Doctor Strange #17: One More Groundhog Day

I’ll get my gripes out of the way first shall I? For me this was kind of an anti-climatic conclusion to what was an otherwise solid event and I felt there should have been more of a payoff. The tragedy of Strange having to take the memory of Clea’s knowledge and love for him felt like it was trying to be overly bittersweet and instead seemed crass and pointless. With hints of One More Day, Dark City, Groundhog Day and even the Donna Noble conclusion of Dr Who it all seemed a little done to death. In fact we have seen this so many times before that the calculated predictability came off being created just to pluck at the heart strings, which is pointless and borderline insulting. We all know that whole memory wipe situation can and will be reversed in a heartbeat by other writers anyway, so it just seems an empty gesture, crammed in to try and make a point in a very unimaginative way.
What is even the deal with Mephisto ruining the love lives of the Marvel heroes? Is that really all he’s good for? The relationship in this case is also non existent anyway. Their last meeting in Cates’ run had none of this…and yet suddenly it’s a thing? Despite their feelings for each other the chances of reconciliation were nowhere near being a possibility. Until her arrival in this arc. And their unspoken love for each other, stated out of nowhere was as subtle as a brick. In fact given the heavy handed way Waid dealt with the couple in this conclusion, the groundwork for this clumsy attempt at pathos can be seen in the run up up to the dénouement in every meeting between Clea and Strange.However, there were a few bright spots. The use of the Necromancer persona being one. Although it seems anecdotal and used solely to distract Zoloz I did think it a little telling of how dark Strange can be. Maybe not up to the standout eras of Steve Englehart or Roy Thomas, but it was a solid throwback nonetheless. And the tete-a-tete with the Big Guys was standard fayre for a Strange tale. There aren’t many heroes who garner the interest of the Abstract beings of the Marvel U, but Stephen Strange always manages to get a seat at the meeting table. And the whole making Zoloz a Herald? Well if Dazzler can do it, why not? If that sticks I’ll be surprised, but even so it is an interesting way of killing two birds with one stone. Way to make lemonade Stephen.
As for the art I will say that although I was unnerved by the absence of Jesús Saiz I can think of no better art team for the job at hand. Though Jesús handled the previous space epic wonderfully, this required less CGI style effects and some truly classic old school touches. Barry Kitson and Scott Koblish have held their standards high and ensured this was as epic as could be from a traditional standpoint. As well as incorporating the best of the Kirby era they have made it their own. As throughout this whole arc this issue held fast to the trippy visionquest of the plot. Particularly of note was the opening panel and the awesome sight of Strange literally in the face of Eternity, totally enthralling.
And from the opening right to the finale as Strange sits on his throne of loneliness it had all the hallmarks of a perfect chapter in the characters story. Amid the panels of the Marvel history lesson and the rebuilding of all that exists I completely felt this was sufficient conclusion to the saga. From the reversal of the cataclysm caused by Strange and Zoloz disagreement, to the set up of the new Herald of the Spaceways and the trip to Hell there was so much going on and every scene was visually keyed to ensure there was a satisfactory energy to the story. Particularly the brooding Mephisto, clinging to the shadows as he waits for Strange to come pay his debt. The scene was a fitting payback for Mephisto and if not for what followed could have been an interesting payoff for their previous encounter. I almost wish they’d settled down to another game of Brimstone Blackjack instead.
Art aside and of course the obligatory perfection that is a Saiz cover, the story itself promised so much when it began, but seemed to run out of steam and the conclusion seemed to have lost itself in an attempt at high stakes tragedy. I think this could have been a suitable ending without that calculated play on our heartstrings. Now if we can just ignore the CleaCleanse then all will be well again.