Monday, January 30, 2023
I thought this was an OK issue, until they mentioned Michael Golden was supposed to be there!
This was a pretty good crew to cobble an issue together, though! From 1982, Doctor Strange #54, "Alone!" Written by Roger Stern and J.M. DeMatteis, pencils by Paul Smith and Brent Anderson, inks by Terry Austin and Joe Rubenstein.
The letters page mentions a delay in the arrival of Michael Golden, so instead Stern/Smith/Austin deliver a framing sequence and DeMatteis/Anderson/Rubenstein a flashback; as Strange laments Clea leaving him to return to her Dark Dimension and fight Umar. He's more concerned over his lost lover than losing her as an apprentice; while wondering if combining the two had been a good idea.
In the flashback, Strange remembers about a year prior, as he and Clea worked to save a young man who claimed his ego was being stolen. Strange eventually realizes he had faced the bad guy before: Tiboro, from Strange Tales #129, who had been able to convince several disciples to surrender their will to him, giving him power. Strange knows the fullness of humanity is more than he can take, though, and turns him to stone. When the fight was over, Clea has a bit of a laugh with Strange, suggesting she liked the way an unconscious cultist kept his mustache, and Stephen should try that look again.
Strange, unwilling to let things with Clea end, tries to teleport to the Dark Dimension, but fails. Was it due to a lack of concentration? Or did Strange know, deep down, that wasn't where he was supposed to be? It would have to be pretty deep down, for that kinda insight out of him.
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I didn't know Dr. Strange's modern mustache needed an origin story but it got one anyways. SO many directions in potential facial hair this could've gone honestly.
Yeah, aside from the pathos & drama of the moment, you're probably right because usually he doesn't have that problem when the story calls for it. Looks like a real "I swear this doesn't normally happen to me." type of situation.
BTW, I've been keeping up on McKay's Strange series and it just wrapped up everything, restoring Strange back to life & in his position of Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. Damn entertaining journey along the way I have to say.
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