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Nov 15 14 5:22 PM
Dr. Strange 55: To Have Loved….and Lost?by Roger Stern, Mike Golden & Terry AustinThis brings us now to one of the single most dramatic episodes in the star-crossed life of Stephen Strange. Not only that, but it is one of the most ornately and beautifully illustrated episodes. Some people claim it is the single best illustrated tale in the entire series and that’s no mean praise. To be quite frank there is some merit to the argument, but let us suffice here by saying it is a dozy.
Clea has left Strange, shattering his sense of equilibrium and purpose. Storm clouds gather around his sanctum sanctorum, reflecting the swirling tempest within his heart and mind. Strange slowly sinks into a quagmire of despair and disillusion. Everywhere he turns he sees visions of his lost love. So deep is his sorrow and desperation that he wishes he had never wandered the mystical paths of sorcery.In a twist on ‘A Christmas Carol’, Dakimh the Enchanter appears like the Ghost of Christmas past and shows the despairing Stephen what the world would have been like if he had never become the sorcerer supreme. The Ancient One has grown even more ancient in his never ceasing task to hold back the tides of anarchy and Mordo is still his only disciple; a bad auger for the fate of mankind. Doc Strange meanwhile finds himself straight-jacketed in a padded cell where he is being treated for psychosis. His identity as the master magician is merely a figment of his deranged mind, inspired by comic-book adventures. In a bid to relieve Stephen of his delusions, his shrink takes him to visit the creators of the comic that spawned his fantasy world; the ever gregarious writer Les Tane and the unassuming, mild-mannered artist Ted Tevoski (sound familiar?).Doc’s mental state deteriorates further as the tenuous barriers between sanity and madness slowly erode. All that remains is darkness and despair and ultimately; death. A deadly dagger hangs in the dark abyss before Stephen, subtlety seducing him to take the easy way out. The siren song of eternal surcease tempts the sorrowful sorcerer, but at the last moment Strange rejects death and he renounces despair.Dr. Strange is made of Stern stuff and is not easily deceived by the true villain of the piece; D’Spayre; ‘the legendary destroyer of hopes!’. Now that his true enemy stands revealed, the Doc summons all his reserves of strength and resolve and banishes despair…er I mean, D’Spayre. As the din of battle dims, the exhausted sorcerer looks out his skylight, a weak smile playing on his lips; the clouds are parting and the sun is coming out (gee what a coincidence).Not only is the tale an artistic tour-de-force, it’s a riveting study of a man on the edge and his thorny road to recovery. It underlines that Doc’s true heroism lies not in his ability to face monsters from other dimensions, but in his humanity and his ability to face and conquer his own demons. Mike Golden’s artwork is sublime, rich with emotion and pathos. His style owes more to the ornateness of Brunner than the weirdness of Ditko, but it evokes both past masters nicely. This is the story that put the word ‘class’ back into ‘classic’. Stern and Golden were going to be one hell of a team to follow. Only someone of extraordinary talent and ability would stand a chance. As luck and fate would have it, such a young man was waiting in the wings, but more on him next time.
Irony and subtly are the first casualties in the eternal battle of wits between people divided by a common language. So read between the lines or you'll fall through the cracks...
....Quoting other people is no substitute for thinking for yourself...
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