Doctor Strange #6

[laughing_tree]

PLUS: A bonus page written by Jonathan Hickman—WHO ARE THE G.O.D.S.? -- Issue's solicitation

Comments

[morallyambiguousscience]

Maybe these GODS pages will make more sense when we get to the event, but this is the only one that at least gives us a hint to what kind of story it will be.

The Moon Knight page was especially frustrating, because it was just an ominous beep!

[dan_ingram]

But it's a square devise that's beeping!

[thanekos]

More substantial teases are for three-page previews and backups that end in ' To see more of this, pick up [UPCOMING TITLE] #1! '

These are one-pagers dropped in right after full stories, with " G.O.D.S. " as a period - the backup story equivalent of a social media account posting single pics with #[relevantHashtag]. They're not meant to be " This is what G.O.D.S. is " - they're meant to be " Hey, G.O.D.S. is coming up. Keep an eye out! "

[beyondthefringe]

I feel like these extra G.O.D.S pages are just... eh? Like they totally pop in for a page, do nothing consequential, remind you they exist and are totally a thing, and then pop out.

They talk to Doctor Strange! They talk to Illyana! They're watching Moon Knight! Gasp! They're as relevant as those "Where's Wolverine?" bonus pages we got back when Old Man Phoenixverine was wandering around aimlessly.

[full_metal_ox]

Two words: trademark refreshment.

[viridian5]

They fear entering the public domain.

[full_metal_ox]

Exactly. You say you’ve had the perfect indie film adaptation idea for Obscura, Mistress of the Unknown, whose adventures were confined to the three-issue 1941 run of Ephemeral Comics? Too bad, so sad: there she is, third row, second from left, in the reunion splash panel of the latest issue of Captain Cashcow.

[viridian5]

"It counts! It totally counts!"

[full_metal_ox]

And oops—there she goes in the Great D-List Purge, without even having had any lines!

[viridian5]

You have to establish how bad a new Big Bad is. What better way than a slaughter of the d-list? Hahaha, readers, you thought an obscure character you maybe liked had returned to the spotlight for another chance? Know pain! Truly the comic book gods (GODS) are cruel.

[full_metal_ox]

Oh, wait, she’s back!—and EEEVILLLLL! And wearing a sexier outfit! And that means the writers get to kill her again!

(You sound as if you’d appreciate a rant I’ve been nursing for some years: Brother/Doctor Voodoo’s stint as Sorcerer Supreme showed just enough research and consideration that I was actually naive enough to hope for an exploration of how a Vodun adherent would interpret the office, since it’s pretty much been Vishantists all the way down.

Just as Charlie Brown keeps returning to kick that dang football.)

[viridian5]

Female characters seem to be prone to getting sexed-up and evil every so often, but only in the name of character development. Look at how much we're developing her... character! Poor Mary Marvel alone....

(I am appreciative! And I agree. Alas, for many, status quo is god. Wonderful new changes can fall prey to a new writer arriving who doesn't care or an editorial edict.)

[arilou_skiff]

God, I do NOT trust Hickman with cosmic stuff.

[cainofdreaming]

Hey look! It's the War Doctor!

[lonewolf23k]

I just read this issue, and I realized it begins with a MAJOR retcon. When Dr Strange was recruited to fight in the War of Seven Spheres, he actually had that clean-shaven 90s "young and hip douchebag" look.

While this issue references the far better "white jacket and cape of levitation turned into coat" look he wore afterwards, the earlier look is effectively being retconned out of existence, and just pretends Stephen went from his classic look to the white jacket without anything in between.

[aperturedreams]

Idk I kind of doubt that was intentional

[bewareofgeek]

Mackay addressed this on formerly!Twitter:

(and preemptively: yes, I do know that this is what Strange looked like around the time he was called to the War of the Seven Spheres, but we figured it would be unnecessarily confusing for most readers)

https://twitter.com/jedmackay/status/1684931320172986368

He didn't explain why this issue doesn't end with Strange resembling his portrayal at the start of Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #80, however.

[bruinsfan]

Strictly speaking, when the Vishanti first tried to recruit him into that war, he was still wearing his classic outfit. The David Quinn take on the character with the long hair and John Lennon specs came later, after he'd initially refused them.

The bigger retcon, and it's a case of McKay repeating a J.M. de Matteis error, is repeated talk about the Vishanti preventing Strange from aging. He was already immortal; he became immune to aging and disease when he confronted Death as part of escaping imprisonment in Agamotto's realm way back in Doctor Strange (1974) #4.

[stubbleupdate]

This was a really good issue.

Strange/Doctor Strange has all been good, but this was especially good.