Doctor Strange of Asgard #1: The New Job

Doctor Strange gave up his title of Sorcerer Supreme, and now the whole world has gone cockeyed. But surely he’s working on taking down Doom and getting his power back. At least, he’s going to get to that eventually. For now he’s visiting Asgard to get a new job in Doctor Strange of Asgard #1.

Doctor Strange is in Asgard, beseeching Thor to become Asgard’s first Sorcerer Supreme. Thor is open to the idea, but first Strange must consult the Sorceress Hulda, Asgard’s magic authority. Doctor Strange of Asgard #1 follows Strange in his search for the sorcerous.

Landy’s writing in Doctor Strange of Asgard #1 is charming. The best way to describe the issue’s happenings and much of the dialogue might be “humor of the mundane.” Landy infuses much of the issue’s dialogue with a very dry wit. The result is that while there is virtually no conflict and very little happens with the plot, the issue has an easy and unexpectedly urgent flow to it.

Strange’s internal monologue provides a good balance between the measure of humility that he projects in his dialogue and the ego that has often been one of his key traits. This is key to maintaining the humor in Doctor Strange of Asgard #1 and keeping the issue flowing. Landy also keeps Strange’s focus on the future rather than dwell on the past. The issue is branded as being part of “One World Under Doom,” but it doesn’t busy itself much with what happened between Strange and Doom at the end of Blood Hunt.

Doctor Strange of Asgard #1’s final pages end with what can be called a pair of surprises. They come out of nowhere and overwhelm what has come before. But the ending does still work within the context of the story.

The few action sequences in Doctor Strange of Asgard #1 are punctuated by creative layouts, particularly by crooked panels that partly overlay other panels. The chaotic panels energize otherwise short fights with minor characters who at the moment do not seem to have long term import.

Magnos’s character work in Doctor Strange of Asgard #1 is largely effective, but his characters’ facial expressions are less successful than the rest of his work. Expressions repeatedly don’t match the sentiment of the dialogue. This is especially noticeable during the initial conversation between Strange and Thor. The dialogue suggests an amiable discourse with at worst minor friction over Strange’s plan–though that passes by the end of the scene. But Magno draws Strange and Thor such that their expressions can be read as aggravated, even hostile at times. This discordance improves as the issue goes on, but it never quite goes away.

Character action poses, on the other hand, have a much more natural feel. The group interactions have depth. And Magno is especially successful at creating a three dimensional look by having characters reach and step outside of the panels. Action isn’t key to making this issue work, but Magno’s art makes the brief sequences pop.

The Asgard setting is made all the better by Grundetjern’s coloring. He finds just the right pale blues, grays, and whites to make Asgard’s exterior feel as cold as it looks. Conversely, rich oranges and yellows warm up every page they’re on. Further, Grundetjern succeeds in transitioning shades of both the colder and warmer colors such that in the panels where they mix, the warmer colors give off the sense of actually chasing the colder colors away.

Petit uses a slightly gilded font for all of the Asgardians’ dialogue. That’s not at all unusual. But it’s a very good choice here because it contrasts with the normal font used for Strange’s dialogue. This reinforces the story’s emphasis on Strange being an outsider to Asgard.