Doctor Strange: The Oath

The fortress domicile of Doctor Strange has been breached. A hired hand with some knowledge of the dark arts has broken into the Sanctum Sanctorum to steal a mystical object. Strange confronted the thief. As result, the good doctor's life now hangs in the balance.

The ever faithful Wong brings the dying Sorcerer Supreme to the clinic of the Night Nurse. But time is running out for Doctor Strange’s servant as well. He's been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and the object stolen from Strange's abode was the key to curing not only Wong's cancer but all known diseases of man!

I know that Marvel fans love their writer to be named Brian. I do too, but instead of Bendis, I am a huge fan of Brian K Vaughn (Y: The Last Man.) Vaughn crafts a fantastic tale of magic, mystery and Marveldom! But I have to give my highest praise to the artist of The Oath.

Marcos Martin's style was just perfectly retro. I felt like I was looking at some lost Doctor Strange story of Steve Ditko’s. They say that Ditko is the definitive Doctor Strange artist and I agree. But I think Marcos Martin gives Ditko a definite run for his money.

I felt throughout this story that Doctor Strange’s look was based on classic horror actor Vincent Price. I didn't have confirmation of this until on the very last page of the artist's sketchbook I saw Vincent looking right back at me. I gave myself a bunch of praise for that correct call.

The Oath was a fun read with classic overtones. Based on how this story ends, I'm very interested in learning how long that change to the out of Stephen Strange played out in the comics. Just what that change was? You'll just have to read it to find out…

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Doctor Strange: The Oath #1 (2015 Halloween ComicFest Edition)

     It's a typical evening at the secret clinic of the Night Nurse. Iron Fist pulled a hamstring fighting ninjas and somebody got hit in the face with a mace- not the spray but an actual medieval one! Yeah, it looks like it's will be smooth sailing for the Florence Nightingale of the superhero community. That is until Doctor Strange is brought in by his faithful servant, Wong and the Sorcerer Supreme has been brutally shot.
     Clearing her schedule, the Night Nurse races to save the Doctor's life as his astral projection brings her up to date as to how he ended up on her gurney. Recently, it's been revealed that Wong is battling an incurable brain tumor. Determined to follow the Hippocratic oath he swore upon becoming a surgeon, Doctor Strange transverses the dimensions to find a remedy for his servant. Only what the wizard brought back to earth wasn't just the cure for Wong's form of cancer but all cancers! And somebody is willing to kill the mystic master of the ancient arts to obtain it!
     This Halloween ComicFest edition of the first chapter of Doctor Strange: The Oath was fantastic. The always amazing Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man) has penned a story that I want to read the remainder of; about a character that I'm not really a big fan of. That's a powerful statement about Vaughan's level of writing talent. 
     Plus, I love the whimsical art style of Marcos Martin (Amazing Spider-Man.) It's one-part Doctor Strange legend, Steve Ditko and one-part classic noir a'la Darwyn Cooke.
     Great story, amazing art, and awesome supporting characters like Night Nurse: it all adds up to the perfect formula to get Doctor Strange: The Oath on my wish list.
     
    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Daredevil (2011-2014), Volume 1

 I was born right before the Frank Miller era on Daredevil. So, by the time I was 3 or 4 and starting to read and get interested in super heroes and comics, the only Daredevil I knew was dark, brooding, and seemed to be the bad luck Chuck of the Marvel Universe. It seemed like every relationship Matt Murdock would have with a woman would end in their death, of tragically. Plus, after being exposed as Daredevil in public, sent to prison, and then possessed by a demon and made the evil leader of the Hand band of ninjas, it just seemed like nothing would go ole Hornhead’s way.

  Enter Mark Waid, the legendary scribe of such classics as Kingdom Come and Spider-man, as well as holding the distinction of being referred to as the only man alive to have read every Superman comic book ever made. Well, Mr. Waid hoped to add a little joy to Daredevil’s life. After 30 plus years of doom and gloom, the author thought it was time for some levity. I think Mark Waid made the write choice (pun intended!)

Though the public still thinks Murdock is Daredevil, there’s still some lingering doubt, because hey, the guy’s blind! However, that uncertainty has made any trail case defended by Murdock or his partner, Foggy Nelson a laughing stock and a kangaroo court. Thus, the firm of Murdock and Nelson is forced to change their strategy. Instead of defending the downtrodden and wronged, the lawyers will now prep these clients in how to properly defend themselves in court. If the client wins, Murdock and Nelson get a percentage of their winnings.

Their first client has a history of hearing voices. So when Daredevil goes on an investigation of his own, he finds perhaps the worst enemy possible for a blind superhero that relies on a type of echolocation to perform his duties. That’s right, Daredevil runs afoul of Klaw, the super villain made of living sound.

Also, there’s page after page of beautiful artwork that has a Mike Allred/ Darwyn Cooke quality to it thanks to artists Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martin. It’s clean, retro, and the color palettes are stunning. Also, their take on Daredevil’s ‘radar’ sense is brilliant and shines where the film failed. Plus, if you look at this volume’s cover, you’ll see how the artists are using words to describe sounds and how they make a shape of an object around Daredevil. His radar sense gives him a 360 degree idea of his surroundings and I think this technique was brilliantly executed. I might just have a couple of new favorite artists.

I like this new take on Daredevil. That goes to say that I don’t hate what Miller or his numerous predecessors did with the hero. I just find that I like brevity and wit, and humor, and to see the day-to-day workings of superheroes when they are in their secret identities. The rest of this series is now on my radar!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.