Dr. Strange Top 10: #1 - Strange Tales 141

  Wrapping up our countdown of the Top 10 issues of Dr. Strange by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko:

#1 - Strange Tales 141 - “Let There Be Victory!”

   This explosive issue featured the end of Lee and Ditko's year-long continued story with a final confrontation between Dr. Strange and the Dread Dormammu.

   This is the second part of that battle, as Dormammu decides to humiliate Strange by fighting him in hand-to-hand combat, using only mystic pincers as weapons. 

   (The pincers fit on each combatant’s hands, extending foot-long energy pincers that can grasp or paralyze.)

   Strange is weakened by last issue’s cowardly strike by Mordo, and the battle rolls back and forth. 

   It’s a hard-fought battle that pushes Strange to the limit - which makes the finale even more satisfying.

   But the celebration is short-lived, and Dormammu demonstrates why he is s force to be reckoned with.

   (I should also note that Ditko has fine-tuned his visuals for the Dreaded one, giving his stylized head a red hue and designing an arcane framework (of sorts) for his floating head - it’s stunning.)

   A great story requires a powerhouse finale, and this issue provides that in spades. 

   This is Lee and Ditko at their finest - truly impressive and inspired storytelling!

Grade: A+

--------------------

Posted in: Reviews