Pick a card, ANY card... No. Not that one.-or- Marvel's Magic Makeover

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Any readers of this blog, or any Marvel news-releases (primarily ones dealing with the Magical side of the MU) know that for long years, the current heads of the Marvel think-tank ( with Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada most notably among them) have espoused a philosophy that Doctor Strange is not a viable character because the rules of magic are too "undefined".

By that, they mean - there seemingly ARE no rules, so how can Strange ever be in any real peril when all he needs to do is say "Bibbity-Bobbety-Boo!" and he's out of danger.

To that end, Marvel has just announced that in NEW AVENGERS v2 # 2, the rules of Magic in the M.U. are being overhauled.

I'm not sure what that means, really - as there is not much word about the storyline.
I do know that it has been in the works for several years. and is one of two possible mystic storylines that have been in the works for half a decade. *

Here is the cover and solicitation text for the issue:

Art by Stuart Immonen
(Luke Cage holding the Eye of Agamotto...
damn, Bendis has a man-crush on Cage.)

NEW AVENGERS #2
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by STUART IMMONEN

All new Marvel magic by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen! The Avengers don't even get a chance to move in to their new digs when a dimensional invasion tears right into the heart of the team. This is a story that will completely reinvent the rules of magic in the Marvel Universe and have long- lasting effects on a handful of your favorite Marvel characters. Plus: an Avenger disappears! Backup feature: Another brand new oral history of the Avengers chapter by Bendis!

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While Marvel stepping up to rectify an area of concern (for them) is admirable, I have to say that it really seems odd on two accounts.

First of all, if you insist on doing a huge story where a major facet of your "universe" is being overhauled, why wouldn't it be its own "event" - a mini-series or something.
Although, perhaps that is itself the answer to the question; in the hopes of attracting readers it probably makes more sense to fold this story within the pages of one of the top selling titles - and one which has already dealt with the "decline" of many mystic situations in the past few years (although that story seemed oddly placed in the title at that time, as well).

Perhaps, not unlike past mystic "events" (the "Marvel Tarot" primary among them) a mini-series and individual one-shots might not attract your base customers as well as a flagship title like "New Avengers" would.

OK. So, I'll concede that point.

Still, If you're like me, you feel that their belief of magic being "undefined" is a bit...shortsighted.

Basically, magic in the M.U. does have some basic rules, (although, not any that are structured for easy reference for writers to access) and more are constantly being added all the time - especially in recent years in direct response to the current editorial viewpoint.

• It was always known that magic has costs. You can't expect to just whip something up from nowhere and not have some future situation reveal itself - sort of the "butterfly effect" in magical terms.

• A spell cast here could mean the weakening of dimensional barriers - which could allow an enemy to invade.

• Magic weakens a user physically and mentally (requiring rest).
  

• Teleportation spells will weaken you to the point of exhaustion - or worse. Traveling across physical space is difficult and taxing. Traveling into other dimensions is even harder - and more dangerous.
  

• Each spell you cast - if it invokes a deity or cosmic entity - is empowered by that entity and may or may not be bequeathed. AND, you now OWE that entity in return, never knowing when and if they may wish to collect. Or HOW.
  

• Magic requires knowledge and focus (unfortunately, too many times in recent stories have "average" heroes been able to replicate what a sorcerer like Strange had studies long years to learn).

• Use of certain artifacts or spells requires purity of mind and body (meditation, fasting and self-sacrifice are often prerequisites).
  

• One sorcerer - if adept enough - can tell how powerful his foe is (although, that one isn't used all that much, as it removes possible stratagem of feints and bluffs).
  

• You can not resurrect someone from the dead - unless black magic is used, and that is NOT an option to guys like Strange. And even for black magic users - a heavy cost is required!
  

• Also, now another new rule is that magic can't recreate what science already has made. (which, personally is a pretty lame rule.)

There are other rules, certainly, and I don't disagree that there should be some more, or at least some consistent rules... but the problem is that nowhere are they laid out like the basic "rules" that surround more "realistic" characters like Spider-man or Captain America.

All that notwithstanding, the other, BEST way to make a magical character have a sense of danger is to WRITE bigger and better dangers into that character's narrative.
Constantly create bigger and better dangers. Yes, I understand that eventually you may run out of room for "bigger and better" dangers.
But, not every danger has to be a powerful entity or foe - some times, a quest or puzzle is the key.
A sorcerer is a thinking man's hero, studious and wizened. Challenge him to use intellect and knowledge to survive - not just power or "random" magic.

Some of the best Dr. Strange tales involved his defeating overpowering foes by out-thinking them.

Other times, a good tale just requires more imagination than the average "super hero" story.
It is said that every writer has a few Dr. Strange pitches.
The hard thing is finding someone who can write it consistently for a long period of time.
The internet is filled with such fantastic takes on how to handle Strange (sure some of them aren't so good, but I've read many truly inspired pitches in my time).
Heck, even I have a few good Dr Strange yarns in me - as well as a "Magic Overhaul" story - in answer to Joe Q's wishes.

And if you don't want a random magic to win the day (as Editor in Chief, Joe Quesada keeps hawking) then as a writer - simply don't. allow. it. to. work.

If a writer can't be trusted to self-edit, then make it an editorial policy: "In order for a magical way out to succeed it must make sense and have either; some basis in published canon - or some significant cost."

Former editor Mark Gruenwald had, in the 1980's, enforced a similar policy with regards to Time-Travel, as it was being misused by writers.
He had a simple system of checks and balances of the methods that time travel could be utilized.

The reason Dr. Strange is a "Deus Ex Machina" is because writers are either lazy or not really "into" magic and as such, write themselves into corners that only a quick fix can help them escape.

Some times, however, a "rabbit out of the hat" solution must NOT be allowed.
And the best way to do that - is to write better stories.

It's not as though Strange's use of magic is alone in that "easy fix" solution... Tech-based heroes like Iron-Man and Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards have been doing that for 40 years!
A problem arises that they can't overcome? No problem, Reed will just "McGuyver" a contraption that looks like an over-sized cosmic toaster to rectify the situation.
The science involved? All completely made up with no basis in physical laws or possibility.

Comic book "science" is the same thing as "magic" but it is given a free pass because some object or "technology" was created. Not just a mystic pass and a muttered incantation (rhyming, if the writer puts some modicum of effort into it - otherwise guys like Bendis just toss in faux-latin jibberish).

But, while Science gets the pass, Dr. Strange has been de-powered more times than I care recollect, because, for the most part, he becomes too "big" for most writers to wrap a story around, and they also feel that once he gets too powerful - he becomes "unrelatable" to readers.
(Right, like many "super hero" character's are relatable, anyway.)

I'm not a Harry Potter reader, but as I understand it, he casts nonsensical spells in pseudo-latin and stuff just happens. I'm sure that there may be some basic rules to the use of magic there, and even if there aren't, fans seem to have no problems easily relating to all the powerful wizards therein.

What the problem truly is, is that like many cosmic heroes, a magic-user's adventures should not be reigned in or given "Earthly" boundaries or parameters.

Simply put - Doctor Strange is NOT a "super hero" and should not be handled as such.

However, and this is why I am posting this today - Marvel has FINALLY announced that they are changing the rules of Marvel Magic.

What I have a hard time understanding is why it is needed at all.
Especially the "total reinvention" of rules, as the solicit text states.

Over at DC comics, their universe is VERY magic oriented.
Possibly to the direct opposite of Marvel's more "science"-based universe.

DC has so many magical characters and their worlds are multi-layered and rich in depth and "history". **

And, to be honest, their magical workings are a total mish-mash of whys and wherefores.
But, they all work well together.

DC has had many magic-oriented "events" - which encompassed the entire universe of titles.
And in all of their universe-altering events, magic has played a large part.

And, as opposed to Marvel, who have been treating their cosmic-level, mystical entities; like ETERNITY and the LIVING TRIBUNAL as little more than giant-sized "comic book characters", DC still retains a respectful air of mystery and grandeur about its cosmic entities.

Certainly, Marvel could use with a bit of a magical revamp, but just inasmuch as to return the magic to its magical characters and a to distance them from the "normal" characters (even the cosmic ones - Eternity should not be treated the same as Thanos or even Galactus - who himself had suffered for over a decade under the yoke of poor writer treatment before John Byrne brought him back to a level of greatness in the 1980's).

So, if an all-out revamp of the magical corners of the Marvel U. is to be attempted... do it right.
Do it BIG.

One thing DC has learned is:
Just get George Perez to illustrate it and it will instantly be a huge sales hit!

Not that Stuart Immonen, the artist who will be handling this story arc is any slouch, but he is not a cosmic-level artist as Perez has proven himself to be.

Personally, I hope that the new "rules" aren't too restrictive.
Brian Michael Bendis is not a good "magic" writer.
Thus far there have been scant few "good" bits of magical usage in his recent comics' work.

That being said; despite all that I have against his handling of Strange and his eldritch company, I do enjoy reading Bendis' Avengers comics - but that enjoyment revolves around his usage and the written interaction of ground-based characters like Spider-Man, Spider-Woman and Luke Cage. I worry when he deals with magic. But, perhaps it is for writers such as he, for whom these new rules are required.


"Tamam Shud!"
~P~

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footnote 1:

The other magical storyline was a long alluded to "Magic War" that was boiling up in the underworld. Comics like "Nightcrawler", "Spectacular Spider-Man", "Marvel Knights '4'" and others (pretty much anything written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa) featured assorted glimpses into that dark underworld threat. Mephisto, Nicholas Scratch, Madam Web, Salem's Seven and even Shuma Gorath all were attributed with foretelling of the coming demonic doom.

I do hope that Dr. Strange can be "fixed" in time to be a major player in that event.

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footnote 2:

If DC have some more hard-core magic-oriented characters that they don't want to have inside of the "regular" universe, they have the VERTIGO imprint reality to let them play within.

Marvel has tried Vertigo-like offshoots before, but never with any real gusto.
Each time it was half-hearted and tentative.

That is not the way to boldly go into a brave new world (or dimension).
Sadly, in each attempt, a more "Comic Code Approved" style of publishing remained attached.
That had always been the death-knell of the enterprise.
Comic titles were planned, pitched and even in some instances - started (and even released) but all came to quick (pre)cancellation or drastically heavily-edited rewrites.

I can understand their reluctance to dive in, however.
It has nothing to do with publishing and everything to do with marketing.

Once you remove a character from the "primary" reality of the rest of your properties, and place them in a more "adult" arena, you instantly remove any chance of having that character on a lunch-box.

How many Swamp-Thing, Sandman or Hellblazer lunch-boxes or bed-sheets do you think DC has on the market?
Nada.

They do however have actual feature films (just... not very good ones).
They also have a their own "adult" merchandise (statues, books and whatnot) and that is where the marketplace is right now. Adults, not kids, reading comics and buying the high-priced merchandise.

Marvel's last "adult" line attempt was close to a decade ago, long before the new shift in high-priced marketable wares really set in.

However, is that the healthiest place for the market to remain?
No.
Comics need new readers. Kids need to be enticed to jump in.
More often than not, kids have no interest in the comics themselves, but a lot of interest in the toys and ancillary products that may spin out of a ... feature film or animated series - all avenues that Marvel is showing strength.

So, marketing their properties to a wider gamut of customers is the smart way to go.

Marvel's aborted attempts at "Vertigo-ness" was also before Marvel was bought by Disney, who has the ability to market stuff to kids like no one else.
Disney, who also have a rich history of magic and mysticism in their stories and films (both kiddie stuff as well as the adult mainstream releases).

Perhaps, now is the perfect time for Marvel magic to be let loose - and the worst time to try to reign it in.
Or perhaps there is a white, three-fingered gloved hand in this process.
I doubt it, but who knows... it could prove to be the magic touch.

* Note: *
My apologies if ANY part of this is garbled. Local weather conditions with high gusting winds have been causing my power to cut out - multiple times. As I typed this, despite my saving it into drafts, parts may have been erased and missed or forgotten as I rebooted it back up to complete. Again. And Again. Now, I'm just going to "Post" this - as is - before my hard-drive needs a techno-necromancer to revive it.
*End Note*

*UPDATE *
I was reminded of an old post - one from February of 2009 that dealt with - and hopefully answers - much of the problems that have come to pass with the "modern" era of Marvel comics, as far as Doctor Strange and magic is concerned.

Feel free to go and re-read (or if you haven't seen it yet, to delve in, uninitiated into) the post I called:

"WITHIN YOU - WITHOUT YOU"

"Tamam Shud!"
~P~