Doctor Strange is a particularly challenging character in the current Marvel Universe. While magic has always been a fascinating element in superhero comics, it’s become problematic for Marvel, often functioning as an all-powerful ability. This makes it difficult to create believable threats for powerful magic users like Doctor Strange, and his storylines often lack lasting impact. The latest iteration of Doctor Strange #1 continues this trend – it’s a decent issue, but doesn’t quite feel satisfying.
I’ve been following Doctor Strange’s story, and it’s been quite a ride! After Doom unexpectedly became Sorcerer Supreme during the Blood Hunt event, Strange ended up in Asgard last year. He actually became Asgard’s Sorcerer Supreme, all in a desperate attempt to find a way back home to Earth. Now, he’s still over there, but thankfully Doom isn’t the Sorcerer Supreme anymore. This series feels like it’s trying to reinvent itself, and it’s leaning heavily into the Asgardian side of things. With Thor stepping back, it seems the writer, Derek Landy, wants Strange to take center stage in that world, and honestly, it’s working pretty well so far.
Rating: 3.0 out of 5
| Pros | Cons |
| Angela is the co-star and that’s a great thing | Doctor Strange doesn’t feel right for this story at all |
| Cool story that uses Asgard lore, which we aren’t getting anywhere else right now | The art goes in on the ’90s “American Manga” look and it doesn’t always fit |
Doctor Strange has struggled to find a consistent identity as a solo hero since his return to individual comic books in the mid-2010s. Since the Jason Aaron/Chris Bachalo run that relaunched his series, there have been many attempts to reinvent him, but this current direction feels somewhat familiar. While the writer definitely understands the character of Doctor Strange, placing him in Asgard feels a bit odd. The story takes a while to build momentum, requiring a lot of background information about why he’s there and the history of the situation. Fortunately, the writer does a good job of making that exposition engaging. Ultimately, I find myself more intrigued by the potential of the writer tackling an Asgard-focused story than by Strange’s presence within it, and that highlights the core issue with this book.
The recent Marvel storyline involving Doctor Strange in Asgard isn’t working very well. This issue features Angela, and honestly, it would have been a stronger story if it focused on her instead. She’s an underused character, and the themes of heaven and the light elves of Alfheim fit her perfectly. Doctor Strange feels like he’s just been added to draw readers in, and it’s not a particularly effective way to do so.
Doctor Strange‘s Art Never Feels Right for It
Around 30 years ago, artist Joe Madureira began incorporating a manga-inspired style into American comics. He and Roger Cruz were particularly skilled at this, though some also include Chris Bachalo – depending on the inker. Many artists have since attempted similar styles. This comes to mind because the artist on Doctor Strange #1, Ivan Fiorelli, evokes that Americanized manga aesthetic, and the result is a bit of a mixed bag – it’s both effective and doesn’t quite hit the mark.
As a huge cinema fan, I’ve been following this project closely, and the artwork is… inconsistent, to say the least. Sometimes, like in the example shown, it’s really beautiful – the detail in the pencils is amazing, and the action sequences later on feel powerful. But then you notice things. Proportions are off in a lot of the faces – heads seem too small or tilted, and it just looks…wrong. It’s not always a major issue, but it’s noticeable. Honestly, the art style doesn’t quite match the dark, gritty magical world they’re building. And maybe it’s just me, but something about the way Asgard is depicted feels a little strange. It’s a pattern with this whole book – moments of brilliance mixed with things that just don’t quite click, and it never quite feels fully realized.
Doctor Strange’s role has changed a lot over time, and recently Marvel seems to be forcing him into the world of Asgard, seemingly just to find a new direction for the character and pass on the title of Sorcerer Supreme. While putting Strange in Asgard is an interesting concept, it feels like the story has stalled. He can’t return to Earth yet because the comic needs to establish Scarlet Witch as the new Sorcerer Supreme, so he’s essentially stuck. This issue of Doctor Strange would actually be stronger if it focused on Angela and Sif handling Asgardian problems while Thor is absent; Strange feels unnecessary to the story.
This comic isn’t bad at all – it has some interesting concepts, generally good artwork, and shines in certain moments. However, if it hadn’t been tied to the Doctor Strange character, I think I would have enjoyed it much more. It’s a solid comic that will likely appeal to some readers, but it’s not the breakthrough title that will revitalize the character for a wider audience.
Doctor Strange #1 is on sale now.
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2025-12-03 17:45