• Written by: Derek Landy
• Art by: Carlos Mango
• Colors by: Espen Grundetjern
• Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
• Cover art by: Geoff Shaw, Arhtur Hesli
• Cover price: $4.99
• Release date: March 5, 2025

Doctor Strange Of Asgard #1, by Marvel on 3/5/25, finds the former Sorcerer Supreme heading to Asgard to convince Thor All-Father that Asgard needs such a role now that Loki has been banished.

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Is Doctor Strange Of Asgard #1 Good?

Recap

At the end of last year’s Blood Hunt event, Doctor Strange made a foolish deal with Doctor Doom to turn over the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme in exchange for Doom’s help to stop the Vampire Apocalypse. The plan worked, but when the crisis ended, Doom used a loophole in the deal to keep the mantle.

Plot Synopsis

In Doctor Strange Of Asgard #1, we begin with Stephen Strange arriving at the central palace of Asgard for a meeting with Thor All-Father. His pitch is simple – Skald Loki has been banished for his recent transgressions, so Asgard has a role that needs filling by someone skilled in the ways of magic. Thor has no qualms about Strange’s courage or abilities but the realm has never needed a Sorcerer Supreme before. However, Thor will agree if Hulda, Asgard’s Magical Authority concurs.

Later, Strange decides to wander the streets of Asgard to get to know the people while he waits for Hulda’s summons. He stumbles upon two Asgardian men beating up a third and decides to intervene. With a combination of hand-to-hand fighting and expert spell-casting Strange rescues the victim, a woodworker with aspirations to be a writer, Holt. In appreciation for his help, Holt pays for a boarding room and a meal for Strange.

After a quick change for warmer weather, a sorcerer’s apprentice named Aslak arrives to bring Strange to Hulda for assessment. Aslak remembers when Asgard temporarily hovered over Earth, so he asks about the things he remembered like television as they walked. Strange arrives at Hulda’s abode and is questioned about his qualifications and how he intends to cope with the differences in magic between Asgard and Earth. Suddenly, Loki appears and lends his full support to Strange, much to the latter’s surprise. Loki even offers a suggestion as to how Strange can wield Asgardian magic without the use of wands or tools.

Hulda agrees to the suggestion, as does Strange. Suddenly, Loki produces a sword and stabs Hulda through the heart, killing her. The trickster disappears, leaving Strange alone with a dead sorceress and the murder weapon.

First Impressions

Doctor Strange Of Asgard #1 is a slow start that ends with a decent twist. If not for the brief brawl in the street that Strange breaks up and the surprise ending, this issue would be all yak, yak, yak as you listen to Strange’s sales pitch to invent a role for himself. As with the other tie-ins, this series has almost nothing to do with the One World Under Doom event, so this issue dips uncomfortably close to a “PASS.”

How’s the Art?

Carlos Mango’s artwork is one of the highlights of this issue. Recent Doctor Strange artists have opted for eclectic and weird figure work for Strange to emphasize his wizardly status. Here, Mango plays Strange naturally, letting the costumes, settings, and eclectic side characters make things weird, which was a smart choice.

What’s great about Doctor Strange Of Asgard #1?

The crux of this issue is Derek Landy’s “sales pitch” to explain why Asgard needs a Sorcerer Supreme. While not perfect, Landy sells it well and almost makes you believe it.

What’s not great about Doctor Strange Of Asgard #1?

First, and with no surprise, this issue is a tie-in to One World Under Doom in name only, so Marvel’s “get the tie-ins to get the full story” approach stops just shy of deceitful. It would be more accurate to call this tale an epilogue to Blood Hunt.

Second, for all the good Strange’s sales pitch accomplishes, the issue is a snoozefest. Up to the last-page surprise, it’s all walking and talking, a basic storytelling mistake Marvel should never let hit the printers. Engage the reader with a conflict right away. It’s not that hard.

Last, Doctor Strange Of Asgard #1 fails to make the case for its existence. Will Doctor Doom be Sorcerer Supreme forever? No, of course not. Did Strange make just as strong a pitch to the Vishanti to get his mantle back? Not really. How does this miniseries get Strange his mantle back? It’s unclear, and it reads as if this series was invented as filler to bide time, which is exactly how it reads – no urgency at all.

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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 Of Asgard #1 sets up a serio-comedic adventure for Stephen Strange to keep busy in Asgard while the real heroes deal with Doctor Doom on Earth. Derek Landy’s script has its moments, and the art team’s delivery is strong, but the issue lacks grit, urgency, or a clear reason to exist.

5/10

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