Doctor Strange: Into the Dark Dimension

Doctor Strange: Into the Dark Dimension by Roger Stern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rebellion is growing in the Dark Dimension, led by Doctor Strange's former girlfriend and apprentice, Clea. Can Doctor Strange help Clea unseat the unrelenting Umar, sister of the Dread Dormammu?

By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth, this was pretty good for an 80's comic. Doctor Strange helps the Black Knight overcome his madness, helps Clea, and encounters the Beyonder.

Roger Stern's writing is ahead of its time, not so bogged down and wordy as many comics from this period. With Paul Smith, Bret Blevins, and Mark Badger doing the art chores, it's got a nice feel to it, although I don't think the craziness of the Dark Dimension was depicted as well as Steve Ditko did it. I did like how the art team handled the Mindless Ones, however, and some of the creepy crawlies were suitably Lovecraftian.

The book end tales of the Black Knight and the Beyonder weren't as good as the meat of the book, Strange going to the Dark Dimension to help Clea. It's a shame that Marvel usually uses Doctor Strange as a plot device rather than a character. There's a lot of potential for whacked-out stories with the Sorceror Supreme. I'm betting they'll push Doctor Strange much harder in the coming months to tie in with the upcoming movie.

By the seven rings of Raggador, I award this book Four out of Five stars, adjusted for the time period it was written and the Sphere of Cittorak.

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