My Rating
“A Day With Dormammu”
Chilling news has reached the inner walls of the Sanctum Santorum. Stephen and Clea Strange have just learned that Aggamon, the Warlord Sorcerer of the Purple Dimension, has been assassinated. In its wake a power struggle has engulfed the realm. Wong and Pandora are ready to investigate further with the newest magical division of S.H.I.E.L.D., code named W.A.N.D. – the Wizardry Alchemy Necromancy Department.
Stephen is ready to lend his full support to the operation but it will have to wait until tomorrow; for today Doctor Strange must play host to his greatest enemy, Dormammu.
Dubbed “Parley Day” of all things, this day has been the annual gathering between the Sorcerer Supreme and the Lord of the Dark Dimension. This meeting has become a greater torment for Stephen as Dormammu uses human hosts to carry his essence on the mortal plane of Earth.
This year an investment banker named Everett Stone has been chosen from the top worshippers of Dormammu’s Cult. Everett’s body, as the human hosts before him, will be consumed by the Dark Lord’s immense power by the end of his visit. This is how it must be. Stephen must accept it as even the most powerful Exorcism spells can not break a willing host from its deity.
Will W.A.N.D. be able to track down Aggamon’s killer before war spills over from the Purple Dimension? Can Stephen Strange convince Dormammu’s worshiper to willingly grasp the coin of Mysterium? Does the telepathic powers of a veteran X-Man hold sway over a monster birthed of the Dark Dimension?
“Close Encounters of a Strange Kind”
Not so long ago, Griffith Park – Los Angeles, the young sorcerous Nico Minoru is under attack by the Dark Lord himself, Dormammu. The Monster has come to claim Nico’s family heirloom – the Staff of One. Fortunately for the young runaway the Sorcerer Supreme has come to aid her in battle.
Is the Staff of One powerful enough to stop the all powerful Dormammu? Will the daughter of Minoru remember all the spells previously used by her hands? Does Doctor Strange after the Staff for his personal collection? Collect the series to find out!
Reviewer Notes
We get two stories in one issue of Doctor Strange! In story one it’s basically a clip show of previous fights between Doctor Strange and Dormammu, but done in a good way. The Parley Day is an excellent device to do one of these events. Worry not, Marvel provides all the comic book reference numbers to each callback. There’s some fun banter between the two titans of magic, as well as a cameo by Bats the ghost Hound.
The second story is a brief battle between Nico and Dormammu. I don’t know much about the Runaways except what was portrayed on the television series. It was a nice look at what the Staff of One can do. I’m giving this issue four out of five stars. The new Doctor Strange series is definitely a strong story so far.
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