Doctor Strange #10: A Perfect Conclusion

It’s no secret that the road to Doctor Strange #10 has been… Well, to quote this issue, “long and arduous.” The series has had its fair share of very high moments as well as some spectacular let downs; however, as this chapter seemingly reaches its close, there is no doubt that the journey was worth it. Even without the context of the prior two series leading up to this (The Death of Doctor Strange and Strange), this series has been all over the place. The seemingly straightforward murder mystery slowly transitioned into a character study of Strange, then into a love story, all while having seemingly random breaks to tell standalone tales about the Agents of W.A.N.D and General Strange. Defying all odds, Doctor Strange #10 actually brings all of those elements together in a spectacular fashion.

Jed MacKay is a man with a plan beyond all else. This series really has felt directionless at points, but as this arc comes to a close, it becomes very evident that it was all leading to this. And as a testament to MacKay’s writing prowess, he actually knows how to write a solid and eventful conclusion. The story doesn’t just end with General Strange being defeated, the book then goes on for another several pages to allow things to sink in and for the lessons to be told. Because of how multifaceted this conclusion is, it will make readers want to go back and read all ten of these issues in one sitting, which is very much worth it. This issue should be an example for how to expertly write a conclusion.

Despite not being around for some of the ancillary issues, Pasqual Ferry finishes this series off strong, drawing a great mix of action and somber moments. Ferry excels in both of these, giving this issue a very well rounded feel when it comes to the art direction. It has been hard to pinpoint the tone that Ferry has been drawing off of here; however this issue genuinely gives off vibes of Doctor Strange: The Oath with its simple yet elegant style. This just works so well for a title featuring a man who exudes that exact mentality. Doctor Strange has always felt like a proper man of mysticism who is not afraid to get down and dirty and Ferry’s art captures that perfectly.

The real icing on the tone is from colorist Heather Moore and letterer Cory Petit, as they really lean into the magical and mystical elements of the character on every page. Ferry’s simplistic yet bombastic settings are just made explosive by the way Moore colors everything, and exasperated by the way that Petit puts a fun spin on the lettering. Together these two really give this book a flair that would not exist if they were not working on it.