"Come Into My Sanctum, Said The Sorcerer..."

 

OR: "Second Time's The Harm"

Previously we were witness to a Stan Lee/Steve Ditko tale from 1966 which featured a life-and-death struggle between the Master of the Mystic Arts, Dr. Strange, and the minions of Baron Mordo--a trio of sorcerers who assumed the worst when they could no longer contact their master and set out to assassinate Strange by use of a conventional explosive device hidden in his own sanctum. The attempt failed, but led to Strange's captivity, and a lopsided battle where Strange was limited to the use of his astral form against three powerful foes who were determined to prevent his escape. As villains go, these nameless minions--consisting of a sorceress who acted as Mordo's deputy, a one-time foe of Strange's who called himself the Demon, and Mordo's disciple--were a surprisingly viable and well-coordinated threat who also had the manpower available to hunt down Strange, with the ambitious deputy assuming the role of their ringleader. But through resourcefulness and perseverance, Strange was able to turn the tables on them and reclaim his physical form, finally casting a spell of forgetfulness upon them which would deal with them indefinitely.

Which serves as our segue to December of 1982, where Strange now holds the distinction of Sorcerer Supreme and is currently scheduled for, of all things, a television interview to be conducted by his good friend and love interest, writer Morgana Blessing. The appointment has come as something of a surprise to Strange's manservant, Wong, who never imagined his master would be so forthcoming with the news media; but to look at Strange's calm demeanor, it's obvious he's not only comfortable with the idea but also eager to begin. That is, if we don't think to read between the lines of his greeting to Morgana which assures her of his readiness.

And if we do so read, we must ask:  Just what is it he's ready for?

This issue, with guest artist Paul Smith, comes at a pivotal juncture for the Doctor Strange series, with Strange having recently been forced to say goodbye to his former disciple and love, Clea, and subsequently falling into a well of despair (and D'Spayre) at trying to cope with the loss. The prior issue's ending saw him right himself and embrace the road to recovery, which helps to explain the new beginning that writer Roger Stern has set out for him here as represented by the stride of confidence Strange exhibits in descending his staircase. Appropriately enough, much of the issue is devoted to Strange recounting details of his origin to the reader--and to Morgana and her video crew.

Yet when Strange has brought everyone up to date, and the subject has turned to Clea, the mood in the room decidedly shifts to something almost palpable--particularly for Morgana's crew, who have put on an applause-worthy performance as media personnel but who have underestimated their host.

And so we're reintroduced to our once-minions who have obviously decided to strike out on their own, this time with names for themselves courtesy of Stern. Clearly their memories of their prior encounter with Strange are intact--while they also expect 3-to-1 odds against their foe to once again be to their advantage. But they are mistaken about that, and other assumptions--chiefly among them, the fact that this Dr. Strange, who has grown a great deal since the time they first went up against him, is not taken by surprise this time.

Adria, by contrast, appears much the same as ever--arrogant, opportunistic, a bull in a china shop when it comes to spell-casting. She also has thrown caution to the wind when it comes to Strange's sanctum--and, grasping at straws, she has mistakenly assumed that she is on equal footing with her enemy and has the sorcerous wherewithal to master whatever she comes across in this dwelling and turn it to her advantage.

In the spirit of "two strikes, you're out," it's fair to say that Mordo's minions have finally received their just deserts, with Strange having previously given them an opportunity to mend their ways only to see it blatantly rejected by all three. You would also think that Demonicus, who more than proved his ability to tackle Strange on his own and who previously warned Adria about treating him like a menial, wouldn't care to hitch his wagon to Adria's leadership a second time--a decision he'll now have plenty of time to fume about, no doubt.

BONUS!
Mordo's many minions receive an entry in Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic.