Finally seeing Stephen Strange again was wonderful, and I must say that it was worth the wait!
I had many expectations going into this issue and it seems like Jason Aaron knew how to work how to work a simple plot in a great way. The script this time around is slow, with not as much action as in past issues and with a distinct lack of drama, but it’s exactly what was needed to keep the focus on all the characters present.
The way the Empirikul are “killing magic” is still a mystery , or maybe I just missed the explanation at some point, however, I’m starting to get an idea about how magic works in this universe. Maybe I’m right, and maybe I’m not, but it’s okay for now since it looks like Jason Aaron will be giving us something more explicit about it in future issues.
Black seems to be the main color of this issue, an option which suits it well, giving it a dark and violent atmosphere to the whole comic. It slows the reading pace with how it’s implemented and we should remember the tons of colors we had in past issues. That being said, it’s still light and easy to follow while getting into more details of the story at hand.
The cover was strange (no pun intended), in a neutral sort of way. It reflects the plot we find inside very well, being quite metaphorical. I really enjoyed the contrast between both parts. focusing again on Doctor Strange’s cloak as supporting element was amazing and I hope they keep doing it because of the impact it generates when you see it.
The only problem I find within the book is the way some of the panels are drawn after Doctor Strange gets out of the cave he’s in during the first few pages. It makes me think the artists were either lazy or pressed for time. Luckily, this doesn’t last very long because as soon as we’re back in the Sanctum Sanctorum again the art quality improves greatly. It could have been simply an artistic choice, but those few panels still felt off to me.
Letters, inks and colors are very nice overall, as has been a constant for this series. I said I missed the details in my last review for Deadpool: Last Days of Magic, and this issue gave me back what I missed: short dialogues, humor, complex images, good coloring and a great atmosphere.
The end was my favorite part of the book and a standout moment overall in the series. I wasn’t expecting that kind of surprise and it’s obvious something big is going to happen from now on. We’ve learned with this story, the Empirikul are truly a race to be feared.
Humor, action, drama and tension is what you can expect to find inside this issue. A bit of romance would be the perfect complement, just as a supporting element, but what we get really works well and more elements could muddy the issue.
What intrigues me the most is the fact that issue #9 is coming out on June 22nd, and they jump right to #11 in Marvel’s web. I don’t know if I’m rushing saying this, but that doesn’t speak well of the quality that issue will end with. Marvel is confusing.
I highly recommend people pick this one up and keep an eye on this series. It had a great start, good development and it’s going down the right track.
About Author
