STRANGE CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN...STRANGE (Revisited-Redux)

It's not often that I find myself revisiting what should have been a one-off blog post - not just once, but twice more. However, it's not often that Doctor Strange alters his vestments (his "costume", if you prefer that nomenclature). That's not to say that he hasn't done so more than a few times in the past 50 years... but it isn't done often.

Now that I've split hairs on all the semantics above, I'll get down to the subject at hand.

Steve Epting dresses Doctor Strange - from New Avengers v3 # 1 

If I at times repeat points made in either of the previous two entries of this "series", please accept my apologies that the points do deal with the new matters discussed.

As discussed in the previous iteration(s) of this blog post [HERE] & [HERE], since Dr. Strange initially adopted his new Red & Black suit [in the pages of DEFENDERS v4]  it has undergone a few tweaks here and there, either due to artistic preference, or more likely - and the worst reason of all - because the precise design was never fully refined (not "ironed out" if you'll pardon the pun). It had too many vague areas where interpretation could cause confusion.

Terry Dodson's cover to DEFENDERS v4 # 1

Those vague areas included the gauntlets that Strange wore (the origins and image of them found at the first post in this series [HERE]). However, while drawn and designed as intricate and detailed metal armbands by one artist (Gabrielle Del-Otto), they were immediately redesigned and reinterpreted (wrongly) as less detail-specific articles by another (Terry Dodson), which then led every other subsequent artist to reinterpret them as they thought they might be. At best, they had been drawn as simple bands about his forearms (like leggings would be for the lower legs), and at worst, they were drawn as superhero gloves. This mistake was only further confused by the fact that while, originally the gauntlets were gold they were now colored red, and the gloves on Strange's hands -under the gauntlets - were either colored black, red or left off entirely, shown as simple flesh.

Personally, I always thought that the gloves should either be colored black (or left off entirely) to avoid the exact confusion that has been made wherein someone thinks that the red gloves and the red gauntlets are one and the same.

Also of confusion/interpretation was if Strange's suit was skin-tight or comprised of looser fabric. And many artists would leave off the draping fabric "tails" that would flow behind him, instead just having him wear tight-pants.

Then, when the entire look was drawn in it's most crucial moment - at the end of NEW AVENGERS v2 # 34 - when Strange would regain his lost artifacts; the Eye of Agamotto & the Cloak of Levitation, the artist responsible (Mike Deodato) made every wrong choice.

.

Supreme Sorcerer. Stylistically Sub-par.

Thus, not only was the Cloak drawn incorrectly (as I discussed in the previous entry of this "series"), but Strange was drawn with a skin-tight super-suit, at the loss of the draping fabric at his waist, but also the gauntlets were reduced to simple super-hero gloves.

It is this look that is being repeated in the newest volume (v3) of New Avengers, by artist Steve Epting.

I've no love... for the gloves.

Another artistic choice by Epting is that, while he is also following the erroneous design of having the Cloak of Levitation be gilded improperly (see the previous entry for that information), he has also chosen to drawn the high collar (cowl?) of the Cloak in a manner more likened to Strange's original blue cloak - that of a uniformly edged barrel-shape than the sloping and angular collar we've known the past 50 years.

Strange Tales # 126 - Art by Steve Ditko. Words by Stan Lee

As of yet, we've not seen Steve Epting render the entirety of Strange's new garb. For the most of his appearance in the first 2 issues of NEW AVENGERS v3, Doctor Strange has been wrapped in the folds of his cloak, and further draped in shadow. So it is unknown if Steve Epting has decided to follow suit in regards to Strange's...suit. Will he render it as a super-hero skin-tight garment, or do otherwise?

Strangely, the only glimpses we've seen of Strange's entirety come from variant covers, drawn by others. In each of those, it is drawn differently, but for the most part, in keeping with the Deodato redesign.

Variant cover for # 5 by Joe Quinones.

I won't even show the Simone Bianchi variant for # 4 

- as the costume is quite obviously a fantasy-inspired version -

 never-to-be-seen.

However, in the pages of New Avengers v3 # 2 , Epting showed glimpses of what could either be seen as a look into the happenings from other parallel Earths, or what could be future events of our "own" (616) Earth. In that vision, we saw a NEW look for Doctor Strange - with a new symbol at his chest.

Gone is the classic Ditko-designed "demon" spirit, to be replaced by a stylized "EYE" (of Agamotto). Only time will tell if these glimpses prove to be prophesy or mere phantoms of other worlds.

I'm fairly sure the images are events showing what had occurred on OTHER Earths.
And while I doubt that they represent future looks at OUR Illuminati, for my part, I will go on record saying that you'll not get any argument from ME if he does change his look (again).
I like that new symbol!
However, design-wise... it is aesthetically confusing, as it makes 3 "eye" shapes on his uniform (the EYE of Agamotto itself, that symbol and the golden belt buckle).


Still, when all is said and done, I have always liked Steve Epting's artwork - as far back as his 1990's run on the Avengers, and all things considered, he did draw this piece of Doctor Strange (a commission piece?) a scant year or so ago, so it can't be that he's totally forgotten what Strange is supposed to look like.

More than likely, he's just trying some new things.

I'm unsure how I feel about that. I'm unsure how it will all look (and will most likely have to have a final 4th installment to this "series" when Doctor Strange is fully revealed - in issue # 3?), but I'm willing to wait and see.

Since this new volume of NEW AVENGERS looks to be the title that I will have the closest interest, what with writer Jonathan Hickman laying down such coolness as Strange's statement in the scan below... I am willing to invest in it - with my dollars and my faith that all will be worth it.

THIS is every kind of awesome!

I can only hope that we get to SEE Strange's journey.

While it is said that "clothes make the man"... it doesn't hurt to have a haberdasher like Steve Epting and a gentleman's gentleman such as Jonathan Hickman to keep Doctor Stephen Strange at his best.

NEW AVENGERS v2 # 34 END TIMES: Part 4- A REVIEW

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NEW AVENGERS (v.2) # 34

END TIMES – PART 4

BENDIS – story

MIKE DEODATO – art

(with “artist jam” assists from: CHUCK BB, FAREL DALRYMPLE, MING DOYLE, LUCY KNISLEY, BECKY CLOONAN & YVES BIGEREL)

RAIN BEREDO – colors

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Be sure to read the reviews of the previous three issues in this arc:

Issue # 31 [HERE]

Issue # 32 [HERE]

Issue # 33 [HERE]

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For those who like quick, spoiler-free, to-the-point reviews, I’ll post here what I tweeted about my take on reading New Avengers v.2 # 34:

"I read #NewAvengers 34. Bendis' #DoctorStrange arc wrap up. Some good, some bad, some BAD!, a few F*@% YEAH's & PLOT HOLES aplenty."

That sums it up nicely.

However, for those who like their reviews slightly more in-depth (and spoilery)… read on.

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*SPOILER WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT!*

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Ostensibly, with the imperative of wrapping up the loose ends involved with the current story arc (and hopefully also doing so for the dangling plot-lines left over from the previous arcs dealing with Doctor Strange, Doctor Voodoo, Agamotto [and his All-Seeing Eye] and the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme) Brian Michael Bendis produced the script for this issue, wherein Daniel Drumm (Brother Voodoo) seeks the demise of Doctor Strange and the Avengers in retaliation for the death of his brother, Jericho (Doctor Voodoo) Drumm.

It is interesting to note, that in a title called “Avengers”, everyone in this story, not just the heroes, but the villain as well, is trying to avenge someone’s death.

As we saw in the first three issues in this arc, Daniel attacked and seemingly killed both Daimon (Son of Satan) Hellstrom and Jennifer (sorceress, friend of Man-Thing and inheritor of the magic of Zhered-Na)  Kale before turning his attentions to the New Avengers – and Dr. Strange.

Using his ability to possess the bodies of the living, Daniel hopped from one Avenger’s body to the next in split-second exchanges, in order to confuse and sew destruction. He also utilized his abilities to traverse the astral realms, and in so doing, brought about the death of Victoria Hand.

This final issue (both of the story arc, as well as of Brian Michael Bendis’ tenure on the franchise) is all about the final battle of Daniel Drumm (and in essence, due to his body-snatching ability: the entirety of the Avengers) vs Doctor Strange – to the death.

Starting where last issue left off, this issue begins with Strange manifesting among the Avengers, who are being trounced by Daniel Drumm’s body-hopping, hit-and-run combat technique.

However, Bendis immediately forgets the parameters of Daniel Drumm’s powers and has artist Mike Deodato draw the entire Avengers line-up standing against Strange, en masse, when Daniel is only able to possess ONE at a time. Even at split-second body-jumps, he can’t realistically control all the members of both teams simultaneously.
That said, it doesn’t stop the double-page spread, drawn by Deodato, from being 100% filled with F*@% YEAH awesomeness. The implied upcoming ass-kickery is truly exciting.

Also of illustrative excellence is the following page wherein Doctor Strange, dynamically foreshortened, in mystical prestidigitation mode, talks smack and (with the exception of Thor) nullifies the threat posed by these possessed aggressors by wrapping them in the Crimson bands of Cytorrak. Thor however, manages to break them all free with enchanted lightning summoned forth by Mjolnir.

What come next are several pages of battle; but it seems that the reader is the one who feels the most pain from the altercations, as each of the next 6 pages are drawn by a different artist in a “jam session” of conflicting and jarring styles.  Most of these artists (predominantly “indie” illustrators) are either not ready for prime-time, or were the improper choices for a series of scenes as dynamic as these should have been. With the exception of two pages, by Farel Dalrymple and Becky Cloonan, which were nice to look at but were simply the wrong tone for the book, the rest of these jam pages were cartoony and amateurish, and absolutely TORE me from the story and ruined what could have been an epic battle sequence.

However, even therein is something positive about them, as it was very interesting to see some of these artists, who otherwise seem uninitiated to how Dr. Strange's abilities work, bestow upon him some nifty new tricks. Perhaps my favorite new power being Lucy Knisley's portrayal of Strange's spoken spell being shown visually, granting Strange the ability to totally dominate Captain America, effortlessly bringing the super soldier to his knees.

Unfortunately, experimental art aside, Bendis didn’t do much to help things along much either, as it seemed evident that his story needed to wrap up, post haste, and so he chose a truly curious stratagem –  OUROBOROS LOGIC; A.K.A: the PLOT HOLE (or more accurately one of a series of plot holes, not first and foremost, the total disregard of his own [and others’] previous written work)!

The whole contradictory, circuitous logic of the plot resolution deals with the use of dark magic.

Daniel Drumm sought to kill sorcerers who were using dark magicks, since only they would have the true power to defeat him. Strange, ever a wielder of “white” magicks states in the story that “when [he] was Sorcerer Supreme [he] would NEVER EVER use the dark arts.”  Yet, the story-driven reason for Strange giving up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme was because he did not feel worthy of it – due to his actually using the dark arts - to combat the Hulk during the “World War Hulk” debacle. (This is ignoring the fact that Strange HAD USED the dark arts even prior to that - during the entirety of the 2^nd volume of ‘Strange Tales’ - out of necessity. But we’ve long known Bendis doesn’t read [or care about] what comics were written before his).

So, in order to defeat Daniel Drumm (who is in essence using forms of voodoo and necromancy – a dark magic), Doctor Strange must resort to using dark magic, and essentially dissipates Drumm’s spirit into nothingness by utilizing “Zhadana Spell of Astral Form Destruction – from the Scrolls of Damnation!

Damn.

Thus we find that once again (for the third major time for those counting [not including some other minor instances of same]) that when in absolute need, Doctor Strange WILL pull out the black magic cannon.

So, let me see if I understand Bendis’ entire plot resolution to the scenario that he himself put in place: Doc uses dark magic to combat a dire threat, and thus can no longer be Sorcerer Supreme,  is... to have Doc use dark magic to combat a dire threat in order to RECLAIM the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme?

OK. Gotcha.

And to wrap it all up, Bendis uses another plot hole but merges it with a “Deus ex machina” solution. (Ironic in that the very reason for Doctor Strange’s “demotion” from the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme and power loss being a direct result of editorial edict that HE was too much of a “Deus ex machina” – and thus proving the point that I have always stated; it’s not the fault of a character who is used as a “D.e.M” but the poor author who writes himself into a corner and thus has need of one.)

During the battle between Strange and Drumm, we saw Daimon Hellstrom (seemingly alive and well, in a void) speaking to someone off-panel about how all this is a test, and that there needs to be a Sorcerer Supreme. That someone..?

The ANCIENT ONE!

I’ve long been one to call for a return of the Ancient One, in some capacity, to Doctor Strange’s supporting cast, and while I was happy in some way to see him “in the flesh”, it also struck me as wrong.

First, it seemed inherently incongruous that this ancient master, steeped in myth and legend (and since dying having become “one with all”) would be able to be seen by such “mere” mortals as the Avengers. It would have been best if he were only visible to Strange. His standing in the presence of such colorfully attired super-heroes somehow reduces the Ancient One’s status. Does that make sense to anyone but me?

Still, aside from my own personal “feeling” about it is the story-driven fact that it makes little sense.

Remember back in issues # 1 – 6, when the spirit of the Ancient One was the one who stated that Strange was a failure and no good and blah-blah-blabbity-blah, and was in league with “Agamotto” in his efforts to defeat Strange and claim the Eye of Agamotto for whatever purpose? (Seriously, it’s complicated. Just go read my in-depth analysis of that arc [HERE]) Well… with ZERO mention of that whole event, the Ancient One just shows up and deems Strange fit to be Sorcerer Supreme and bequeaths once again to him the Cloak of Levitation and Eye of Agamotto.

But wait…uh…wasn’t the Eye destroyed? Doc sure thought so (and so, by extension, did we). So why is it no explanation is offered?

OK fine, Doctor Strange once again is in possession of the Eye of Agamotto…

Oh, but wait… isn’t Agamotto dead? Depending on which origin of the EYE you follow, it might not even work at all without Agamotto to empower it.

Oh, wait. I know… the answer is so simple. It’s BENDIS!

Still, Bendis continued to do one thing right... he has Stephen Strange THINK (and research) his way to a solution (albeit, off-panel).

And I do need to allow for the admission that seeing Doctor Strange standing triumphant with his talismans, once again the Sorcerer Supreme was indeed a totally F*@% YEAH moment! (and possibly worth the self-lobotomizing required to take all this at face value.)

While my overall thoughts for this story arc are positive ones, there are some disappointments:

The least of which is simply of a cover design –to- story ratio. The quadtych cover should have had Doctor Strange on the cover for # 34 as opposed to # 31. It’s his wrap-up, after all. Iron Fist featured fairly large in issue # 31, so swapping the two characters’ positions in the artwork would have been best – building to the crescendo of the Doctor Strange finale’. But that’s a very minor nit that only an obsessive-compulsive/anal-retentive, art-nerd like myself would note.

Mike Deodato's quadtych artwork for the covers of

NEW AVENGERS v2 # 31, 32, 33 34

One disappointment with the story is that Jericho (Doctor Voodoo) Drumm did not make an appearance. His tale, now, it seems, has been writ. But there is no way I can believe (nor Fred Hembeck, I’m sure) that it was meant to stay as it is, with Voodoo dead. I don’t doubt that the editors in charge had Voodoo’s name on as list of “characters you can kill off”. Heck… Hawkeye was on that list (remember his death in the “Disassembled” arc “NOT LIKE THIS!”) Well, Voodoo has never been popular, and yet… they were actually doing it. Jericho Drumm was growing as a character!

Jericho Drumm as ‘Doctor Voodoo’ was finally a chance at doing right by the character. Bendis treated him fairly well in his early dealings with the character (New Avengers v.1 # 29 - 30) and Voodoo had a better-than-average mini-series of his own, but once Voodoo became “an Avengers character” Bendis used him to further the ends of his own story. Perhaps Thor, in this issue, is being utilized to expresses the proper accusation – but instead of saying it to Dr. Strange, it is Bendis' way of addressing meta-commentary of fans' accusations to Bendis himself; “…YOU killed him. YOU set him up to fail.”

Even so, there were (and still are) many places for Doctor Voodoo to be used in the future.  His brother, as well. Voodoo is in itself a form of magic that deals with death, so I can believe he’ll be back – eventually.

Remember the whole “Drumm of Revenge” notation on the wall-map of Tony Stark’s future-self? (See it [HERE]) In a timeline of big events that affected the Marvel Universe, it was placed alongside such momentous events as the death of the Human Torch and the return of the original X-Men.

Far be it for me to say that this arc presented a minor foeman in the likes of Daniel Drumm (seeing as how he did manage to kill at least one “Avenger”; Victoria Hand), but this entire event took all of a day in “real” time and couldn’t have really been any more “important” than any other adventure.

It seems to me like something more substantial was initially intended, but time constraints, due to the onset of the new 'Marvel NOW!' era and Bendis’ choice to depart the Avengers franchise for all things “X”, led to a quick retooling of the story in the need to set things back to being as close to “pre-Bendis” as possible.

Due to the cyclical nature of the “implied growth” that comics presents, added to the end of the “Bendis-era” on the title, it basically was tantamount to “rearranging the deck-chairs on the Titanic”.

Unless… perhaps… this IS what was planned (in some manner or other) and the “Event” aspect of the “Drumm of Revenge” is but a simpler way of denoting the myriad aspects of this adventure: the death of an Avenger, the reinstatement of Doctor Strange as the major mystical force, and the “end” of the New Avengers. In which case, sure… I’ll buy that. I do think more was planned, but this will do.

Probably my biggest disappointment (and I know this will sound strange and slightly “blasphemous”,) is that I am NOT a fan of Doctor Strange’s NEW new look. Combining his new black and red costume with the Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto is just a fashion nightmare. But THAT is the subject of my NEXT blog post. Look for it this weekend soon!

However, at the end of it all, we are left with Doctor Strange, once again, as the Sorcerer Supreme – and that is a great thing, indeed.

*UPDATE*

Check out the comments section for continued discussion on implied events, theories, the status of the Ancient One & Agamotto, and the fate of Doctor Voodoo.

NEW AVENGERS v2 # 33 END TIMES: Part 3- A REVIEW

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NEW AVENGERS (v.2) 33

END TIMES – PART 3

BENDIS – story

MICHAEL AVON OEMING – art

RAIN BEREDO – colors

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Be sure to read the reviews of the previous two issues in this arc:

Issue # 31 [HERE]

Issue # 32 [HERE]

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*SPOILER WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT*

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As if the previous issue wasn’t good enough, the action and tension is ratcheted up another notch in this, the penultimate issue of Brian Bendis’ New Avengers (v2)!

The issue starts off exactly where we were left last issue (well, that’s not quite true – for some reason, the first two issues of this issue are spent retelling the last two pages of the previous issue –exactly; word for word). Doctor Strange, teleporting to New Orleans seeks to warn (and possibly gain aid from) Daimon Hellstrom (the Son of Satan), only to find the former Defender demonologist dead and desiccated. At the same moment, (one of seemingly two embodiments of) Maria Hill; Acting Director of SHIELD arrive and seek to take Strange into custody – both for the death of Victoria Hand (last issue) as well as for the apparent murder of Daimon Hellstrom.

The artwork, by longtime Bendis co-creator, Michael Avon Oeming (POWERS) is a jarring jolt from all others in this arc (or any other in the series) as his style here is a strange fusion of Craig McCraken and Genndy Tartakovsky, the worst rush job by Erik Larsen and… a five-year-old with a thick black ‘Sharpie’ magic marker.

Seriously, the art is not good for this story.

Oeming’s work at other times (POWERS predominantly), while still drawn the same style is usually more refined and polished - more along the lines of Bruce Timm. Here it seems as if the entire issue was drawn in a day.

Still, the artwork can not deter (much) from the much-better-than-expected Brian Bendis story – which ends with one of the only F*@% YEAH! moments that Dr. Strange has enjoyed in many, many a year! The fact that this totally kick-ass scene is by the graces of Brian Bendis makes me think that his choice of "END TIMES" as a title may be darkly ironic... as perhaps the Mayan Apocalypse is going to come to pass, because it surely must be that the End of Days is here, and Hell is to freeze over.

During a protracted game of cat-and-mouse (or, more accurately, when dealing with an enemy that can possess the body of whomever he wishes in a split second: “Who Is Sleeping in MY Head?”), wherein Daniel Drumm (the usually-dead half of the 1-alive/ 1-dead sibling hero tag-team called “Brother [then Doctor] Voodoo”) uses every available New Avenger to lay waste to each other. Then the (adjectiveless) Avengers arrive (including heavy-hitters like Thor, Red-Hulk, Iron Man and Wolverine) and Drumm beats them like his slightly differently-spelled namesake!

Through all this, Luke Cage, his wife Jessica and their infant child are trying to get as far as possible from the goings on at Avengers Mansion, until Jessica realizes that Luke is needed to help the team and sends him back into the action – with a promise to return to her in one piece.

Spider-Man too is hoping to get the hell outta Dodge, but the legal mind of Matt (Daredevil) Murdock tells him that would be the very worst thing to do. Of course, that is a moot point as the spirit of Daniel Drumm possesses the Thing and has him toss DD and Spidey outside so that he can add them to his potential victims.

Despite Doctor Strange originally hoping to put as much distance between himself and anyone else who Daniel Drumm could possess to use against him, once it became apparent that the heroes can’t fight Drumm without fighting (and injuring) each other, Strange appears in their midst and calls the vengeful spirit out for a smack-down!

 “You want to ruin me? You want to take away everything I have? Well then DO it, coward. Come AT me. I’m right here. I challenge you, Daniel. In front of the Avengers. In front of the World. Sorcerer to Sorcerer, I challenge you! TO THE DEATH!”

OK. We’ll give Bendis a pass for the fact that Daniel Drumm, a Voodoo Houngan is not a sorcerer, per se. Even I will just shut up, sit back and await next issue’s magic melee!

However, my underlying fear is, since Bendis is notorious for slow story progression, and then rushing an unsatisfying ending; with three issues of a four-issue arc spent with a build-up (not to mention the previous arcs in the whole “Sorcerer Supreme” set of stories), there’s only one issue left with which to wrap up not only this arc, but also answer the “Who is to be Sorcerer Supreme?” question.

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Come back again to read the review of the final issue of this arc, scheduled to ship to comic shoppes Wednesday, November 28th 2012. My review should hopefully be posted very soon thereafter.

See you then!

NEW AVENGERS v2 # 32 END TIMES: Part 2- A REVIEW

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NEW AVENGERS (v.2) # 32

END TIMES – PART 2

BENDIS – story

CARLOS PACHECO – pencils

ROGER MARTINEZ with CAM SMITH and SCOTT HANNA – inks

RAIN BEREDO – colors

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*SPOILER WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT*

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Starting off where last issue left off (see review [HERE]) this issue finds the New Avengers all gathered inside the mansion as Doctor Strange administers to Victoria Hand, who, while under the influence of a possessing spirit, attacked several practitioners of the occult and then came to Avengers Mansion only to faint dead away.

Doctor Strange instructs the team to get out of the room, but since they see Doc as usually a mellow cat, instead mill around debating what course of action to next pursue. It is then that Strange explodes in an angry command of: “EVERYBODY OUT!”; much to the dumbfounded shock of all assembled.

(Also with that angry outburst, Dr. Strange simultaneously joined the ranks of the gak-mouthed, spit-string-afflicted - a phenomenon hardly seen since the grim-n-gritty 1990’s.)

Next, Dr. Strange casts one of Bendis’ trademarked “book-and-page-number” spells and recreates a favorite scene from GHOSTBUSTERS (“I find her interesting because she sleeps above her covers… four FEET above her covers!”) as he semi-levitates Victoria Hand while extracting her astral form.

(Just as a “by-the-way”… Victoria Hand with her black-&-red two-toned hair [and her black-and-white clothes] would make an awesome girlfriend for the newly black-&-red clad Strange – who also has two-tone [black-&-white] hair). At least visually. And besides... he’s already got her in bed and showing her a few tricks that have arched her back, caused her to grip the sheets and have her breasts nearly pop out of her blouse. …OK. I’ll stop, but really… everyone else saw that too, right? Not only that, but when he brings her to the Astral Plane, he also makes a field of flowers – complete with falling flower petals cascading all around her bed. I mean… c’mon! How ELSE am I supposed to see this? She even admits to having checked her dating websites; saying this to him while her blouse is falling open. And don’t get me started on the “But we barely know each other” panel OR the panel near the end where Doc grabs some side-boob. C’MON!!! …OK… I’ll stop now. I promise. But sheesh!)

Still with my (only slightly joking) aside, this is as good a time as any to discuss the artwork for the issue. Each of these final issues (of both; New Avengers as well as the ‘Adjectiveless’ Avengers) feature a rotating cast of illustrators who have worked with Bendis before – this issue’s penciller being Carlos Pacheco.

Carlos Pacheco has long been one of my favorite comic artists. I can best describe his style as a marriage between Salvador Larocca and José Luis García-López - or perhaps - Alan Davis and Neil Adams-inspired Michael Golden with some Jackson Guice pseudo-realism thrown in, all the while being uniquely his own. Needless to say, I (normally) LOVE his work! But here… something is wrong. Most likely a by-product of a rushed deadline and different inkers, Pacheco’s work looks nothing like it has ever done. Flat and lifeless, with none of his usual dynamism and style, this issue is a visual let-down.

Still, that wasn’t enough to deter me as this issue proved to be a rare piece of excellence by Brian Bendis! No. I’m quite serious. I truly liked it!

Of course, that’s not to say it didn’t have several “Bendisisms” and errors, but the overall story of the issue was solid tension and heart-gripping (literally) excitement!

After last issue’s obvious tease, the menace of Daniel Drumm (“Brother Voodoo”) is revealed, appearing to Strange (and Victoria) on the Astral Plane. Of course, this is itself but one of the weird errors that Bendis writes into the story that found me baffled.

Dr. Strange, thinking that the Astral Plane would be the safest place to speak with Victoria Hand (since he didn’t know if any of the other Avengers had been possessed by Drumm’s invading spirit) then asks Drumm to reveal himself! This of course leads to a direct attack leading to the ***SPOILER ALERT*** astral heart-ripping and real-world killing of Victoria Hand!

Add to the typical Bendis slip-ups that he is still having Strange cast spells which would entail empowerment by the Vishanti – even after Bendis had already stated that the mystic tribunal had ceased to be. Does he not understand that spells are allowed to activate by the Deity to whom they are supplicating? Evidently not. That or the Vishanti are NOT dissolved, but then wouldn’t Strange also know this – immediately?

A minor visual nit to pick: Wouldn’t the Astral Forms of Doc and Victoria be “ghostly” as is usually the case? I’ll earn myself a No-Prize and say that Doc “colored them in” so as to lessen Ms. Hand’s disorientation. (I’ll also No-Prize myself by saying that Daniel Drumm’s usual human astral self has been corrupted by his hatred so as to resemble the demonic entity he appears as here.)

With her death scream, Strange is shunted back to the physical plane, where he is discovered, looming over the bloody corpse of Victoria Hand, by the New Avengers and Acting Director of SHIELD, Maria Hill. Framed for Victoria’s death, Doctor Strange is forced to go on the run; both to protect the rest of the Avengers, as well as distance himself from anyone who can, in turn, be possessed and attack him directly.

Strange teleports (something he has hardly ever done since his giving up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme), first to Greenwich Village to better contact and warn his friend & manservant, Wong – instructing his Tibetan acolyte to hide himself well, even from Strange himself – because Strange can not be allowed to trust anyone, or trust that he will not be possessed himself and thus used as a weapon against his friends.

Yet, despite this (and the fact that Hellstrom has been a villain for much of the past year’s worth of comic stories – as I spoke of in last issue’s review) Strange teleports again to New Orleans to see Daimon Hellstrom. Now, if I were worried about a powered individual being possessed and attacking me, the very last place I would go is to see the Son of Satan. However, Bendis gives an admirable and plausible rationale for this visitation; Strange says that even while he himself requires help, he would be remiss if he did not at least try to warn Daimon of the dire threat. Heroes being heroic? It’s BEEN awhile!

I was, at first, under the impression that the teleportation spells cast on Dr. Strange were not of his own doing, since he was, upon reappearing, manifesting at great heights and plunging to the ground below. This belief was also reinforced by the fact that Strange, upon crashing to a rooftop in the “big easy”, clutched at his heart and pleaded with himself not to have a heart-attack!

But, then I thought that the “forced” nature of “Mordune’s Forced Teleportation Spell” is that there is no graceful segue from Point A to Point B. Just a quick lateral shunt. Since Doc was in an upper-floor bedroom in Avengers Manse, when appearing in the Village he was also at the same height and plunged to the ground. Then, a New York ground-level Strange might appear above a house’s rooftop when travelling to New Orleans - a city below sea-level. If so… a NICE touch by the creative team!

This is seriously a GREAT series of scenes for Doctor Strange! Bendis perfectly captures the feeling of Doc on the run, which has been done well only a few other times in the past - this issue felt much like Lee & Ditko's classic 'STRANGE TALES' 130 - 146! Higher praise I can not give. Bravo, Mr. Bendis!

And yet… and yet… Bendis, with his little scene of Strange hoping against a myocardial-infarction, forgets that Strange is (or at least should be) immune to such a thing. When passing one of the Ancient One’s final tests (as seen in Doctor Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 4), Strange accepted and defeated Death, and was granted immortality – of a sort.

While he can die in battle, from wounds received, his body does neither age nor suffer from disease affiliated with mortality. Thus a heart-attack should be impossible (or at least improbable). Now, is that ‘Death Test’ rendered null & void since Strange is no longer Sorcerer Supreme? I can’t rightfully say.

Either way, Strange is too late, for as we saw last issue, the Son of Satan was the first victim of the vengeful Brother Voodoo. Strange is speaking to, and in time reveals the desiccated, eyeless husk of his friend/foe/fellow-mystic/former-Defender…Daimon Hellstrom!

The issue ends with the highly improbable appearance of Maria Hill and some SHIELD agents getting the drop on Doc as he is standing above the corpse of yet another dead mystic - informing him that he is under arrest (improbable because she was just at Avengers Mansion investigating the attacks and deaths associated with this arc). I can only surmise that Ms. Hill; acting Director of SHIELD has got herself from nifty L.M.D.’s (Life Model Decoys) of her very own.

I wonder if an artificial entity can be possessed by an invading, malevolent spirit? I guess we’ll see next issue.

---

Come back to read my review of next issue [HERE]

NEW AVENGERS v2 # 31 END TIMES: Part 1- A REVIEW

NEW AVENGERS (v.2) # 31

END TIMES – PART 1

BENDIS – story

GOYDOS - art

BEREDO – colors

---------
*SPOILER WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT*

And lo! It came to pass… here we are at the beginning of the end of the Bendis era on the Avengers franchise, as we examine the final arc on the New Avengers; specifically, as this storyline promises to wrap up the dangling plotline of the status of DOCTOR STRANGE, the life and death of DOCTOR VOODOO, the mystery of the entity calling itself AGAMOTTO, and the very fate of the SORCERER SUPREME!

In previous story arcs, long-time Avengers writer, Brian Michael Bendis has done much to malign the very character of Doctor Strange, by scripting the mystic master’s downfall, loss of Supreme Sorcerer status, and subsequent portrayal as a sad sack novice.

Oh yeah, lest I forget, Brian Michael Bendis also swore to “fix” Marvel’s base of magic usage, but instead merely turned it into a random generation of unoriginal sounding spells; listed, footnote style as they are utilized. By the demonic dealings of Dewey Decimal, I say desist!

***You can read my thoughts on Bendis’ previous handlings of the realms of Marvel Magic (just click either the 'BENDIS' or the 'NEW AVENGERS' labels in the list on the left side of the blog, for all the previous entries to be summoned forth - in reverse chronological order)…***

But here, in these final issues, Bendis has a chance to redeem not only himself, but Doctor Strange as well. Can he do it? We'll find out.

At the start of this issue, we look in on Daimon Hellstrom (the “Son of Satan”) who himself is viewing some disturbance on the astral plane. He immediately calls upon Doctor Strange to inquire as to what it’s all about. Thus, not even 2 panels into the issue and Bendis has already ignored current continuity.

In every other comic, ever since the events of ‘Fear Itself: the Fearless’ (including stories in ‘Journey Into Mystery’ and ‘Venom’) Daimon has turned heel and has been a villain. During the actual moment where he did revert to type, he betrayed Doctor Strange in the middle of a battle with demons. So, I doubt very highly that Doc would be someone who would expect a “friendly call” from the Son of Satan.

Not only that, but apparently Victoria Hand, Avenger’s liaison, comes by to ask Daimon if he has witnessed anything out of the ordinary. She claims that she has been sent by Captain America on “Avengers Business”. If Bendis actually read any comics but his own, he’d know that Captain America is keenly aware of Hellstrom’s return to wickedness, and wouldn’t have sent anyone to ask Daimon any favors. In point of fact, Daimon would know that as well, and so he would have known that the entity calling itself “Victoria Hand” would not be what she/it claims to be – thus sparing himself from the glowing spear to the chest.

Oh, minor nit… someone please tell Bendis that Daimon’s name is “HellSTROM” not “HellSTORM”. Hellstorm was a “superhero” name he used very briefly. Stupid (sexy) Bendis.
Although, truthfully, the blame may fall on the shoulders of letterer, Joe Caramagna.

The next scene shows more of Bendis’ trademark “dinner table theatre”, with the New Avengers doing what they do best; eat and crack jokes. *sigh*

However, Bendis does take this opportunity to clean up a small mess he made in a previous issue. Back in  Bendis' 2nd (adjectiveless) Avengers # 18, when all the various heroes were forced to come to Avengers Mansion, we saw Luke Cage (“Power Man”) and his wife, Jessica Jones (“Jewel”/”Alias”/”Power-Woman”) grousing that it was THEIR house, and that they paid for it “with our own damn money”, as if they actually bought the house with a big amount of cash – instead of a mere symbolic ONE DOLLAR transaction…with a dollar BORROWED from Danny “Iron Fist” Rand.

Well, here, finally, we hear Cage state that it was the $1.00 gift purchase (back in issue # 1 of Bendis' 2nd  volume of "adjectiveless" Avengers) that made Avengers Manse into ‘Casa del Cage’. Yes. It's an extremely minor nit, but one that bugged me since that issue, because it seemed that Bendis couldn’t keep his own facts straight.

After a quick and cute series of jokes from Spider-Man, we cut to Miami where Jennifer Kale (sorceress and friend of Man-Thing) is under attack by the same entity who is possessing “Victoria Hand”. I won’t pick yet another nit by asking why Kale is wearing Arcanna’s old costume. I mean… how many mistakes can occur in the first 6 pages?  Well, add yet another, because since when can Jennifer Kale use her magic to FLY?

It’s been established that Doctor Strange was able to FLY due to use of the Cloak of Levitation, and though he could levitate without it, flight would be either improbable or very physically taxing (or perhaps requiring a spell of the “Winds of Watoom” to keep him aloft). So while Strange has been shown to be flying around as of late without the Cloak, one can hope that a logical reason can be given (although none has been offered as yet; because to quote Joe Quesada; “It’s magic, we don’t have to explain it!”) My guess is that he is either expending the energy to call forth Watoomb OR those nifty red gauntlets he’s been wearing of late have some flight spell built in.

However, Jennifer Kale, as powerful as she might be, is still not in Doctor Strange’s class (even in his currently weakened state - although as a pupil of Dakimh the Enchanter and inheritor of the mystic might of Zhered-Na, she very well has the potential to be), so again I wonder as to how she is shown to be flying? Screw it. Let’s just say it’s the Winds of Watoomb so I can move past it.

Sadly, Kale won’t be able to move past it as she too is impaled by the mystic lance.

(Although, to my eyes, judging by “Victoria’s” reaction, it seems as if Kale successfully blocked the attack and teleported away just at the last moment.)

The artwork of Michael Gaydos in the issue makes it difficult to really get a firm idea of the nuances of what is going on, as his work is sloppier than ever and gets progressively worse as the issue progresses.

The scene of Doctor Strange and Iron Fist meditating is nice to see – even if Iron Fist can’t see,m to keep his mind on the spiritual realm. The punchline of the set-up is worth it, and whether Strange is serious or just dryly agreeing with Danny Rand so that they can focus on their meditations, it’s still funny either way.

Next we have Ms. Marvel (now calling herself Captain Marvel) and Jessica “Jewel” Jones-Cage talking “girl talk”, but despite the nice interaction between the two women the entire scene is marred by the strange and unnatural habit of calling the baby; “it”. Having the mother of an infant saying; “IT is a cute baby” is wrong on every level and I challenge anyone to find a loving mother who refers to her baby as ‘IT”.

The issue wraps with a scene involving the FBI, SHIELD and the New Avengers all in hot debate over the reports coming in about Jennifer Kale’s disappearance.

The entity that is possessing Victoria Hand leaves her for the superior form of Captain (Ms.) Marvel and the last thing we see is what is supposed to be a menacing, grinning look on the countenance of Capt. Marvel, but it looks more like (as a friend of mine referred to it) a really bad portrait drawn by a 10 year old, of his mom.  LOL!

Obviously, it is evident to everyone that this possessing spirit is Daniel Drumm, the brother of Jericho Drumm – out to take revenge on the team for the death of his brother during the whole “Agamotto” mess (all you need to know about that [HERE].

 ----

Come back to read the review of the next issue [HERE].

THE MIGHTY - REVEALED!

Well, MARVEL finally shone a spotlight on the previously silhouetted images of "THE MIGHTY" (as I last blogged about [HERE]).
Here we see the "team" in their full regalia ready for the wrap up to the "FEAR ITSELF" storyline.

From left to right:

Ms. Marvel, Iron Fist, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Red She-Hulk, Wolverine, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Spider-Man

With weaponry created by Tony Stark (with the aid of Asgardian weapon-smiths) and costume-detailing inspired by Disney's Tron, this is a hodge-podge of cool idea and not-quite-there-yet bit of design.

While this is pretty much exactly what I expected when I saw the original teaser image, I had hoped that Marvel would put forth more of a cool visual.

The Original Teaser Image

Seriously, even the all-black with only glowing hightlights look of the TEASER is better than the final designs.

Oh, well... anything that utilizes Doctor Strange in a positive, mass-exposured, light is fine with me.

IT'S EITHER IN YOU OR IT'S NOT -or-The MIGHTY - The WORTHY

----
IT'S EITHER IN YOU OR IT'S NOT.
ARE YOU MIGHTY?
ARE YOU WORTHY?
IT'S EITHER IN YOU OR IT'S NOT.

Among the things that have been getting my interest levels back up are these new series of promotional images from Marvel.

IT'S EITHER IN YOU OR IT'S NOT.

A possible return to greatness for Stephen Strange?

(or could it be someone ELSE in the Cloak?)

---

Iron Fist

---

It is an obvious mystery as to whether those two images (but the first two of an ongoing series of promotional images this week) are hinting at a new series of individual new titles (much like DC's "new 52" series launch), or a joint series featuring the characters whose silhouettes are being teased (as Marvel has done with every new team title over the past few years - ie; New Avengers, Secret Avengers, etc...), which could be Marvel's magical answer to DC's "JLA DARK", or a big "Magic Event" (which is loooooong overdue - having been hinted at and teased in many comics over the past half-decade), or even if they're just re-pitching the "MIGHTY" teaser image (as seen below) which is the wrap up to "Fear Itself"...

The MIGHTY (Avengers?)

In shadowy silhouette:

Ms. Marvel, Iron Fist, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, She Hulk?, Wolverine, Mockingbird?, Hawkeye, Spider-Man

The "Mighty" being the heroic counter-force to the villainous (possessed by the evil "Serpent") "Worthy".

Sin, The Thing, Attuma, Hulk, Juggernaut, Grey Gargoye, Titania, Absorbing Man

Also, to add to the mystery of the solo images, are various key-words being used to comprise the forms of the hinted-at characters. Words that describe each character and their unique powers/ history/ origins.

And, added to that mystery are the appearance of selected colored individual letters.
Thus far, 4 color groups are shown; RED, BROWN, ORANGE and YELLOW.

Taking the individual colored letters from each image could lead to four unique phrases?

Also noted is the number "3".
The Dr. Strange image has a "3" where his chin would be (under the symbol for 'Infinity').
The Iron Fist image has a "33" big and bold on his chest.

What could that mean?
Depending on how many images are to follow, will the "3's" continue?
Or other numbers that might add up to something?
Or a magic number that bears some meaning to this mystery?

See? This is a great way to add buzz to comics and generate anticipation of new launches.

IT'S EITHER IN YOU OR IT'S NOT.

If they're talking about renewed interest... it is IN me.

(THAT SAID... if there exist ANY actual promotional posters or prints of the DR STRANGE and/or MIGHTY images.. someone out there had better PLEASE contact me to make them available for purchase - or as a gift. No. Seriously. Drop me an email.).

What's On The Other Side...

I had hoped to have my in-depth review of New Avengers # 5 up today, but alas, real-world responsibilities (and the post's growing size) prevented that from coming to pass.

However, all is not lost, as this entry really should be made first anyway (and, I was looking to have made this post several days ago, anyway... so, really, I've just shunted the whole publication schedule a little).

The reason for this post needing to come first is that it shows (and I will also be linking back to it form my NA # 5 review) what is to come after the events of that issue, thus helping me in some of my theories.

So, here is what we can expect in a month or so.

And just for the sake of tradition, I'll pull up this hoary old image to create the mood:

"Greetings, my friends.
We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I
are going to
spend the rest of our lives..."
... while reading comics.

"Official" graphic for this feature; "doctored" image from the cover to Strange Tales # 156
(original art by Marie Severin)

=============

Alrighty then.


First, let's see what's looming on the horizon


And by LOOMING, I truly mean that...

SHUMA GORATH!

INVADERS NOW! #4 (of 5)
Story by CHRISTOS GAGE & ALEX ROSS
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Penciled by CAIO REISS
Cover by ALEX ROSS
Variant Cover by HOWARD CHAYKIN
You've seen the Invaders go up against Nazis, super-villains and mutant monsters...but you've never seen them take on an elder god. Shuma-Gorath -- "He Who Sleeps But Shall Awake" -- has set his sights on our world, and only the greatest heroes of World War II can stop him...quite possibly at the cost of their own souls!

For anyone NOT following the INVADERS: NOW mini-series, it seems to have a mystic-menace angle, with the first issue featuring the N'Garai demons and the golden age Vision being all "there is a mystic menace that is tied to our collective pasts"...

So, it is by only a small surprise that by issue 4, the shit really hits the fan with the appearance of Shuma Gorath; "He who sleeps but shall awaken".

Last seen being defeated (off-panel) by Doctor Strange in the "KNIGHTS 4" series (issues 25-27) the ancient evil has again returned.

I have long believed that this is ALL part of a mystical war undercurrent that has been brewing for years (I won't go into it again, but it revolves around a bunch of teaser stories from several years ago, wherein such events as we're seeing now in New Avengers were foretold to be coming).
With events like the Chaos War, the New Mutants in Limbo, Vampires in X-Men and much much more... the Marvel Universe is looking very "magical" as of late.

So, perhaps.
Just perhaps... the baddie behind it all in New Avengers will ultimately be shown to be someone like Shuma Gorath, or one of his emissaries.

---

As for the New Avengers and Doctor Strange and Doctor Voodoo, we'll see them in the next issue of New Avengers (# 6) but it looks like one -or both- of them might not be the same

NEW AVENGERS #6
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by STUART IMMONEN
The shocking battle for our dimension comes to a shattering conclusion; and not everyone will survive!! Who will make the ultimate sacrifice to save us? Marvel fans will not want to miss this startling chapter in Avengers history.

My theory is that Doctor Voodoo, having lost his brother's spirit (Daniel Drumm perhaps being the one who makes the "ultimate" sacrifice) will go rogue and be all "Lawful Neutral" or "Neutral Evil" (to use classic D&D alignment terms).
Notice how Voodoo has his face all in shadow? And Strange's face is HALF shadowed?

Doctor Strange is looking to get a bad hand thrust upon him.

---

After the events of New Avengers, Doc is outed with the rest of the Illuminati and will have to deal with the mess of the Infinity Gems in the pages of the next arc of (adjectiveless - "classic") AVENGERS, starting with # 8.

AVENGERS # 8
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
The Story: The return of the Illuminati! Marvel's super-secret brain trust has reunited because someone is trying to put the Infinity Gauntlet back together. Who is it and will the Avengers be able to stop them in time? And what does any of this have to do with the Red Hulk?

This could very well be the tipping point for Doc, and sends him off to that "space adventure" in the HULK titles (as shown here in a previous post entitled; "Strange-us Quo - or- Future Doc"- [HERE]

Because, by the very next issue, Doc is supposedly channeling the evil ZOM energies that he absorbed from 'World War Hulk' - and which started the whole mess of his losing the title of Sorcerer Supreme.

INCREDIBLE HULKS #619
Written by GREG PAK
Penciled by PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
A CHAOS WAR TIE-IN!
As the onslaught of the Chaos King threatens existence itself, a terrible secret from the past makes Marlo Chandler, Rick Jones's wife, the most important mortal on the planet. The Incredible Hulks race their most demonic enemies across the country to reach Marlo in time -- but can they handle the revelations she brings? Plus: the return of Doctor Strange's darkest side!

---

So, if Marvel truly DOES co-ordinate things during their editorial retreats, and it's not just naked slip-n-slide contests, with Quesada and crew butt-sliding across beer-fountain slides of all of our hard-earned money, then perhaps this is a well-woven tapestry, leading to something...

But what that might be... Doc becoming a "ronin"-type sorcerer, masterless and beholden to no one... or slowly ascending to his former place as Earth's Sorcerer Supreme... I have no idea.

All that is for sure is that Doctor Strange isn't being killed off... yet.

A Review of New Avengers v2 # 4 : The EYE of the BEHOLDEN -or-Possession is EYE-tenths of the Law.

A "review" of the events in NEW AVENGERS v2 # 1-4.

 Spidey faces the dreaded "Peering Peeper of the Prostate".

Oh... I've put this off for as long as I could.
I've been busy with a lot of personal things (and as such expect an "important" announcement to be made here in a few days) and have been hoping to keep my face out of the spanner/blades equation that is the internet fan-frenzy on stuff like this, wherein a story is not yet completed, and yet everywhere - the fanbase is frothing at the bit, trying to make some semblance of sense of - what seems to be - a poorly written story (at least from a 40 year canonical point of view) dealing with Doctor Strange, the Ancient One and the Eye of Agamotto.

I am not going to write a review of all of the first 4 issues, and the many things that I would normally examine in infinitesimal detail.
Like:

• The ridiculousness of writer Brian Bendis' including little footnotes as to which mystical spells are being used and from which tome they originated (with page numbers and everything).
• The amazingly drool-worthy artwork of Stuart Immonen.
• The awesome astral rescue Doc performs to save Ms. Marvel.
• The whiny-bitch that Daimon Hellstrom is being shown to be.
• The lack of respect for Doctor Voodoo.
• The fantastic nature that Dr. S. (and to a lesser extent, Dr. V.) insist that knowledge is the true path to power.
• The B-S attitude of "the Ancient One".
• Iron Fist and his drinking of the mystical kool-aid.
• Wolverine: Apparent "Mystical Crossroads" of the Marvel U.
• and much much more...

I'd love to, but that way leads to madness.
No.
Instead, I'm only going to deal with the "mystery" surrounding the Eye of Agamotto (and the Ancient One).

Before I start, here are some scans of the last four pages of issue four.
These are pertinent to the subject at hand.
*So...y'know... SPOILER ALERT*

Everyone still with me?
OK.

*click pics to make Supreme Sized*

 

 

 

It seems that every review I have read online takes the dialogue as written - at face value.
I don't think that should be the case.

It's hard to do in a static form like comics, but I think there is a "layers behind layers" bit going on with what Iron Fist and Dr Strange are saying.

Look at Strange's face in the next-to-last page.
He is skeptical - not "guilty-looking" (as others online have written).
Strange is savvy enough to know that what is being said isn't as important as what isn't being said.
There is deception at work here.
When Iron Fist asks; flat-out - WHO the Eye "belongs" to, he is basically leading the answer.
He (and the entity behind this) could be deliberately phrasing the question so that the answer is "AGAMOTTO" - even though, Doc really SHOULD say; "Well, the Eye chose Jericho Drumm to be its wielder, so... it belongs with him".
(Of course, even back during the events wherein the Eye chose Jericho Drumm, Doctor Strange stated that this sort of thing had never happened before... so, aside from Bendis' usual "making stuff up to fit his stories", it could be that perhaps things aren't what they appear to be with the Eye.)

Also, check out the almost casually thrown-away line, also on that third scanned page, where after Iron Fist states that he spoke with the Ancient One, Doc asks; "The Ancient One came to you?"... "IN WHAT FORM?"
In what form, indeed.
That might lend a clue as to what is going on.
Since the Ancient One passed on, and is now "one with all there is", why would he be in a "physical" form?
And what was the deal with his glowing cane?
That seemed a bit ostentatious and obvious.
Of course, it could just be a "piece of flair" that artist Stuart Immonen tossed in to make it look even more visually interesting, but I'm one who is inclined to "see" clues in things like that.

Actually, speaking of clues, a multitude of clues could be hidden on that same "next-to-last" page, as while Iron Fist rants about "ownership" of the Eye, Doctor Voodoo looks on intently.
I mean, it IS his eye now, right?
Words and names are (usually) very important in magic.
Perhaps to NAME an owner outright, would cause some kind of "spell" to take effect.

If Doc said "Doctor Voodoo is now rightful owner" than maybe that would cause a domino-effect that could cause some other dilemma, since Voodoo isn't a true acolyte of the Vishanti, of whom Agamotto is one-third.
If Doc said "It is AGAMOTTO's Eye", then it would shift back to him/it.

Heck, maybe another illusion is being perpetrated and that isn't even IRON FIST at all!
Maybe that is the adversary in disguise!

I don't know.
All I can say is that something deeper seems to be afoot.

I am saying here (as I did on other forums elsewhere on the interwebs) that in MY opinion (and I have been known to be wrong) AGAMOTTO wants his eye back and simply can NOT take it unless it is surrendered.

I know that others believe that Agamotto can simply take back what is his, but I say that is probably not the case.
The same would go for anyone of us as well.
You give something of value to someone.
You can not simply just take it back.
If you LOAN someone something (which, really the Eye can be seen to be a "loaner" from Agamotto), then you usually need to ASK for it back as well.
Can you take it back? Well, yes. But that isn't the right way to do so.
The rules of etiquette are that you should ask for it back.
"Hey, Jimmy... y'know that thingamabob I loaned you? Well, I kinda need it. If it's ok with you, I'd like to get it back soon. OK? Thanks."

That's how it is done.

Even "U.S. Law" states that "possession is 9/10th of the law" and the one who HOLDS the item has the rights of it, even if it doesn't belong to them.
So, who is to say that MYSTICAL LAW isn't just as strong (if not stronger)?

That's not unheard of; even Vampires need to ask permission to enter a dwelling place. That could be seen as a part of the rules of mysticism.

The Eye has been given - handed down - from one Sorcerer Supreme to the next - STARTING with Agamotto (the 1st S.S.).
One can not simply take back what is given.
One may ASK for it back, or in the case of Agamotto, employ illusions to trick others into giving it up.

While I have NO idea what the heck the deal was in the first 3 issues, with the possession of physical bodies and the teleportation of Iron Fist (with the supposed rationalizing that it would be ok for him to be killed in doing so - which he did not, due to his mystical protection - much to the disembodied voices' surprise), but that aside, I believe that it is Agamotto.

The only time in comics canon that he ever reclaimed one of his "eyes" (the ORB of Agamotto) was after Strange attempted to destroy it to prevent the other-worldly "Urthona" from taking possession of it and all of Strange's other artifacts.

Doc thought it best to destroy such powerful items rather than let them fall into the hands of an evil sorcerer.
However, Agamotto sensed this and whisked the Orb and all the other items away to himself.
He later gave it back to Strange (interestingly enough, only after Doc threatened to destroy Agamotto's best-version, personal "Orb"; the "Omni-Visor"- aka; his Hookah).

So, it is with this sequence of history that we hope Bendis will play:

- Ancient One gives Strange the Eye after Doc beats Dormammu the 1st time.
- Strange Tales v1 # 127

- Doc keeps the Eye for many years - despite the many attempts of others to take it (Silver Dagger chief among them. See Dr. Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 1 - 5.)

(- Doc tries to destroy an Eye (the Orb) to keep it away from Urthona.
- Dr. Strange; Master of the Mystic Arts # 81)

(- Agamotto secretly retrieves it.)

(- Agamotto later gives it back to Strange. - Dr. Strange; Sorcerer Supreme # 7)

- Strange keeps the Eye until he performs dark magic (actually, he did this three times):

• 1) During Strange Tales v2 - when he's forced to use the "Wings of Needless Sorrow".
• 2) During "The ORDER" - when he's relegated to using the "Star of Capistan".
• 3) After the events of New Avengers Annual # 2 - which led to his giving up the title of Sorcerer Supreme.

- The HOOD and DORMAMMU actively seek to gain the Eye.
- New Avengers v1 # 51 - 54

- The Eye (and Agamotto / Ancient One) seeks out a NEW S.S. - finding it in Brother Voodoo.
- New Avengers v1 # 53

- Hood/ Dormammu are defeated by Strange, Voodoo and Hellstorm.
- New Avengers v1 # 54

- SOMEONE finally decides it is time to get the Eye back.
- New Avengers v2 # 1 - 4 (and more issues to come)

Now - as the the WHY... I have NO idea.
Maybe Agamotto just wants it.
He could see that maybe it's too powerful a "weapon" to be on Earth with the mystic upheavals going on, and decided that it would be best not to leave it as a tempting bauble for evil entities to try to plunder.

Does that make any sense?
Well, no.
Not if you keep the 40+ years of Strange mythos in mind.

But, there may be NEW turn of events going on that would predicate new reasoning.

Sure, it's basically just Bendis and Quesada effing with the "rules" of magic, but they were going to do SOMETHING to "fix" it... looks like this is all part of "the plan".

Could it be someone pretending to be the Ancient One?
Well... that's my theory - and see my first "footnoted" Tangent below.
If that is the case, then it could be any number of baddies.
But none moreso than the one whom I speak of in that tangent.

Either way, it would make the MOST sense for Doc to use the Eye in its primary function and use it to REVEAL THE TRUTH!
Shine its lights on "the Ancient One" and see what is going on here.

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Of course, this all could be meant to be read JUST as it is written;
Strange needs to be taken down a peg.
Magic needs rules.
The biggest magic "gun" is the Eye, so take it off the board.

Since, as I already posted [HERE], Doctor Strange is to be featured in an upcoming HULK storyline, dressed as he is now, in raincoat and civvies, we know he isn't getting the Eye back any time soon.

Whether there will even BE a titular "Sorcerer Supreme" is up in the air.
Could Doctor Voodoo die and Doc become the default "Master of the Mystic Arts" and continue to safeguard the Earth-dimension while in a de-powered state?
Well... sure.

It's also a matter of record (online - you can find it easily) that Bendis is using a tip from a fellow writer (Ed Brubaker, if I recall?) to use Stephen Strange as a plain-clothed kung-fu mystic.

That might be the default setting for Doctor Strange for the near future.

Sadly, all I can say is... we have to WAIT and SEE what the EYE shows us to be the TRUTH.

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 Tangent, the 1st:

Now, allow me to posit a brief "wish" on this story...
The Ancient One isn't acting "in character".
Not his "good" natured character anyway...
But... he could be exhibiting a facet of a darker manifestation... one that inevitably caused Doctor Strange to be forced to slay his master in the first place (waaaay back in Marvel Premiere # 10).
The reason for the Ancient One's dark tendancies?
He was possessed by SHUMA GORATH!
If there is anything right in this world, it will be revealed that this so-called "Ancient One" is nothing more than another attempt to gain access to our world by Shuma Gorath (but by hiding behind the facade of Dr. Strange's former master).


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Tangent the 2nd:

Another wish?
Well...
There have been a lot of comics and events at Marvel as of late, in which mystical upheavals are occurring in much more frequent procession than "normal".
To name but a few:

- The X-Men's dealing with Vampires
- New Mutants' battles in Limbo.
- Asgard's fall and the events that spiral out of that.
- Thanos and the Guardians of the Galaxy fighting in the dark "cancerverse".

With more on the horizon (if Previews and other advance sources are any indication).
So, maybe.... just maybe, the forshadowed "Hell War" that was teased for several years in many Marvel books from 2004 - 2007 (Knights 4, Nightcrawler, Spectacular Spider-Man v2... basically anything written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa) will soon come to pass.
While this New Avengers story won't be the start of a major mystical "event", perhaps it is more seeds being planted to produce that dark fruit.