Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones #1-4

Doctor Strange: The Flight of Bones #1-4

Originally released in 1999

Written by Dan Jolley

Art by Tony Harris (#1-2), Paul Chadwick (#3-4)

When looking into the magic side of Marvel, this caught my eye; a four issue mini-series where Doctor Strange is trying to solve a mystery.

There's a string of robberies happening through New York City that are carried out by a skinless man.  There are obvious signs of magic being used, but Stephen can find no traces of magic on the scene.  Making things worse is that the condition of Strange's hands, damaged in the car accident that led to him seeking out the Ancient One and becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, have gotten worse.

As well, Strange's friend Topaz gets caught up in the actions of a cult whose leader, a man named Jonathan White, is using a mutant ability to turn people into mages for about ten hours. (At which point, if they don't return to him, they'll die) This comic is part of the Marvel Knights imprint, so I don't know if Topaz was introduced in another book in that run or not.

The mystery aspect wasn't as prominent as I expected based on the description.  As it turns out, a trio of infant-like demons that can conceal magic have gotten their power boosted by White's master, which explains the lack of traces.

As one of White's cultists dies, Strange glimpses his name and is able to track his cult down.  Even though some of them think that their newly granted power is enough to defeat Strange, Stephen defeats them with little to no effort.

At this point, the master makes his presence known, manifesting on Earth through the trio of demons.  It's someone with a bone to pick with Doctor Strange, but that list is long: Nightmare, Mephisto, Shuma-Gorath... It could be anyone!

The pacing of the comic is brisk, and I read through it much faster than I expected, though some events felt a little rushed. I was under the impression that Marvel Knights was Marvel's mature reader's imprint, like Vertigo for DC, but aside from seeing the skinless man in his gruesome glory, it didn't feel like it took advantage of that.

Even the plot point of Strange's hands deteriorating is resolved by him performing surgery, which helps to strengthen the spell that kept them stable. It was still a good mini-series; just a bit too fast-paced for its own good, or at least it felt that way to me.