What is it that disturbs you, Stephen? :Dr. Strange, Signed by P. Craig Russell

Doctor Strange: One-Shots

by Marc Andreyko

Artist P. Craig Russell reimagines Doctor Strange's first Annual, spinning new life into a mesmerizing tale of ego, deceit, and dark magic!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes, Magic

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Marc Andreyko is a comic book and screenplay writer, best known for writing the 2000s ongoing series Manhunter for DC Comics.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story: 3
Art: 5

A remake/reboot/director's cut of Craig Russell's Dr Strange Annual #1.
Like in movies, the remake has better "special effects" (Russell is a far better artist in this 1997 graphic novel than the 1976 annual), but for me the original is still the best story of the two.





And "Ditkopolis" city and its world are an heart felt tribute to Steve Ditko, the artist co-creator with Stan Lee of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, the initial version of Iron Man's modern red-and-golden armor and much more for Marvel.

[Reni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favourite graphic novel featuring the character. Apparently this is not a common opinion on goodreads, and yes, I accept the complaints about the plot suffering in favour of style, but I still can't bring myself to lose a bad word about it. It's just so imaginative! The art is simply gorgeous. There isn't a single panel that doesn't look exactly as is should. Expressions, dynamic poses, creative arrangement of text boxes that lead the eye just right... this thing looks fantastic. And there's that fantastic fairy tale flair to the whole affair. Not even the "love at first sight" trope can ruin my fun. And even while I do concede that maybe the story is a bit linear and over too quick once we finally find out what it's all about (because until then there is a lot of "ooh pretty!" sightseeing going on, I admit) I still refuse to call this a bad story. Sometimes the hero loses. Sometimes the hero is ineffectual. And sometimes the hero is nothing the cause for tipping the balance towards catastrophe. The way I read it this is just one of these story's. There just wasn't more to be done than was than and I enjoyed that. It's a very simple story, but that doesn't mean it has to be bad.

[Drew Canole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my introduction to Dr. Stange, never had read any books starring him before. Maybe this is why I didn't enjoy the story. I had no attachment to any of the characters. The art is very nice, as usual from P. Craig Russell. The script is a bit heavy, and the story seems too familiar.

[Sud666 · Rating 2 out of 5]

An older Dr. Strange tale. Dr. Strange gets a cryptic note and follows the leads to an alternate dimension where he meets Electra. No, not the assassin, but some mage/demon. She wants his help in unraveling a spell that will give her back her full powers, but there is something strange going on with the sister. More than that I shall not spoil.

An ok story with ok art. Some of the worlds are relatively trippy but the story is rather banal. Nothing really amazing, though it is not terrible story-just very much like ones that have come before. A decent offering best served to Dr. Strange fans. Everyone else? It will get a "meh" out of you.

[Jonathan Romppel · Rating 3 out of 5]

So apparently this was an homage/re-imagining/retelling of the first ever Dr. Strange Annual. I saw it advertised online as a good introduction to the original Strange comics by Ditko, but I fear I would’ve been better off diving into those first? This story ended up mostly confusing me and also not really going anywhere? I appreciated the vibe, intrigue, magical world-building, and the fairy-tale like story that takes up most of the issue, but I’m not sure what to take from it.

The art is really lovely to look at, in a certain 90s style with very clear lines on the one hand, but a lot of fancy flourishes and twirls on the other - a style that seemed familiar to me from Italian Disney comics of the 80s and 90s, so I felt very at home. (Recommendation for American readers to check out those Disney comics!!) The drawings are also appropriately creative and refreshing in their conception of magical realms and creatures, and the mostly subdued, but sometimes crass, bright, colors add a lot to the mood and expression of the story.

I think I’ll be reading the aforementioned Annual next, to see if this changes anything about this issue for me!

7/10

[Scott Rushing · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of thoughts:

1. There is a tribute to Steve Ditko in the form of a city called Ditkopolis. At first I thought this was silly but it grew on me.

2. The art here is magical. Fitting for a zany Doctor Strange story.

[StrictlySequential · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this PURELY on P. Craig and don't regret it but the story is too magic vs. magic for my tastes.

The art is GORGEOUS!

[Scott A. Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trippy fun!

[Devero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avendo letto tutto il Dr. Strange di Ditko (7-63 7-66) nonché l'annual originale di cui P.Craig Russel ha voluto dare a tutti i costi questo "direct cut" (2-73 10-96) posso dirlo: è un grande omaggio alle prime memorabili storie di Strange, ma con lo stile di disegno di Russel, molto migliore.
Rispetto all'annual originalmente prodotto, questo albo è più elegante, in fondo migliore, ma non tanto. E quella tavola di Ditkopolis è una meraviglia.

[Fugo Feedback]

Este comic lo tengo hace como 10 años. Me parece que la última vez que quise leerlo fue hace unos 5 años y lo dejé enseguida de distraído nomás. Como curiosidad, me anoto acá para no olvidarme que también tengo en números sueltos: Uncanny Origins Dr. Strange #12, y de la serie vieja: Doctor Strange #6, #37, #40, #47, #48, #52, #57, #68 y #74.
Como suelo hacer, switcheo a la edición española pese a tener la estadounidense para que disminuya el riesgo de que algún librarian papanatas la elimine de un plumazo.

[Angel · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Dr.Strange's apprentice goes missing, he has to go to another realm and face a power hungry sorceress. Initially, she seems to just be a damsel in distress, but soon the truth emerges. The story was not bad save for the vague end. It does have a pretty psychedelic art style that suits it well. So, it was ok, but that's about it. Not particularly memorable. It was a quick read.

[Tom Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

If i wasn't already a fan of Dr. Strange I probably wouldn't be overly impressed based upon this rather mediocre outing.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is ho-hum, mumbo jumbo Dr. Strange crypto-talk. I'm also shocked at how sexist the story is, given Andreyko's work on MANHUNTER. But my God, it's amazingly beautiful.

[Reyel2107 · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the best dr strange ever !!!!

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

One-Shot de 1997.