Doctor Strange Vol. 2 (Doctor Strange (2015) Hc)

I didn’t read the 1st of the series of new Dr. Strange. The sorcerer supreme has found magic vanished after a cult of scientists all but destroyed magic, Ley lines don’t work hence the “whatever”chants like that wouldn’t work. It took a little adjusting to graphic use of ichor in the first issue. Oh! Now I get it! The sketchy, scratchy inking was to show how chaotic the Dr.’s world got.Characters-the orb is one whacked villain. Maybe he’s the opposite of the all-seeing orb of Agamotto ( see classic Dr. Strange from Steve ditko & Stan Lee). Rating: 3-1/2*, Morgan Le Fay: what’s magic without her against Dr. Strange? Thankfully she made a brief appearance. baron Mordo-I don’t tire of the constant appearances & as usual he’s Dormammu’s stooge & wants to be #1 to murder Strange. Plus: Mordo has a first name so they can insult, chant & bash each other. Mr. misery- he’s a 5 of 5* as a villain.Wong, Zelda & Clea-they learn the craft while our lead character gets, poisoned, gets to undo & redo his past.Best guest appearance I’ve seen in a long time was seeing Thor: Goddess of thunder. & Dr. Strange using their powers in what they do in their former identities. I know it was a given since Jane foster was a medical doctor & dr. Strange was a surgeon. I really thought the super-speed of Thor the surgeon was clever ploy against mr. misery.The annual has a great back story of a former sorcerer supreme to-be. Now I’ll search for Jason Aaron’s dr. Strange volume #1 & further adventures of Kuluu & Merlin.Strangest stuff: dr.strange as a dog at a magic auction. I really got to like the weirdness & Zelda’s new job.

After Doctor Strange and company finally defeated the alien Empirikul, magical energy is beginning to flow through the world again. And Doctor Strange is trying to learn how to be a functional Sorcerer Supreme without the advantage of his library and all the magic items he's come to rely on. But how can he start rebuilding his sanctum when every enemy he's ever had is showing up to take him down in his moment of weakness?Overall, the tone of these stories is lighter and more fun than in the previous volume. Instead of fighting to save "all magic in the multiverse" Doctor Strange is just fighting to save his own life and soul and to protect his friends Wong and Zelma. I appreciated the smaller - but still meaningful - stakes of the story. Again Bachalo's artwork is great. And Aaron's approach to Doctor Strange and the quirks of magic is weird and fresh.

Aaron and Bachalo hit it absolutely out of the park in their closing volume to one of the most fun and lively runs Doctor Strange has ever had. Moreover, the beautiful hardcover, with included cover art and sketchbook material, make this printing a steal. Highly recommended!

Great quality and colors.