Rebuilding Everything With Doctor Strange #17
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
All of reality has disappeared around Doctor Strange. He know floats alone in a white void, but he is soon joined by Eternity, the consciousness of all reality. He informs Stephen that all of reality now exists collapsed and condensed in the single speck of light that exists before him. That doesn’t explain how Doctor Strange escaped the collapsing reality, but he knows that he must unwind it and restore our universe to its proper form. However, if he is to do this, Stephen Strange must gain the permission of the Living Tribunal.
Doctor Strange #17 finds the Sorcerer Supreme in the aftermath of the apocalyptic war he waged against the mystically-empowered Galactus in the mystic realms. Doctor Strange won, but it cost literally everything.
It’s another immensely big-picture comic, and it once again feels reminiscent of the great Jim Starlin. Stephen Strange exists at the end of everything, with only Eternity and the Living Tribunal to keep him company.
Also, it does explain how Doctor Strange escaped the collapsing universe, and it’s thanks to someone who likes to have their hand in everything.
How Strange resolves this crisis is quite vast in scope as well. Without giving too much away, Stephen Strange must rebuild all of reality.
Once again, Barry Kitson brings the appropriate aesthetic to this tale of collapsing and rebuilding realities. It has a very classic feeling to it, and the great cosmic players have the necessary air of gravitas and inscrutability to them. Brian Reber’s color art is appropriately wild yet well-balanced, and it compliments the cosmic and mystic elements of this adventure.
Doctor Strange #17 finishes out this story with another universe-ending crisis for Stephen Strange to resolve. Everything now comes down to the Sorcerer Supreme, and the only question is whether he is up to this monumental task. It’s a damn good read and is worth a recommendation. Check it out.
Doctor Strange #17 comes to us from writer Mark Waid, artist Barry Kitson with finishes from Scott Koblish, color artist Brian Reber, letterer VC’s Cory Petit, cover artist Jesus Saiz, and variant cover artist Ema Lupacchino with David Curiel.
Final Score: 8/10
