Editor's Note: Strange #4 arrives in stores tomorrow, February 10.
Plot: A beaten and battered Dr. Strange attempts to restore the natural state of magic and save the soul of his new protégé, Casey.
Comments: Wow, the ending to this miniseries came to such an unexpected place – yet another shakeup to the status quo of Dr. Stephen Strange. In the last couple of years he's gone evil (albeit briefly), lost the use of his hands, lost the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, and has picked up a travelling companion/protégé. And here, writer Mark Waid shakes things up yet again in a dramatically satisfying way that promises interesting future stories with the title character.
The real feat is the way this miniseries has humanized Dr. Strange, resident blowhard of the Marvel Universe. Under other writers, the character is usually the deus ex machine that shows up to save the Avengers or whomever from the latest crisis with a couple of passes of his hand. However, this story has shown Strange as a resourceful hero, haunted by his own shortcomings and failings. In a way, it's supposed to be his redemption story after going dark to fight the Hulk during "World War Hulk." And, yes, to a certain extent that's the book it's been. But it's also been the book that has given some definition to Stephen Strange beyond the mystical trappings.
This has been helped by giving him a student, teenaged Casey. Waid has made the character plucky and independent while sidestepping obnoxious and willful. In just four short issues the writer has made this reader care for the blue-haired girl. No small feat, I must say.
Emma Rios was the other superstar on this title, bringing a shoujo meets Euro style to the book. Her Strange looks weathered but fit (and oddly stylish). She was also not afraid to create fluid panel layouts that matched the tone of the story. Borders broke from simple lines into goopy, monstrous masses confining the characters.
Seriously, potential readers can't overestimate the quality of this series.
Final Word: An unexpected ending to one of the better recent miniseries. Let's hope Marvel gets on the follow-up ASAP.
If you liked this review, be sure to check out more of the author’s work at Monster In Your Veins
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