doctor-strange-dkBy Billy Wrecks, Nick Jones & Danny Graydon

DK, out now

Everything you could want to know about the worlds of the Sorcerer Supreme…

With the new Marvel movie only days away, this is the perfect time to delve into the worlds of Doctor Stephen Strange, one of the most unusual heroes created in those early days of the Marvel Universe by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Strange wasn’t a superhero in the traditional sense, but a man who fought on a very different plane – although he regularly came into contact with the other denizens of the Marvel Universe.

This well-produced volume stays strictly within universe to provide a primer on all things Strange. Beginning with a brief description of his origin, it then deals with all those with whom he has allied – from Clea and Wong to his various superhero friends and teammates. You’ll find entries here for everyone from Spider-Man to the Scarlet Witch, as well as descriptions of the different teams with which he has been involved.

Section 3 focuses on his enemies from Dormammu to the Empirikul, while the next part looks at the more powerful beings such as Eternity that Strange has encountered. Mystic Realms, Spells and Objects of Enchantment wrap things up – with the final spread dealing with the Infinity Gems, the focus of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Each entry is lavishly illustrated with art and specific panels from across the decades, and the text is concise, piquing the interest with brief descriptions of storylines and encounters.

Verdict: If you haven’t visited a certain brownstone in Greenwich Village before, then high time you did so – and this is an excellent guide. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order from Amazon.co.uk