Writer: Jed Mackay
Cover Artist: Lee Garbett
Penciller: Marcelo Ferreira
Inker: Roberto Poggi
Colorist: Jada Tartaglia
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Reviewer: Carl Bryan

“We are at war!?” – Clea

Synopsis:
Who are The Blasphemy Cartel? The secrets of the Cartel are revealed within these pages as we turn back the clock to two years ago when W.A.N.D. was in existence. That as Clea watches as Stephen reunites happily with those around them, she doesn’t dare touch him. One brush against each other spells doom for them and all those around them!

Positives:
Jed Mackay takes us back two years to when Dr. Strange was working with Pandora Peters and the Wizardry Alchemy Necromancy Department…W.A.N.D. for short! We see the Stephen Strange we are used to with a black coif with silver sides and his Sorcerer Supreme Adornment. We also get to see the seeds planted from the Blasphemy Cartel. No spoilers ahead, but rest assured…keep your friends close, but know that your enemies are even closer!
Hey…does the leader of The Blasphemy Cartel strangely look like the “anti-version” of Blacktop Bill in Image’s Nocterra? You decide…

Positives 2.0
So close but yet so far. How can Stephen and Clea keep their hands off each other? Reunited, and there is no feel-good at all. We can expect this to be a huge wrinkle in the storyline unless some reversal of fortune happens!
The art is fantastic, as Dr. Strange always provides a color explosion. No matter who is in charge at Marvel, Strange always seems to have a colorist that simply gets this character’s time, era, and origin!

Negatives
I’m glad Strange has returned from his death. However, he is looking very much like a haggard Green Arrow. Give that man some Grecian Formula and let’s get him back to the way he appeared. Silver doesn’t begat him!

Final Thoughts:

Clea is at the forefront as we, as a comic industry, are clearly waiting to see her on the big screen again! She is a strong player in the magic world, and her presence alone in this comic is a huge driving force! Here is hoping the whole “touch” issue can be resolved!

8/10