Why You Should Be Reading Doctor Strange

While Doctor Strange introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the world of magic on film, Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo were quietly setting an amazing new foundation for the talented sorcerer in the comics.

The book will soon get a new creative team (the incredibly talented Dennis Hopeless and Niko Henrichon), but that doesn’t mean now isn’t an excellent opportunity to hop on board. Aaron and Bachalo have reenergized the good Doctor with layered allies, new and creative villains, and a reset of the status quo that mandated a big change in the Doctor’s day to day operations. The result of all that tinkering is a Doctor Strange retains his psychedelic essence while also providing new readers the most approachable Doctor Strange that’s been seen in some time.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or someone coming in straight from the cineplex, there’s something for everyone here, so here are a few reasons you should give it a shot.

A Humanized Sorcerer Supreme

The biggest blockade to the good Doctor in years past was the dense lore and sometimes complicated subject matter. Writer Jason Aaron has removed both of those hurdles in his time with the character, and it’s resulted in much more human Sorceror Supreme.

In years past the Doctor was somewhat aloof, and while he could certainly be described aloof these days, it’s a much more endearing quality under Aaron’s pen. The reason why? That would be the Empirakul, who singlehandedly almost killed magic completely. On a crusade to remove the sorcerers who would corrupt the world of science with their magical heresy, the ensuing battle removed much of the magic from the Marvel Universe.

That lack of magical output demanded some resourcefulness and ingenuity on Strange’s part, and seeing him struggle to take down simple enemies has managed to make him more relatable. It’s not as if his powers were simply stripped either, as he still maintains all the knowledge he had previously. It’s a joy to watch him dip into his bag of tricks and use his surroundings to his advantage day in and day out.

Defining The Consequences Of Magic

Another of those humanizing elements comes in the form of Strange’s past sins. Aaron opens a unique window in what it truly takes to be the sorcerer supreme.

Magic isn’t as straightforward as other powers, and it takes quite a toll on the body. Defending the realm from otherworldly horrors can result in all sorts of ailments, and there has to be a way to expel those. Unfortunately, the toll can be quite steep, and Strange hasn’t always made the best decisions in this regard.

This series examines what that toll costs, both physically and magically. Aaron presents a compelling case for why there can only be on Sorceror Supreme, and why the job he performs is so immensely important. Not even a small spell can be cast without some ramifications down the line, and dealing wit those ramifications is, well, it’s not always pretty.

You’ll never think of magic in the same way.

An Art Match Made In Heaven

Niko Henrichon will be an amazing addition to the series, but Chris Bachalo has made a compelling argument for being considered the preeminent Doctor Strange artist.

Bachalo’s been a fan favorite for some time now, but his eccentric and sprightly pencils perfectly encapsulate the raw imagination of Strange’s world. Everything looks as if could spring to life any minute, and even the most mundane part of Strange’s residence appears brimming with energy.

The imaginative subject matter lets Bachalo loose more often than not, and he soars when given the opportunity. His rendition of Mister Misery, in particular, is something to behold, as is his rendition of Satana’s realm and everything that comes along with that.

It’s a match made in heaven.

No Normal Assistant

There’s no better right hand than Wong, Strange’s aide and longtime friend, and Aaron deftly reveals why over the course of the series.

Wong has always been at the heart of what makes the Doctor run, but it’s not his fantastic way of making tea or his mastery of the magical arts that makes him such an important companion. In this series of Doctor Strange, Wong has as many secrets as the Doctor does, if not more. His understanding of Strange’s importance to the world is at the heart of every action he takes, even if he must protect the Doctor from that knowledge.

He’s compassionate, skilled, but most of all loyal. The fact that he will go to such insane lengths for the Doctor isn’t surprising, but what those depths include just might.

Welcoming The New Blood

The current run has found a way to bring in longtime foes like Dormammu, Baron Mordo, and Satana, while also not forgetting to inject some new blood into the proceedings.

Aaron and Bachalo kept things interesting and introduced not one but two new characters into the mix. The first debuts in their very first issue, by the name of Zelma Stanton. Zelma gives the reader a perfect gateway into the crazy and at times harrowing world of Strange and Wong, but she also provides a great comedic foil to the two.

The book also introduced the Empirikul, an army intent on eradicating magic from the universe due to its corrupting influence. This resulted in the magic all but going extinct, and forced Strange into having to adopt some new methods to get the job done.

The Empirikul’s meddling resulted in what is perhaps the best new Marvel villain in some time, that being Mister Misery. Those aforementioned consequences of magic? Yeah, meet them in the flesh. His deeply personal tie to Strange provides an amazing canvas for Aaron to work with, and their link provides the perfect amount of empathy for the villain and why he’s so intent on making Strange suffer.

The Doctor hasn’t been this good in years, and you should definitely give him a chance.

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