The Will Of Margali!

OR: "It's Raining Disciples!"


We've seen one example of how satisfying a Doctor Strange story can be when the mystic master confidently works his way through a situation before arriving at a solution that benefits all concerned. A little earlier in the series, we could also see that determination and skill set on hand when another unfortunate soul was in need, though the reader wouldn't have known that going in.

The door to the story was opened at least partway in the fourth X-Men Annual from 1980, when Kurt Wagner (a/k/a Nightcrawler) was targeted for vengeance by the mother of a gypsy family whose son, Stefan, died in a fight with his adopted brother, Kurt. The time finally came when the mother--a powerful sorceress known as Margali--caught up with Kurt during his time with the X-Men, and makes herself known just as Dr. Strange arrived to care for Kurt after the latter was downed by a mystic attack.

With that, Strange and the X-Men are swept up and subjected to the trials of a dimension fashioned to resemble the Hades-like "Inferno" environment depicted in the first part of writer Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy. If nothing else, we can assume that Margali is a literary buff; but there is much more to her, and her situation regarding Kurt, as we discover during that story's conclusion.

Strange would get his chance to further investigate the Szardos family--and Margali in particular--when word gets out that his disciple, Clea, has departed, opening the floodgates for all manner of novices to seek to fill the position. Including one not so novice--the young daughter of Margali, Jimaine (a/k/a Amanda Sefton, Kurt's girlfriend).

Strange proceeds to book a hall in order to address the "applicants" en masse; but with Jimaine's arrival, he realizes that it's the power behind her which represents the true "testing" he spoke of earlier. Nor does he have long to wait, thanks to circumstances he elaborates on regarding taking on another disciple--that, and Jermaine's outrage at Strange's decision.

And so at last we prepare to see a more expanded battle between Margali and Strange than we were witness to when there was a more pressing drama involving Kurt which took precedence. Here, however, Margali seems to wish to establish her superiority over Strange and leave no doubt in his mind as to who is the "supreme" sorcerer. And while a perceived slight over Strange's refusal to take on her daughter as his disciple appears to be the catalyst, one must wonder why Margali pointed Jimaine in Strange's direction rather than to herself as the more qualified mentor for her daughter.

And there is an answer to be found; but first, there is a gripping struggle between Strange and Margali to be played out, well-handled by writer Roger Stern and guest-penciler Kevin Nowlan.

Part of the mystery behind this woman is that Strange continues to sense no evil in her--but there's no denying her might, even as Strange questions its means of invocation.

While Stern's method has been quite subtle, you've just seen Strange deduce what he believes to be Margali's secret, though he keeps his own counsel on the matter out of necessity for the time being (as well as to heighten the story's closing moments). As to how he'll take advantage of the knowledge--assuming he gets the opportunity--that also remains to be seen. But it represents the climax of this struggle--and the liberation of a soul.

As we can see, the story of Stefan is at last given clarity--as well as Jimaine's behavior, and why Margali deigned to involve herself with Strange. One of the compelling strengths of Doctor Strange remains its title character's ability to assemble the pieces of a mystic puzzle without necessarily cluing in the reader until the solution is underway--yet along the way, he provides a measure of suspense by being vulnerable to the force(s) he contends against, the outcome in doubt until he is sure of the answer. You wouldn't want a steady diet of this particular type of storytelling--but it serves to remind us of the very reasons why the Ancient One felt Stephen Strange, with all his flaws, would make the ideal disciple to shepherd the human race through the unknown.

Doctor Strange #57 Script: Roger Stern Pencils: Kevin Nowlan Inks: Terry Austin Letterers: Jim Novak