There’s that iconic, and once very overdone, moment in detective stories where the suspects are all gathered and we’re walked through the crime. At the end, the criminal is revealed in a moment that’s supposed to be full of surprise and then that’s followed up with a confrontation. Death of Doctor Strange #4 is exactly that in comic form, no more and no less.
Jed MacKay has been casting this mystical tale and up to now has kept readers guessing as to who might behind Strange’s murder. The obvious suspect, Baron Mordo, is a bit too obvious leaving the remaining suspects rather scant. Like a solid detective story, MacKay has Strange befuddled by dead ends and clues that don’t help matter. And, just like so many detective stories before, we’re taken through the steps as Strange puts together who was behind his murder.
The way the issue is presented and how the narrative plays out, the comic is very much a throwback to old-school detective stories. That plays so well with the fact that at its center is a “classic” version of Strange who was around when this type of narrative was regularly released. It’s one that has waned in recent years but with its lack of overuse, it comes off as a bit of a throwback and fun when presented here.
Lee Garbett‘s art is solid as usual with some great use of angles to really play off of the narrative style and what MacKay is going for in the storytelling. There also continues to be an interesting artistic thing being done with the retro-Strange compared to the more modern characters. Antonio Fabela‘s colors pop on the page playing off the mystical elements so well. Cory Petit‘s lettering also gives a lot of personality to the characters.
Death of Doctor Strange #4 is a very unexpected issue in many ways. With one issue to go, it reveals who the murderer is. But, it’s done in a way that’s an unexpected narrative throwback. It adds to the pulp and pop sense of the comic that has been underlying since it launched. While it doesn’t have that major moment where the next Sorcerer Supreme stands up, it brings a fun sense to the page delivering a murder mystery that’s an homage to what has come before.
Story: Jed MacKay Art: Lee Garbett
Color: Antonio Fabela Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – Zeus Comics
Source: Graphic Policy
