Digital Library Reads | The Last Days of Magic

Doctor Strange’s return to the Marvel Universe was not celebrated with a red carpet or a firework. But through a major crisis that is building up from behind the scenes of the first story arc from the 2015 series, which would be relatable to what world is facing now in 2020. This is certainly was something to delve deep in the world of Stephen Strange’s realm that is rarely seen in the Marvel Universe. The Last Days of Magic was brewing from the page of the first issue of Doctor Strange when Marvel revived the series five years ago, which brought a refreshing perspective of the character and new adventures that would take him to worlds readers have not seen in such a long time. Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo put together what would be one of the best partnerships in bringing back Doctor Strange to the mainstream with this second volume compiling issues #6-10 and Dr. Strange: The Last Days of Magic #1 that also previews Civil War 2. But the entirety of the narrative focuses on the supernatural and magical side of the Marvel Universe that has not been fully explored in this modern era that is populated by technology and science fiction. The Last Days of Magic can be relatable to the real world crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic happening all over the planet with countless deaths with the incurable virus that disguises itself as a ‘common flu’ that fatally has claimed a lot of lives and putting everyone out of work.

Digital Library Reads | Doctor Strange (2015)

In the past years prior to Marvel producing a live-action film adaptation of Doctor Strange (2016) most of the roles Stephen Strange has been reduced to a background character or supporting roles to heavy hitters like the Avengers or changing the roster of Defenders where he was a founding member along with Silver Surfer, The Hulk, and Namor in the original comicbooks. But after Marvel announced that they have finally bringing the character to the cinematic universe they revive the comicbook series in 2015 that has a new creative team with Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo. Of the two artists I’ve only knew of Bachalo from his previous works highlighting Death: A High Cost of Living that was written by Neil Gaiman. It is there I’ve known the artist for his fantasy and supernatural elements as his art style can be part of Doctor Strange’s aesthetics. For someone who reads well-grounded and realistic graphic novel genre the only supernatural comicbook I’ve ever followed was Ghost Rider and it is not even Johnny Blaze, but it was Dan Ketch and basically that’s how fantastically supernatural I can get with this genre. But Doctor Strange got me into appreciating the character through Chris Bachalo and going back to seeing how progressive the concept of his abilities was first seen through Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s earlier works and introduction.

Dr. Strange #19 | A Matter of "The Choice"

Doctor Strange is quite an oddball character for a superhero comicbook, but Marvel seemed to get everyone on board for someone who wields magic and sorcery. Honestly, I’m not a fan even though I’ve seen the live-action film starring Benedict Cumberbatch as I’m more into the street level type of superhero. But the oddness of Doctor Strange still draws curiosity since it also covers supernatural. Recently I picked up a copy of the latest series with Dr. Strange: Surgeon Supreme as the status quo of the character has changed more aptly a perfect storm for new stories due to the change on the dynamic as his hands were finally healed that was told in the previous series. This got me more curious on that story as I went to hunt down that back issue and finally found one at Comic Odyssey in Robinsons Galleria. Actually, it was the very last one that I have to get it. Though numerous online outlets has finally reviewed the comicbook sometime last year it is worth noting this issue is sort of a ‘game changer’ for the character since Stephen Strange’s origin in becoming the Sorcerer Supreme was the result of a car accident that destroyed both his hands to seek a cure for it, which ended in becoming the protector and the last line of defence against all manner of dark sorcery.

Dr Strange: Surgeon Supreme | No More Jazz Hands

01.03.2020 - There have been so many great graphic novels out there it is challenging pick the best ones and invest in its first story arc. Of course, there also the pitfalls of missing out what happened in the previous story that you tend to backtrack and sometimes there’s no way to get them back unless a trade paperback gets released. But oddly enough big publications like Marvel and DC try their best to keep old readers still like to read at the same time welcome new readers to the fold with a starting point. Both have contradicting ways to make it happen Marvel starts all over again with an issue #1 like what they did with Dr Strange for its new narrative.