Love Is A Strange Dark Thing: Reviewing ‘Doctor Strange’ #8

A war is brewing between a general and a doctor, leaving the woman they both love to make a choice. Clea Strange is a warlord who fought to bring Doctor Stephen Strange back to life, but General Strange is closer to her mindset.

Things sure never get easier for anyone named Strange.

Lines are drawn as forces gather in Doctor Strange #8, the latest issue from Jed MacKay, Pasqual Ferry, Heather Moore, and Cory Petit.

While things were done across numerous series, it’s easy to see what MacKay has been building in this corner of the Marvel Universe. Characterization and big moments are one of the top things that he’s known for. Right alongside that is the ability to dig into deep canon without it feeling like an anchor, adding to it in deep ways. We get both of those in spades within this multi-series run.

We’ve seen Strange die and come back. Clea taking on his mantle and fighting to get him back. Now we see their love put to the test. If you haven’t read the issue yet, first off go fix that quick, second turn back now because spoilers are ahead.

General Strange is clearly the villain, he’s done terrible things, but MacKay makes sure we not only understand his reasons but why Clea might be leaning his way. We can tell ourselves that she is doing it to throw the General off as the Doctor gathers forces, but maybe not. One thing that can be expected from MacKay is to expect the unexpected.

Within that unexpected though, one can guarantee that all things will cleanly fit into whatever has been established for the characters or world.

Therefore, shocker no shocker (in the best way possible), spoiler alert, Clea and Doctor Strange are in love and she is willing to do anything for him. Even kill for him, so that he won’t have to kill this broken warped version of himself.

MacKay has done numerous amazing things in his various books that I’ve devoured over the past few years. Chief among them was to take me from someone who knew only surface-level things about Clea, to someone that loves this character. That’s some pretty darn good character-writing chops right there.

Got a story with romance, drama, magical realms, and brutal heart-wrenching action? Well, just tap Ferry and Moore because they will not only make it happen but do it in the most whimsical emotionally deep, and visually pleasing way.

These are truly the types of stories tailor-made for Ferry’s stylings. A story that is full of magic, other dimensions, and fantastical supernatural things needs a particular type of artwork. It could be done spectacularly by some of the artists that have more realistic grounded sort of styles, don’t get me wrong. It has more power and realness to it though when it comes from someone who can blend real weight and depth with the embellished.

Moments of magic or beings’ other forms look truly out of this world in this style.

Things are angular with sharp edges in one moment but smooth and slick in others. Panel choices allow everything to breathe and flow effortlessly. Shifting the focus/point-of-view enabling elements to be zoomed in or dominate a space, even break out of the traditional panel sense, is a component in that flow.

Basically, the borders of panels or pages are but mere guidelines for this style, fitting the tone of magic being something that doesn’t fit into boxes of our conception.

Close-ups and even further zooms allow the clearly crafted emotions to hit even harder. We’re not mere observers of these fights and dramatic moments. No, we’re in the thick of them. As Strange struggles to find help, the pain of making a dark choice and sending his canine companion Bats away strikes us all. A personally intimate atmosphere looms heavily over everything, as it should.

Pairing Moore and Ferry is such a natural fit. Manipulation of the color palate on the fly, in a way that isn’t jarring, is essential for this style and tone. Heavy tone-down but still vibrant colors dominate the pages. Flashes of colors that are more ‘normal’ to us can be felt in spaces here on Earth. But hues of green, purple, orange, yellow, pink, and more find their way into the pages and take over.

Each space that is visited has its own tone and energy. Even if the same overwhelming color is found in both places, it might be warmer or cooler in one over the other. Many of the colors follow specific characters, giving them an aura that can shift depending on their emotional levels. Not only is it unique for the characters, but it also helps to differentiate various actions or moments and pinpoint who they belong to right away.

As much as the colors shift to change tone or energy in a moment, so do the letters. Petit is always a master at capturing whatever is needed momentarily and making it heard or felt on the page. Fonts jump up or down in size, and intensity, or have their color/bubbles change dramatically. Each change gives the words more of a charge, allowing the volume or emotional undercurrent abundantly clear. As the General’s words grow multiple sizes bigger, his anger is so scorching hot it’s burning through the pages.

Doctor Strange #8 is now available from Marvel Comics.