COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Doctor Strange #3 'What Skrullduggery Is This Stephen?'

INFINITY WARS TIE-IN: Consider the Skrull and their ways. When Kanna takes him to visit some old friends even Strange sees a familiar face. Time is truly of the essence as he realises what is at stake.

DOCTOR STRANGE #3 (LEGACY #393)

Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Jesús Saiz
Colors: Jesús Saiz
Letters: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover: Jesús Saiz
Publisher: Marvel Comics

What You Need to Know:

With the help of his new ally, arcanologist Kanna, Strange escapes imprisonment on the planet Grynda and returns the favor. Locking the planet off with a barrier, he essentially disables their plans to visit and conquer Earth. Now he and Kanna are heading for the stars and adventure.

What You’ll Find Out:

Strange is off gallivanting around the stars with Kanna and unearthing secret knowledge he has never been privy to before and he is loving it. Stealing stuff, meeting mystical mentors, fencing filched finds and bonding with the bandit. And finding out more about her past and sharing his own, until she nearly lets slip something she isn’t ready to reveal yet.

She then throws him a curveball and reveals she knows some refugees on a planet called Tarnax II…the Skrulls. After some persuading Strange accepts that they go and when they arrive on the planet he is immediately on guard and asks that they must leave the first sign of trouble. But he soon becomes fascinated with the Skrull world and the things he sees, not least of which the living habits of the Skrull. With their abilities, they clearly have no need for houses to protect them from the environment. But all this is forgotten when he spies the Time stone in the possession of Mt’nox. And just like that, the situation changes on a dime. Strange must have it to stop the Skrulls using it to change the course of history.

Although she agrees it is a worthy prize Kanna is less enthusiastic at risking the ire of the Skrulls. But Strange knows how to persuade her and offers to give it over to her completely. And so just as she thinks tactics Strange goes in full steam ahead and goes up against the Skrull magician. But he hasn’t accounted for the Super Skrull. As Strange falls to Kl’rt, Mt’nox backs up his master, angry at Kanna for joining forces with a human and she deftly draws the Super Skrull to attack his own man. One down and one to go she has no time to defend Strange as Kl’rt grabs him and pummels him. But it was all a ruse to get to the gem, which Strange deftly snatches and uses to his best advantage.

While he has the advantage a bruised and battered Strange asks Kanna to get him away and they flee back to the ship, where he swiftly stores the Infinity Stone, much to the chagrin of Kanna, who reminds him he promised it to her. Using the Palm of Forgetfulness she earlier had ready to help steal the stone in the first place, he makes her forget everything. Meanwhile back in Bleecker Street and Bats (yay Bats is back) is mulling over how mundane going in and out is when doors prove no challenge when a shadowy visitor makes him realize he couldn’t be more wrong. As soon as he recognizes who it is he also realizes it doesn’t bode well.

What Just Happened?

Characters: OK I officially love this thieving magpie. She gives a contrast to Strange’s moral compass that I don’t see often, even with his recent cheating at cards with Mephisto, or dealings with Yggdrasil in Asgard. And she clearly likes him, despite her protestation to the contrary. Even as she plays at mocking his grasp of Earth magic. I see through you girlie. And some confirmation that the Marvel timeline is screwy, as Stephen confesses he’s been practicing magic for over a decade. Also the analysis of the Skrull in their natural habitat, without the influence of adapting to humanoid form, is something Strange has never considered before. And neither have I. I don’t think I’ve seen a Skrull shown in such varied ways before and it’s vastly different to what I have seen or understood. I’m not sure if it’s been tackled before but it’s very well thought out here.

Art: What can I say. Stunning yet AGAIN! The vision of the two partners in crime on various jaunts and gigs, stealing, bartering and training with other mystics, was like a movie montage. And the first vision of Tarnax II looked almost real with the marbling effect. I could almost see it slowly rotating as it hangs in space for a second. Awesome. Even down to the appearance of the Skrull, particularly Kl’rt on his Skrull throne. Also fixing the spacecraft, with Strange finally using mystical seals on helm, boots, and gloves (been waiting to see that since the cover of issue #1).

Lettering: There never usually seems to be much to say about lettering in comics, which is a slightly sad paradox, as it takes up at least half the medium of telling the story. Yes, the writing and the prose is the bulk of the text but for once I think it very noteworthy here. With just these two panels alone Joe Sabino conveys as much of, if not more than, the importance of the visual, as the thaumaturgist displays the power of the Time stone and then later again during the battle with Strange and the Super Skrull. You could almost hear the sound transfer from your left to right ear. Surround sound…in a comic no less. Fantabulous!

Writing: I loved Strange’s uttering of “Alakazam” as he goes into attack mode on Mt’nox. Almost laughed out loud there. And Mark Waid has really made a character to remember in Kanna as well. The interplay between her and Strange is phenomenal. Some funny banter between them, first when mentioning sleeping with a Skrull and just going into detail about shape changers, when Strange diverts her in his shock. And later in the lead up to battle the interchange of “I can’t do this alone” countered by “I’d rather not die as a team”. Very sharp comeback girl. Did I mention I really like her? When we met her I got to thinking she was going to double cross him as a typical space pirate would (don’t play innocent with me, you did too) and yet it turns out it is Strange who tricks her. Reminds me of Superman kissing Lois and making her forget, or even Willow and Tara if you must make it a magical reference. And she smiles sweetly and says she trusts him, which almost broke my heart. Not cool Stephen. I know it was for the greater good and all that but ouch! The look he gives her finally makes me connect with him and his angst and not just the drama of the situation. The end sentiment of Strange as it mirrors, and is yet in total contrast to, the very first panel was a nice touch here also, bringing the issue full circle. Magic truly has a price. But it is not the price we have come to know, but one of emotional significance. The feels are real folks.