After being gone for a couple month, Dr. Strange returns, and not without editorial explanation on its first page. and I quote:

In Strange Tales #110 and #111 we introduced the mystifying Dr. Strange! Then, we waited to receive your letters, to see if you would want him continued! Well, your enthusiastic mail left us only one choice, and so… We proudly present the third in our newest series…

Now to summarize the story, Dr. Strange is contacted by Sir Clive Bentley, seeking an imitate need for help, despite how odd it is, he is unable to refuse the call, and shows up, little does he know he is walking right into a trap set by Baron Mordo!

Story

The story is but five short pages long, and as such has little room for detail, and that is why it pleases me to see it spent with such high value on introducing a new supporting character.

In fact, this story is more about words and use of unseen magic then it is about anything  resembling conflict, much of what would be the ‘fight’ scene in any other super hero strip is but a couple of panels in this one.   letting the imagination do much more of the work, as the fight is unseen in the physical realm.

Artwork

I feel given the limited pages to draw the story, Steve Ditko did a marvelous job. giving way to darkness and shadow, and a mystical look more than to colorful and flashy. His artwork also helps us envision both realms, the real, and the mystical, but i don’t feel he goes to the depth of this that he did in the prior stories.

Originality & Continuity

What is in a name, Recon for ‘The Ancient One’:

The Master from the first two stories, receives another tittle in this issue,  the title of The Ancient One,  Likely a tittle that they felt to be more fitting, and more mystical, I do not consider this a huge recon, and kind of minor given both are just  titles and not names.

Character & Development

In introducing Victoria Bentley it is also discussed that some people have the ‘Dormant Talent’ for sorcery. Establishing that it’s the kind of thing people have or don’t , and that it’s not just learned.

But her curiosity, depth of character, and the interest in her as a possible threat  posed by Baron Mordo all but guarantee that we will see Victoria again.

In the mean time, I look forward to the next issue of Strange tales, for the next installment of Dr. Strange.