There's been a surprising amount of hype surrounding this new Dr. Strange series, and the buzz stems from one main element: Straczynski. TV and comics writer J. Michael Straczynski has developed a solid following, and plenty of people were interested in what he would do with Marvel's sorceror supreme, a classic character that's gone underused as of late. Well, it turns out that JMS and his collaborators haven't done much at all with the character. His origin is tweaked a bit here, but it's basically the same. This was a surprisingly ordinary read, and as a result, it was somewhat disappointing as well.
Promising medical student Stephen Strange finds a convergence of events leads him to volunteer one summer in Tibet, and while he's there helping the natives, he's able to touch and transform the life of a traumatized teen named Wong. Strange promises his mentor that he'll return to the foreign land to continue his work, but glory and cash get in the way. His life turns into one of privelege rather than service, and he feels torn between those temptations and the idealism of his youth.
Peterson's work on this project lacks the dynamic quality and the polish he's brought to bear in other recent efforts such as Ultimate X-Men and Chimera. Perhaps this is another example of pencil art being inked digitally, but it doesn't work in this instance. There's a sketchiness that creeps into the art at times. Peterson's work occasionally boasts a strong J. Scott (Danger Girl) Campbell influence, but more often than not, his work here looks more like the elongated style of Michael (Superman/Batman) Turner, complete with impossible, Barbie-esque female figures. At its best, the linework on this issue is merely capable.
Another problem with this introductory issue is that just about all of the charactrers are so incredibly unlikeable. Even the professor who expresses disappointment in the title character for his more materialistic decisions comes off as a judgmental jackass who crosses a line between teacher and student.
John Byrne brought new energy and imagination to Superman's origin in the 1908s with Man of Steel, and Mark Waid did the same recently with Superman: Birthright. Brian Michael Bendis mixed tradition with more modern sensibilities in Ultimate Spider-Man, and Mark Millar instilled a suprisingly edgy quality to the classic Avengers lineup in Ultimates. Here, Straczynski and Barnes fail to bring a freshness to the character of Dr. Strange. There are changes to be found here, but they're minor. This book suffers from same old-same old syndrome.
