Brother, My Brother: Reviewing ‘Doctor Strange’ #16
by Scott Redmond
Overview
Family squabbles are always rough, especially when there is magic and vampirism involved, which is most definitely the case in ‘Doctor Strange’ #16. A great example of how to tie a series into an event without losing the heart, soul, or direction of the series along the way. As the pieces come together (adding in solicit language and omissions), it feels like the culmination of a years-long run is in motion.
Overall
9/10Sibling issues, aren’t they the worst? Be glad you don’t have a ghostly vampiric brother looking for escape and revenge. Doctor Stephen Strange is not so lucky, nor are his allies.
The Blood Hunt Vampire Lord’s moves against the Sorcerer Supreme continue to bear poisonous fruit in Doctor Strange #16. It’s a Wong-focused issue, bringing various plotlines together, from Jed MacKay, Pasqual Ferry, Heather Moore, and Cory Petit.
Bits and pieces for this summer event have been seeded in a number of books, quite a few of them from MacKay. Including this nifty series. In-between certain story bits, the return of Victor Strange and what he’s been doing were dropped into play so we could reach this moment. It was worth it.
It’s clear when MacKay really likes a character or concept, the depth that he puts into things is felt. Pulling from past continuity in ways that inform the present and boost the story rather than weighing it down. I do not have to go find Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #56 (the issue referenced in this story) to get the moments between Victor and Wong; they are clear on the page. References to the past should help build a foundation and be a spice to a story rather than the whole crux of things.
This is why so many nostalgia things fail, they are more focused on just recapturing or redoing the past rather than letting it inform something new.
Strange’s biological brother versus his found brother is some great stuff. Especially since it seems that the captured Bats, snakes, and Mordo will have some part to play next time. A great way to keep the book tied to the event while the Stranges are off doing other things in the main event book. More Wong is never a bad thing, especially as written by MacKay.
Especially not when drawn by Ferry and Moore — who continue to kill it issue after issue.
Just such dynamic, solid, magical work on display. Plenty of really deep detail and weight on the page, sharp edges, and enough exaggeration to create a stylistic deviation without losing that edge. Characters emotions and personalities are clear as day through their facial expressions and body language. Just look at the way that Ferry depicts and vampiric Stephen Strange and tell me that it’s not disgusting and terrifying at the same time.
So gangly, otherworldly, and beyond human imagination in the way it moves and poses. Unrealistic mired in a thick realism.
Given even more life with the toned down — but still quite vivid — color palette that Moore employs. Letting the space feel dark and cold in many panels, with tonal choices that create a sort of common appearance. A world that we can relate to and feel connected to, so that the more vivid or dominating fantastical colors feel accurately ‘abnormal’ in a sense. Shiny blues, purples, reds, greens, and others take over whole panels and set the mood.
Lettering doesn’t skip a beat as those colors and concepts follow through under Petit’s guidance. Having fonts shift somewhat, whether in size or shape or even quality, to show how a voice tone changes. Louder, softer, pointed, mocking, shocked, and so many other qualities that are beyond clear. I’ll never stop loving a simple bubble/font color inversion (white on black rather than black on white) to indicate villainy or otherness.
Doctor Strange #16 is now available from Marvel Comics.
