DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH #3 - Review & Spoilers

[Expletive Deleted]

DR. STRANGE #3, Vaughan and Martin, out today . . .

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This is pure, distilled awesome. Martin does some fantastic Ditkoscapes and facial expressions, Vaughan pulls off a nice little fake-out regarding the identity of Brigand's benefactor (as well as his usual cliffhanger and some sparkling dialogue), and the melding of the two is just a fantastic read.

Honestly, I can't really even think of much to say beyond glowing praise. The cover doesn't quite work, but it's still pretty awesome. Unless it seriously tanks in #4 and #5, it's easily one of the best minis of the year (if not the best).

[Kevinroc]

Night Nurse: What about, you know, due process?

Strange: Sorcerers have little patience for the laws of nature... and even less for the laws of man.

Taken in the current context of the Marvel Universe, that scene creeped me out. Strange is definitely being potrayed as something closer to... how he must have been when he was a surgeon (and those flashback scenes do a great job with Strange).

It's definitely an enjoyable mini. And it does a good job of painting Strange as... not exactly the most noble man in the Marvel Universe.

Brigand is such a great character that I can't imagine him being gone forever.

[StoneGold]

Night Nurse: What about, you know, due process?

Strange: Sorcerers have little patience for the laws of nature... and even less for the laws of man.

Taken in the current context of the Marvel Universe, that scene creeped me out. Strange is definitely being potrayed as something closer to... how he must have been when he was a surgeon (and those flashback scenes do a great job with Strange).

It's definitely an enjoyable mini. And it does a good job of painting Strange as... not exactly the most noble man in the Marvel Universe.

Brigand is such a great character that I can't imagine him being gone forever.

Read the old Lee/Ditko stuff, it's basically taking Doc back to the way he used to be, which was a little more Spectre-ish. Especially in the days before they gave him an origin.

Although the bit with Wong throwing whatever the hell that was was right out of the Green Hornet TV series.

[ultramandingo]

the evil timely corp...... bwah! that nicodemus guy has creepy david bowie eyes. spooky

[StoneGold]

So is Timely a reference to Golden Age Marvel? Or something else entirely?

[ultramandingo]

So is Timely a reference to Golden Age Marvel? Or something else entirely?

re. evil timely corp.......

"Stan Lee (né Stanley Lieber), a cousin of Goodman's by marriage who had been serving as an assistant since 1939, at age 16 1/2 [2], was promoted to interim editor just shy of his 19th birthday"

1939!!!!!! that guys a frikin nosfuratu . bkv is on to somthing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timely_Comics

[StoneGold]

re. evil timely corp.......

"Stan Lee (né Stanley Lieber), a cousin of Goodman's by marriage who had been serving as an assistant since 1939, at age 16 1/2 [2], was promoted to interim editor just shy of his 19th birthday"

1939!!!!!! that guys a frikin nosfuratu . bkv is on to somthing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timely_Comics

Was there a 1939 reference in the book? Because I know there was a 1963 reference...

[Jack]

I just love this book so much. It's made me more interested in Dr. Strange than I've ever been.

What is it with Marvel and kickass minis lately? The Annihilation books, Agents of Atlas, Dr. Strange, Beyond... so much awesome coming out every month.

[PastePotPete]

Marvel has been knocking their minis out of the ballpark.

Part of me wants BKV to do this as an ongoing but the other part of me says "No. Enjoy the mini. Leave it at that" because eventually BKV would have to leave an ongoing. And that would break my heart.

Best thing about this series? The mystery aspect is as strong, if not stronger, than the magical stuff.

[Mariah]

Marvel has been knocking their minis out of the ballpark.

Part of me wants BKV to do this as an ongoing but the other part of me says "No. Enjoy the mini. Leave it at that" because eventually BKV would have to leave an ongoing. And that would break my heart.

Best thing about this series? The mystery aspect is as strong, if not stronger, than the magical stuff.
See, I'd be willing to take that sacrifice to have Brian do an ongoing, because this stuff is so good I need more. Plus, when he does eventually leave, if I don't like how the author does it, I'd just drop the book.

[Jack]

See, I'd be willing to take that sacrifice to have Brian do an ongoing, because this stuff is so good I need more. Plus, when he does eventually leave, if I don't like how the author does it, I'd just drop the book.
Right now, in the after-buzz of this issue, I think I'd probably give my left leg for an ongoing from this team.

[Mariah]

Right now, in the after-buzz of this issue, I think I'd probably give my left leg for an ongoing from this team.
I'm willing to offer one of my ovaries, that's how good it is. So, I can totally relate. I wasn't too sure of Martin's pencils, but I can't imagine this series being drawn by anyone else. It's pure magic from the first page to the last.

[seeso]

Great series so far. Wonderfully old-school, but quirkily hip.

[Captain Exaggeration]

Night Nurse: What about, you know, due process?

Strange: Sorcerers have little patience for the laws of nature... and even less for the laws of man.

Taken in the current context of the Marvel Universe, that scene creeped me out. Strange is definitely being potrayed as something closer to... how he must have been when he was a surgeon (and those flashback scenes do a great job with Strange).

It's definitely an enjoyable mini. And it does a good job of painting Strange as... not exactly the most noble man in the Marvel Universe.

Brigand is such a great character that I can't imagine him being gone forever.
Brigand is boned. :D

Anyway I am loving the mini! Its written like a classic Dr. Strange book but with a lot more humor and even a hit of more... is reality a good word? If he's even that important what do you guys think about the crippled bald man Strange never operated on. That flashback had a bit of foreshadowing in it and I don't think it was just about the Pharmacist guy.

Wong better not die in the end.... future stories will need him to keep the Stephen/ Night Nurse relationship together when Strange tells her he sacrifices animals and spends most of his time by himself levitating in a blank plane of reality.

[sgt pepper]

Strange is a bad mo' fo'. Don't mess.

Who knew?

[Michael P]

Read the old Lee/Ditko stuff, it's basically taking Doc back to the way he used to be, which was a little more Spectre-ish. Especially in the days before they gave him an origin.

Although the bit with Wong throwing whatever the hell that was was right out of the Green Hornet TV series.

I had to look again, but it was a random part from one of the robots.

And Wong totally has a Kato vibe going on, which is as it should be. Vaughan got it in the first issue: Wong is there to take care of mundane matters, so the Doc can focus on the big stuff.

[MarcusP2]

I'm loving this miniseries. Seems that the thought of Wong dying has pushed Strange back to his 'I'm awesome incarnate' surgeon days. I actually was a bit freaked out when he said he cared not for the laws of man. God help anyone that gets in his way at this point.

Oh and that last page was cool. Another mystical battle coming up :)

[matt levin]

Not too terrifically impressed with the first two issues, but not so unimpressed as to drop the series, and a lonnnng time fan of Stephen Strange, I very much enjoyed issue 3.

First off, I find I enjoy this depiction of Strange really my favorite! His face has personality and character--a hooked nose, no less! I get the feeling that in a crowd of uncostumed white male Marvel characters, Strange would (now) stand out in a mob of homogenized faces.

The 'repartee' between Strange and his "Watson", the Night Nurse, is nice, comes close to genuine conversation (as opposed to 'banter'), and the depiction of Wong as strong, capable, and right there with the right move when Strange needs him to be, is welcome change from the humble-manservant Wong too often plays.

Over all, this latest issue brought me back into an enjoyment of Doctor Strange I haven't found in several years.

And you?

Matt

[astronato]

I had thought that Strange sounded like a teenager with some of the quips in the first two issues but there was none of that in the third.

This was good. I am loving Night Nurse as the romantic interest for the Doctor and the art style/ character design is great.

I want a Dr Strange ongoing please.

[Captain Exaggeration]

I had thought that Strange sounded like a teenager with some of the quips in the first two issues but there was none of that in the third.

This was good. I am loving Night Nurse as the romantic interest for the Doctor and the art style/ character design is great.

I want a Dr Strange ongoing please.
I second that.

[Jack]

I second that.
Technically you fifthed it.

[Dark Traveller]

Firstly, I want a solo of Dr Strange.

Secondly, I loved this issue. BUT I do have a few nit picks.:D

Even though Brigand's holding a cursed gun, it doesn't mean Strange can't in the blink of an eyelid pin his wrists to the wall.
AFTER hes done that, then he can ask wong to disarm him

Wong says some nonsense about the nature of magic and science ".....Nor can magic recreate what science has already accomplished."
What tha! Lets just ignore this shall we.
Marvel please do not let your writers comment too much on how magic works.
Even in the real world, those who believe in it, can't agree with each other on how it works*.
So it's best not to try and nail it down at all.

After a good trip inside Brigand's bug infested head.
I'm not too keen on page 17's art.
Or at least the magic at the top.
Strange is coming out of a hole in the air that goes into Brigand's mind.
The first frame needs to be either bigger, or Strange shown smaller.
It's too close up to see him coming out of anywhere.
Secondly the hole needs to done in a dramatically different tone to the natural light of the room.
The room is light, so the hole should be black.
Or perhaps the room could have been dramatically lit by light coming out of the hole, casting shadows behind Wong and Night Nurse.
(good use of shadow on page 2 and 3 with wheelchair man)
BTW, I'd have prefered actually seeing Brigand restraints being formed in the very air.
If this was television Mr Martin, I'd think you were saving on the special effects budget.

Just nit picks you understand. I want a solo!


*There are at least four different theories as to how tarot cards might work.

[TimmyTony]

Man, what is it about Stephen that nobody can make him work.

This mini is so...ugh...meh?
The art and the writing are both hopelessly mediocre, imho...