Issue(s): Doctor Strange #62
Cover Date: Feb 94
Title: "Stranger and stranger"
Credits:
David Quinn - Writer
Melvin Rubi - Penciler
Fred Harper - Inker
Evan Skolnick - Editor

Review/plot:
Dr. Doom vs. Dr. Strange?! That should be exciting! Except the fight features neither Dr. Doom nor Dr. Strange. "Doom" is actually Nathaniel Richards, who has been posing as Doom since Doom's "death". And Dr. Strange is just "Strange" at this point. We also have the actual Dr. Strange floating around, and there's also another Stephen lookalike.

A joint US/Russia archaeology team finds a mystical artifact in Romania. It's an ourborous-type circlet (except with two snakes) known as the Oculus. Dr. Doom shows up to claim it (rather than belabor it, just assume all references to "Dr. Doom" are in scare quotes from here on in).

But Strange also wants it.

They have to briefly team up to contest with the Oculus' defenses (called Rend Eels), which destroy the archeologists and Doom's troops.

"Doom" relies on Dr. Strange's heroic tendencies and expects him to waste time saving the innocent civilians.

But that doesn't come to pass, and indeed Doom thinks that he detects "a glimmer in pleasure" from Strange as the innocents scream.

Strange calls Doom "mammal" which instantly makes me think "Dormammu". He also detects that "Doom" is being remotely controlled.

Back in Doom's castle. Nathaniel Richards feels the feedback.

Strange keeps the Oculus.

Meanwhile, Morbius is searching for Dr. Strange. He first finds a homeless man that looks like Stephen Strange.

Later, at the Caretaker's mausoleum, Dr. Strange's symbol (the one usually on his Sanctum Sanatorum roof) appears. Morbius is pulled into it, where he first sees Strange's Cloak of Levitation, and then an old, beardless Dr. Strange.

The fight between Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom is visually entertaining thanks to the quasi-painted art, but it's hard to get into knowing that the characters aren't their real selves. That also leaves for little room for character development, leaving just the mystery of Strange's current state as the only point of interest. And since that's not something that has any long term implications (i.e. outside this run), it doesn't do much for me.

I've seen people say that David Quinn's Dr. Strange run is good (and/or gets good) but the two logical entry points for the run - the Siege of Darkness crossover and this fight with Dr. Doom - don't sell it very well. I picked up this issue randomly in a bargain bin years ago for the Doom appearance, and the three Dr. Stranges running around just left me wondering what the @#$! Marvel was thinking.

Statement of Ownership Total Paid Circulation: Average of Past 12 months = 100,168. Single issue closest to filing date = 67,285.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Morbius thinks to himself that the real Dr. Strange disappeared "long months ago", with Strange's cloak and Vicki Montesi.

References:

• Morbius wonders why Strange has cut himself off from the Midnight Sons after Midnight Sons Unlimited #4.
  
• Nathaniel Richards replaced Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four #382.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A