Now this is the Doctor Strange I've been waiting to read for many a year. I was a little worried after the last two issues' scant characterization that Fraction had no handle on any of these characters. This latest issue of the new Defenders run put my fears to rest.
I bet Bendis is jealous he didn't write it. He played around with the character for the last few years trying to work him into the Avengers infrastructure, and along comes this punk Fraction and blows him all away. I was never really convinced that Doc fit into the Avengers world as a bit-part player. He belongs centre-stage, with his old allies around him at the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Mean, moody and malefic; that's how Doc appeared back in the Lee/Ditko days. He even looks like his old self with the retro dark get-up, Walrus 'tache and spotty gloves. Good to see Doc score some trim too. He hasn't seen any sign of levitation in the old loins region since Clea departed these fair shores.
What's this a courteous, humble Namor? Nah, can't be. That witch Emma Frost must have messed with his head in X-Men.
Anyway, I had my reservations about yet another attempt to get a new series of one of my favourite groups off the ground again, but I'm pleasantly surprised to say that I've enjoyed its run so far. Of course, if Marvel could keep a consistent creative team together for some duration, that would only serve to enhance the mag's rep.
The Dodsons are probably supposed to embody "hot" talent, but I was far more impressed by the artwork of Micheal Lark this time out. It perfectly lent itself to the moody, sometimes mundane tone of the tale. Need more of this on the title. The Dodsons' art is pretty to look at with all their clean lines, not unlike Frank Cho's, but completely inappropriate for the kind of direction this mag seems to be heading.
Oh, yes - back to the story. This issue is an adjunct to the main storyline, but gives an overdue spotlight on Stephen Strange. I'm expecting Namor to be headlining next issue, so fingers crosed that the high quality is maintained.