Oct
06
2015
0

Doctor Strange #1 Review

Written by: Jason Aaron

Art by: Chris Bachalo

Publisher: Marvel

For those unfamiliar with the mythology behind Doctor Strange (such as myself), the first issue of Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo’s run on the character seems to be an excellent jumping on point. No prior knowledge of the character is required – there’s a brief explanation of his origin in the first few pages (done in a rather clever manner, I might add), and that’s it. It seems quick and concise enough to not bother pre-existing fans of the character, but does just enough to bring new readers up to speed. After the brief introduction, Aaron immediately jumps into the head of modern day Stephen Strange with an excellent cold open. This sequence melds together the whacky, out of left field style that has come to characterize the comic book industry with more traditional, “serious” super heroics. It’s refreshing to know that the possibility of a book that doesn’t exist at one end of the scale or the other can exist, and (hopefully), thrive.

As far as first issues go, Doctor Strange #1 is structured pretty much as you would expect. The cold opening leads into some down time with a bit of monologuing from Stephen Strange, then we get to see hints of the plot of the opening arc, and then we’re introduced to the villains and left on a cliffhanger. It’s a simple formula that’s so widely used because of how effective it is when written crafted. And, as comic book readers have come to expect of both Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo, Doctor Strange #1 is nothing if not well crafted. That’s not to say that it’s perfect – far from it, in fact. However, Aaron’s dialogue is spot on, and already has me on board with most of the characters, and captivated by their interactions. By the same token, Bachalo’s art is expressive and detailed, and his visual story telling complements the script quite nicely. Facial expressions and body language are every bit as important as monologues and dialogues, and is key to establishing the book’s whimsical, yet subtly melancholic, tone.

Despite all the praise I’m throwing on the book, I do have two complaints about Doctor Strange. First: it seems to be relying heavily on comic book tropes. None of the problematic or offensive ones, but there’s something about the story that makes it feel like we’ve been here before. The plot is still somewhat interesting, but without the characters being so dynamic (for the most part), there would be little to hold the interest of the reader, unless some major shake up occurs. My other issue with the book is that there is one exception to characters being well written – a character by the name of Zelma, who is introduced towards the end of the book. She feels overwritten, especially when she first interacts with Stephen. This is the first issue, so obviously new characters need time to grow, but I couldn’t help but feel a little bit put off by her character.

In spite of those flaws, Doctor Strange #1 definitely seems like an excellent start to the new series. What with the movie being confirmed and all, this seems like a great way for readers unfamiliar with the character to gain at least some degree of familiarity. I obviously can’t speak for existing fans, but I doubt that they won’t find something to enjoy about this new series as well. It’s also entirely possible that, given another two or three issues, my complaints could turn out to just be growing pains, and be eliminated entirely.