Doctor Strange #390

It's been a good week for the Big Two in general this week, but Doctor Strange #390 may be my favorite Marvel offering by a country mile. Read Full Review

Doctor Strange #390 I'm going to assume is where they hand this story off for the next person, and to bring Doctor Strange into the next phase of the Marvel Universe. I don't know if this is going to be a book worth picking up still after, but I can speak for what Doctor Strange has been up to now, and the only word that comes to mind is astonishing. I don't think we've ever been this engaged in Strange's world whether it was Jason Aaron or Donny Cates writing. Read Full Review

Cates gives us an outstanding finale that returns Strange to his roots. Read Full Review

Doctor Strange #390 gives this era of the title the finale it deserves. Its subtle, understated, and a ton of fun. Bats, Stephen, Spidey, and Zelma each get a moment to put a smile on your face, even if you havent been following this series. This book was a great one, and it gets a strong recommendation. Give it a read. Read Full Review

While the rather goofy Spider-Man section of this story drags on a bit long, DOCTOR STRANGE #390 is a wonderful and warm homage to the character that perfectly caps off Donny Cates' run. With a slow paced, highly focused plot and brilliant characterization, this story does away with superhero tropes to deliver a really powerful story. Read Full Review

I don't know which direction this series will go in Marvel's “Fresh Start” but it better have Wong and Bats! Thank you, Donny, for another great series and good luck to the next creative team.  Read Full Review

The considerably reduced scope of this farewell issue gives the central characters from the past year a much needed chance to breathe. Read Full Review

A really good story with some great character moments and a light tone that works. Read Full Review

Irvings art is downright awful at times and even at best is only mediocre, and it really brings this issue down a lot. His facial expressions are some of the worst Ive ever see. But on that note we do get a fun mini comic by Cates and Chip Zdarsky which is cute and wonderful and also makes this comic a little more bearable to look at. Im gonna have to give this issue of Doctor Strange a C because no matter how good the writing is the artwork just dont cut it. Read Full Review

Spock's Brain

May 27, 2018

This was an awesome end to Donny Cates run on "Doctor Strange," a fun and funny issue that wraps up the things that have been going on in this book since the beginning of Jason Aaron's run and the introduction of Selma. This issue is very entertaining, with Spider-Man adding a lot of laughs. The two-page comic strip of Spidey talking to an actual spider (and skipping stone) drawn by Chip Zdarsky is great Frazier Irving does the pencils on the rest of this issue, so of course it looks great. I wish Cates would have stayed on this character longer, but it was fun while it lasted.

CrazyforRAMU

Dec 03, 2018

Stephen closes a chapter in his life by getting a proper goodbye from Zelma. And Spidey is there in maximum "Kooky Peter" mode to sand down some of the awkwardness. The core relationship chat delivers excellent closure, though it's a bit understated. I was in the perfect mood for Kooky Spidey, so that turned into a nice little bonus bringing this finale up to greatness in my eyes.

Kalaoui

May 24, 2018

Sweet and like the breeze it comes and goes leaving a smile on your face. Irving did a great job as usual. Not what i thought i wanted but still a good wrap up with guest artist Zdarsky for a nice chuckle.

Dispatchdcu

May 26, 2018

Welcome to the Oblivion Bar where the first round is on me and the pretzels are free! Be warned: like the pickled eggs at the bar, this issue is going to get SPOILED rotten. Donny Cates ends another stellar run with humor, clever-witty banter, and setting up another writer to run with the character however they see fit. This issue opens with Zelma coming to talk to Dr. Strange only to find Spider-Man there “house sitting” as he called it. Really, Spidey was just stopping in to take a pee, but hey, we don’t find that out until the end. Anyway, Spidey takes Zelma to Strange’s Vet Clinic where Stephen is closing it down with his ghost dog “Bats”. Turns out, Strange has been helping animals illegally this entire time. Oh wel l, it’s for the best anyway since he’s Sorcerer Supreme again and all so..... Anyway, once Spidey and Zelma arrive at the Vet Clinic, Spidey and Bats are both lovestruck with one another and Zelma is just looking for a moment to talk over everything she’s feeling with Dr. Strange. The reader could tell that their was always something between them ever since Cates’ run started but nothing ever came from it. Maybe it was the age difference (since I think she was maybe in her young 20’s)? Or maybe Zelma was more drawn to the magic and allure that comes with being around the Sorcerer Supreme? Either way, the tension between the characters has been building to this conversational confrontation. The two kind of have a heart to heart with one another and we end the issue finding out that they both realize something is there between them but probably shouldn’t be there. Did you ever have the “wrong place wrong time” feeling? Or that idea that you are actually an “old soul” and connect better with people much older than you? Or that idea that “if we just meet a bit sooner” or “if I was only 10 years younger”. Well, I feel like that’s what Zelma and Strange realize they have too. They both realize that they probably shouldn’t be together yet both consciously acknowledge that they want to be together... and go their separate ways. Cates again sets up the new creative team back at square one in which they can take the character in any direction they want... it just better have Bats! Bleeker Street is back! Our Sorcerer Supreme is back! The world is fixed after Cap and Vegas. All is balanced in the world again. It was a nice, funny, and Strange ending. I loved the run as a whole and would recommend the trade to anyone. Cates run was unique, different, witty, and clever. He had big shoes to fill before taking the run over BUT I think he did a great job. It may not have been the best run of Dr. Strange ever, but it was definitely up there. I don’t know which direction this series will go in Marvel’s “Fresh Start” but it better have Wong and Bats! Thank you Donny for another great series and good luck to the next creative team. If you like what you heard, love talking all types of comics, and are interested in joining a comic chat group, hit me up at dispatchdcu@gmail.com or @dispatchdcu on twitter. Catch you all later! Peace more

ÃœberGinger

Jun 08, 2018

Great story but the art just wasn't working for me

Gizmo

Dec 16, 2018

Spider-man essentially photo-bombs the issue, which is funny. Zelma and Strange have their moment and the series essentially goes back to the status quo.

daspidaboy

Jul 07, 2021

Donny Cates run on Doctor strange overall was good. I didnt like Damnation, but I think this ending made up for it, and its all warm and fuzzies. Sure, people want a darker, pessimistic ending. But I liked how everything wraps up.

iPodwithnomusic

May 23, 2018

A very simple issue, but I still found it enjoyable. I liked Spider-Man's interactions with Strange and his dog, but I was not a big fan of the artwork.

DDJamesB

May 24, 2018

A little bit of an underwhelming end to Cates' era. The art was ok and Spider-Man just felt out of place in what should have been a more focused end with Doctor Strange himself. Overall, an ok book that doesn't really do to much other than reinforce Strange as one of the good guys.

SloboSOY

May 24, 2018

A nice dream. A weird story. So a little disappointing for a goodbye. Even if that put Zelma in Marvel Limbo, there is still bats. So I will hope seen him in the new Doctor Strange ongoing. Cates make 2 very nice arc & don't have to be shameful because he did really good. Cover - I love the cover in some way related. 1.5/2 Writing - It was sad & weird, and it was not the ending I wanted. 2/3 Arts - Irving did some nice & less nice panel. It wasn't the art I would have wanted for a ending. 2/3 Feeling - Sad and disappointed. 0/2 +1 for Cates work who was to short in one way and fantastic after Aaron run.

mglsts

Jun 09, 2018

Weird issue, especially considering it's the last one of the series before it "reboots". Spider-Man felt more like he was written as Deadpool and they changed at the last minute, and his whole cameo seemed like a running gag that overstayed its welcome just a few pages in. A weak ending overall, which is surprising after the superb ending of Cates' run on Thanos, so I expected something more substantial instead of just an OK filler issue.

Sav

May 24, 2018

this issue was dumb. it was a filler with its own filler. an issue where the filler was more enjoyable than the actual plot. but, as fun as spidermans random idea to talk to a spider was, it wasnt that great; not enough to pull this crap out of the shitter it was plopped into. i mean lets be honest, what was furthered with this story? (even the last issue was made pointless by the pointlessness of this ish) zelmas not mad at strange. 'whaaaaatt? omg, i can now sleep at night! i so cared about their relationship. it was so important to the future of strange's series that this plot point be clarified.' once again, so dumb.