalo at capturing the appropriate tone, at once dark, grotesque and not entirely serious.
October 28, 2017
After 2 volumes rather so-so, Aaron & crew bring their run to a satisfying conclusion.
We left Wong in a dire situation when vol.3 ended but our favorite mystic saves the day-at a predictable cost for himself-with the help of... the goddess of thunder herself, cleverly introduced in the plot.
The final issue remodels Doc's entourage before passing the flame to Dennis Hopeless.
On the drawing board all's for the best: Frazer Irving, Chris Bacchalo of course and even a few pages by Kevin Nowlan. A well designed closure.
There were ups and downs during this run but it remains overall a good series. Aaron managed to hook me onto a character that never really interested me before. Kudos to him (and his crew).
We left Wong in a dire situation when vol.3 ended but our favorite mystic saves the day-at a predictable cost for himself-with the help of... the goddess of thunder herself, cleverly introduced in the plot.
The final issue remodels Doc's entourage before passing the flame to Dennis Hopeless.
On the drawing board all's for the best: Frazer Irving, Chris Bacchalo of course and even a few pages by Kevin Nowlan. A well designed closure.
There were ups and downs during this run but it remains overall a good series. Aaron managed to hook me onto a character that never really interested me before. Kudos to him (and his crew).
May 18, 2018
Kind of a mishmash of stuff here. A bunch of disconnected stories. Different artists from one issue to the next. Aaron's run concludes more with a whimper than with a bang, which is too bad because he started off strong. Chris Bachalo should be given permanent art duties on this title, regardless of who's writing.
July 17, 2019
Mister Misery continues to cause problems, including possessing Wong, but thankfully Doctor Strange gets some help--the Mighty Thor (the female version.) Then we see the return of Clea as well, plus Doc gains a new apprentice, which anyway who follows this title probably saw coming.
Good volume, I think Mr. Misery makes a nice addition to the Doc's rogues gallery.
Good volume, I think Mr. Misery makes a nice addition to the Doc's rogues gallery.
June 20, 2019
Jason Aaron was supposed to be my new favorite author in comics after he blew me away with his Thor run but after this disappointing Doctor Strange run I see I was too quick to jump on his bandwagon.
Words can't describe how disappointed I was in this 4 volume run. So, instead I'll do a quick interpretive dance...no, scratch that, I'm going to try words.
I am disappointed because I love Doctor Strange and I feel in the right hands you can write some wonderful, creative, mystical stories with him. The key stories in this run fell so flat for me. The idea of a science race destroying all magic in every Universe they go to had promise but in the end I can't even remember the ending it was so unmemorable. In this volume we see the culmination of the new Doctor Strange villain, Mr. Misery!! Who is this exciting new villain that will be sure to be used over and over again? It is the suffering of Doctor Strange (built up every time he uses magic) distilled into an oily yuck monster who hates Doctor Strange for bringing him into creation. A one shot idea? For sure. A 20 issue menace who keeps destroying Doctor Strange's house? He over stayed his welcome.
I am also disappointed because the art is fantastic and deserved a story worthy of the creativity of the art.
I am disappointed because Kathryn Immonen showed me how great this run could have been in the one annual included in this collection. Her story managed to capture what I was looking for. An interesting mystical tale.
In the end, I really hated Jason's take on Doctor Strange's personality. He made him into a semi-bungling Indiana Jones mystical warrior (with an ax). He just wasn't the character I was used to and I didn't like this jarring change in his personality. I didn't like the new sidekick because she felt so 2-D to me. No layers, just "quirky outsider discovers the world of magic and gets swept up in it".
This is a run I can see a lot of people liking but for me the stories fell short and Jason's new "manic" take on Doctor Strange didn't work for me.
Words can't describe how disappointed I was in this 4 volume run. So, instead I'll do a quick interpretive dance...no, scratch that, I'm going to try words.
I am disappointed because I love Doctor Strange and I feel in the right hands you can write some wonderful, creative, mystical stories with him. The key stories in this run fell so flat for me. The idea of a science race destroying all magic in every Universe they go to had promise but in the end I can't even remember the ending it was so unmemorable. In this volume we see the culmination of the new Doctor Strange villain, Mr. Misery!! Who is this exciting new villain that will be sure to be used over and over again? It is the suffering of Doctor Strange (built up every time he uses magic) distilled into an oily yuck monster who hates Doctor Strange for bringing him into creation. A one shot idea? For sure. A 20 issue menace who keeps destroying Doctor Strange's house? He over stayed his welcome.
I am also disappointed because the art is fantastic and deserved a story worthy of the creativity of the art.
I am disappointed because Kathryn Immonen showed me how great this run could have been in the one annual included in this collection. Her story managed to capture what I was looking for. An interesting mystical tale.
In the end, I really hated Jason's take on Doctor Strange's personality. He made him into a semi-bungling Indiana Jones mystical warrior (with an ax). He just wasn't the character I was used to and I didn't like this jarring change in his personality. I didn't like the new sidekick because she felt so 2-D to me. No layers, just "quirky outsider discovers the world of magic and gets swept up in it".
This is a run I can see a lot of people liking but for me the stories fell short and Jason's new "manic" take on Doctor Strange didn't work for me.
September 18, 2019
Definitely weird and grotesque at times. Honestly, I didn't want to focus on the details of some of the images. The IGN.com review blurb on the cover is pretty accurate: "As uncomfortably creepy as it is downright gorgeous." The extreme concept of paying the price for magic use, especially in terms of a literal twist on being able to "stomach" something, continues.
But I also found a lot of fun things in this:
- Chris Bachalo's art when it isn't grotesque.
- Patrick Brown's cover art, which makes Doctor Strange look like a youngish Jonathan Frakes.
- A battle vs. Nazi Ninja Vampires.
- The team-up with the Goddess known as Thor. Yes--she's Jane Foster. Previously, I was familiar only with the MCU version of Jane, the astrophysicist. This one is a medical doctor/surgeon, and she helps Doctor Strange remove brain tumors from his former patients, zipping around lightning-fast. She also has some cute lines, including, "Huzzah. Tumor...successfully smited."
- Zelma, librarian and trusty Strange sidekick. I like her so much. And I loved this line from a tense situation: "But if I'm going down...I'm gonna die with a book in my hand."
There's also this exchange after she saves the day:
Wong: ...it appears someone viciously gunned down my refrigerator.
Zelma: Yeah, don't blame me. That thing totally had it coming.
- Doctor Strange as cute but badass beagle (yes, you read that right) at a magical auction.
- A flying motorcycle.
- Doctor Strange's incompetence at making tea.
But I also found a lot of fun things in this:
- Chris Bachalo's art when it isn't grotesque.
- Patrick Brown's cover art, which makes Doctor Strange look like a youngish Jonathan Frakes.
- A battle vs. Nazi Ninja Vampires.
- The team-up with the Goddess known as Thor. Yes--she's Jane Foster. Previously, I was familiar only with the MCU version of Jane, the astrophysicist. This one is a medical doctor/surgeon, and she helps Doctor Strange remove brain tumors from his former patients, zipping around lightning-fast. She also has some cute lines, including, "Huzzah. Tumor...successfully smited."
- Zelma, librarian and trusty Strange sidekick. I like her so much. And I loved this line from a tense situation: "But if I'm going down...I'm gonna die with a book in my hand."
There's also this exchange after she saves the day:
Wong: ...it appears someone viciously gunned down my refrigerator.
Zelma: Yeah, don't blame me. That thing totally had it coming.
- Doctor Strange as cute but badass beagle (yes, you read that right) at a magical auction.
- A flying motorcycle.
- Doctor Strange's incompetence at making tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2017
Taken as a whole, Jason Aaron's Doctor Strange run is coherent and satisfying - definitely one of the highlights of a rocky period for Marvel as a whole. But it still ends up reading more like a series bible than a fully-fledged series. Strange certainly needed that repair work - nobody has known what to do with him for years, and his role in Secret Wars smacked of Jonathan Hickman needing a particular tool and deciding Strange would do.
Now he's got a clean slate, a fresh cast and a more defined role and power set, plus a relatable set of reasons for why he's so aloof. This is a Doctor Strange writers can pick up and work with, and Aaron deserves a lot of credit for that. But Strange is always at his best when filtered through a writer's particular vision of the magical and weird, be it Ditko's sense of cosmic justice or Engelhart's refraction of the lysergic 1970s. Jason Aaron's concept of magic is a mix of the whimsical and the gross, with the Sanctum Sanctorum a grown-up take on Jan Pienkowski's Haunted House pop-up book, full of haunted fridges and nastiness lurking in cupboards. Whether you like it is down to personal taste - certainly you couldn't ask for a better artist for this stuff than Chris Bachalo, but after four volumes of tentacles and puke the vibe was wearing thin for me.
Now he's got a clean slate, a fresh cast and a more defined role and power set, plus a relatable set of reasons for why he's so aloof. This is a Doctor Strange writers can pick up and work with, and Aaron deserves a lot of credit for that. But Strange is always at his best when filtered through a writer's particular vision of the magical and weird, be it Ditko's sense of cosmic justice or Engelhart's refraction of the lysergic 1970s. Jason Aaron's concept of magic is a mix of the whimsical and the gross, with the Sanctum Sanctorum a grown-up take on Jan Pienkowski's Haunted House pop-up book, full of haunted fridges and nastiness lurking in cupboards. Whether you like it is down to personal taste - certainly you couldn't ask for a better artist for this stuff than Chris Bachalo, but after four volumes of tentacles and puke the vibe was wearing thin for me.
January 4, 2021
J'ai adoré l'issue 17 avec le style de Frazer Irving, superbe ! C'était vraiment un super tome, les 2 et 3 ne m'ont pas autant plus que le premier mais celui-ci relève le niveau ! Et la guest apparence de ma Thor préférée est la cerise sur le gâteau !
Je ne peux m'empêcher de remarquer que la couleur de peau de Zelma change radicalement d'une issue à l'autre...
Je ne peux m'empêcher de remarquer que la couleur de peau de Zelma change radicalement d'une issue à l'autre...
March 25, 2018
A really cool conclusion to Aarons run of Doctor Strange. There was 1 issue where the artwork changed and it just didnt seem to work. Intriguing ending which has got me very interested if they continue this loose story thread.
August 7, 2021
Doctor need to pay debts from the past, but story feels quite hasty. Enemy is done quite quickly and 'magically' and they event manage to introduce new apprentice. So they packed too much things into this book. Probably they should focus more on restoration of magic and give it slower pace.
January 7, 2022
Not bad, but just a storyline that goes on and on for no particular reason. This could have ended after vol. 2 and it would have been fine. Now it just stretch thing, trying to bring back magic to normal, which we all know it will eventually achieve so... It will end here for me!
March 19, 2018
Dr Strange battles Mr Misery to save Wong as magic starts seeping back into the world. Thor performs surgery at super-speed, Zelda Stanton, Librarian from the Bronx, gets an upgrade, and there’s a side trip to Weirdworld. And most important of all, el Medico Mistico shows up for a panel to tell us what it is that burns at the touch of the Man-Thing (“miedo”, for those of you keeping score at home).
Bachalo does most of the art in this trade, as is right and just, but he does take a break to let Frazer Irving and Kevin Nowlan take a crack at the weirdness of Aaron’s Doctor.
There are two back-up stories from the Annual starring Clea, who’s looking for a divorce, and the Ancient One, who wasn’t always so ancient. Both were fun diversions (Clea’s had the added benefit of featuring Zelda Stanton, Librarian from the Bronx).
Bachalo does most of the art in this trade, as is right and just, but he does take a break to let Frazer Irving and Kevin Nowlan take a crack at the weirdness of Aaron’s Doctor.
There are two back-up stories from the Annual starring Clea, who’s looking for a divorce, and the Ancient One, who wasn’t always so ancient. Both were fun diversions (Clea’s had the added benefit of featuring Zelda Stanton, Librarian from the Bronx).
September 27, 2020
In the first issue of Jason Aaron's run, there's a weird throwaway joke about how Doctor Strange has a magic stomach that can only digest gross things. Little do you know that this is the plot of the entire series. There is so much eating of gross things, especially in books 3 and 4.
I told my wife (a battle-hardened reader of weird comics and fiction) the plot of one of the issues in this volume, which involves Strange eating -- well, look, you're better off not knowing -- and her response was a very loud "WHY WOULD SOMEONE WRITE THAT" and I feel like that's going to live in infamy as my main takeaway from Jason Aaron's Doctor Strange.
I told my wife (a battle-hardened reader of weird comics and fiction) the plot of one of the issues in this volume, which involves Strange eating -- well, look, you're better off not knowing -- and her response was a very loud "WHY WOULD SOMEONE WRITE THAT" and I feel like that's going to live in infamy as my main takeaway from Jason Aaron's Doctor Strange.
February 10, 2022
A great ending for Aaron's and Bachalo's run on the Sorcerer Supreme.
Mr. Misery is a cool villain, that really gave me some ichty sensations througout the reading, specially with the amazing Bachalo's art. And it was nice to see Jane on this one as well, highlighting her medical abilities instead his powers as a goddess. Great book. Just the anual and the last chapter, that, for me, it's was nothing.
Mr. Misery is a cool villain, that really gave me some ichty sensations througout the reading, specially with the amazing Bachalo's art. And it was nice to see Jane on this one as well, highlighting her medical abilities instead his powers as a goddess. Great book. Just the anual and the last chapter, that, for me, it's was nothing.
January 5, 2018
Oh, hey there Thor. I see you, Zelma: one of my favorite fictional librarian
August 13, 2018
it's so fucking dumb that I like Doctor Strange now but also what other comic is going to give me Lady Thor doing magical brain surgery on like 20 patients simultaneously
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