Doctor Strange #55
Recap
It’s a trip down memory lane with this one & done story from Marvel’s Bronze Age Doctor Strange, with an in-depth study on Strange’s emotional state after having a few emotional blows, including the loss of Clea to the Dark Dimension, so she could overthrow the corrupt regime by her mother.
Review
We’ve finally arrived at the day where Doctor Strange & the Multiverse of Madness hits theaters in the US, so what better way to prepare our avid readers for the movie than with a review of a story that’s considered one of the best Strange stories of all time? Doctor Strange #55, written by Roger Stern (Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Action Comics) teams up with Michael Golden (Micronauts, Avengers Annual #10) for this story about the good doctor dealing with recent losses as well as bleak periods from the doctor’s past, trying to have him give into his despair (hint, hint). This is one of those Bronze Age era issues that is a great character piece that creators would do in between the bigger story arcs that we just don’t get as often as we used to, which is kind of a shame, because we don’t get characters that are as multifaceted as they used to be.
Roger Stern began his career at Marvel as an editor, editing the Uncanny X-Men during the Chris Claremont and John Byrne run, before deciding to give all that up to go freelance, and write comics full time. While Stern gained lots of accolades for his work on the Amazing Spider-Man and Avengers, his run on Doctor Strange would be regarded as a creative highlight for the character during the Bronze Age. Stern really gets the good Doc, and his world, and he doesn’t have to depower him in order to tell great stories about Stephen. Depowering Strange has become a crutch for his writers, so to read a Strange who’s capable of facing odds with higher stakes is a breath of fresh air.
Final Thoughts
Stern & Golden give us a stellar one & done story that explores Strange’s emotional state, where he is forced to confront how he feels regarding Clea’s departure to her home dimension. Golden’s art is as crisp today as it was then, with inks by Bronze Age powerhouse, Terry Austin, and colors by Glynis Wein, two names who were almost synonymous with Marvel in the early 80’s. This issue is a must by for any Strange fan.
Throwback Thursday: DOCTOR STRANGE #55: NEVER FALL INTO D'SPAYRE!
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9.5/109.5/10
- Color - 9.5/109.5/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10