Doctor Strange by Jason Aaron & Dennis Hopeless

Doctor Strange (2015)

​​​In this run of Doctor Strange, Jason Aaron explores the cost on the Sorcerer Supreme to perform the magic he does to keep the world together.  He continuously puts off paying the "toll" for the magic he uses, which manifests into a being kept in a basement room, "affectionately" named Mr. Misery because of the amount of pain he wants to inflict upon Doctor Strange.  Meanwhile, a society called the Empirikul, who prioritize science and are determined to exterminate magic, sets its sights on Earth and to destroying all objects imbued with magic, as well as disrupting the "lead lines" of magic that flow through the Earth's crust.  As Doctor Strange powers dwindle, his enemies rise up to take over New York City, and Strange must gather the last bits of magical items, and ally with some of NYC's finest heroes, to stop his worst foes from winning.

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So, this was one of my first experiences reading Jason Aaron's work, and he is hysterical.  Doctor Strange is often portrayed as a very serious, very stoic person who knows a LOT and lets other people know it.  Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal at the beginning of the MCU movie is Doctor Strange all over comics, even after he becomes Sorcerer Supreme.  In this run, Doctor Strange understands that what he does is important, but he's not above making jokes and having a laugh at Wong's expense, or deflating the point the big bad was making with some off-hand joke.  I like the levity Aaron brings to the character while still showing that he's a serious and formidable hero.  The lack of magic for several of these volumes gives Strange a chance to show he can do other things besides cast spells, and he's not half bad with a bow and arrow.

There are some moments of nakedness, but all of Strange's bits are covered with text bubbles, plants, creatures, or flat out censor boxes. There is also some fantasy violence and lots of magic manipulating physical, but no gore.  

Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12

​Creative Team
Vol 1, The Way of the Weird: written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Chris Bachalo
Vol 2, The Last Days of Magic: written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Chris Bachalo
Vol 3, Blood in the Aether: written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Chris Bachalo, colored by Antonio Fabela
Vol 4, Mr. Misery: written by Jason Aaron, illustrated by Frazer Irving, Kevin Nowlan, Chris Bachalo
​Vol 5, Secret Empire: written by Dennis Hopeless, illustrated by  
Niko Henrichon, John Barber

Tags: Rating: 8/10, Suitability: High School, Comicbooks, Superheroes, Magic