Doutor Estranho, Vol. 4: A Escolha

Doctor Strange (2018) (Collected Editions)

by Mark Waid, Jesus Saiz

Stephen Strange está de volta à Terra são e salvo, após sua odisseia extradimensional com Galactus e Clea - mas o Multiverso ainda tem assuntos a tratar com ele. Uma terrível ameaça está abrindo caminho rumo ao Universo Marvel - e sua porta de entrada é uma pequena casa no Kansas! Anos atrás, um acidente de carro mudou drasticamente a vida de Strange - mas, agora, ele terá uma mudança ainda maior pela frente. E ainda: uma das relíquias sombrias que o Doutor Estranho mantém sob seus cuidados desperta e transforma o Sanctum Santorum no inferno particular do Mago supremo!



(Doctor Strange (2018) 18-20 e Doctor Strange Annual (2019) 1)

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Fantasy, Comic Book, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 8, 2020

About the author

Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first issue collected in this is one of my favorite issues of Dr. Strange ever. Dr. Strange makes a house call in Kansas to a house infested with an interdimensional being. It's great fun. The next 2 issues lead in to the new Dr. Strange series Surgeon Supreme. I think that explains enough were the series is headed. Then comes the Annual. The main story is written by Tini Howard and is completely forgettable. The backup story by newcomer, Pornsak Pichetshote, is much better. We get some incite into what Wong is doing in Las Vegas. Reading the 3 issues by Waid, I am intrigued by the new book.

[Ania]

nic nie rozumiem,
ale buja

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short review - Doctor Strange has another solid volume by Mark Waid. While his run hasn't blown me away it stays fun. The first issue here is really enjoyable and cute. I also enjoyed the issue of Strange getting his hands back, making him want to be a surgeon again. This could be great stuff for the future. The annual was overly long and kind of boring though. Overall a 3 out of 5.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great volume in Mark Ward’s run on Dr. Strange. The three issues collected here from the main series are all absolutely top-notch... one might almost say ‘magical’. There’s a great, funny one-shot of the good Doctor turning a regular family’s life upside down when their house becomes an interdimensional portal, followed by a heart-rending two-parter that completely changes Stephen’s status quo. The artwork is gorgeous, too.

If this book just contained those three issues, this would be a 5 star review. Unfortunately, it also collects the 2019 Dr. Strange annual, which is by a completely different creative team, and, while it’s certainly not bad, it definitely isn’t up to the standard of the regular series.

Dr. Strange issues 18-20: 5 stars
Dr. Strange annual 2019: 3 stars

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a misstep last volume, the current volume of Doctor Strange ends strong with a series of one-shot stories that showcase Doctor Strange at his absolute best, and set-up a new status quo that will shake up the series moving into its latest relaunch.

First up is Doctor Strange attempting to make a house call, which sounds easy, but it's not when a demon wants to demolish the entire place. I do think this one could have been solved a little easier if Strange just stopped for a moment to explain, but arrogance is one of Strange's greatest flaws so I guess that makes sense.

Next is the titular Choice issue, which is the one that really flips the status quo on its head. Strange takes a massive gamble when he realises magic can't save someone, but science can, only if he makes a devil's bargain. This one likely will have repercussions for a while, but the story itself is so heartfelt that it's hard not to stand in the Doc's corner.

And then the final issue brings back Doc's friend Kanna from the earlier issues of the series for one last team-up. It could be that this is the last we'll see of her, but if that's the case, it's a nice way to send her off for now and wrap up the series.

On art are Javier Pina and Jesus Saiz, who I wish could have been around for more of the series, but at least they get to come together for this last hurrah. Their artwork has been brilliant since I first found Saiz on Brave And The Bold, and Pina on Swamp Thing, and they're a superb tag team.

Doctor Strange as a series started strong, hit the big #400 with flair, wobbled a little in the third act, and manages to pull it all together for the final bow. At least until Doctor Strange, Surgeon Supreme launches, because this is the way of things.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madness and fun in the one-shots. Intrigued by the setup for a healed and rejuvenated (if still desperately lonely) Doctor Strange. And the Annual was more fun than I expected - anytime an annual gets trotted out I wonder how much of a bonus editorial is getting for squeezing another oversized issue out of their sales figures?

[Frédéric · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three different stories leading to the big news... Strange's going to be a surgeon again!

Be still my fleeting heart.

It seems so mundane I don't know what to make of it. Is it serious? Is it a joke? Is it seriously a joke? I just can't bring myself to care one bit about it.

The stories are actually ok if a bit flat. A bit of Waid's humor but nothing to write home about. The annual is plain boring.

This book is to be read for fans of the sorcerer supreme 'cos it leads to the new relaunch but that's about it.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a huge change here that alters the status quo for Strange, at least for now. I'm not sure yet how I feel about that, but I do think it's possible that it will open doors to some interesting and totally new stories, seeing Strange try to balance science and magic in a way he hasn't had to... I think ever? Still, I'm a little uneasy about changing something that's been stable since the invention of the character.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover has nothing to do with the story. Iron Man, Captain America and Thor are not in this.
Jesús Saiz’s art is gorgeous—such great detail and use of colour. Javier Peña’s art is almost as good.
I enjoyed the first 3 parts (“Strange, Visitor;” “The Choice;” and “The Secret of the Ancient One”) written by Waid. In “Strange, Visitor,” a Kansas couple’s party preparations are interrupted by Doctor Strange hunting a creature in their house. In “The Choice,” to save a boy with a head injury, Strange accesses a dangerous spell that will either heal his hands or ruin him, with a magical price to be paid later. “The Secret of the Ancient One” has Strange teaming up with the fabulous Kanna again…and makes me really want to know what happens next.
The “Doctor Strange Annual #1” story, “A Hallowed Evening” seems like a story that would’ve made sense within the first 2 volumes of this series, before Zelma started learning skills. But it doesn’t say “ --- years earlier.” Strange doesn’t tell Zelma important things, so she makes mistakes and inadvertently causes trouble for Strange and all his magical guests to deal with. It just didn’t make much sense as a story. It was like “Weird things happen, things are put right, and then: pumpkin pancakes.” ?!
“Treat”, the final story, reveals a very intriguing detail about Wong; but the business about the murderous B&E friends was gross and dark.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to get through the disclaimers first. 1) Read as digital floppies and 2) I'm summing all four volumes in this review, because I forgot to enter the other volumes as I read the floppies. As a precaution, 3) mild spoilers (in the event I do not catch them while writing this.

I have issues with some of Waid's public comments, so I'm unlikely to grab a coffee with him and talk about politics, life, and comics. However, I really enjoyed much of his recent work, especially at BOOM (see Incorruptible and Irredeemable). It was those two series that helped me to decide to try his take on this long established character.

While Marvel has decided to cut this series off at four volumes, with the two biggest changes Waid made to Strange I am interested to see how long Marvel permits these changes to stay. One goes to the fundamental reason why Strange became a magic user.

The other significant factor is that, and possibly for Strange only, Waid re-works the basis of how magic work in the Marvel Universe. It is a well executed and reasoned change, reminiscent of some of the magic has costs systems that I have read in good fantasy.

BTW it was nice to see Clea again, and I've become a fan of Bats.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Public library copy.

The vignettes at the beginning were enjoyable, but by the time the final story from the annual comes along the writer and this reader was bored silly with Dr Strange.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Não se deixe levar pela capa deste encadernado - que também é a capa do encadernado americano e da edição Annual. Apesar das armas da santíssmia trindade dos Vingadores estar aparecendo como uam alusão à cena de Vinagdores: Guerra Infinita, nem Thor, nem o Capitão, nem Tony aparecem nesse encadernado. Isso não quer dizer que ele não seja bom. Isso também não quer dizer que Mark Waid já não nos tenha oferecido outras ótimas e melhores histórias com o Mago Supremo da Terra. Neste encadernado temos histórias bastante simples e singelas de Stephen Strange. Histórias bem escritas e bem desenhadas, claro, mas longe de serem épicas. É numa delas que Strange recebe de volta o "dom" da cirurgia com uma transformação nas suas mãos feitas por um demônio. Isso vai desencadear toda uma nova fase de histórias para o novo Cirugião Supremo da Terra. Mas deixando a futurologia de lado, a melhor história deste encadernado é a do Annual. Escrita por Tini Howard e desenhada por Andy MacDonald, a aprendiz de feiticeiro do Doutor Estranho, Zelma, vai dar uam festa do Dia das Bruxas inesquecível no Sanctum Santorum e para isso vai contar com a ajuda dos maiores feiticeiros mundiais. Uma história bastante divertida e descompromissada fazendo, junto com as demais, um conjunto neste encadernado que se torna um ótimo ponto para novos leitores acompanharem as histórias do Doutor Estranho.

[Ronald · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, in summary for this volume.
1: Doctor Strange is a total asshole to some nice people while he destroys their home. He claims to be trying to save the day. But he really just trashes the home 0r did he.....
2: Doctor Strange is trying to help? He is an ass to the mother of a dying child. He then runs off to a demon for a spell to fix his hands. Strange then does brain surgery in an open field in the mud. The grieving mother has actually do the fighting evil and banishes the evil spirit.
3: Being a total ass again, Doctor Strange almost dies when he summons help, with his hands fixed Strange decides to use magic to learn all the current medical science (because he was so arogant he did not keep up with current tech), by summoning someone during mid fight. His interference with the battle allows the bad guy to capture a magic item which Strange then destroys. But he gets a magic "download" of current medical procedures and how to technology.
4: This is actually a cool idea. Unfortunately Doctor Strange spends a good part of this story verbally assaulting his "Apprentice" for not being ready for things Strange did not prepare or warn her about. So I forget what the cool part of the story was. It just seemed like another excuse for Mr Waid to write a story where a women was stupid and could be insulted.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the truly horrible previous volume, I wasn’t sure if I’d continue or not. But as I had already checked this volume out from the library with the previous one, I thought I might as well get it over with quickly. I was pleasantly surprised that the first three stories were rather enjoyable and entertaining. Sure, we being taken down yet another Doctor-Strange-loses-his-connection-to-magic road, but it’s no where near as awful as the last couple iterations were. And this one has a unique twist on it as to why it’s happening. So, yes the old cliche of Doctor-Strange-loses-his-connection-to-magic has been done to death and back again, but with solid art and a interesting twist that actually has the opportunity to push the character in a new and potentially interesting direction ... yeah, I’m intrigued.
The last couple stories are from the Annual and not by the writer of the regular series. These were more fun and harken back to some more classic elements and themes of Doctor Strange. Enjoyable, certainly entertaining, but fundamentally unconnected to the rest of this particular run of Doctor Strange.
All in all, this is probably the best volume in this run of the series.

[Scott Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating a 3.5, with a round-up.

As a brief story that sets a whole, wonderful new challenge in front of Dr. Strange, this is a wonderful piece of work. Waid is still fantastic at getting into the psyche of these classic characters. I love what he does with Strange here, and the choices made, and the potential consequences. It's solid.

However, as a volume three issues with an annual as filler at the end always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Also, it's kind of a Doctor Strange version of the Simpsons's "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween episodes--A Doctor Strange Halloween story played for laughs. Ugh.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biggest problem with Waid's run of Doctor Strange is that it's so incoherent. Every volume, there's a big life-changing arc: what if Strange were in space? what if Strange was paying attention to continuity? What if Strange were dealing with a Mystic Galactus? And then it flits on to the next thing.

This volume, we get some fine single issues, and then a big deus ex machina that repairs Strange's hands (not that we ever really knew if they were still damaged or not for the last 50 years) to lead to the next big thing.

I mean, in the '70s, you wouldn't expect big arcs, but you'd still have consistency of storytelling within the comic, and here it's like Waid is laying out a new foundation for Strange every volume ... so much so that the next volume has a new title.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a mixed bag, as the tables are cleared to make way for the short-lived "Surgeon Supreme" storyline. I did like the first issue, with Dr. Strange acting almost like a supernatural plumber as he works to expel a demon from the water pipes of a couples' house. The rest is all right though nothing essential. Good artwork throughout.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adapting to new circumstances. Directness being taken as rudeness. A strange Halloween night.

[Alex Sarll]

The collection opens with a ridiculous one-shot from the point of view of a small-town family into whose home the Sorcerer Supreme bursts at the worst possible moment, turning everything upside-down in the course of halting a demonic incursion, and generally coming across as a proper dick. It once again illustrates why I think Matt Berry would have been much better in the role than Bandersnatch Cummberbund. After that, alas, the story becomes ridiculous in the bad way, as some particularly contrived plotting leaves Strange with a kid who desperately needs a brain operation, and taking a deal which leaves him a 50/50 chance of either getting his hands restored, or losing his magic and leaving Earth vulnerable. Which he takes, with an appeal to his Hippocratic oath. Now, I hope the intent was always that we should read this as an excuse, and really he's just as desperate as he ever was to get that old high back, because if there's the remotest chance we're meant to take it at face value, that's some terrible trolley problem maths. But that story is barely begun before it's done, to continue in the Surgeon Supreme relaunch... which is itself now MIA after the Event-related comics shutdown. The collection finishes up with an annual featuring two Hallowe'en stories. They have their moments, and the guest appearance by Wanda Maximoff and Agatha Harkness made this a good time to read them, but neither is as clear a read as it could be, for which I suspect the art is largely but not wholly to blame. Still:
"They'd recklessly summon spirits of vengeance, hoping one of us might die for their amusement?"
"I've had cats that would do the same."

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun short Volume for Doctor Strange, mostly used as a setup for the upcoming "Surgeon Supreme" storyline. This run on Dr Strange has been great, really growing the power of his magic as well as bringing in a more modern feel to the book.
Highlights:
- The first story is hilarious! Finding a dimensional portal in a rural family's water main, Strange has to interact with regular people to stop a monster from coming through. He leaves their house better than it was when he got there though... such a softie.
- When a phantasm causes a car accident, Strange must make a choice. The child will die unless he has immediate brain surgery, but Strange's hands are still horrible. Visiting Channok, a demon who is the keeper of forbidden spells, he takes a chance (basing his choice on his oath as a doctor outweighing his oath as Sorcerer Supreme) and his hands are restored. He saves the child just in time.
- Wanting his hands to relearn surgery quickly, Strange seeks out Kanna, who can make a device to help him learn quickly, he instead gets involved in a scrap with her and saving a planet. Great story.
- I would call this the "Halloween Special" issue, but it stars most of the other magic users in the MU... ending in Zelma getting to throw a huge party for the ghosts that inhabit the Sanctum.

Been loving this title lately. Hope it continues to be good. Need a strong villain again... maybe a long arc with Mordo?
Recommend.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Choice is comprised of an amusing one-shot, a dull, confusing annual, and a two-issue intro to Doctor Strange, Surgeon Supreme. The good doctor gets his hands back and decides to split his time solving magical mysteries and performing delicate surgeries. Sure, that'll be fun...in the next volume. The Choice is fine, it simply lacks content.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid Doctor Strange graphic novel. My favorites were the first two stories. The first was more of an "adventure of the week," which was a lot of fun. The second saw Doctor Strange taking a huge risk to save a life and possibly regain his ability to be a surgeon--and succeed (because, of course, he did). It felt a little rushed for such a huge part of Doctor Strange's character to change in only one issue--it seemed like something that needed to be the focal point of an entire, issues-long plot--but, meh, it was alright. And I am curious what they're going to do with this going forward. The rest of the graphic novel didn't stand out too much, but it still managed to be an enjoyable, mystical romp. As always, this is one of the few Marvel series that I actually read--so please, don't cancel this one! (Like all of my other favorites *grumble*)

[Jana P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tento svazek obsahuje několik příběhů. Stephen tu bojuje o znovuzískání svých chirurgických schopností a jakýsi návrat k sobě samému, což je zajímavý kontrast k jeho snaze zároveň působit ve světě magie. Spojuje se to jen těžko, a ten vnitřní boj, které místo ve světě i vybrat, není snadný.
Jeden z příběhů se dá i skvěle naroubovat na období kolem Dušiček/Halloweenu, takže koncem října je to vlastně příjemné čtení. Aspoň z tohoto hlediska.
Přesto dávám jen průměrné hodnocení. Ačkoliv mi to tematicky přišlo zajímavé a bavilo mne to, nějak mne to nedokázalo vtáhnout do sebe. Nevím, patrně jsem nebyla v nejlepším rozpoložení nebo mi nevyhovoval vypravěčský styl? Těžko říct.
Každopádně jsem ráda, že Doctor Strange u nás stále vychází a určitě se pustím do něčeho dalšího, pokud by u nás vyšel další svazek.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like filler for the next bunch of stories to come...

I swear go God, this character learns nothing about himself. If he does, he never takes action on it or just ignores it. He just came back from space. He's just made a deal to lose something he holds dear. He remembers it all. Now he's going to make ANOTHER DEAL? Gambling with a life. Saving one with the possibility of losing all of his abilities permanently...

Hi. I'm the Sorcerer Supreme. Gifted in all things magic. Formerly the worlds best surgeon (uttered as many times as "the focused totality of my psychic abilities" by Psylocke). My humility has been broken since I was created in the 60s. Talk about a character flaw....

Ugh.

[Andrei · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded down

Coming of the excellent previous volume, this is a collection of 3 one-shot type of stories and an annual. The first issue felt pretty random, but ended on a "aha" note. The following contained an important event for Doctor Strange, but aside from that, didn't really do much for me. The final issue in the series goes back to the themes in the first volume, with some deep-space off-world antics, this time involving Kanna. She's great as always, but the ending kind of fell flat for me. The first story in the annual was extremely boring, the second was shorter but nice (basically, a Wong story).

The art in the main issues was good, but again the annual didn't really do it for me.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es un frustrante epílogo para esta etapilla que se reinventa en la miniserie que tesea estos números. Justamente el 1º número del intento de invasión infernal doméstica por las tuberías y las primeras páginas del siguiente con ese espectro provoca accidentes, invitaban a desarrollar un poquito más a este Doctor Strange en casos sobrenaturales sencillotes pero divertidos. Pero parece que a Waid le corría prisa sacar el recurso argumental para que Stephen recupere la suficiente movilidad en sus manos para plantearse volver de cierta forma a la cirugía clínica. El Annual que viene de extra tampoco es acicate de más, y bien se podía haber hecho algo mejor con la festividad de Halloween en el Sancto Sanctorum (lo de Wong está tan comprimido que hasta molesta).

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished the fourth volume in this Mark Waid run and...the previous volume didn't really get to build up too much. There's a big moment in this book, yes, but it being the tail end of the series run means it felt more like an anthology collection given the individual issue stories and the annual thrown in too.

Our key moment involves Strange's damaged hands and the lead-up to Waid's Surgeon Supreme book. I don't know if we fully established what the potential implications of this volume really mean - which reflects a lot of the story moments in this series run. Things could have been fleshed out more here and there, but I guess they only had so much "runway" to work with before launching the other book.

[Ronan The Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt more in line with the first 2 volumes. It was nice. A cute one-off story with a random midwestern family as Strange makes an unexpected house call. Then, a core element of Strange’s origin is changed and leaves him in a new place he hasn’t been in since starting the path to Sorcerer Supreme. The art is back to a better place with Jesus Saiz.

Overall, I liked this run fine. Somewhat disappointed, as it never really gained proper flagship footing, but I don’t regret reading it. I wouldn’t buy a collection or anything, but for die-hard Strange fans, you could do worse (just skip Vol. 3, unless you really like cosmic-mystical mumbo jumbo fluff).

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 4th Mark Waid volume of Doctor Strange has some very solid story telling elements but this is a collection of one offs, which is somewhat disappointing. The stories are entertaining though. There is also a pretty huge development that seems to be somewhat of an after thought and come to much to easily. There was very good art throughout. Overall, a decent read but felt like filler.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disappointing. The Halloween and Wong stories from the Annual were really horror-able. Waid has had some good Strange tales, but the ones here are disjointed and have little solid character(s). Marvel is ruining one of its best stars by not letting Doctor Strange do what he does best!!!