Special Edition Podcast

Booksplode #12 – Doctor Strange: The Oath

Show Notes

Paul Montgomery and Timmy Wood stare, unblinking, into the Eye of Agamotto as they revisit 2007’s Doctor Strange: The Oath by The Private Eye team of Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin!

Buy it now on Amazon.

5935Steven Strange has been struck by a silver bullet fired from the same accursed pistol Hitler used to end his life! Can the Night Nurse restore the Sorcerer Supreme to health? What’s wrong with Wong? What are master and manservant willing to do to save the other’s life? What’s Night Nurse’s overhead? Why isn’t there more of this? All that and more on the latest thrilling installment of iFanboy’s Booksplode!

Total running time: 00:44:53

Music:
“Crystal Ball”
Styx

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Comments

  1. Thanks Paul and Timmy, really enjoyed your discussion.

    I’ve never read Akira. Will this be a re-read for you Paul, or a first time? Do you own all six TPBs and do you think they’re worth picking up (considering the price)?

  2. Good show, guys. I was surprised Greg Pak & Emma Rios’ “Doctor Strange: Season One” wasn’t mentioned. It’s been my favorite of the Marvel Season One OGNs so far, Emma Rios employed her newer “Pretty Deadly”style (as compared to the anime look she used on her previous mini with Waid), and the story pits Strange & Wong as young mystic and romantic rivals. I can’t imagine you both not loving this…

  3. Thanks lads, that was loads of fun, the Oath was a compelling read. I’d love to see more Dr Strange, Wong and Night Nurse stories.

    I was less enamoured of the Mark Waid mini, which I packed in after a couple of issues; all I remember was an annoying girl (ick) and lots of sports talk. I expect it was very good – I mean, Waid and Emma Rios! – just not my cup of tea.

  4. Written by Brian K.Vaughan
    Art by Marcos Martin
    $19.99 Collects #1-5
    This book was suggested to me by Bryan of Kaboom Test Labs aka B-Wok from NWI. He said Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin and I was sold. This writer excels at the odd, peculiar, weird, supernatural, and strange. The artist has a laundry list of titles he has drawn for the most recent being Marc Waid’s colossally epic and magnificent Daredevil run and the highly acclaimed digital comic Private Eye with writer Brian K. Vaughan. The story is about Doctor Strange’s apprentice, Wong, getting cancer and Dr. Strange’s attempt to save him.

    It started with humor then got serious pretty quick. That tonal change captures your interest instantly. The doctor is shot and brought in by his apprentice to be operated on by the night nurse lady who’s specialty is in operating on superheroes. The astral projection of Stephen strange shows up as his regular quippy, smart ass self. After being brought back from the brink of death he decides to return to his previous oath of doing everything in his power to save his own patient and apprentice. The night nurse forces herself upon them to make sure that he doesn’t keel over. It’s funny because throughout the entire book this couple literately acts like Sherlock and Watson. Its nice to see tue stark contrast between tue way Stephen use to be and how Strange is now. This is in no way an origin story but it is shown and referenced from time to time which really just makes the story more personal. You get to see the charm, bravado, and skill of the sorcerer supreme. This book takes you to many places whether it be “a safe house hidden within the folds of reality’s fabric,” the mind of the man who shot Doctor Strange, or another dimension this books is always firmly rooted in reality. One of the best parts of this book was actually when there was no magic being used whatsoever and it showed how Stephen Strange and Wong’s relationship is more that of equals in the sense that Strange is the apprentice of Wong when it comes to certain things and vice versa. If I could compare this to anything I would say that the doctor is this weird pompous investigator like Sherlock and Wong is the rough and tough but smart partner, Watson. The intensity of this story builds and builds as Wong literally has days to live and Strange isn’t in the best of shape himself. In the end Strange has to make the most difficult decision of his life as a doctor, friend, and the Sorcerer Supreme. The strength in this story is in the relationships and dialogue that the characters have amongst each other. This story has everything in a Doctor Strange book you would come to expect and much more. Brian K. Vaughan’s characters always feel, seem, and act so real. The art Martin produced in DD was far more refined than his work in this book but by no means is that a bad thing. The lines are more thin and fluid. His expressions are strong, powerful, bursts of emotion. There are some epic images that will surely stick in your mind.
    As far as Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin are concerned this may not be their best work but it most definitely is the best and most character defining Doctor Strange story you will ever read or experience. This creative teams meets the needs of the style and tone that is required of an exquisitely told Doctor Strange tale.
    Verdict: BUY

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