DR. STRANGE: THE OATH #5 - Review & Spoilers

[Expletive Deleted]

DR. STRANGE #5 - Vaughan and Martin - out today . . .

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The main spoilers: Wong almost dies, but Doc manages to save him. Unfortunately, he also sets himself up for an incredible guilt trip, since saving Wong means using the last of the panacea. Nicodemus West dies, after a badass magic-free fight with Doc. Doc offers Night Nurse space in his Sanctum for her clinic, since it got blown up at the end of #3. Finally, Doc and Night Nurse kiss.

All in all, it's a fantastic end to a fantastic mini-series. Vaughan's already a big name in the comics business, and hopefully this project will do the same for Martin. His work here is stunning.

As for the story . . . I loved it, myself. I really, really hope Marvel keeps Doc and Night Nurse together. Their chemistry, as written by Vaughan, is excellent, and the idea of pairing Doc with a medical person instead of a mystical person is genius.

And, hey, Dr. Strange breaks out some kung fu on Nicodemus West's ass. Can't go wrong with that.

[CMBMOOL]

I wonder what would happen if Celea learns of Night Nurse and if we would see her within the New Avengers, attending the wounded and helping Jessica Jones take care of her and Luke Cage's daughter. :D

[Expletive Deleted]

I don't even know what Clea's up to, these days. The last two or three Doc projects have ignored her, so I'm guessing their marriage is basically seen as over.

Night Nurse in NEW AVENGERS is pretty likely, what with Bendis creating her.

[Den]

Holy #$#$, Night Nurse is the new Ronin!

err.. j/k ;)

[Sheldon]

This mini is one of my recent favs. The art is stylized just enough. The writing has been great, and it actually made me care about Wong!

I just have to say Bravo!

[ultramandingo]

'..... but in other ways wong is MY master "
what with vaghan quiting runaways he needs to do this book monthly .......and stop hanging out with those show biz phonies

[Omega Alpha]

Dr. Strange kicks ass powerless and gets the chick, yeah! :cool: Anyone that thinks Strange is just a plot device should read this.

[Rico Suave]

I'm already a huge fan of BKV, and I absolutely loved this mini series. I never really cared too much about Dr. Strange until this mini series. BKV really brought out really cool qualities of Dr. Strange that I hadn't noticed before, and the story is constructed very well.

[kal_el21]

I think that BKV writes the BEST Dr. Strange. For me, this is the definitive. Seeing Dr. Strange as the Sorcerer Supreme and a competent hand-to-hand fighter makes more sense as to why he's on the New Avengers squad.

[Frodo-X]

Holy #$#$, Night Nurse is the new Ronin!

err.. j/k ;)
That's actually not a bad theory, now that you mention it. Unexpected, not the most obvious choice, but she's always wanted to be a hero, right?

I think it'd be cool.

[RonnieThunderbolts]

Clea, when last seen, was hanging around with Strange, the mystical life force taken out of Stephen when he split himself in two in the 90's. Only, Strange goes by Paradox now, he and Clea stayed behind in her dimension together. Given that he is a side of Stephen given independent form, I've kind of assumed that she just kind of fell into her old routine with him in her homeland.


And I LOVED this mini.

Awesome job guys!

[sgt pepper]

There aren't many characters that I care less about than Doc Strange, but I guess it's because he's never been done right. I want more! This Doc is witty and flawed and a badass and real. I don't think I've ever said "wow" to a good guy gets the girl ending, because duh, it's so obvious, but this one had me and I said "wow."

[Laminator_X]

Easily the best Strange to come out in 20 years, perhaps longer. While the "Flight of Bones" mini from a few years ago was good too, you'd have to go back to the 80's "Strange Tales" books to find a better portrayal of the Doctor than this.

The art has a beautiful "Comic Book!" style without being simplistic or sacrificing subtlety. I'm reminded of Eisner's work, but with some nods to the classic Ditko material as well (the eyebrows!).

They managed to hit just the right ballance for a fun strange story. He's neither saintly nor consumed by his arrogance; mighty but not all-powerful, reserved but not detached.

More Please!

[will_butler]

Best Dr. Strange since Triumph and Torment. Vaughan is the man, and we need him writing Dr. Strange and The Hood monthly.

Will

[PastePotPete]

Ahhh, the perfect pill to cleanse the sour taste of Civil War from my mouth.

Hannibal Tabu said it best when he said in his review column that Vaughn managed to hit a climax that was both surprising and inevitable. I actually love that Strange chose Wong over all of mankind. And the big kiss finish? I haven't seen that trope done well in ages.

I'm skeptical that we'll see any of this fantastic characterization carry over into the New Avengers portrayal of Dr. Strange, but I would also like to put in my request for Vaughn to do another mini or a monthly. Pretty please with sugar on it.

[rerun]

BKV has the magic touch. Who knew Doc Strange could be so compelling??? If they did an ongoing, they would definitely need the right writer if BKV was unavailable.

[Pyro]

This was an awesome mini.

[Den]

This was a great mini. Doctor Strange is way too often used as some magic deux ex machina with little personality of his own, but this one showed him as the character of rich depth that he is.

Bravo to the creative team

[Trey]

Awesome mini.

I thought that N. West cast that astral projection spell before he died. SO if he can find a suitable body quickly, the next writer can use him to get revenge on the good doctor.

One other thing, has Strange always known martial arts? Or did BKV introduce this part? would you say Strange is in his late 40's or 50's?

[Den]

Dr. Strange has known Martial Arts for quite some time now, his level of expertise has varied a lot depending on who was writing him.

[BeastieRunner]

Vaughn is the best (I think) in Marvel now that McKeever is gone . . .

This mini was @#$*&^@ awesome and I'm not even a fan of the Good Doctor. :D Cheers BKV!

[mgs]

loved the series, but is Wong that selfish?

-----------WARNING SPOILERS!!!---------------

that he would rather be alive than save the WHOLE WORLD from all it's illnesses?? Just wondering.

[LordKaos]

loved the series, but is Wong that selfish?

-----------WARNING SPOILERS!!!---------------

that he would rather be alive than save the WHOLE WORLD from all it's illnesses?? Just wondering.

Excuse me? It's not like he had a choice in the matter. And if he did have a choice he probably would have chosen to die.

[Mikl C]

I don't think this was as good as the previous 4, but still loved this mini beyond words.

[matt levin]

I was a little let down by that last page encounter, as I'm still a Clea fan; but I've not read Doc for so long, I didn't even know about his, uh, splinter-self.

other than that-- YAY!!!

I enjoyed this mini-series as much as I enjoyed Doc waaaay back when, and sure do hope for more BKV Dr. Strange.

Matt

[Laminator_X]

Dr. Strange has known Martial Arts for quite some time now, his level of expertise has varied a lot depending on who was writing him.

It goes all the way back to the 60's actually. Doc once actually beat Dormammu (yes, Dormammu) in a no-magic mano a mano duel much like this one. He's also squared off with Black Panther and Mantis without embarrassing himself.

This guy never stood a chance.

[RabidWolfe]

Clea, when last seen, was hanging around with Strange, the mystical life force taken out of Stephen when he split himself in two in the 90's. Only, Strange goes by Paradox now, he and Clea stayed behind in her dimension together.


Not true, actually.

Clea last appeared in "The Order" mini-series, when in order to save the Defenders, the heroes had to get female analogues (She-Hulk for Hulk, Ardina for the Silver Surfer, etc.) for each of the heroes. Clea was summoned to be the female version of Strange. When she was summoned, she made a reference to a recent loss or tragedy, and Paradox's costume was on the wall as a memorial, implying he had died.

When she confronted Strange, she made reference to their marriage as well. Boy, Night Nurse is in for a world of hurt.

[RonnieThunderbolts]

Not true, actually.

Clea last appeared in "The Order" mini-series, when in order to save the Defenders, the heroes had to get female analogues (She-Hulk for Hulk, Ardina for the Silver Surfer, etc.) for each of the heroes. Clea was summoned to be the female version of Strange. When she was summoned, she made a reference to a recent loss or tragedy, and Paradox's costume was on the wall as a memorial, implying he had died.

When she confronted Strange, she made reference to their marriage as well. Boy, Night Nurse is in for a world of hurt.


Thanks, I missed the Order mini, and I appreciate the update. I'd like to see Paradox again, and given his mystic nature and origins, I'd think his return isn't impossible. But, although I haven't read the mini, what grounds does Clea have for being mad at Stephen? "Now that your magic duplicate being I was gettin' with is gone, I'm mad you've not been there for me!" If I were Stephen, I'd be pretty ticked she left me in the first place, for essentially, a new and slightly different me!

But anywho, thanks for the update.

[Cayman]

Bring on the CLEA: A WOMAN SCORNED 5 issue mini to answer this one. :p

[ChildOfTheDarkholde]

Night Nurse in NEW AVENGERS is pretty likely, what with Bendis creating her.


Bendis created Night Nurse?:confused:

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Bendis created Night Nurse?:confused:
This particular one, yeah. In DAREDEVIL.

[RabidWolfe]

But, although I haven't read the mini, what grounds does Clea have for being mad at Stephen? "Now that your magic duplicate being I was gettin' with is gone, I'm mad you've not been there for me!" If I were Stephen, I'd be pretty ticked she left me in the first place, for essentially, a new and slightly different me!


Well, since Clea and Paradox never got it on "on panel", I'm guessing the writers of The Order were assuming they never got it on, or something.

Anyway, what happened was the women confronted the men and the men (of course) attacked. Clea said something like "We're married and so you really should listen to me rather than fight me" or something along those lines.

After a few battles, the men discovered they were getting all angry and world domination-y because of some curse they were under, etc. etc. etc.

[Rahul]

Good mini, but I felt it went a little down in the end.

[Will.S]

Loved the entire mini, I kind of didn't expect Dr. Strange to kiss Night Nurse in the end but I think their relationship is going to be great provided Bendis continues it in some form in NA.

By the way the Sanctum is looking to get a bit crowded with Night Nurse and the New Avengers occupying it but eh, it's a huge house so Strange can deal with it. Anyway, the fight between Strange and Nicodemus displayed abilities that I rarely see used with the character which was neat.

I also found it interesting to see Strange's non-gloved hands all scarred up. Marcos Martin does a GREAT job in this mini, he does have that Steve Ditko'esque aspect of his art that works perfectly with Dr. Strange so I hope to see more of his art in Marvel.

It's too bad Brian Vaughan is moving away from licenced characters and into his creator owned stuff since I'd like to see his take on other characters and continue Dr. Strange but I guess he's kind of done them all in some form or another (Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, New Avengers, Dr. Strange, etc).

[Jack]

This was quite simply an amazing series, and one that has accomplished the feat of turning Dr. Strange into one of my favourite Marvel characters. I don't know what else to say, except that I would give just about anything right now for an ongoing from this team.

[ForEverAncien]

Keep doing the minis...with especially with DS. It will keep it fresh.:D

[md62]

One other thing, has Strange always known martial arts? Or did BKV introduce this part? would you say Strange is in his late 40's or 50's?

Strange was born in 1930 & did not become the Sorcerer Supreme until 1963. As a result of his magics his aging has slowed to the point where he appears to be in his 40's. Besides Namor & Capt America - Strange is one of the few heroes at Marvel with a fixed birth year.

[mgs]

Excuse me? It's not like he had a choice in the matter. And if he did have a choice he probably would have chosen to die.

sorry, what I meant was if the dr. was thinking about what wong would want, why would he choose such a selfish act? it was all on strange, but looking at it from a different angle, i guess. or poorly worded.

[killerbass]

Add me to the list of people who loved it!

One of my favorite parts of the last issue, was the good doctor removing his gloves the reveal those ridiculously long fingers. <<Shudders>>

BKV -- write more superhero comics!

--Tom

[Exodus22]

I thought this whole series has been brilliant. The writing, the art, the characterization-all top-notch. I loved the idea of Strange letting Night Nurse use the sanctum sanctorum as a base of opeartions-I hope this thread is continued in New Avengers, daredevil, etc. A great ending to a great story