Doctor Strange #381

[history79]

Comments

[every_spiegel]

I'm cautiously optimistic about this new run. I liked the touch of intrigue and the humor. At this stage everything is better than Jason Aaron, and this issue was good in itself (the bit about the Cloak was especially heart-warming).
Please please please stay good.

[beyondthefringe]

I really want to know what Loki's endgame is. I really loved the Agent of Asgard run and all that led into it, so every time it seems as though he's backsliding into evil, I get worried.

[every_spiegel]

You get worried and I get in a HELL OF PAIN! Sorry for the dramatics %) It's just that since Agent of Asgard there were only some glimpses of characterization as good as Ewing's (or Gillen's). Small and rare glimpses. I'll go cry in the corner.

[bruinsfan]

This. I'd love for Al Ewing to get to do a book where his younger, gap-toothed Loki emerges from that doorway to the existential void left by the previous multiverse and starts having fun adventures again. Let the current maybe-evil scuzzy version go sulk in a corner somewhere.

[every_spiegel]

Aaaaaaaaah. You're killing me. #let_Loki_have_FUN. Also, #bring_Verity_back_2k18 :\

[aperturedreams]

Loki mentioned being the God of Stories in this issue, a good nod to Agent of Asgard.

[mastermahan]

I do hope he's not heading back to evil. Loki is one of those characters who works better as an untrustworthy ally than a straight villain, like Maximus or Moonstone.

[ironymaiden]

that is NOT what Appalachian mountains look like. None of them are tall enough to have a tree line.

[owlbrigade1]

Maybe there was less erosion on 616 Earth?

[ericadawn16]

It wasn't erosion, they actually blew them up to make more money.

[scorntx]

Maybe when it was blown up and re-created during Secret Wars, a few details got flubbed.

"... and if anyone asks, Australia was always covered in fjords."

[beyondthefringe]

To be fair, the Appalachian Mountains span 1500 miles, from Newfoundland to Alabama, so it's not exactly a very precise locational description for that panel. :) But I'm not sure any of them have that sort of frost giant friendly climate.

[reveen]

More to the point the tallest mountain in the Appalachian mountains is Mount Mitchell, which is covered in forest.

Though I'm just speaking as someone with a mild obsession with a computer game taking place in the area and not someone who actually knows it so maybe this kind of geography is possible somewhere there.

[ironymaiden]

I guess the White Mountains are technically part of the Appalachian range? But even Mount Washington doesn't have sharp peaks or rocky outcroppings like your see in younger mountains.

[arilou_skiff]

Hah, if you think that is wrong, consider how often viking-adjacent stuff depicts the snow-capped mountains of Denmark...

LOL

[ironymaiden]

I found a big rock!

[reveen]

Okay, uh, if you're going to be the Sorceror Surpreme and you're NOT going to grow a moustache and cut your hair can you atleast shave off the peach fuzz? I know it's beside the point but you're already way behind Strange in terms of class.

Fucking grooming standards, man. Get it together.

[mesmiranda]

I keep flashing on MCU Bucky, and it's just really distracting me.

Love this characterization, though. Also kind of want to see more of Jane!Thor and Loki working/snarking together, I'm not going to lie.

[ericadawn16]

Last I saw, he was still sort of patterned off Tom Hiddleston...I think it was the series where he ran for President?

I missed when they changed how he looked again.

[lissa_quon]

So how is he Sorcerer Surpreme? HE chose it? the cloak makes him? I'm very not versed in the Dr Strange stuff.

[malitia]

Apparently (Strange tells Wanda about this in the beginning of the issue) there was a contest held for the role* in which Loki participated and won.

* If I had to guess his bosses weren't impressed by Steven's recent performance report. (Let almost all magic die, created an eldritch abomination etc.)

[bruinsfan]

Strange seemed to continue his "woe is me, the Death of Magic has left me all but powerless and helpless" routine way past the point where all the other Marvel sorcerers had completely recovered and had no difficulty working their spells again. I think it pretty clearly has to be a mental block/existential crisis on his part rather than a function of the overall magical environment. The Vishanti may have decided they'd given him enough time to get over the trauma and needed to shift the title to someone who could actually function in the job.

I also get the impression, based on Uncanny Avengers, that Strange's most recent abdication in favor of Jericho Drumm has been retconned out of his history. This may be taking its place.

[janegray]

So... what happened to Strange?

[malitia]

Won't last (we know Strange will try to get back his title soon) but:

After losing to Loki he retired, and works as a veterinarian. Issue ends with a Doctor Dolittle joke.

[janegray]

Aww :)

Thank you!

[dr_archeville]

... how is he qualified to work as a vet? He's trained in (human) neurosurgery.

Or does he still have some magic, and he's treating animals that way?

[malitia]

That Doctor Dolittle comparison he had to explain to a talking dog. So I would go with "still has some magic" for now.

[bruinsfan]

I think it's just his confidence/ability to use magic that's in the dumpster for now. Even without the Ancient One's power backing him up (I assume that gets transferred to the new title holder, as it seemed to with Jericho Drumm a few years ago), Strange should be one of the three most powerful sorcerers on Earth—four if Merlin happens to be around.

[nyadnar17]

Look, I love "god of Stories" Loki. I love him a lot. But for fuckssake can someone teach him how to shave?

[burkeonthesly]

This is great. I like this development for Loki. Now that he's Sorcerer Supreme, CAN WE GET VERITY BACK, PLEASE?

[malitia]

Given he inherited the quirky female companion (Zelma) of Steven in this my hopes for Verity also appearing are low.

Not that I don't want to see the two of them bond... I want at least a girls night issue with all the 'women who don't take Loki's shit' from all the comics since 2010!

[bruinsfan]

I wish Clea would show up and school him on all his new responsibilities, as she was trained for them.

[malitia]

She was last seen in the newest annual (she tried and failed to get divorce). So yeah. She could drop by now too... and even be useful if that means to get that damn magical divorce finally.