Marvel Comics 2021
Written by Jed MacKay
Illustrated by Lee Garbett
Coloured by Antonio Fabela
Lettered by VC’s Cory Petit
DEATH COMES FOR THE SORCERER SUPREME!
Doctor Stephen Strange is the world’s greatest neurosurgeon and Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. He defends our planet from the supernatural and interdimensional threats no other hero is equipped to handle. But what would happen if he unexpectedly died? Who would protect Earth and keep the mystical evils at bay? And most importantly…who killed Stephen Strange?!
Here's what I like about this issue, visually we see Stephen’s a bit of a slob and he still retains that arrogance about him that makes him so frustratingly interesting. I love this combination because it just fits with the whole way people see their bedrooms when they are single and don’t expect to bring anyone back to their room. Just an observation about what we see here and how that can relate to someone else, like me. The opening here is spectacular and it does it’s job exceptionally well as it brings us into the story and leaves us wanting, nay needing to know more. It also shouldn’t come as a surprise that Jed really craft’s an entire issue that makes you wonder, become engaged and involved and by the last page we need that next issue now.
I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well. The character development that we see the narration, the dialogue, the character interactions as well as how we see them act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter bring the personalities to the forefront exceptionally well. The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing the story the more we want to see.
How we see this being structured and how the layers within the story begin to emerge and grow is really well rendered. The layers here open up different avenues as they take us through Stephen’s day and within these avenues we see how the story takes shape from different angles and points of view. All of this adds depth, dimension and complexity to the story. How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is impeccably achieved.
I like the interiors here. I mean Stephen needs a hairy chest but otherwise the linework is fantastic and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail within the work that we see is utterly marvellous. Backgrounds are utilised throughout the book extremely well as they enhance and expand the moments beautifully. The creativity and imagination on display here is sensational and how we see the use of magic is exceptionally well rendered. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows a great eye for understanding how colour works.
I like seeing Stephen being taken through his day interacting with the hospital, at the school, and with people and criminals in general. It is interesting to see just how well integrated into the Marvel Universe he is these days and has become someone who isn’t just called upon when the situation needs him or that folks are scared or worried to go to his house. Well that house is intimidating but that’s another story entirely. With the ending here what we see should excite the heck out of anyone. So with exceptional writing and solid interesting characterisation alongside these superb interiors might make this one of my favourite Marvel events.