Strange Academy Presents The Death of Doctor Strange #1: Mother Dearest

The ramifications of The Death of Doctor Strange hit his students in Strange Academy Presents The Death of Doctor Strange #1. With Strange’s death and his spell’s unraveling, Alvi is forced to join forces with his mother in order to save his twin brother from the consequences of her past.

Scottie Young uses this issue to fill multiple purposes. Beyond the obligatory tie-in nature of showing just how far consequences of Stephen Strange’s death reach, Alvi and The Enchantress’s journey provides character development for them both. Alvi is given a chance to shine beyond just as Iric’s stuck-up brother, while Amora’s humanity is allowed to shine with the genuine emotion she shows for her children.

The art by Mike Del Mundo and colors by Mike Del Mundo and Marco D’Alfonso creates an almost painted quality that is a perfect match for the magic and unique setting of Weird World. The tone of surreal and serious mirrors not only the setting of Weird World but also the duality being expressed in the character of The Enchantress. Her callousness of having traded her son coexisting alongside her wish to save him.

The comic also provides short backup stories for each of the Strange Academy students. The 1-2 page stories are all written by Scottie Young and feature art by Nikko Henrichon (Dessy), Peach Momoko (Emily), Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado (German), Alessandro Cappuccio and Edgar Delgado (Calvin), Gustavo Duarte (Gus), C.F. Villa (Howie & Heidi) David Baldeon and Edgar Delgado (Toth), Luciano Vecchio (Doyle), and Natacha Bustos and Edgar Delgado (Zoe). While some stories provide deeper character insight or development than the ensemble title allows, others, unfortunately, do not take the same opportunities to shine light on the featured character.