Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness : Movie Review

 

   The much-awaited sequel to the first Doctor Strange movie has finally arrived, and it also Marvel's first step into the horror realm (no, I'm not counting Sony's Morbius).

    Thankfully, the Multiverse of Madness is in the hands of director Sam Raimi, who excels at the genre - especially adding humor in the mix, always a crucial element in a Marvel movie.

   The story almost defies description (at least when you're trying to be careful not to spoil anything), but here goes.

   It revolves around young America Chavez, (the lovely Xochitl Gomez) a teen from an alternate universe who discovers she has the ability to travel between realities in the multiverse - and a sinister force is trying to take that power from her, at the cost of her life. 

   She's trying to escape from a terrifying monster Shuma Gorath when Doctor Strange (an always magnetic Benedict Cumberbatch) and Sorcerer Supreme Wong (the delightful Benedict Wong) rush to her rescue - and then they try to protect her from the force that's pursuing her. 

    Strange decides to recruit help from fellow Avenger Wanda Maximoff / the Scarlet Witch (another amazing, heartfelt performance by Elizabeth Olsen). The ensuing story takes the cast to alternate realities, a delight of cameos with the Illuminati (hey, the commercials already spoiled that one) - two of the members of that group got the biggest crowd reaction in our sold-out theatre.

   There are massive battles (including a delightful music-based one), some heart strings to pluck at as Strange encounters past love Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), some horrific moments (usually accompanied by a laugh of delight at the cleverness involved), and some startling revelations about some other Doctor Stranges out there in the Multiverse.

   This movie covers a lot of ground, but I have to admit, I enjoyed it throughout. The challenge of Stephen Strange is similar to that of Tony Stark - how do you make someone who's not always the most lovable guy around into a hero you can root for? The answer is by giving him challenges to overcome (with smart, clever solutions), and having him do the right thing even when it isn't easy - the true mark of a hero.

    I loved this film, and certainly hope they keep this cast (and Sam Raimi) busy far into the future!

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Grade: A

   

Doctor Strange #11

   I'm surprised the ongoing series starring Doctor Strange doesn't get more buzz with fans - it's very good!

  It's the latest example of one of my favorite comic book genres: "Mark Waid takes over the writing of a classic comic and hits it out of the park!" (See: Daredevil, Captain America, Fantastic Four.)

   With the adventures of the Sorcerer Supreme, Waid started by taking away his mystic powers, and then sending him on a journey to alien worlds to find new sources of power.

   Now he's back on Earth and confronted with a mystery - one that involves his teacher, the Ancient One (who I'm always happy to see), an Earth-shaking menace - and the return of his signature villain, the Dread Dormammu!

   Teamed with terrific artists Jesus Saiz and Javier Pina, it's a cracking good tale. What more do you need to know?

   You really should be reading this comic.

Grade: A

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Doctor Strange #4

   Writer Mark Waid generally has a really good grasp of "what makes a hero work." 

   He's demonstrated it time and again on characters like Daredevil, Captain America and the Fantastic Four, to name just a few (Marvel division).

   I was a little leery of him taking over Doctor Strange's comic, because he did a mini-series about the Doc several years back and it didn't quite work.

   Happily, we can now see that series was the exception. 

   Under Waid's guidance, working with the (quite excellent) artist Jesus Saiz, Strange is exploring the mystery of why his magic went away - and he's traveling across the universe to rediscover the power he's lost.

   He's also learning more about why he became the Sorcerer Supreme - and why he lost his way.

   It's a powerful story unfolding, and thanks to the alien setting, it's loaded with surprise twists and turns.

   Glad to see Doctor Strange - and Mark Waid - getting along so well!

Grade: A

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Doctor Strange #1

   Dang, Mark Waid is everywhere this week!

   (This is not a bad thing - I'm all for him writing lots of comics.)

   He's taken over the adventures of Doctor Strange, the Earth's Sorcerer Supreme - but Stephen's best days may be behind him.

   With his powers mysteriously disappearing, he must solve the problem or adjust to the life of an ordinary man.

   So he looks for help from a surprising source, and the solution takes him into truly uncharted waters.

   The artwork is by Jesus Saiz, and it's wonderful - expressive and powerful and intimate work.

   This is a great jumping-on point, and looks like the beginning of yet another terrific story from Waid. 

   More like this, please!

Grade: A

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Doctor Strange #21

   This issue of Doctor Strange starts life with a couple of strikes against it.

   It's the first issue with a new creative team. Writer Jason Aaron has moved on after a strong 20 issues reworking the character, leaving the writing chores to Dennis Hopeless.

   Artist Chris Bachalo has also left the interior art duties (he's still providing cover art), and Niko Henrichon in handling both art and color.

   The second strike is that the series must labor under the burden of the ongoing Secret Empire event, which has the city of New York - and quite a few heroes and villains - trapped with hordes of demons in a Dark Dimension.

   So the story's kind of disjointed as Strange and some guest stars fight for survival against assorted giant monsters.

   Despite the obstacle, its a solid issue with strong artwork (and all the gross creatures your admission price can bear).

   But I look forward to seeing how the team does without an event hanging around its neck.

Grade: B-

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Doctor Strange #18

   I've been enjoying this fresh take on Doctor Strange, even though the emphasis has been a bit more on the horror side (not my favorite genre).

   The ongoing story pits the Doctor against Mr. Misery - a powerful mystical creation built over the years out of his own dark deeds, pain and mistakes.

   Misery is striking against Strange's friends and others he cares about - including some of the patients he saved before his mystical career began.

   To fight back he teams up with the female version of Thor - and we get a couple of things out of that:

   1) I really miss the original version of Thor, and since Dr. Don Blake was depicted as an ingenious surgeon, that would have come in handy in this story. Instead, we get Thor accessing her knowledge as Dr. Jane Foster (I may be wrong, but I thought she was a General Practitioner - not a surgeon. Did I err?)

   2) I hate it when the creative team just randomly gives a hero a new, out-of-left-field power, as happens here with Thor. Silly stuff.

   Other than that, this is a solid story - great art, fun story!

   You should be reading this comic.

Grade: A-

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Doctor Strange #16

   As I mentioned recently, Doctor Strange's greatest villain is Dormammu - and the Dread One finally makes a return appearance in the latest issue (as the cover makes plain).

   And it feels like a classic tale as Strange, his power still depleted after the attack of Empirikul (and a few other menaces since), has to confront an attack by his powerful enemy.

   It's a great wrapup to the followup to the Empirikul story, and it's been fun to see Strange contend with old familiar faces.

   The solution here is a bit too pat and convenient, but it's easy to forgive - it's a heck of a lot of fun to see Strange, Dormammu and Baron Mordo square off again.

   Once again, terrific work by writer Jason Aaron and the legion of artists: Chris Bachalo, Cory Smith, Al Vey, John Livesay, Victor Olazaba, Tim Townsend and Cory Smith.

   (Of course, yu can't have everything: Dormammu is still a giant. I like him better when he's human-sized - but maybe that's just me.)

Grade: A-

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Dr. Strange Top 10: #1 - Strange Tales 141

  Wrapping up our countdown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#1 - Strange Tales 141 - “Let There Be Victory!”

   This explosive issue featured the end of Lee and Ditko's year-long continued story with a final confrontation between Dr. Strange and the Dread Dormammu.

   This is the second part of that battle, as Dormammu decides to humiliate Strange by fighting him in hand-to-hand combat, using only mystic pincers as weapons. 

   (The pincers fit on each combatant’s hands, extending foot-long energy pincers that can grasp or paralyze.)

   Strange is weakened by last issue’s cowardly strike by Mordo, and the battle rolls back and forth. 

   It’s a hard-fought battle that pushes Strange to the limit - which makes the finale even more satisfying.

   But the celebration is short-lived, and Dormammu demonstrates why he is s force to be reckoned with.

   (I should also note that Ditko has fine-tuned his visuals for the Dreaded one, giving his stylized head a red hue and designing an arcane framework (of sorts) for his floating head - it’s stunning.)

   A great story requires a powerhouse finale, and this issue provides that in spades. 

   This is Lee and Ditko at their finest - truly impressive and inspired storytelling!

Grade: A+

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Dr. Strange Top 10: #2 - Strange Tales 143 - “With None Beside Me!”

  Continuing our countdown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#2 - Strange Tales 143 - “With None Beside Me!”

   Having survived an incredible battle against his most powerful foe, an exhausted Dr. Strange returns to his Sanctum Sanctorum where he is ambushed and captured by three powerful magicians. 

   In this two-part story he finds his hands and face covered, his amulet and cloak gone - how can he hope to survive?

   He manages to escape the mystic trap, but his head and hands are still bound, and the bad guys are closing in fast.

   What makes this issue stand out is the sheer ingenuity of Strange, as he must find a way to overcome a series of threats without using his powers.

   It’s fast-paced, clever as can be and downright inspiring. 

   Most comics that feature “no name” villains are a letdown, but Lee and Ditko manage to craft a story that stands with the best - and allows Strange to show why he’s a terrific hero.

Grade: A+

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Dr. Strange Top 10: #3 - Strange Tales 137

 

  Continuing our countdown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#3 - Strange Tales 137 - “When Meet the Mystic Minds”

   It was tempting to make the issue where Dr. Strange finally meets Eternity (Strange Tales 138) one of the Top 10, but it’s almost anticlimactic next to this battle between master and apprentice. 

   Having searched the world for the secret of Eternity (which may allow Strange to stand up to the threat of his foes Baron Mordo and Dormammu), Dr. Strange arrives back at the secret cave where the Ancient One is hidden. 

   Despite the danger, he plans to link his mind to his teacher’s, in hopes of gaining vital information.

   What follows is a psychedelic battle between two figures who are seated and facing each other! It's another artistic romp by Ditko, with amazing visuals, all balanced by Lee's script - at times forceful, at times touching.

   Strange must overcome the powerful mystic traps and defenses created by the only man on Earth who is a greater sorcerer.

   It’s a powerful tale, loaded with drama and heart - and it sets up the final showdown with the fate of Earth hanging in the balance!

Grade: A+

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Dr. Strange Top 10: #4 - Strange Tales 127

  Continuing our countdown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#4 - Strange Tales 127 - “Duel with the Dread Dormammu”

    Just a few months before this series hit the stands, fans could tell that Dr. Strange was getting a following.

   He shared Strange Tales with the Human Torch, but he was finally getting significant attention on the cover - and he was also featured in that cool upper-left-hand-corner art box that Marvel created in the early '60s.

   This issue featured a (rare, at the time) continued story, as Strange faced his greatest enemy for the first time - the ruler of the Dark Dimension, the Dread Dormammu (which, according to the movie, is pronounced "Door-Ma'am-Moo" - so I had it right all along).

   Issue #127 deserves attention, as it details Strange entering the Dark Dimension and meeting Dormammu for the first time - but since we're looking for the Top 10 individual stories, the actual battle was the better of the two.

   The story allowed Ditko to run wild with inventive images as he created an unearthly environment, with flat, floating spaces serving as doorways. Pathways wind with no regard to gravity or logic, creatures of all shapes and sizes thrive, and Strange must face overwhelming odds.

   These are the stories that really drive readership - a great, powerful opponent, a never-before-seen environment, and high stakes for the coming battle, with the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance.

   A couple of notes: happily, this Dormammu is human-sized, so he and Strange can go toe-to-toe and fight as equals. Years later, Dormammu was depicted as a towering giant, and he's been that ever since (mostly), including in the movie. I've never cared for it. Also, the coloring is different, as his head is enveloped in blue flames and smoke - later appearances would change it to red, which was much more effective.

   Strange is faced with an impossible task - defeating the foe who once defeated his master, the Ancient One. Even with a slight assist from the lovely Clea, who makes her first appearance, he's outmatched.

   The plot twist that allows Strange to survive his battle - and "win" (sorta kinda) was brilliant, and serves to show both Strange and Dormammu in a good light - making him a better hero and Dormammu a worthy villain with personality - not just a monster.
   

   At the end of the adventure, Strange receives a gift from his teacher - a new Amulet of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation (which is oddly colored all yellow here).

   If there was any doubt that Dr. Strange belonged in the Marvel Universe, this adventure closed the deal.

   One of my all-time favorites!

Grade: A+

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Dr. Strange Top 10: #5 - Strange Tales 123

   Continuing our rundown of the Top 10 stories of Dr. Strange as created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#5 - Strange Tales 123 - “The Challenge of Loki!”

   But in the early days of the Silver Age, a crossover into a character's comic book was a rare event, even within the same comics company (not counting books designed to be crossovers, like The Avengers). 

   But it was a tool Marvel used to great effect. Sometimes the "crossover" would last all of a panel or two, like the time Thor flew past Spider-Man and kept right on going. It wasn't unusual for heroes to call each other on the phone to ask for advice.

   This issue of Strange Tales (cover date August 1964) is one I fondly remember for the double-crossover it includes. The comic's pages were split evenly between the Human Torch's solo adventures and the mystic adventures of the (relatively new) hero Dr. Strange.

   But as much as I enjoyed the lead-in story, it's the backup feature that really made the comic. Dr. Strange is tricked by Loki, the Norse God of Mischief, into stealing Thor's hammer.

   Strange realizes his mistake, which quickly translates into an all-out battle between a mortal and a god. It's a battle that pushes Strange right to the brink of defeat, and it's only his quick wits and his courage that allows him to survive.

   This was the issue that made me a Dr. Strange fan (and Lee and Ditko fan) for life - he was a "normal" person who used his special education (magic, natch), to fight the forces of evil, succeeding thanks to his determination and intelligence. The story bristled with imagination and amazing adventures! 

   I've been reading his adventures faithfully every since. 

   In the world of comics today, it's not unusual for comic books characters from different companies to meet. 

Grade: A

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Dr. Strange Top 10: #6 - Strange Tales 146

   Continuing our countdown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#6 - Strange Tales 146 - “The End - - At Last!”

  As proof that all good things come to an end, this issue of Strange Tales was the final adventure of Doctor Strange (presumably plotted and) drawn by master artist Steve Ditko.

   To send him off in style, for the first time that hero was given a solo appearance on the cover - although it's not an original drawing by Ditko. It's an image pieced together from two panels in the story.

   The title of the story is "The End -- at Last!" - and it certainly lives up to that, as it wraps up all the loose ends and storylines that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko had been building for over a year. (I admit it's a slight cheat to include this issue, since the story is scripted by Dennis O'Neil.)

   The story starts with an enraged Dormammu, who's desperate to get his revenge on Strange - but he's honor-bound not to attack the Earth, so he lures Strange to another dimension by the attacking (and imprisoning) the powerful being known as Eternity!

   Strange rises to the bait and manages to survive only because he frees Eternity, who's angry at Dormammu's audacity. But the dreaded one ups the ante by launching a direct attack on the massive cosmic being!

    What follows is shocking - and two splash pages are needed to capture the cataclysm!

    To say more about the story and the stunning events that follow would spoil too much - but it's the kind of over-the-top, world-shaking event that's oh so rare in comics. (This is what the rest of them aspire to be.)

   If you're going to wrap up your run on a title, here's a prime example of how to do it - blow everything up and wrap up all our storylines to give the next guy (or gal) a clean slate to work with.

   Simply tremendous work, and a testament to Ditko's mastery of the comic book arts.

Grade: A+

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Dr. Strange Top 10: #7 - Strange Tales 145

    Continuing our countdown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#7 - Strange Tales 145 - “To Catch a Magician!”

   The adventures of Dr. Strange, as crafted by Lee and Ditko, always focused on battles between the hero and a magic-wielding enemy (sometimes human, sometimes not).

   This story seems to be following that lead, as Strange tracks down the evil magician known as Mister Rasputin, a criminal who uses his magical skills to steal.

   Yep, he's just a "common" criminal, but a very clever and deadly one. 

   When Strange confronts him, Rasputin seems almost defeated before he starts - his mystic power pales next to Strange's - but he does something the hero doesn't expect. 

   He draws a gun and shoots Dr. Strange! It was a shocking and unexpected event.

   Mortally wounded, Strange must run - but Rasputin isn't one to leave things to chance.

   It's a shocking change of pace for the series, and it pushes Strange to the limit.

Grade: A

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Dr. Strange Top 10 - #8 - Strange Tales 136

   Continuing our rundown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#8 - Strange Tales 136 - “What Lurks Beneath the Mask?”

   This is a personal favorite, and one of the stories in the "Dr. Strange, the Fugitive" series that started in issue #130.

   This one shook me up right from the splash page, which featured Dr. Strange - with a different head!

   The story follows Strange's continuing quest to find help in his fight against Baron Mordo and Dormmamu as he seeks to find the creature known as Eternity.

   He finds an ancient, faded mystic scroll that may hold the secret. It opens a door to another dimension, and there he finds columns of lifelike masks - and a lone figure shackled and blindfolded, begging for help.

   When Strange removes the pitiful figure's blindfold, he's hit by a powerful spell from the creature's eyes - and finds he has switched places, and now he is trapped by the chains, unable to cast a spell - and death is moments away!

   The battle of wills - and Strange's ingenuity in fighting back - made this tiny little tale of horror a real delight, and one of my all-time favorites!

Grade: A

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Dr. Strange Top 10 List - #9 - Strange Tales 130

   Continuing our countdown of Chuck's picks for the Top 10 Dr. Strange stories by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#9 - Strange Tales 130 - "The Defeat of Dr. Strange!"

   Up to this point, there had been only one continued story for Strange - his two-part battle with Dormammu.

   But this issue kicked off a story that - while each chapter could stand alone - continued through 12 issues, for a full year of continuity!

   Dormammu is powering up Baron Mordo, and in a sudden attack the Ancient One is injured, and Strange has no choice but to go on the run, trying to find a safe haven for his teacher and then seeking a way to fight back against his opponents.

   What follows is an ingenious Fugitive-style story, as Strange must find a way to fight back against an opponent who is far more numerous and far more powerful. He is hunted, hounded - but never surrenders!

   It was just the beginning of one of Strange's most amazing stories (which we'll touch on again as our countdown continues)!

Grade: A

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Dr. Strange Top 10 List: #10 - Strange Tales 115

    As promised, here's the start of my "Top 10" list for the Doctor Strange issues scripted by Stan Lee and drawn (and presumably plotted) by Steve Ditko. 

   The two worked together on some 35 issues (though a few of the final ones featured other scripters, including Roy Thomas and Dennis O'Neil) - not including Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2, which featured an incredible team-up with the Doc and the webslinger.

   This list is especially difficult because of the fact that so many of the best stories were continued - but we'll stick to individual issues here. So let's start the countdown at the bottom:

#10 - Strange Tales 115 - “The Origin of Dr. Strange”

   One of the odd things about Doctor Strange's origin is that it took four issues to get around to it.

   He first appeared in issue #110 of Strange Tales (sharing space with the Human Torch and Nick Fury over the years), then in #111 and #114. Apparently then it occurred to Stan and Steve to give us an origin story for the mysterious hero.

   And in the 8-page gem they gave him a really odd origin. 

   The pre-Master of the Mystic Arts was a brilliant surgeon, but he was also conceited and heartless. A terrible car accident leaves his nerves damaged - he's no longer able to operate. 

   He spends all his money searching for a cure, and finally goes in search of the Ancient One, a mystic who might be able to offer a cure.

   What Strange finds instead is a different world of powers and abilities he'd never dreamed of. 

   He accidentally sees Baron Mordo, a student of the Ancient One's, planning an attack on his master - but Mordo casts a spell the prevents Strange from warning the aged mystic.

   Instead, Strange asks the Ancient One to teach him - and that begins his reformation, as he dedicates himself to standing against the forces of evil.

   It's a lot to squeeze into a mere 8 pages, but Ditko manages to brew up some amazing atmospheric environments - and fantastic characters - in such a small space.

   The story's not perfect - there are some big ol' holes in there to be covered (thankfully the film did a fine job of fixing the shortcomings of the original story) - but it's a powerful piece and a great start for the series.

   The origin was a bit late, but well worth it. 

Grade: A

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The Classics - Strange Tales #146

   As proof that all good things come to an end, this issue of Strange Tales was the final adventure of Doctor Strange 
(presumably plotted and) drawn by master artist Steve Ditko.

   To send him off in style, for the first time that hero was given a solo appearance on the cover - although it's not an original drawing by Ditko. It's an image pieced together from two panels in the story.

   Still, it's mighty powerful, and for the rest of the run, Strange would alternate covers with Nick Fury and SHIELD.

   (Nick has a solid adventure in this issue, as his team invades an AIM stronghold and faces an army of powerful androids - a good story, but it pales next to the events in the second feature.)

   The title of the story is "The End -- at Last!" - and it certainly lives up to that, as it wraps up all the loose ends and storylines that Stan Lee and Steve Ditko had been building for over a year. (Interesting to note that the story is scripted by Dennis O'Neil.)

   The story starts with an enraged Dormammu, who's desperate to get his revenge on Strange - but he's honor-bound not to attack the Earth, so he lures Strange to another dimension by the attacking the powerful being known as Eternity!

   Strange rises to the bait and manages to survive only because he frees Eternity, who's angry at Dormammu's audacity. But the dreaded one ups the ante by launching a direct attack on the massive cosmic being!

    What follows is shocking - and two splash pages are needed to capture the cataclysm!

    To say more about the story and the stunning events that follow would spoil too much - but it's the kind of over-the-top, world-shaking event that's oh so rare in comics. (This is what the rest of them aspire to be.)

   If you're going to wrap up your run on a title, here's a prime example of how to do it - blow everything up and wrap up all our storylines to give the next guy (or gal) a clean slate to work with.

   Heck, they even finally revealed the name of the white-haired mystery woman who had saved Strange several times!

   Simply tremendous work, and a testament to Ditko's mastery of the comic book arts.

Grade: A+

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The Classics - Strange Tales #135

    This issue was a real shock when I picked it up at the local newsstand.

   Gone was the Human Torch, who had been starring in Strange Tales for three year - and in his place was a modern-day Nick Fury!

   Keep in mind, this was 1965, and the idea of a super-spy was red-hot, thanks to the popularity of James Bond. Anagrams were also popular, thanks to the TV version of Bond, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

   Always quick to jump on a trend, Marvel decided to create its own spy series.

   Fury was a natural leader (he had recently appeared in an issue of Fantastic Four for a modern-day check-in), so they gave him an eyepatch (presumably to differentiate him from his World War II persona appearing in Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos) and made him the head of the newly-created S.H.I.E.L.D.

   And what an amazing first appearance! In a short 12 pages, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (with Dick Ayers inks) introduce S.H.I.E.L.D., Life Model Decoys, Hydra, flying cars and the Heli-Carrier! (And throws in a guest appearance by Tony Stark, too!)

   It's a crackling start to the new series, with concepts that continue to be a big part of the Marvel Universe and Marvel Films!

   And that's just the first half of the issue!

   This issue also includes a terrific Doctor Strange story, as Lee and Steve Ditko embark on a quest story for Strange. He's being pursued (like the TV series The Fugitive) by a powered-up Baron Mordo, who is backed by Dormammu.

    Strange is trying to find a source of power that can save him - but can he find the secret of Eternity?

   In this 10-page gem, Strange must make use of all his skills and weapons to stay one step ahead of Mordo and the powerful allies at his disposal.

   The art is stunning - dark, mysterious and bursting with imagination. Ditko was building an amazing body of work on this series - sad that he would only stick around for another year.

   Next week, we'll look at his amazing final issue.

Grade: A+

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The Classics - Strange Tales #126 and 127

    Just a few months before this series hit the stands, fans could tell that Doctor Strange was getting a following.

   He shared Strange Tales with the Human Torch, but he was finally getting significant attention on the cover (Jack Kirby penciled his appearance on #126, for example) - and he was also featured in that cool upper-left-hand-corner art box that Marvel created in the early '60s.

   He was given 10 pages of story space (the Torch got 13 pages), and Stan Lee and Steve Ditko used it to expand their stories - and blow the minds of the readers.

   These issues featured a (rare, at the time) continued story, as Strange faces his greatest enemy for the first time - the ruler of the Dark Dimension, the Dread Dormammu (which, according to the movie, is pronounced "Door-Ma'am-Moo" - so I had it right all along).

   The story allows Ditko to run wild with inventive images as he creates an unearthly environment, with flat, floating spaces serving as doorways. Pathways wind with no regard to gravity or logic, creatures of all shapes and sizes thrive, and Strange must face overwhelming odds.

   These are the stories that really drive readership - a great, powerful opponent, a never-before-seen environment, and high stakes for the coming battle, with the fate of the Earth hanging in the balance.

   A couple of notes: happily, this Dormammu is human-sized, so he and Strange can go toe-to-toe and fight as equals. Years later, Dormammu was depicted as a towering giant, and he's been that ever since (mostly), including in the movie. I've never cared for it. Also, the coloring is different, as his head is enveloped in blue flames and smoke - later appearances would change it to red, which was much more effective.

   Strange is faced with an impossible task - defeating the foe who once defeated his master, the Ancient One. Even with a slight assist from the lovely Clea, who makes her first appearance, he's outmatched.

   The plot twist that allows Strange to survive his battle - and "win" (sorta kinda) was brilliant, and serves to show both Strange and Dormammu in a good light - making him a better hero and Dormammu a worthy villain with personality - not just a monster.
   

   At the end of the adventure, Strange receives a gift from his teacher - a new Amulet of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation (which is oddly colored all yellow here).

   If there was any doubt that Doctor Strange belonged in the Marvel Universe, this adventure closed the deal.

   One of my all-time favorites!

Grade: A+

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