Issue(s): Doctor Strange #42, Doctor Strange #43, Doctor Strange #44
Cover Date: Aug-Dec 80
Title: "The black mirror!" / "Shadowqueen!" / "Duel of fire!"
Credits:
Chris Claremont - Writer
Gene Colan - Penciler
Dan Green - Inker

Review/plot:
Strange says farewell to Madeline, thinking to himself about how it's possible to love two women at the same time. Then he comes home and finds Sara dressed in Clea's clothes, reminding him that Clea has gone missing. But he doesn't wake Sara or start looking for Clea right away. So maybe it's just one woman he loves.

After showing off with Sara (regarding that second image, we've seen that Strange basically conjures that gold out of thin air)...

...he finally gets around to looking for Clea. He fights his way through some mystics and a dragon and winds up in another dimension.

He encounters Clea in barbarian garb, leading a band of warriors.

This dimension is ruled by a sorceress known as the Shadowqueen, and she works for Claremont's favorite demons, the N'Garai.

It turns out that this dimension is actually where Wong's ancestors come from. It's a convoluted story about a Chinese man who falls through a black mirror into this dimension. So effectively Wong is still an Earthman, he's just had some well traveled relatives. I'm not sure Wong needed an origin, but there it is.

During the course of Wong's story, we also learn that his father is Hamir the Hermit, the Ancient One's attendant.

After the battle is over, Clea uses the Eye of Agamotto to confirm that Dr. Strange isn't tainted by the N'Garai. It's nice to see Clea showing some actual magic capabilities.

Enjoyable swords & sorcery stuff by Claremont & Colan.

Quality Rating: B-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - Wong's origin.

Chronological Placement Considerations: Issue #42 starts with Strange and Madeline returning to the airport "hours" after the events of Dr. Strange #41. So this has been moved to prior any Dr. Strange appearances in other places, like the Defenders.

References:

• Sara told Strange that Clea went missing in Doctor Strange #40.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

While I'm sure Stephen was only joking with that "fairy godmother" reference, it occurs to me that since Disney acquired Marvel Comics that Doctor Strange could be looking at some...interesting...crossovers. ("May the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak bind thee Maleficent! But first, let the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth make Pinnochio a real boy!)

@Gary Himes: Well you got it right considering all the "Pinocchio" references in connection to Ultron thanks to the movie.

"There are no strings on me."

"I am dreaming this. But who cares? So far, I'm having a wonderful time." Ugh. As soon as I read that leaden, unnatural, expository dialogue, I knew this was Chris Claremont without even looking at the credits...