After over three years since the original blog-series and over two years since the last updated entry in this series, we can now revisit this, the annals of the many cases of the...
RISE and FALL of the SANCTUM SANCTORUM of DR. STRANGE.
All in a series entitled:
HOUSING CRISIS : SANCTUS INTERRUPTUS
The chronological rise, fall, rise and fall (repeat ad nauseum) of the
- Sanctum Sanctorum -.
(Hey. It's happened more often than you might think.)The chronological rise, fall, rise and fall (repeat ad nauseum) of the
- Sanctum Sanctorum -.
Previous installments can be found at the following links:
* Part VI in this series: here*
* Part V in this series: here*
* Part IV in this series: here*
* Part III in this series: here*
* Part II in this series: here*
* Part I in this series: here*
* Part V in this series: here*
* Part IV in this series: here*
* Part III in this series: here*
* Part II in this series: here*
* Part I in this series: here*
-------------
As was the case when I began this series, while the actual post is all about the Sanctum Sanctorum of Doctor Strange, and the many times it has been destroyed and rebuilt - like when I first started this series, this entry is also inspired by my real-life "Sanctum Sanctorum"; in my home.
Actually this very post was actually (mostly) written over a year ago (Sept. 2010), but never posted, as many of you may know from reading the posts around that time, I was undergoing a relocation and was moving to a new "Sanctum", thus my old one was being boxed up and the overall look and feel of the place was one of "tearing down".
Well, after moving most of our belongings to the new place, we were informed that due to emerging circumstances with the land-owner, that it was no longer going to be available - and I had to move all of that stuff BACK.
Since then, there were instances where I had to dismantle what little was left standing (like during the Hurricane Irene storms) to prevent any possible breakage that might arise. I've only recently begun to rebuild rooms and areas of their spartan furnishings and effects.
And so, it made me think upon the state of Doctor Strange and his Sanctum Sanctorum after the events where he recently destroyed his Sanctum and left - to find himself (those events seen in New Avengers Annual # 2 - and showcased in PART VI in this series - found [HERE].
---------
After Dr. Strange laid waste to his sanctum, he wandered around a bit, doing what he could to reconnect himself to the realms of "white" magic.
Without a specific base of operations, as the Sanctum would be undoubtedly under constant watch by government agencies and Initiative task forces, and not wishing (or being able) to waste energies mystically hiding from sight there anymore, Strange would always just seem to appear at places where magic was going awry and/or people needed him.
Whether it was nearby his Sanctum, in Greenwich Village's Washington Square park - where he aided the Son of Satan. (Last Defenders # 3)
The Sorcerer and Satan's Son - Defenders and "friends".Last Defenders # 3Joe Casey (story) , Jim Muniz (pencils), Cam Smith (inks)
... or in the deep (and supposedly eldritch) woods of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey - where he aided Thor in reconstituting a broken Mjolnir... (Thor # 602)
Getting in touch with "green" magic.
Straczynski (story), Djurdjevic (pencils), Miki (inks), Mounts (colors)
Straczynski (story), Djurdjevic (pencils), Miki (inks), Mounts (colors)
...Strange was out and about trying to find his center once again.
Perhaps, that is why when called by Spider-Man, who was in need of mystical aid against the Cytorrak-empowered Juggernaut, Strange was "unavailable" - again (Amazing Spider-Man # 627).
Once again, exactly like Amazing Spider-Man # 228 (1982) Spidey only gets Wong - as Doc is "busy".
Roger Stern (writer), Lee Weeks (art), Dean White (colors)
While this Spider-Man issue shipped later in the year than the next appearance that I'll be presenting, I believe it was meant to take place sooner, as in the next instance (Strange v2 # 4), after Doc abdicated his role as Sorcerer Supreme and losing the Eye of Agamotto along with it.
Appearing intact from the outside, but only when made to appear at all (as it is under a spell of concealment over an abandoned lot - much like back during the days of the "Midnight Sons" - as seen in Part V of this series [HERE]), the Sanctum is now fairly fixed up from the outside - while the inside is more of a "work-in-progress".
(Obviously why Wong was there before.)
Strange v2 # 4
Mark Waid (story), Emma Rios (art), Val Staples (colors)
(a complete review of this series can be found [HERE])
The story that followed on the heels of this mini reveals that the Sanctum was still magically hidden, but that now the interior of the Sanctum was looking more "up to code" and quite livable.
Christine Boylan (story), Cynthia Martin (art), June Chung (colors), Kathleen Marinaccio (letters)
---
In Thunderbolts # 155, Jeff Parker starts the issue off strongly... and not just a bit "strangely" by immediately rectifying a glaring mistake made by Brian "I don't read or care what came before, I just make 'em up as I go along" Bendis, over in the New Avengers.
In recent issues of New Avengers, Bendis had Dr. Strange (and Strange's manservant/assistant/acolyte; Wong) move into Avengers mansion, because (Bendis believes) Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum is uninhabitable - despite several issues of other titles' showing Doc and/or Wong actually fixing up the place, as shown in the examples above.
Add to that strange logic, the fact that Avengers Mansion has also JUST been wrecked (in a mystic battle against "Agamotto" with Doctor Voodoo). New Avengers v2 # 1 - 6
Add to that strange logic, the fact that Avengers Mansion has also JUST been wrecked (in a mystic battle against "Agamotto" with Doctor Voodoo). New Avengers v2 # 1 - 6
Doc and Wong "time-share" in Avengers Mansion
Brian (AGH!) Bendis ("writer"), Stuart Immonen (artist)
However, Jeff Parker puts that mistake to bed by explaining that Doc has set up a mystical doorway from his Avengers Mansion attic-space to his Sanctum-proper - for anyone worthy of admittance.
"I really set up the mystic portal to keep out that hack; Bendis!"
In this way, Parker sets up an elegant solution to Bendis' ham-fisted handling of the former Sorcerer Supreme, by allowing Strange to actually live in his own home, all the while permitting other writers' (Bendis) to have Doc keep a room in the Avengers' mansion.
You can read my glowing review of this issue (and it's previous lead-in) in my reviews:
- THUNDERBOLTS # 154 – with MAN-THING & DOCTOR STRANGE - Love… Like THUNDERBOLTS Straight to My Heart – Part 1 : An Ode to Muck and Magic . - [HERE]
- THUNDERBOLTS # 155 - with MAN-THING & DOCTOR STRANGE - Love… Like THUNDERBOLTS Straight to My Heart – Part 2 : Strange Thing… You Make My Heart Sing! You make everything…GROOVY! - [HERE]
---
More recently, it has been re-established that Doctor Strange resides in his Sanctum Sanctorum, especially as he is now a part of a reborn team of DEFENDERS.
To this end we see the Hulk seek out Strange's aid, first in the 2nd epilogue of 'Fear Itself' # 7 (which also acts as a prologue to the new Defenders series).
"Same Address, Same House.
Gotta give the creepy old magician credit for his consistency."
...and then from the other side of the P.O.V. in 'The Defenders' (2012) # 1.
Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum has been neater, but at least it is intact.
There is one other interior scene from the issue - Doc's bedroom - and it shows the fact that the house is not only habitable, but also sound enough to..."entertain guests".
Sadly, while the Sanctum has been rebuilt, this scene - and the similarly poor treatment that has been shown to Doctor Strange - shows that Strange as a character is still in danger of being torn down.
We can only hope that trend will change.
By Defenders v4 # 4 the Sanctum is shown - inside and out - to be back to all it's former glory.
(And in case anyone was keeping track, in (Red) HULK # 50, Jeff Parker makes sure to mention (again) that even though Doc is back living in his Bleecker Street Sanctum Sanctorum, that there IS a portal to it in his upstairs attic-space within Avengers Mansion.)
By Defenders v4 # 4 the Sanctum is shown - inside and out - to be back to all it's former glory.
(And in case anyone was keeping track, in (Red) HULK # 50, Jeff Parker makes sure to mention (again) that even though Doc is back living in his Bleecker Street Sanctum Sanctorum, that there IS a portal to it in his upstairs attic-space within Avengers Mansion.)
And this brings us up to date on the multiple rises and falls of the Sanctum Sanctorum of Doctor Strange.
If more examples present themselves (and they most certainly will), I will be sure to add them here - or in a new post in this series.
------------------------------------------
Even though it was already posted years ago, I should direct you to check out the series wrap-up(s) -
[HERE] in the "alternate universe" examples:
HOUSING CRISIS : SANCTUS INTERRUPTUS - Part ∞:
- A look in the mirror before heading out.
*The Alternate Universes of the Sanctum*
and wrapping up
[HERE] - in:
Housing Crisis : Sanctus Interruptus -
Building Permit
an * Addendum *
------------------------------------------
Even though it was already posted years ago, I should direct you to check out the series wrap-up(s) -
[HERE] in the "alternate universe" examples:
HOUSING CRISIS : SANCTUS INTERRUPTUS - Part ∞:
- A look in the mirror before heading out.
*The Alternate Universes of the Sanctum*
and wrapping up
[HERE] - in:
Housing Crisis : Sanctus Interruptus -
Building Permit
an * Addendum *
------------------------------------------
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment