Strange #6 was out 21 September!

Comic Book Round Up collected reviews

A good month for Wong. He's getting "Everybody loves Wong!" props in the She-Hulk TV series this month (and possibly getting laid), and now this love-note solo story in Strange #6 where he gets help from Bats, Black Widow, Jean Grey, the Bar With No Doors, etc.

Wong's memory page includes:

• The brain tumor pills from The Oath #1
• "Kiss Me" Xaos/Imei from Sorcerer Supreme #88
• Urthona's face ripper from Doctor Strange #81 [thanks Ryszard!]
• Update: A retconned first meeting with Doc in early blue cloak and first Eye in which Doc tells Wong not to call him "Master"? Wong called Doc "Master" for decades. Also, the blue cloak's cowl did not have points like the Cloak of Levitation (hat cowl tip Sanctum).

It is revealed that the Blasphemy Cartel is a remnant of W.A.N.D. after S.H.I.E.L.D. fell. Who the fuck, right? You'll need to go deep into your Doctor Strange long boxes for this one: a Thunderbolts Annual with a Doc cover/appearance that wasn't even really Doc. The Fandom Wiki is a comicblogger's best friend, for both info discovery and not needing to write everything ourselves:

• Wizardry Alchemy Necromancy Department (W.A.N.D.)
• Pandora Peters
• Thunderbolts Annual V2 #1

Jed MacKay is bringing it with both creative new ideas, and easter eggs for the long-time fans. Great stuff. But for Neilalien, there is still some meta-bummitude that this good stuff is being used in service of the 'Doc is dead' trope. The toys are being used without Doc present. When do we simply get a run of great Doc stories again, like Roger Stern's run, without Doc absent, dying, getting depowered, getting deconstructed, getting blasted into space, etc.?

[25 September 02022]

New York Comic-Con is 6-9 October 02022!

[Panels] [Exhibitors] [Artist Alley]

[Health & Safety: face coverings indoors required; vaccination/negative test proof not required]

[Reddit: NYCC]

[Reddit NYCC Party Thread] [Some NYCC parties via who is using Eventbrite for their tickets]

Update: Artist Alley Etiquette: "As long as you are not the guy with the rolling luggage case filled with comics to sign, you should be good."

[24 September 02022]

Iconic Avengers, X-Men Artist Tom Palmer Dies At 80

Tom Palmer [Wikipedia]

Marvel Wiki: [Tom Palmer] [791 comics inked by Tom Palmer]

I walk in the door and pencil [an] issue of Doctor Strange - first job I ever penciled. At the time, I thought I did a good job, but really it was a stinker. It wasn't up to par. I went back two weeks later to get the next issue, and they said, "No, we're getting someone else to pencil it; would you like to ink it?"

Doctor Strange #171 was the issue he drew. A bit stiff, but doesn't seem like a total stinker.

"Palmer is widely considered the definitive inker for Gene Colan, whose use of grey textures made his pencils notoriously difficult to ink in a way that did them justice." Palmer inked many Colan issues of Doctor Strange.

[28 August 02022]

Marvel Comics November 02022 solicits include Tradd Moore's Fall Sunrise

DOCTOR STRANGE: FALL SUNRISE #1 (OF 4)
TRADD MOORE (W/A)
Wraparound Cover by TRADD MOORE
VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
Variant cover by Daniel Warren Johnson
Variant cover by David Mack
FROM THE MIND OF TRADD MOORE!
Doctor Strange awakens alone in a distant world not his own. Lost of purpose and surrounded by danger, the wandering sorcerer must explore this land of blades and mystery to unravel arcane secrets and escape the deadly horrors that lie in wait! From the fantastical mind of creator Tradd Moore (SILVER SURFER: BLACK) comes a Strange story like you've never seen!
40 PGS./Rated T+ $4.99

STRANGE #8
JED MACKAY (W)
MARCELO FERREIRA (A)
Cover by Lee Garbett
VARIANT COVER BY GREG LAND
WHO ARE THE BLASPHEMY CARTEL?
The secrets of the Cartel are revealed, and it comes from the unlikeliest of sources! Will this be the help Clea needs to bring peace to her adopted realm? Or will this be too much for the Sorcerer Supreme to handle?
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

STRANGE ACADEMY: FINALS #2
SKOTTIE YOUNG (W)
HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/C)
Trading Card Variant Cover by Dustin Weaver
X-TREME MARVEL VARIANT COVER BY DAVID BALDEON
The students still in Strange Academy have their biggest challenge yet!
Plus, our heroes finally get a lead on Gaslamp and their missing friend.
But now they have to face the most terrifying villain STRANGE ACADEMY has introduced!
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

MARVEL STUDIOS' DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS: THE ART OF THE MOVIE HC
Written by JESS HARROLD
Doctor Strange, with the help of allies both old and new, must traverse the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to protect a powerful young girl from a deadly, determined and deranged adversary! Continuing their popular ART OF series of movie tie-in books, Marvel Studios presents another blockbuster achievement! Featuring exclusive concept artwork and in-depth interviews with the creative team, this deluxe volume provides insider details about the making of the highly anticipated film! 224 PGS./All Ages $60.00
ISBN: 978-1-302-94587-9
Trim size: 11-5/16 x 9-3/8

Also: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME: THE ART OF THE MOVIE HC
DEFENDERS EPIC COLLECTION: THE DAY OF THE DEFENDERS TPB

[27 August 02022]

Strange #5 out 17 Aug

Comic Book Round Up collected reviews

Spoiler time is up: Harvestman is wonderfully big-revealed to be our favorite ne'er-do-well Stephen Strange! As predicted by some all along: in issue #1 page 1 Harvestman is shown with blue eyes; he "doth protests too much" to Clea not to resurrect Doc. It's a relief to see Doc "active"- in Death's "employ" as her Sorcerer Supreme and charged with ending the revenant threat- but the toys are not yet back in the status-quo box of Doc back among the living and free. We shall see.

'Strange' Writer Jed MacKay Breaks Down Doctor Strange's Return

[26 August 02022]

Clea crashes the Hellfire Gala [X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1; out 13 Jul] to get Stephen resurrected, but Emma Frost informs her Krakoan resurrection only works for mutants and blows her off.

The X-Cellent [#3; out 18 May; Doc on cover] break into the Sanctum Sanctorum and take a photo of a spell from the Book of Vishanti with their cellphone, while Dr. Strange is off for one panel "trying to contain the Nameless One's servant, Morgan Le Fey."

The Strange Academy series ends with #18 [out 6 Jul] with most of the students rebelling and hiding out in the Sanctum Sanctorum (that place needs a serious security upgrade!) until things get... Dark... "Finals" series coming next.

Other recent appearances updating here...

[31 July 02022]

Marvel Phase 5: Every Movie And TV Series Explained

Every MCU Movie And Series Confirmed For Phase 5 And 6

Wikipedia: [Phase 5] [Phase 6]

Phase 6: Multiverse Saga continues, Fantastic Four, Avengers movies, Secret Wars. Kang is the main villain (no Doctor Doom yet?). An open slot for a Doctor Strange 3?

[30 July 02022]

San Diego Comic-Con 02022: Marvel Announces 'Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise' Four-Issue Limited Series Starting In November Written And Drawn By Tradd Moore

[AIPT] [Marvel.com] [Bleeding Cool] [Popverse]

Tradd Moore [Wikipedia] [Tumblr]

San Diego Comic-Con 02022: Strange Academy: Finals

"Earlier this month, Strange Academy #18 ended the series' first era with a student rebellion, a daring journey to the Dark Dimension, and the realization that some of the school's brightest stars have dark futures..."

[29 July 02022]

Catching up with Doctor-Strange-related solicits, which seem a bit messed up; books delayed?

Marvel's July 02022 solicits had Strange #5 coming out yesterday, but it was #4 that finally came out

Marvel.com has #5 coming out 17 August

STRANGE #5
JED MACKAY (W)
MARCELO FERREIRA (A)
Cover by Lee Garbett
BACK FROM THE DEAD!
Dead heroes and villains alike have been reanimated as ghoulish versions of their past selves.
Now it's up to Strange and the Harvestman to make sure these dead supers stay dead!
But what happens when the next reanimated hero is Clea's dead husband: Stephen Strange?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

NEW FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (OF 5)
Chaos erupts in Sin City as Asmodeus' demonic influence spreads... and the New Fantastic Four are caught in the thick of it! With Ghost Rider M.I.A., it's up to Wolverine, Hulk and Spider-Man to face off against a demonically possessed Human Torch. But can they defeat him without killing him? Plus: A house call from Dr. Strange!

DEFENDERS: BEYOND #2 (OF 5)

Marvel's September 02022 solicits has many repeats from August

Marvel.com has #6 coming out 21 September

STRANGE #6
JED MACKAY (W)
Lee Garbett (A/C)
BEYOND AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VARIANT COVER BY JORGE FORNES
MARVEL'S VOICES COMMUNITY VARIANT COVER BY LEONARDO ROMERO
WONG TAKES CENTER STAGE!
Someone has stolen pieces of Wong's memory!
But he's going to need them back to stop the Blasphemy Cartel!
It's up to Wong and Bats to retrace their steps to find the truth!
But could this memory be better off forgotten?
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

MIDNIGHT SUNS #1 (OF 5)
A dark prophesy and apocalyptic new villains with horrifying powers the likes of which Earth has never faced before ordains a team of MIDNIGHT SUNS to rise and tear @#$% up: MAGIK, WOLVERINE, BLADE, SPIRIT RIDER & NICO MINORU. But what does this new threat have to do with the Sorcerer Supreme's past? And why is STRANGE ACADEMY student ZOE LAVEAU number one on the Suns' list?

DEFENDERS: BEYOND #3 (OF 5)

FANTASTIC FOUR #47's cover has Mindless Ones

Marvel's October 02022 solicits

STRANGE #7
JED MACKAY (W)
MARCELO FERREIRA (A)
Cover by Lee Garbett
Miracleman Variant Cover by ALAN DAVIS
VARIANT COVER BY LUCIANO VECCHIO
THE SORCERER SUPREME OF DEATH!
Clea and Wong have uncovered who is behind the zombie resurrections of the deceased heroes and villains. But they're going to need all the help they can get, including from the Sorcerer Supreme of Death... the Harvestman!
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

MIDNIGHT SUNS #2 (OF 5)
The new team of MIDNIGHT SUNS- MAGIK, WOLVERINE, BLADE, SPIRIT RIDER, AND NICO MINORU- face their first brutal test when DOCTOR DOOM lays siege to STRANGE ACADEMY! What is Doom after?! And an even bigger threat awaits IF they survive- a threat tied to the Sorcerer Supreme and one only the Midnight Suns have the power to overcome.

DEFENDERS: BEYOND #4 (OF 5)

[28 July 02022]

Strange #4 is out today

Preview at Bleeding Cool

Comic Book Round Up collected reviews

Lovely Umar variant cover by Logan Lubera

"[A]n interesting series, but sadly one with a ticking clock on how long it can continue."

Harrumph: Surgeon Supreme #6 was Legacy #416. Strange #1 was Legacy #417. While past miniseries like Flight Of Bones haven't been included in the Dr. Strange legacy issue numbering, Neilalien is perturbed that huge Doc event The Death Of Doctor Strange miniseries was not part of the legacy numbering, but this Strange series is, that Doc isn't even in (so far). Also: Neilalien was having a small internal debate about if/how to include Strange in The Doctor Strange Story List if they are Clea stories without Doc. But if Strange is part of the Doc legacy numbering, then that debate ends: he must include this entire Clea series.

[27 July 02022]

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness on DVD/Blu-Ray/4K Ultra HD out today

With an hour of bonus footage: featurettes, bloopers, deleted scenes, audio commentary with Sam Raimi

Walmart (pin), Target (art/prints), and Best Buy (steelbook) each have exclusive forms

Collider press w/Target art

CBR press w/Walmart pin

ScreenRant press w/Best Buy steelbook

Digital platform release (Amazon Video, iTunes, Disney+) was 22 June

[26 July 02022]

Why Comic Books Became A More Of A Writer's And Less Of An Artist's Medium

Howard Chaykin: "[S]ince comics have evolved more into an ancillary product of IP, the powers that be- the management class, the movie-and-TV people- cannot identify what writing is in comics. They perceive the writer's job as writing, and the artist's job as illustrators. But comic book artists are- or at least should be- graphic designers in the service of narrative, pictures of narrative value, which means 'story value.' The way an artist sets up a picture is the writing of the book. The writer provides a template. And certainly in this delusional Marvel-style thing where a writer says, 'Give me a fight for five pages,' who's the writer on that? And since comic book fight scenes are external reflections of inner trauma, they are the equivalent of dance numbers or aria in ballet, opera, and musical theater, and choreography is storytelling."

[3 June 02022]

Stan Lee Returns To Marvel Studios With Genius Brands, POW! Entertainment Licensing Deal

"Marvel has signed a 20-year deal with Stan Lee Universe, a venture between Genius Brands International and POW! Entertainment, to license the name and likeness of Lee for use in future feature films and television productions, as well as Disney theme parks, various 'experiences' and merchandising."

Prepare to be haunted by Animatronic Stan Lees, and Stan Lee Holograms!

[2 June 02022]

Strange #3 is out today

Previews: [Comics Continuum] [Graphic Policy]

Comic Book Round Up collected reviews

[1 June 02022]

[Placeholder for Neilalien's eventual review of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, once the DVD is bought and analyzed frame by frame]

[31 May 02022]

Box Office Milestone: 'Doctor Strange 2' Soars Past $800M Globally

'Doctor Strange 2' VFX Artists On Creating 20 Multiverses In 40 Seconds

[29 May 02022]

After two weekends, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness global haul stands at $688 million

"The original 'Doctor Strange' ended its theatrical run in [0]2016 with $232 million domestically and $677 million globally."

Drop after first week as usual/expected, a bit steep, but: "its sizable decline is not surprising since 'Doctor Strange 2' is coming off the 11th biggest opening weekend in history"

[16 May 02022]

'Doctor Strange 2' Screenwriter Michael Waldron Shares Some Insight Into Film's Most Unbelievable Moments

[14 May 02022]

'Doctor Strange 2' Opens To $265 Million At International Box Office, Flies Past $450 Million Globally

When Neilalien started blogging, Marvel was near bankruptcy, and there was no Doctor Strange ongoing comic.

What a thrill now for a Doc fan to see a Doctor Strange film as one of the top-ten global movie weekends in history.

Still a thrill- even if "$450 million global movie weekend" necessitates so much big evil corporate-conglomerate process in our modern world to happen--

Thanks and kudos to all cast and crew who worked hard and creatively on the film.

[9 May 02022]

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness is out!!!

Review aggregators: [Rotten Tomatoes] [Metacritic]

News tags: [Hollywood Reporter] [Variety]

Update: Box Office: 'Doctor Strange 2' Flies To Sensational $90M Friday [Friday's haul- including $36 million in Thursday previews- is the seventh biggest opening day of all time domestically; playing in 4,545 theaters, the widest location count of the pandemic and the fifth-biggest of all time]

Update: How 'Doctor Strange 2' Intriguingly Moves MCU Multiverse Narrative Forward And Why That's Important

[6 May 02022]

China Officially Bans Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Doctor Strange 2 Banned In Egypt And Kuwait Over LGBTQ+ Content

Saudi Arabia's Doctor Strange 2 Ban Stems From Disney Refusing To Cut A 12-Second Scene [in which lesbian character America Chavez mentions she has 'two moms']

[3 May 02022]

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness will be out this weekend!!!

'Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness' Presales Outpacing 'Captain Marvel', 'GOTG Vol. 2' & 'Thor: Ragnarok', Heading Toward $150M+ U.S. Opening
["After reporting previously that presales were the best of [0]2022 to date, outstripping The Batman, Fandango said this morning that the Sam Raimi-directed movie is selling five times as many tickets as [0]2016's original Doctor Strange ($85M domestic opening)..."]

IMDb DSitMOM News Page

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness Official Trailer [YouTube] [almost 50 million views]

Updating...

[2 May 02022]

Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday 7 May

[1 May 02022]

Neal Adams, Comic Book Artist Who Revitalized Batman And Fought For Creators' Rights, Dies At 80

Update: Neal Adams obituary at The Comics Journal

[30 April 02022]

Doctor Strange: Nexus Of Nightmares was out 20 Apr

Comic Book Round Up collected reviews

A serviceable Doctor Strange story for fans old and new--

Doc's mopey-dope, but it's because of Nightmare's attacks so it's slightly more palatable-- his buddy Wong rouses him from his funk--

Something riskless for comic-book-shop shelves when Doc's big live-action movie is released that shows him alive in the comics--

Old-school words-per-panel ratio--

[29 April 02022]

Comic Book Legends Revealed: Steve Ditko Invented The Comic Corner Box [from 02017]

[9 April 02022]

Marvel's June 02022 solicits prove that Doctor Strange will be dead in the comics when his big movie comes out

STRANGE #4
JED MACKAY (W)
MARCELO FERREIRA (A)
Cover by Lee Garbett
Variant cover by Logan Lubera
FAMILY REUNION!
Clea's mother Umar has come to visit, just as the Blasphemy Cartel launch their latest attack on the Sanctum Sanctorum!
And this time, they brought an unlikely foe to take down the Sorcerer Supreme!
Reintroducing the dark Moon Knight... Shadow Knight!
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

DEFENDERS: BEYOND #1 (OF 5)
AL EWING (W)
JAVIER RODRIGUEZ (A)
WRAPAROUND COVER BY JAVIER RODRIGUEZ
Variant Cover by LEE GARBETT
SPOILER Variant Cover by LEONARDO ROMERO
Stormbreakers Variant Cover by NATACHA BUSTOS
Variant cover by PHIL NOTO
TEASER VARIANT COVER BY RON LIM
Al Ewing and Javier Rodriguez follow up their acclaimed DEFENDERS: THERE ARE NO RULES series with a new volume and an all-new lineup, including none other than Loki, God of Stories! When Doctor Strange sends a dire warning from beyond the grave, Blue Marvel, America Chavez, Taaia (Galactus' mom!), Tigra and Loki assemble to defend reality itself! Plus, you won't believe who shows up on the final page!
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

LEGION OF X #3
SI SPURRIER (W)
JAN BAZALDUA (A)
Cover by DIKE RUAN
Variant Cover by Sergio Davila
HELLFIRE GALA VARIANT COVER BY RUSSELL DAUTERMAN
TO BE MAD IS TO BE DIVINE!
An Arakkii fugitive god is lurking somewhere in the shadows of Krakoa, and Weaponless Zsen must track them down or face destruction at the hands of the terrifying Ora Serrata. After hitting a number of dead ends, Zsen and Nightcrawler turn to the astral plane for answers. Meanwhile, Pixie lures the Skinjacker out of hiding with the help of Juggernaut and... Dr. Strange?!
32 PGS./Rated T+ $3.99

[8 April 02022]

Strange #2 out today

Comic Book Round Up collected reviews

Variant cover regime

[6 April 02022]

Disney corporate response to new Florida bill limiting and lawsuitizing public-school discussion of sexuality/gender issues deemed insufficiently against, even approving via campaign contributions; Disney facing backlash, boycotts, employee protests/possible full-day walkout Tuesday

Florida Parental Rights In Education Act PDF

Disney Do Better Walkout [Open Letter]

Disney Workers Walk Out Over Company's Silence On "Don't Say Gay" Bill

Marvel Studios Denounces "Don't Say Gay" Legislation As Disney Fallout Continues

Disney, Marvel, And What Can Be Done [Graeme McMillan's 'Comics, FYI' newsletter]
Sitrep; starving-artist Marvel Comics creators, working at Disney's rounding error, don't feel there's much they can do on a personal level.

[20 March 02022]

The House of Shadows, originally from Strange Tales #120, returns! But instead of the usual banishment fate, it finds a home becoming Moon Knight's replacement Midnight Mission base of operations! In Moon Knight #9 [out 2 Mar], written by Jed MacKay, who thankfully seems to have enjoyed doing his historical research for his recent Doctor-Strange-related writing.

Devil's Reign: Superior Four #2 [out 16 Feb], includes a variant Doctor Octopus who is Sorcerer Supreme of his reality Earth-8968. Many Doctor Strange accoutrements here, including castings of Flames of the Faltine, Icy Tendrils of Ikthalon, and Mists of Morpheus.

The Vishanti summon Doctor Voodoo in Strange Academy #16 [out 23 Feb] to alert him that the cost of the school and the death of Dr. Strange have fractured the mystical balance. Tiger-appearing Hoggoth ain't looking too well.

Throg- that's the frog Thor- recruited Bats for a new Pet Avengers group in Thor #18 [out 20 Oct 2021] to help Thor find Mjolnir. They (with Doctor Strange) appear in the battle versus The God of Hammers/Mjolnir/God Tempest/Mangog (and Bats on the cover!) in Thor #22 [out 16 Feb].

Update: There was a charming kiddie Mighty Marvel Holiday Special: Year of the Wong Infinity Comic on the Marvel Unlimited app [out 1 Feb] by Amy Chu and E.J. Su. A sorcerous Wong saves the Lunar New Year parade from a Chinese-dragon-type thug of Dormammu.

[5 March 02022]

Strange #1 out today!

Comic Book Round Up collected reviews

Massive variant cover regime

Establishes Clea as an alien badass in love--

This is not your Stephen-Strange Sorcerer Supreme--

The War of the Seven Spheres is mentioned! (It sounds like all 5,000 years happened in the completed past, right?)

[2 March 02022]