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Doctor Strange (2015) (Collected Editions) #6-7
Doctor Strange by Donny Cates Omnibus
Duplicity and Damnation! Evil is everywhere, and the world needs the Sorcerer Supreme more than ever. But the Sorcerer Supreme is now...Loki?! Say hello to the Master of the Mischief Arts! The Norse lord of lies has the cloak, the spells -he's even got Zelma Stanton as his assistant! So what happened to Stephen Strange? Down but not out, Strange may have one last play left in him - one that could shake the Marvel Universe to its core! But when Strange raises Las Vegas up from its destruction during Hydra's Secret Empire, he inadvertently hands the key to the city of sin over to the embodiment of evil, Mephisto! It will take an unlikely assemblage of heroes from all over the Marvel Universe to defeat Mephisto - but at what price?
COLLECTING: DOCTOR STRANGE 381-390, DOCTOR STRANGE: DAMNATION 1-4
COLLECTING: DOCTOR STRANGE 381-390, DOCTOR STRANGE: DAMNATION 1-4
360 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2019
21 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 8, 2022
3.5 stars. This was pretty good. The best part was the first arc or first 5 issues. Here, the story starts off with the fact the Loki is the sorcerer supreme. So I’m like, wait, when the hell did this happen? As the story progresses, we do learn what happened. So now Loki is living in Doctor Strange’s house, using his cloak of levitation and seems like he is getting “friendly” with his pupil, Zelma. Doctor Strange has finally had all he can can handle and goes off somewhere to get the power necessary to take on Loki. We also get to see the origin of Bats the dog which was nice. Add in the nice twist and this was easily my favorite arc in this book. The rest deals with Damnation. Vegas was destroyed somehow and Mephisto took it to hell. Strange decides to resurrect Vegas, putting back together and bringing back all the people who died. This brings Mephisto to the earth realm along with his own Hell casino. Now he is snatching up souls left and right just for the slightest sin. Now it’s up to Strange, Wong and the Midnight Sons to try and take Mephisto down. This part, while not as good as the Loki story, still was pretty decent. Overall, pretty solid book.
December 16, 2019
Bats is the best.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
June 25, 2019
I loved this book. For all of the different characters Donny Cates has been writing lately, he keeps adding new layers to each of them. This book serves as a closing chapter to Jason Aaron's run on the character starting several years ago, and Cates does it masterfully. The art is nothing to laugh at either, with the book kicking off with Gabriel Walta of Tom King's Vision fame.
A lot of this book plays up to the comedy of the MCU version of the character, but it never feels forced and is keeping in line with Aaron's Doctor Strange (facial hair bro high five, anyone?). All in all, a solid read, and one I will definitely return to over the years.
A lot of this book plays up to the comedy of the MCU version of the character, but it never feels forced and is keeping in line with Aaron's Doctor Strange (facial hair bro high five, anyone?). All in all, a solid read, and one I will definitely return to over the years.
January 4, 2024
Ран Донни Кейтса непосредственно продолжает ран Аарона, хотя сюжетная арка там своя. И понравился он мне не меньше, а может даже больше. Драматизма столько же, а юмора даже побольше - конфликт Стрэнджа и Локи, говорящий бассет-хаунд Бэтс, Мефисто, Midnight Sons, вот это вот все.
October 7, 2021
Donny Cates is at it again..
Loki as the best of all magicians? Yea, right. Plus, Strange gambles for the fate of all things in Vegas.
Loki as the best of all magicians? Yea, right. Plus, Strange gambles for the fate of all things in Vegas.
July 2, 2021
A little different than the Dr. Strange I'm used to, but a well conceived story and loads of fun.
January 29, 2023
Jason Aaron refrescó totalmente al personaje de Doctor Strange en sintonía con su desembarco cinematográfico en el UCM. Su propuesta argumental de darle consecuencias a todo acto mágico para posteriormente lanzar una amenaza nueva que justamente quería erradicar la magia del universo, fue un gran tanto para el guionista. Quien, además, daría una personalidad más "Vertiguera" a Stephen e incluso una inesperada aliada fuera de romances gratuitos o super aliadas para formar apurados Team-Up´s. Sí que es cierto que parecía que Jason Aaron podía haber desarrollado todo esto más y mejor si la cabecera fuese de largo recorrido, cosa que no ocurrió y que hizo que el personaje cayese en manos de un Donny Cates que aún tenía que esperar para encontrar su caldero de oro comiquero con Venom. Desde luego, su Doctor Strange trataba de reforzar ese lado más socarrón y salvaje que veíamos en los últimos capítulos de la etapa de Aaron. No por nada, comienza revelándonos que el manto de Hechicero Supremo está actualmente en manos de LOKI. Esta simple línea de sinopsis desde luego es una deliciosa locura que, si bien termina implicando grandes consecuencias y personajes de enormes poderes. Queda como una idea bastante desaprovechada por unos pocos números de desarrollo y una revelación bastante gratuita. Aunque luego la cosa no mejora con el arco argumental de Damnation. Sencillamente porque se decide convertir esta trama de Mephisto dándole todo el maléficos significado a la Ciudad del Pecado post-Secret Empyre, en un desastroso eventillo que demoniza a los Vengadores e implica a unos Midnight Sons bastante confundidos y unos pesados tie-ins para dejar más vacías las carteras de la época. No hay que echar toda la culpa a Cates, intuyendo cómo todo esto atufa a decisiones editoriales fuera de su competencia. Un trabajo por encargo como el de los tantos artistas que se van paseando entre la cabecera regular, la de Damnation y los cómics anexos. Dejando un resultado totalmente chapucero pero que de sus diluidas buenas ideas aún logra dejar algunos momentos y estampas bastante dignas en su relación de Wong y el fantasmal Bats con Stephen tratando de volver a un status quo para el que siempre es bueno tener a Spiderman dando lecciones de superhéroe.
November 23, 2023
I usually get these for the oversized art and whilst I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, it didn't flow right as the artist kept changing throughout the second half of this. The God of Magic arc was all done by the same artist but after then it kept switching between two artists every other issue, it was very jarring.
As for the stories, we have 3 separate arcs, first up is Doctor Strange by Donny Cates, Vol. 1: God of Magic It's a good read but a little slow to start as the main focus in Loki instead of Doctor Strange, it's a good read but it felt very weird as a follow up to Jason Aaron's run.
As for the second and third arc, it's spliced into one story Doctor Strange: Damnation and Doctor Strange, Vol. 2: City of Sin both tell the same story but from different perspective, Damnation is from Wong's and City of Sin is from Doctor Strange's. The recap each issue went through was quite annoying as it's around 8 issues altogether and they all recap the last issue, sometimes more. Aside from that they it was decently written and quite entertaining. I will say that again it's not really a Doctor Strange story, it's more about saving him.
So all in all this isn't really about Doctor Strange as a whole, which will probably upset a few people because he is the title character and that is not what Donny Cates decided to focus on. On the other hand Donny Cates is extremely talented and does what others can't and makes a story where they would be none, I had a good time with it.
As for the stories, we have 3 separate arcs, first up is Doctor Strange by Donny Cates, Vol. 1: God of Magic It's a good read but a little slow to start as the main focus in Loki instead of Doctor Strange, it's a good read but it felt very weird as a follow up to Jason Aaron's run.
As for the second and third arc, it's spliced into one story Doctor Strange: Damnation and Doctor Strange, Vol. 2: City of Sin both tell the same story but from different perspective, Damnation is from Wong's and City of Sin is from Doctor Strange's. The recap each issue went through was quite annoying as it's around 8 issues altogether and they all recap the last issue, sometimes more. Aside from that they it was decently written and quite entertaining. I will say that again it's not really a Doctor Strange story, it's more about saving him.
So all in all this isn't really about Doctor Strange as a whole, which will probably upset a few people because he is the title character and that is not what Donny Cates decided to focus on. On the other hand Donny Cates is extremely talented and does what others can't and makes a story where they would be none, I had a good time with it.
August 15, 2024
I read an earlier compilation of Damnation in 2022. Then, I read "The Complete Damnation".
That compilation is a "complete" collection, meaning that it includes material from Johnny Blaze: Ghost Rider #1, Doctor Strange 386-389, Iron Fist 78-80, Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider 15-17, showing their points of view, which surprisingly added very little to the rather thin story. This edition compiles Damnation again! Oh no. This time, this collection has Doctor Strange 381-390 and Damnation 1-4. Damnation, how many more collections are going to include Damnation 1-4 in it? Like "The Complete Collection", this Omnibus also seems to be yet another cash in.
The first part of this Omnibus is a story of how Loki managed to trick Doctor Strange into giving up his mantle as Sorcerer Supreme. And it was a rather easy and rotten trick. Doctor Strange seems rather rash, and easily tricked by every villain he meets, from Mephisto to Loki. Perhaps I haven't read enough of Doctor Strange but it seems to be that he is rash and gullible, perhaps those are his traits, and they are rather implausible traits for a sorcerer of the top rank. Anyway, the first part here is about how he would confront Loki and finally regain his powers.
In the second part, the Damnation arc, which is a meagre story, Doctor Strange had accidentally brought on Mephisto in an attempt to do good, as such, the Avengers were compromised as was Doctor Strange. It was all left to his sidekick, Wong, it was really his story, to save the day. Wong assembled a team consisting of such personalities as Blade, Ghost Rider and more. Then, there was the usual superhero fisticuffs and brawls. And some rather cringeworthy quips. The artwork is competent but uninspiring. All in all a forgettable affair.
That compilation is a "complete" collection, meaning that it includes material from Johnny Blaze: Ghost Rider #1, Doctor Strange 386-389, Iron Fist 78-80, Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider 15-17, showing their points of view, which surprisingly added very little to the rather thin story. This edition compiles Damnation again! Oh no. This time, this collection has Doctor Strange 381-390 and Damnation 1-4. Damnation, how many more collections are going to include Damnation 1-4 in it? Like "The Complete Collection", this Omnibus also seems to be yet another cash in.
The first part of this Omnibus is a story of how Loki managed to trick Doctor Strange into giving up his mantle as Sorcerer Supreme. And it was a rather easy and rotten trick. Doctor Strange seems rather rash, and easily tricked by every villain he meets, from Mephisto to Loki. Perhaps I haven't read enough of Doctor Strange but it seems to be that he is rash and gullible, perhaps those are his traits, and they are rather implausible traits for a sorcerer of the top rank. Anyway, the first part here is about how he would confront Loki and finally regain his powers.
In the second part, the Damnation arc, which is a meagre story, Doctor Strange had accidentally brought on Mephisto in an attempt to do good, as such, the Avengers were compromised as was Doctor Strange. It was all left to his sidekick, Wong, it was really his story, to save the day. Wong assembled a team consisting of such personalities as Blade, Ghost Rider and more. Then, there was the usual superhero fisticuffs and brawls. And some rather cringeworthy quips. The artwork is competent but uninspiring. All in all a forgettable affair.
June 27, 2021
Just finished reading the Aaron run on Strange and was hoping for a change of pace. Aaron has great ideas but I think he misses the mark when it comes to characterization. Well Cates does a much better job. Although I kinda miss the times when Strange's dialogue was a bit more Victorian, his personality hits the mark more in this collection. Also, the creation of his talking ghost dog is really great. I don't know where Mark Waid has taken the series since, but I hope he keeps Bats in this.
There are two big arcs: a battle of wits with Loki, and a big fight with Mephisto. If I can fault any of this, it's the strange inclusion of the "Damnation" limited series. Don't get me wrong, it's really well done. But it covers the same story as the actual main series. So when you go from the main series to the Damnation series, half of each issue is retreading things that already happened in the other. It really makes sense if Marvel wants to cash in and sell the customer something extra. But as a story, too much of it is redundant.
As far as art goes, this entire book is amazing. I wasn't a huge fan of Bachalo's style on the previous run. But the artists used here are incredible. There are a few different artists, but most of it, I think, is by Rod Reis and Gabriel Walta. The series has taken on a more painted look and it really fits the tone of the story. I was already a fan of the stuff Reis is doing in New Mutants, he is becoming one of my new favorites.
There are two big arcs: a battle of wits with Loki, and a big fight with Mephisto. If I can fault any of this, it's the strange inclusion of the "Damnation" limited series. Don't get me wrong, it's really well done. But it covers the same story as the actual main series. So when you go from the main series to the Damnation series, half of each issue is retreading things that already happened in the other. It really makes sense if Marvel wants to cash in and sell the customer something extra. But as a story, too much of it is redundant.
As far as art goes, this entire book is amazing. I wasn't a huge fan of Bachalo's style on the previous run. But the artists used here are incredible. There are a few different artists, but most of it, I think, is by Rod Reis and Gabriel Walta. The series has taken on a more painted look and it really fits the tone of the story. I was already a fan of the stuff Reis is doing in New Mutants, he is becoming one of my new favorites.
April 10, 2020
From what I can gather, this seems like one of Donny Cates’ first runs. It shows a lot of promise but you can tell he hasn’t got it fully figured out yet like he does on his Thanos run.
His ability for picking up a run and finishing it off though has worked out very well for him and from what I’ve read from him so far he’s one of my favourite new authors.
This trade was a little rocky though.
I loved the first couple of issues with Loki as Sorcerer Supreme and Stephen as a vet. I thought that was very interesting and could’ve been explored more before it came tumbling down again. The wheels started to fall off when the damnation event came along though. Not only did the event suck, but the tie-in Dr Strange issues were better than the issue. I just felt like Donny had too many balls in the air and couldn’t bring it together at the end. As well as Marvel (and especially DC) seems hellbent on making sure forcing a new title out is more important than making a good story. Case in point the end of damnation. Not only was it a deus ex machina ending but it wasn’t even shown. It was in another issue that I’ll never read. (Ghost Rider 1)
But all in all, very fun and worth the read.
His ability for picking up a run and finishing it off though has worked out very well for him and from what I’ve read from him so far he’s one of my favourite new authors.
This trade was a little rocky though.
I loved the first couple of issues with Loki as Sorcerer Supreme and Stephen as a vet. I thought that was very interesting and could’ve been explored more before it came tumbling down again. The wheels started to fall off when the damnation event came along though. Not only did the event suck, but the tie-in Dr Strange issues were better than the issue. I just felt like Donny had too many balls in the air and couldn’t bring it together at the end. As well as Marvel (and especially DC) seems hellbent on making sure forcing a new title out is more important than making a good story. Case in point the end of damnation. Not only was it a deus ex machina ending but it wasn’t even shown. It was in another issue that I’ll never read. (Ghost Rider 1)
But all in all, very fun and worth the read.
February 27, 2021
Marvel has a kind of disproportionate number of very smart arrogant men, tortured heroes that try to walk away from it all, and humorous inner monologues. Doctor Strange manages to tie all of those together. I am not fully aware of the deep lore, but I feel like Doctor Strange has the potential to get really weird and psychadelic, but it doesn't here. The Damnation arc (as it was presented here) was a little tedious because each issue seemed to retell part of the previous issue but with some weird little inconsistencies.
The first Loki storyline was great with Stephen's self-pitying attempt at an illegal vet service, Loki's wonderfully confused motivations and failed lies that manage to actually work better than on successful one and the introduction (and tragedy) of Bats.
Favorite moment overall was when Spider-Man gave Doctor Strange the pep talk about wanting to throw it all away but knowing that he never really could.
The first Loki storyline was great with Stephen's self-pitying attempt at an illegal vet service, Loki's wonderfully confused motivations and failed lies that manage to actually work better than on successful one and the introduction (and tragedy) of Bats.
Favorite moment overall was when Spider-Man gave Doctor Strange the pep talk about wanting to throw it all away but knowing that he never really could.
April 24, 2021
Was a big fan of Jason Aaron's run on the character and love what Donny Cates has continued to do with Dr. Strange. Just 2 phenomenal runs back to back in my opinion. Love the quick cut to Loki being the new Sorcerer supreme (what!?!) And I love the introduction of Bats and his relationship with Stephen. Zelma and Wong are kind of put on the backburner here after the fallout from Aaron's run. I would've liked to see them figure in more and have actual parts to play in the story but it's nice that Cates at least acknowledged them and brought them back doing his own thing without them. Loved the Damnation storyline and makes me want to read Ghost Rider (a title I've never read nor been interested in) Also, Nico from Runaways is teased at the End of Damnation does anyone know if the things Loki forewarned come to pass and if Nico shows up? Never read Mark Waids run but I will this time. If you liked Aaron's run I think you'd enjoy Cates' as well.
February 29, 2020
Cates is one the freshest voices in comics, capable of mixing big ideas, grand set pieces, character development, heavy stakes, and genuinely funny humor. While all of that is present here - and while it is hard to resist his addition of Bats the ghost hound to the Strange canon - this left me a little more flat than his work elsewhere, especially his phenomenal on-going Venom run. Still, while this may be one of his minor works (or maybe it just reads that way as a binge read? Maybe this is a rare contemporary comic that doesn’t read well as a collection) it still has some fantastic concepts, big surprises, and memorable moments.
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July 24, 2019Doctor Strange has had quite a nice resurgence lately...Jason Aaron, Donny Cates and Mark Waid. I think it been over a,decade before this resurgence (other than a few miniseries by JMS, BKV and Brendan McCarthy).
Doctor Strange is like Swamp Thing and Moon Knight, a lower tier character with a lot of talent over the years.
This run is gorgeous with Walta, Henricon and Frazer Irving.
It explores the legacy of the character (I really love the Avengers of 1 Billion BC concept) and it has the Sentry!
Doctor Strange is like Swamp Thing and Moon Knight, a lower tier character with a lot of talent over the years.
This run is gorgeous with Walta, Henricon and Frazer Irving.
It explores the legacy of the character (I really love the Avengers of 1 Billion BC concept) and it has the Sentry!
April 8, 2021
I really enjoyed the first story of this collection, which features Loki becoming Sorcerer Supreme. The second Damnation arc felt really bogged down and wasn’t helped by the tie-in mini series that doubled up on a load of plot points for no reason? (The inclusion of Nick Spencer on writing didn’t appear to help these issues.)
I will call out that this collection featured some true superstar artists with both Gabriel Hernandez Walta and Niko Henrichon delivering amazing internal pages and stunning covers from Mike Delmundo as always.
PS - I stan Bats.
I will call out that this collection featured some true superstar artists with both Gabriel Hernandez Walta and Niko Henrichon delivering amazing internal pages and stunning covers from Mike Delmundo as always.
PS - I stan Bats.
August 27, 2021
What a freaking blast this collection is. I’ve read a limited amount of Doctor Strange comics, plenty of team books and guest appearances, but this book KILLED it and makes me want to read more. The humor was great, Bats might be my new favorite Marvel character, the story got dark… I really dug this. The Loki stuff is really well done and the Las Vegas arc not only fills in things for the greater Marvel U but it’s batshit insane. Can’t recommend this enough.
Oh, there are too many artists to mention but the art rocks. Fits each story perfectly
Oh, there are too many artists to mention but the art rocks. Fits each story perfectly
March 8, 2022
To hell and back
This book is possibly my favorite Doctor Strange yet. It's a wild journey. My favorite sorcerer gets in a little over his head, in part because he doesn't realize that he still has friends that have his back. Yeah, he's messed up a bunch, but he's also done a lot of good, and his friends remember the good along with the bad. They're willing to love him despite his short comings. It's not romantic. It's just real.
This book is possibly my favorite Doctor Strange yet. It's a wild journey. My favorite sorcerer gets in a little over his head, in part because he doesn't realize that he still has friends that have his back. Yeah, he's messed up a bunch, but he's also done a lot of good, and his friends remember the good along with the bad. They're willing to love him despite his short comings. It's not romantic. It's just real.
June 21, 2025
I really liked this up until damnation.
strange is no longer sorcerer supreme, loki is!
that was fun and well done.
then we go to las Vegas for stenage resurrecting the city post secret empire. Mephisto come back witht he city and there's an overly long event mini series crossed ekth the strange issues. probably my least favourite of cates' work. I did like how closely tied together the strnage and damnation issues were.
art and colours were good on thw whole.
strange is no longer sorcerer supreme, loki is!
that was fun and well done.
then we go to las Vegas for stenage resurrecting the city post secret empire. Mephisto come back witht he city and there's an overly long event mini series crossed ekth the strange issues. probably my least favourite of cates' work. I did like how closely tied together the strnage and damnation issues were.
art and colours were good on thw whole.
October 28, 2025
All kinds of demons running around in this one and I loved it. Doctor Strange is the perfect character for horror adjacent stories like this. There's a lot of interesting set-up here and while not all of the payoff is great this is still a super fun read. The art work is pretty good too but that's to be expected. My final note is on the humor which I enjoyed a lot. It always comes in at the right time but never got in the way of the serious moments.
March 2, 2021
I read this collection without having read the Jason Aaron run, but Donny Cates let's you know in the first panel that the character is "Under New Management." So, for the most part, this can be read as a standalone story.
However, there is a ruse at the end that feels rushed and unexplained. It is likely better explained in the series of the character that is at the center of the ploy.
Donny Cates' Strange has a lot of depth. His current crossroads echoes his origin story but seems to carry more baggage this time around as he waffles between self-loathing and reckless courage. However, some of the other heroes throughout the story felt interchangeable or just pointless cameos.
The art is great throughout. Frazier Irving and Rod Reis were my preferred illustrators. I'm always looking for those moments of psychedelic spectacle in Doctor Strange stories. While there are some big splashes of colorful, otherworldly panels, the story is more grounded in Strange's personal journey and the battle of wits and deception between the heroes and villains.
However, there is a ruse at the end that feels rushed and unexplained. It is likely better explained in the series of the character that is at the center of the ploy.
Donny Cates' Strange has a lot of depth. His current crossroads echoes his origin story but seems to carry more baggage this time around as he waffles between self-loathing and reckless courage. However, some of the other heroes throughout the story felt interchangeable or just pointless cameos.
The art is great throughout. Frazier Irving and Rod Reis were my preferred illustrators. I'm always looking for those moments of psychedelic spectacle in Doctor Strange stories. While there are some big splashes of colorful, otherworldly panels, the story is more grounded in Strange's personal journey and the battle of wits and deception between the heroes and villains.
October 13, 2023
Lots of fun action, and some really great art. The big fight against Mephisto ends up being a bit too much of a complicated crossover event thing, where the actual stakes and action get hard to follow, and few of the characters really get the time to shine. But Strange is written to have a lot of personality, and it's nice to see him have a character arc throughout the book. Also Bats is great.
April 24, 2019
I had really high hopes for this book, so I’m sure I would have liked it more if I went in with zero expectations.
I enjoyed the arc with Loki and loved the final issue. The Damnation Arc was just not my thing.
I enjoyed the arc with Loki and loved the final issue. The Damnation Arc was just not my thing.
February 21, 2020
I enjoyed Donny Cates take on the character quite a bit. He’s super hot at Marvel right now so it’s nice to see where it all started, and I’ll definitely be checking out his other stuff. His style got a little overly cutesy for me at times though.
June 10, 2021
A big, all over the place story that gives Wong some much needed time to shine along with some of the more underused magic users in the MCU. Also, even as a cat person, Strange's dog Bats gives this story most of its humanity.
November 2, 2021
This book was fun the best part was definitely Bats the ghost dog. I dont read much marvel and this was fun. There do seem to be mroe references to past comics that i dont know about but it was not essential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2019
This was fine - Pretty in line with the same quality in Jason Aaron's run.
October 6, 2019
An excellent contained run within the series. Also introduces my new favourite Marvel character "Bats the Dog"
November 14, 2019
I always love Strange, but the vast curious collection of character who appear here complement him perfectly.
December 29, 2019
Always down for more Loki. Bats and Spider-Man are just an added bonus
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews