A tragic common element of Marvel Comics over the past 10 years has been the publishing side falling at the mercy of what translates to the big screen. The stifling pop culture that the MCU maintains has, for better or worse, bestowed its depictions of these iconic characters on as a distillation of their entire histories and as a result what fans read in the new comics feels like some version of these fusions. Obviously not everything Marvel publishes has this characteristic, but it’s remarkably common, which is why Tradd Moore and Heather Moore Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise It is such fresh air.
This version of Doctor Strange is not Benedict Cumberbatch on paper doing stylized magic by visual effects houses. No, this is the pure, uncut goodness of a comic book, an exploration and examination of the form and function of comic storytelling through the lens of what the medium can do with its unique mechanics. Moore writes and draws the series with Heather Moore to elevate the already elegant visuals with an added layer of psychedelic color.
It is worth mentioning that Sunrise It has a tinge of distinction for readers who come to the title because of watching Doctor Strange in the movies — hints about his heroism and origin are peppered throughout. These are not narrative errors, they are a feature, as the magician finds himself in a unique plane of existence that requires him to think about his own existence. Is the Stephen Strange we’re following awake? Alive? even real? Is he a committed guy to the panels in a comic book? The story doesn’t quite lean into Morrison-esque meta-theatre, but the ambiguity of the plot plays into the mysticism, giving this depth at times it may not have been intended.
From a pure plot perspective, it’s really hard to say what Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise It is really “about” because the piece carries more weight as a mood board than as a narrative to break. For much of the series it does seem like Moore is channeling Mike Mignola Hellboy in Hell – Individual stories that dig into a character in a specific location that fit together to form a larger picture. The comparison to this series is accurate not only in the narrative structure but in the joy one can achieve by simply taking their photos. Moore’s team has taken the atmosphere Steve Ditko routinely explored with Sorcerer Supreme and given it a modern polish, pushing unique terrain and villains into a character with a fluid (sometimes literally) shape as to what kind of pastiche you want to include in.
Unfortunately, any recent work with Doctor Strange would do a disservice to writers who are making last-ditch attempts under the banner, but Tradd Moore’s work in Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise It already seems like the pinnacle of what an artist could do with a character who hasn’t felt fresh in years. Instead of chasing after copies of the MCU and the version of Doctor Strange that arguably most of the world is familiar with, Tradd Moore and Heather Moore went back to basics. They give readers an oddity that seems to drive the flaps around and beckon you to turn the page. Sunrise is a late but promising arrival to the best comics conversation of 2022.
posted by Marvel comics
on me November 23, 2022
written by Want Moore
art through want moore
Colors Heather Moore
messages by Clayton Cowles with Trade Moore
cover by want moore
.
[ad_2]
