Parley Day has come once more, and Doctor Strange will stand face-to-face with The Dread Dormammu once more. But on Parley Day, they’ve both just come to talk. Your Major Spoilers review of Doctor Strange #3 from Marvel Comics awaits!

DOCTOR STRANGE #3

Writer: Jed MacKay/Amy Chu
Artist: Pasqual Ferry/Tokitokoro
Colorist: Heather Moore/ Fer Sifuentes-Suto
Letterer: VC’s Corey Petit
Editor: Darren Shan
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 31, 2023

Previously in Doctor Strange: Stephen Strange has no short supply of enemies, but none are more fearsome than Dormammu, master of the Dark Dimension! When a cult summons the Dreaded Lord to New York, Stephen has to risk everything in order to defeat his most dangerous foe!

But is he truly up for the task?

PARLEY DAY!

Morning dawns and Everett Stone excitedly greets the day, with his family congratulating him on his new promotion. Elsewhere in the city, Stephen and Clea Strange are working together to investigate a recent string of murders targeting various Sorcerers Supreme. Before they can work it all out, though, Clea reminds him that it is “Parley Day,” the day when he meets with her uncle, The Dread Dormammu, to discuss their seemingly endless rivalry. The flame-headed goober of the Dark Dimension spends the conversation trying to get Strange to just give up, even promising to give him New York in return for Dormammu’s domination of the world. As for Strange, he recounts the many times that the Big D failed to defeat him, while Dormammu pokes at him however he can. The biggest gambit, though, is Dormammu’s possession of a human host, one who will die horribly before the end of the day just so that they can have their conversation…

A human host named Everett Stone.

SURGICALLY REMOVING A MAN’S FAITH

After that confrontation, we are also treated to the first meeting between Stephen Strange and Nico Minoru some time ago, wherein she defeated Dormammu and got some important advice from Strange, all with truly adorable art by Tokitokoro. Ferry’s work is also really attractive, especially the flame effects of Dormammu’s head as he and Strange travel around, doing the work of the Sorcerer Supreme. I’m also really happy not only with the interactions between the Stranges when Clea is accused of murder, but the end of Dormammu and Doc’s conversation is really well-crafted, as well. MacKay’s use of Doctor Strange history makes the story extra-satisfying, as the denouement is based on the actual issues of Strange’s comics, which makes not only a good comic book, but an anniversary-worthy one.

BOTTOM LINE: A SORCERER IN HIS ELEMENT(S)

There’s a lot to like in Doctor Strange #3, with two stories that complement one another, attractive art across the board, and an ending that underlines the man behind the magician, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. With the upcoming wedding of Dormmamu’s sister, Umar, there’s likely more of this sort of confrontation on the way, so I’m looking forward to what these creators have to show us.

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DOCTOR STRANGE #3

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