Issue(s): Doctor Strange #68
Cover Date: Dec 84
Title: "Sword and sorcery"
Credits:
Roger Stern - Writer
Paul Smith - Penciler
Terry Austin - Inker

Review/plot:
Dr. Strange responds to a call from Victoria Bently. She's been looking after Dane Whitman after his return from traveling in time, and he's been acting funny.

The first order of business is his winged horse. Unfortunately, it can't survive in our dimension in its current form, so Strange has to convert it to a normal horse.

Hey, if Dr. Strange turned my winged horse into a regular one, i'd be upset, and i'm not even suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome from fighting in the Crusades or wielding a cursed sword. Luckily, the local vet is there to help.

The rest of the issue is Strange helping the Black Knight work through his issues, and while i'm not a big fan of the "psychological healing via mystic battles" device, it does give Paul Smith the chance to break loose, and it's really nice.

The battle is complicated by the fact that Umar gets involved from afar. She suspects (incorrectly) that Dr. Strange is leading Clea's rebels.

In the end, Dane breaks the sword's curse and also releases the spirit of his ancestor Sir Percy.

We also find in this issue that Victoria Bently still has feelings for Stephen, perhaps moreso than she has for Dane.

Fun story, and nice art.

Quality Rating: B

Historical Significance Rating: 3 - status quo changes for the Black Knight

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• The Black Knight was returned to this time period in Avengers #226.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

This is the start of a great run of Stern using the Black Knight. He really becomes a mainstay of the team in this year and not only has a long run under Stern and Simonson, but also Harras.

Stern is at his best taking these lesser known or used heroes and villains and really doing something with them.