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The Death of Doctor Strange #5 spotlights just how powerful Marvel’s premier magic user was even before he became the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.
WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for The Death of Doctor Strange #5, available now from Marvel.
The Death of Doctor Strange has been one of the most shocking events in recent memory. With the loss of its Sorcerer Supreme, Earth has fallen prey to all manner of interdimensional and mystical threats. As luck would have it, there is still some figment of Doctor Strange working the case. Not only has this echo of the Sorcerer Supreme finally uncovered his own true killer, he has even brought them to justice, and reminded everyone just how strong he is even without his greatest powers in the process.
The echo Doctor Strange left behind has finally confronted his true killer, Baron Mordo’s former disciple Kaecilius. While Kaecilius has made himself effectively invulnerable with Strange’s own magic, via his severed hands, the gruesome manner in which Kaecilius has empowered himself proves to ultimately be his downfall. As powerful as the Doctor Strange has been during his time as Sorcerer Supreme, that title was one that he acquired only after years of study, and he never needed it to defeat the likes of Mordo or his followers. As The Death of Doctor Strange #5 by Jed MacKay, Lee Garbett, Antonio Fabela, and VC’s Cory Petit has just made clear, the titular hero was doing just fine as Marvel’s Master of Black Magic as he ever has by any other name.
While Doctor Strange’s history in the Marvel Universe goes all the way back to 1963’s Strange Tales #110, his appearance therein saw him premier in Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s story “Doctor Strange Master of Black Magic!” Prior to taking up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, Strange’s most iconic spells and incantations were still the order of the day, but as he has just proven to Kaecilius, he was never above putting otherwise unsavory methods to good use. By using Kaecilius’ own flesh as the sacrifice, Doctor Strange’s echo is able to resurrect himself from the severed hands his enemy had grafted to his wrists. As ironic as it might be that Strange has put a lethal twist on the Hippocratic Oath, all of that is vastly overshadowed by his grotesque display of power and ingenuity. Of course, this is hardly the first time Doctor Strange has turned to similar tactics, nor does doing so seem to weigh on him whatsoever.
Then again, Doctor Strange didn’t become the Master of Black Magic for no reason. When Stephen Strange first sought out the Ancient One, it was in the hopes of healing his own crippled hands which he had wasted a fortune trying to repair. In fact, it wasn’t until after understanding the threat posed to the Ancient One by Baron Mordo that Strange had any interest in playing the role of a hero. Once he did, the future Sorcerer Supreme was quick to come to terms with the painful costs associated with the Mystic Arts, as well as how to suffer from them with grace. The powers that have been afforded to Doctor Strange over the years have been great, but it is his understanding of their nuances which have made him the indomitable sorcerer that fans know best. Throughout all of his greatest struggles, Strange has grown from a desperate loner at the end of his rope to someone willing to make the ultimate sacrifice over and over again. As fantastical as he might be, Doctor Strange has just proven how tragic even his greatest achievements really are, and how far he has come as a hero by bearing that weight.
This chapter of Doctor Strange’s story might be coming to a close, but the glimpse it has given fans a look at just what their favorite Sorcerer Supreme was capable of before he ever took up that mantle has been well worth it. Maybe it isn’t surprising that he put a stop to Kaecilius’ plot, the manner by which Strange dispatched his enemy certainly was. Hopefully this won’t be Doctor Strange’s final victory over one of his classic foes. If it is, however, at least the Master of Black Magic was able to go out with one last spectacle.
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