- Written by: Jed Mack
- Art by: Pasqual Ferry
- Colors by: Heather Moore
- Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
- Cover art by: Alex Ross (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 7, 2024
Doctor Strange #18, by Marvel Comics on 8/7/24, brings the series to a close when Doctor Strange becomes increasingly frustrated over losing the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme to Doctor Doom.
Is Doctor Strange #18 Good?
Honestly, I don’t know what I was expecting for Jed MacKay’s final issue, but it wasn’t this. Much like his run on Moon Knight, MacKay’s time on Doctor Strang has been uneven at best, so it makes sense that the final issue would be little more than an uneventful epilogue. well, here’s hoping the next writer will find a way to make the good doctor more memorable.
When last we left Stephen and Clea Strange in Blood Hunt #5, Stephen accepted a deal with Doctor Doom to turn over the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme because only Doom had the resources at his disposal to dispel the Darkforce energy enveloping the world in darkness. Stephen only accepted with the condition that Doom would return the mantle after the world was saved. Sadly, Jed MacKay’s version of Doctor Strange is too dumb not to notice the loophole in that verbal agreement.
In Doctor Strange #18, Stephen Strange is depressed and angry. Deep down, he knows he made the right choice to give Doctor Doom the mantle in service to stopping a vampire apocalypse, but permanently losing the mantle to a boneheaded loophole still stings.
Stephen mopes around the Sanctum Sanctorum when he hears a knock at the door. Suddenly, Baron Mordo charges through and begins to attack Strange. The fight is over before it begins when Clea intervenes and sends Mordo on his way.
Later, Stephen visits the Vishanti for help in getting the mantle back. Since Doom isn’t an imminent threat to the Vishanti or the order of the universe, they decide to let things be.
After getting nowhere, Stephen heads to Latveria to confront Doom, only to find an impenetrable, magical dome shielding the country. Stephen pounds his fists against the dome and screams a stream of insults at Doom, but he gets nowhere.
Finally, Stephen visits General Strange to find the old warrior busy making imaginary worlds with the help of the Cobolorum. Stephen later confesses to Clea that he visited the General intending to use him as a weapon against Doom, but he is ashamed to go through with it.
The issue ends with Clea speaking encouraging words that she and Stephen will figure out what to do… together.
What’s great about Doctor Strange #18? If nothing, this issue puts cements the idea that Doom won’t lose the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme via another loophole. For better or worse, Doom has the mantle and he’s keeping it.
What’s not great about Doctor Strange #18? Except for the capper noted above, this issue is pointless. We’ve noted multiple times that this series should have ended several issues ago, but Marvel kept it alive, presumably for the connection to Blood Hunt and to facilitate Doom becoming the Sorcerer Supreme. It’s hard to see one of your favorite characters and most powerful individuals in the Marvel universe wasted on filler, but here we are.
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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Final Thoughts
Doctor Strange #18 cements the idea that Doctor Doom is truly the Sorcerer Supreme for the time being. Confirmation is nice, but Doctor Strange is too important a character to be used as filler to take up shelf space. This issue, which ends MacKay’s run, is a pointless waste.
5/10
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