Wong The Not So Secret Agent Man: Reviewing ‘Doctor Strange’ #4

For the longest time, wherever there was Doctor Strange there would be Wong. That was then, and this is now. In the now, Wong isn’t alongside his old friend. Instead, he continues the good work against magical threats as an Agent of W.A.N.D. (Wizardry Alchemy Necromancy Department).

All those years of familiarity with Wong are still paying off here though. Issues that somewhat deviate from the ongoing story, which this one really doesn’t, sometimes have a harder time. Especially so soon in the run of a title. In this case, Wong is a beloved and familiar enough character to hold down an issue, especially one that continues the main story. Just from a different deeper perspective that promises to bring some more tension and drama down the line.

I really like how Jed MacKay is exploring the magical side of the Marvel Universe through these Strange-related books. There are elements of old being brought back into play alongside tons of new lore/characters that help flesh it all out. So much has been added that it makes it easy for MacKay to now begin systematically taking some off the board. As I stated above this issue doesn’t deviate from the main storyline but enhances it.

We saw the murder of Aggamon in the first issue, but now we see that was just one piece in the game. Someone is removing various magical bad guys off the board en masse. So, we take sort of a tour around the Marvel Universe here and it’s compelling because of how MacKay approaches it. Wong is looking for a better way than what W.A.N.D. was doing, as we see them in action. It’s a fast-paced character-heavy issue which is the MacKay special.

Even with the drama and dire nature of this story, it’s a MacKay book, so there is plenty of fun to be found. I mean we kick off with miner ghosts unionizing and turning into a massive collective action ghost. That’s just damn good comic books right there.

With this issue deviating a bit from the previous ones, it’s a good time to bring in a fun guest artist. For this issue that would be Andy MacDonald who steps on board following the three issues handled by Pasqual Ferry. Though it’s of course not MacDonald’s first go in this series, as he handled the Wong/W.A.N.D. focused backup in the first issue.

Being a magical series there are a lot of fantastical unreal elements that mingle with the more normal real things. MacDonald has a style that is perfect for that. All the characters have great weight and presence, with all the emotion and action flowing smoothly. While it all dips into the realms of the exaggerated to make sure the bizarre truly is bizarre but still grounded.

Many of the paneling choices are perfect, really framing the different moments in the best ways. Getting us right down in the action while also making the quieter dialogue-heavy moments feel energetic and compelling.

Coloring is another guest spot with KJ Diaz, following the work that Heather Moore brought in the previous issue. Just like the artwork, Diaz’s colors play right in that sweet spot between grounded and strange. There is a toned-down quality to many of the colors which brings that depth and sense of normalcy. This allows the ghosts, demons, and other elements at times to be somewhat brighter pops of color. Making them stand out because they are pinks and shiny blues or purples.

Not only that, but I love how the color/lighting shifts through the issue. Our characters move through a variety of spaces and times of day, and it’s reflected in every panel. There is a night scene with vampires in Hong Kong and it heavily feels night-like, the darkness ever present. It’s reflected in the skin tones, the set pieces, and more because the effect levels of light have is considered so well.

Cory Petit is a name that can be found in a lot of books as one of the usual letterers at Marvel. Each of those books will have a similar style in the lettering but also be unique, and we feel that here. As mentioned, this is a magical colorful supernatural book and Petit lets that play through the lettering work on the page. Colorful bubbles, shifts in style and size for fonts, big colorful SFX, and more.

It all works to make sure that the voices and sound are clear on the page, but it does more than just make it fun. There is a tone that is set with these elements. If the bubbles for the demons and Ghost Rider and others were just ‘normal’ it would be fine and do what is meant to. Instead, it helps to make sure that we the reader ‘hear’ these voices differently because the presentation tells us to do so.

Everything on the page has a purpose to play in making our experience complete, and lettering should be focused on more by many readers.

Doctor Strange #4 is now available from Marvel Comics.