Doctor Strange Vs. The Forces Of Gentrification In Doctor Strange #9
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
10 years ago, a company called Falston Realty first attempted to acquire and renovate Bleeker Street. The neighborhood fought against it, and Doctor Stephen Strange sided with the neighborhood. The following decade, Falston Realty continued to make plays for Bleeker Street, with Doctor Strange stopping them cold every time. The company is getting impatient and believes that Stephen Strange is hiding something that lurks beneath Bleeker. In truth, there is a reason Strange refuses to leave Bleeker.
Doctor Strange #9 is another in the subset of Marvel comics decrying the ongoing homogenization and gentrification of New York City, this time taking place on Bleeker Street. Another recent example of this was the story to Ta-Nehisi Coates and Butch Guice’s Black Panther and the Crew.
Honestly, I don’t get tired of the plot. It’s great watching rich land developers get shut down and sent away by the heroes of New York.
This one has the slight twist of Doctor Stephen Strange doing something not especially self-centered or arrogant. In fact, the ending is almost heart-warming.
Jesus Saiz returns to contribute the art to this comic, and I’m quite grateful for his presence. Saiz is an incredible artist, and he has a very distinct and gorgeous way of rendering the mystical creatures and elements in Doctor Strange’s world. The texturing continues to be especially impressive. Saiz’s world looks like you could touch it, and you know what each part of it would feel like under your fingers. Numerous demons and monsters make appearances throughout this issue, and they look fantastic. His color work is well-blended and well-balanced too, and making for a brilliant palette throughout the book.
Doctor Strange #9 is another impressive issue from Mark Waid and Jesus Saiz. The story is succinct and entertaining, the pacing is solid, and the visuals are phenomenal. It’s nice to read stories like these where heroes confront problems that aren’t inherently supernatural and afflict everyday people. This one definitely gets a recommendation. Feel free to give it a read.
Doctor Strange #9 comes to us from writer Mark Waid, artist and cover artist Jesus Saiz, and letterer VC’s Cory Petit.