The Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Stephen Strange, has experienced innumerable near-death incidences throughout his career as the protector of Earth from mystical threats. The doctor has matured from his early days of magic into the role of an educator. He's taken on an apprentice and resumed his practice as a neurosurgeon. Earlier this year, Marvel Comics teased a new series ominously titled The Death of Doctor Strange. Writer Jed MacKay and artist Lee Garbett explore that exact premise in The Death of Doctor Strange #1, a cross-title miniseries that opens with a bang and delves into a world devoid of Doctor Strange.
Death of Doctor Strange #1 opens with the eponymous Doctor being woken up by his ghost dog, Bats, who keeps pestering him to go out on a walk to keep himself in shape. As he gets ready and walks towards the hospital, Stephen thinks about Koschei, a Slavic folklore about someone who cheated death by hiding a piece of his soul inside objects. Having regained the dexterity of his fingers, Strange has resumed his original profession as a neurosurgeon and just as he is about to take a break after an operation, an explosion in the distance rocks the city. Changing his garb without a thought, the Sorcerer Supreme jumps into action.
As writer Jed MacKay’s time with Marvel’s Black Cat comes to an end this November, he diverts his attention to the metaphysical world of Doctor Strange. MacKay shows a glimpse into the daily life of the Sorcerer Supreme amidst his various chores. McKay places the narrative focus on Strange as his commentary on immortality draws parallels to Koschei's legend and foreshadows events to come. The backstory of the venerable Doctor is not explained in an explicable manner but subtly through character interactions and the story's progression. MacKay knows when to interject action with quiet moments of solace so Strange can voice his concerns with a mixture of lassitude and duty.
Artist Lee Garbett (Shadecraft, Loki: Agent of Asgard) lends his artwork to The Death of Doctor Strange #1. Garbett creates a world bustling with chaotic energy. His lines flow with the characters' movements, working in tandem with the scenario while placing them in a detailed background. Colorist Antonio Fabela employs bright colors in juxtaposition with Strange's brooding monologue and uses an otherworldly palette ranging from warm marigold to vivid magenta that showcases the plot's magical nature. The display of colors, the primary example being the splash page right before the end, gives new life to the panels.
Death of Doctor Strange #1 takes its time to build its climax, but the payoff is highly rewarding. The story not only takes a peek into the state of the world without the presence of a magical deterrence to ward off off-world attacks but also reminds readers why Stephen Strange is integral to the Marvel universe. Death of Doctor Strange #1 ends on a cliffhanger and a startling revelation that raises several intriguing questions about Strange's backup plan.
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