Issue(s): Doctor Strange #75
Cover Date: Mar 95
Title: "A moment of silence"
Credits:
David Quinn - Writer
Mark Buckingham - Breakdowns
Peter Gross - Finishes
Evan Skolnick - Editor

Review/plot:
This is another book that i bought to fill out a '10 for a dollar' kind of thing in the post-market crash era (such an interesting time for collectors; on the one hand, back issues were super-cheap! On the other hand, you didn't know if Marvel was going to survive!). I hadn't read anything else with this status quo for Strange, so having only the conclusion of the storyline was kind of confusing. I've since read and reviewed the introduction of "Strange", but only because it was part of the Siege of Darkness crossover, which didn't explain much, and i haven't been intrigued enough to fill in the middle. I've seen some comments saying that this era was actually good, but that's not apparent from just reading the conclusion. Which obviously isn't the fault of the book or the creators, although you might think that a double-sized 75th issue might be somewhat more accommodating to casual readers, and this book does have the usual chaotic storytelling tendencies of comics made in the 90s, which certainly doesn't help.

This issue has the Statement of Ownership, and it's worth noting that sales have basically been halved since the last time it was published in issue #62. That's not necessarily reflective of the quality of the book, and the overall state of the market is probably the biggest factor here, but it's still not good. The book will continue to be published through mid-1996 (issue #90).

From what i can gather, Strange has just seemingly beaten Dr. Strange, and he takes a magic helmet and sword from Doc. But when he puts the helmet on, it starts squeezing his head.

Doctor Strange reveals that he's alive, but he has to fake being strong because he's actually quite weakened. He tries to absorb Strange into himself, but Strange puts up a good fight and apparently Salome is out there causing trouble too. During the struggle, Strange makes the case that in absorbing him, Strange is acting in a manipulative way, apparently similar to "Stevens" who Strange also opposed. Doc is moved by this argument, and decides to look for a way to deal with Strange without killing him. Doc shows Strange that Clea is currently in a fight for her life against Dormammu (who's been depowered but his magic is returning) and the Mindless Ones in the Dark Dimension, and he tries to appeal to a part of Strange that also holds love for Clea (since Strange came from Doctor Strange).

Meanwhile whatever Salome is doing involves Sister Nil - a goth/bondage anime girl.

Doctor Strange sends Strange to the Dark Dimension, where he merges with something/one called Nobel and becomes Paradox.

Paradox saves Clea from Dormammu, and Doctor Strange, wearing the magic armor, fights Salome.

Sister Nil pushes Salome into the Nihility Mouth or whatever. And then Doctor Strange cuts off Salome's arms and legs (!), sending each limb to a "different, non-contiguous realm", and then transforms again.

Strange says goodbye to his goth anime girlfriend (who definitely isn't Death of the Endless, you guys!)...

...and puts on his shades and heads out (i desperately want to make a CSI: Miami joke here but i'll spare you).

So that's what happens, i guess. It's hard to know the significance of it all, and it's hard to care that much, but as i said, that's on me for jumping in at the end.

Statement of Ownership Total Paid Circulation: Average of Past 12 months = 51,458. Single issue closest to filing date = 36,675.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - end of Strange (becomes Paradox), beginning of Doctor "Shades" Strange

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is the last part of a 4 part "Last Rites" storyline which began with a Dec 94 cover date; if i had the other parts this might have been placed in the 1994 category instead of 1995 (the year categories are just arbitrary distinctions for my site). Either way, it would have to go after Strange's appearance in Warlock and the Infinity Watch #36 (Jan 95). This marks an end of the "Strange" status quo for the Doctor Strange book although it isn't quite a return of the classic Doctor Strange.

References:

• Strange beat Salome in a fight in Doctor Strange #61.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A