- Written by: Jed MacKay
- Art by: Andy MacDonald
- Colors by: K.J. Díaz
- Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
- Cover art by: Alex Ross
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: June 14, 2023
Doctor Strange #4 follows Pandora Peters, Wong, and Doctor Zee – the Agents of WAND – as they stumble upon the trail of a killer taking out all magical villains around the world.
Is It Good?
Yes, you read that right. Doctor Strange doesn’t show up at all in Doctor Strange #4 except for a single panel on the last page. This issue is all about WAND, who they are, what they do, how they operate, and their latest challenge. To be clear, MacKay ties this issue back to Strange in the last panel, but if you wanted a comic spotlighting the Mystic Master of the Arts, you’ll have to wait a month.
When last we left Doctor Strange and Clea, Strange set off for his annual Day with Dormammu. It seemed odd to take a breather in issue #3 for a quaint story that has nothing to do with the main plot (Aggamon’s murder), but there it is. Now, we spend an entire issue on a ride-along with WAND when they discover that magical villains around the world are getting murdered, leading Pandora Peters to conclude that Aggamon’s death wasn’t a one-off.
MacKay’s take on the current iteration of WAND is… fine. It’s an oddball group that deals with oddball problems. Pandora Peters is the tough-as-nails leader who isn’t afraid to make hard choices. Wong is as stoic and as level-headed as ever. And Doctor Zee is the weirdo of the group. Overall, this issue serves as an excellent primer for WAND with a slightly comedic tone to their shenanigans.
Where this issue stumbles isn’t in the story itself but in its context. This is the second issue in a row that feels like a side story away from the main plot. Yes, MacKay eventually ties WAND’s discovery back to Strange and Clea, but MacKay takes a long, winding road to get there.
You get the impression some story retooling is going on, and the presence of guest artists gives credence to that theory. If true, retooling the plot after only two issues doesn’t bode well for the future of this title.
Speaking of art, it’s also… fine. At the risk of sounding harsh, Andy MacDonald’s work is solid but not on the same level as Pasqual Ferry (main artist). In fairness, this is a conversation-heavy issue, so MacDonald has the unenviable task of making characters sitting around or standing around while they talk look interesting. MacDonald holds your interest with great backgrounds and scenery during WAND’s globetrotting.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces
Doctor Strange #4 takes a second breather issue in a row to show readers all they ever wanted to know about the Agents of WAND. Despite the lack of Doctor Strange in his own title (he only appears in the last panel), this issue serves as a good primer for WAND fans. That said, Marvel is either going through massive retooling for this series, or MacKay doesn’t have a Doctor Strange story to tell and is simply treading water.
Weird Science Marvel Comics 