Magician’s Best Friend: Reviewing ‘Doctor Strange’ #12

Best start believing in ghost stories, Doctor Strange, you’re in one. Actually, two counting good boy Bats the ghost dog.

A moment’s respite brings a new but not-so-new foe to the surface in Doctor Strange #12. A mostly stand-alone tale with far-reaching consequences from Jed MacKay, Danilo S. Beyruth, KJ Díaz, and Cory Petit.

It’s a tale as old as time when it comes to my mentions of one of the things that makes MacKay issues truly sing. In case that isn’t ringing any bells (check out any of my multitude of reviews of his books), I am referring to his grand character work. Able to mine little moments, dig deep, and showcase who these characters are as people beyond their powers or costumed identities. Mining the very thing that usually keeps us coming back for more stories of these decades-old characters.

Bats, the loyal talking ghost dog companion of Strange, has spanned a couple of runs of this series. Having debuted back in 2017’s Doctor Strange #381 from Donny Cates and Gabriel Walta. All that character development I mentioned is not just for the main characters of whatever book MacKay might be working on. Supporting characters, both new and old, get the treatment, and this time it falls to Bats.

Delightful. That is the best word to describe this issue, even with the sad ending. Following Bats, who is just trying to protect a Strange who keeps rebuffing his concerns, is a great way to sort of cleanse the palate more from the heavy war issues but keep the overall story moving. I missed out on the Crypt of Shadows issue from 2023, but now I’m interested in looking back there and also older material to see the story surrounding Victor Strange. Doctor Strange’s vampire ghost younger brother, who haunts him from within the Sanctum.

Truth be told, I was so enrapt with this story that the sudden ending with Bats and the Snakes trapped (Stephen Strange none the wiser) surprised me. That’s because it read so smoothly and I wanted to know more. With any other writer such a quick end that looks to be dangling for a bit would throw me off, and probably make me grumble. Not with MacKay, who always paces things splendidly and has a grand plan that will be worth the wait. Every single time, it most definitely has been.

The last issue’s artistic duo of Beyruth and Díaz are back for another go around.

I really like the way that Beyruth’s style works for a magical book like this. It has that perfect mix of sort of rough and out-of-the-box with a pinch of whimsy and a bit of proportional exaggeration. Each image has a semblance of realism, for lack of a better term, to keep things grounded in a way. Yet, is not overly concerned about all the actual proportions and spacing when it comes to really selling the abnormal moments that call a book like this home.

Victor Strange is a perfect example. His visage when in the full body suit lurking is lumpy and creepy looking. Only for him to rip it away and be standing tall looking like the cover of a romance novel with those flowing locks and bared (with a giant hole in it) chest.

Fitting for this darker tale and the bit of roughness to be found are the colors that Díaz is working with. Overall things are more toned down, allowing the space to seem normal but also cold/spooky at times. It gives the tale a very light feeling at first, as we follow along with Bat’s little adventure. As the action moves more to the darker realms, things pull back and the heavier darker colors come out to play.

With less magic in play in this issue the usage of vibrant toned-down colors is lessened, leaning more on the more natural colors of the spaces.

We’re treated to a lot of Bats, his narrations are great, alongside some fun bits with those fun but lying snakes. Petit hits all the right notes in delivering their dialogue/captions with all the right bit of emotion and personality. Little visual flairs here or there allow the words to breathe, flowing smoothly from panel to panel, while letting things like Victor Strange’s angrier tones really resonate. Also, that backward mirror text and the empty silent pleading bubbles? A big round of applause and a chef kiss right there.

Doctor Strange #12 is now available from Marvel Comics.