Click to make Supreme Sized.
Official Marvel House-Ad for the event.While I pontificated about this subject several months ago (HERE), Marvel's own Tom Brevoort and Brian Michael Bendis finally put forth some official "odds" of their own about who shall be the next Sorcerer Supreme in an article from Comic Book Resources.
I know that comics are cyclical in nature, and that nothing is forever, but still... this entire enterprise fills me with a sense of dread foreboding.
It's not due to the concept of the storyline. Dr. Strange losing the power and/or title of Sorcerer Supreme is hardly ANYTHING new (it's been done at least 6 times before, that I can name off the top of my head) nor is the lead-up prelude of Strange using Dark powers and having to atone for them (that's been at least done 2 or 3 before that I can think of).
Frankly, I'm all FOR a shake up of the status quo every once in a while.
Those aforementioned instances of power-downs, title losses and dark magic were among the very best tales of the good Doctor.
No.
Sadly, the reason for my trepidation lands squarely on the shoulders of the architect of this particular story-line; Brian Michael Bendis.
Bendis has some good ideas at times, but his execution of those ideas is almost NEVER any good.
It's not that he's a bad writer. Truthfully, I will readily admit to LIKING his stuff.
Most of the time, anyway.
Except for his dialogue. Everyone speaks with the same "voice" and hardly EVER are they accurate to what has been accepted as "the norm" for that character.
My main problem isn't even Bendis' horrid treatment and handling of Dr. Strange to date.
There have been a few instances of actual "great potential" in the overall "setting" of Bendis' Stephen Strange. The background workings of the Sanctum Sanctorum in the New Avengers title were sublime.
Although...NOTHING can redeem Bendis' handling of Strange in "The Illuminati", "House of M" or "Avengers Disassembled" - those were abso-fucking-lutely horrid.
Truthfully, it all falls within the parameters of Bendis failing to follow through in any cohesive manner with his grand concepts. All of his epics have fallen flat upon delivery;
"House of M", "Secret War", "Avengers Disassembled", "Illuminati", "Secret Invasion"...
All of them; fantastic concepts. All of them - missing key plot points (or - an ending).
Perhaps, they should all be seen as one sweeping story. One that has yet to end.
Perhaps, they need to be reviewed and critiqued when they are "all" completed (whenever the hell he decides these events will come to a close).
So. Then. The next installment of the Bendis epic-event-a-tron is to recast the life of Doctor Strange and role of the Sorcerer Supreme. It might be good. Or it might suck.
The only silver lining (to no matter WHAT occurs) is that it can be undone (if need be) or I'll be able to finally give up this insane hobby (if Doctor Strange is removed "completely").
Unless the MAN-THING becomes the Sorcerer Supreme... then I'm GOLDEN!
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