Doctor Strange encounters yet another bizarre threat in the latest issue, as a colossal, fantastical castle materializes in the heart of New York City. In Doctor Strange #13, the Sorcerer Supreme delves into the mystery of this otherworldly structure, discovering it’s the manifestation of a living board game called Cobolorum. This game isn’t just for fun; it’s weaving itself into reality and trapping unsuspecting people as players. Let’s explore how Doctor Strange navigates this perilous game world in this review of Doctor Strange #13.
Doctor Strange and Clea investigate a giant castle in New York
Gameplay Intrusion: Cobolorum’s Mystical Rules
The issue kicks off with Doctor Strange and Clea investigating the bizarre castle that has sprung up in Upper West Side, complete with its own strange ecosystem. They soon uncover the truth: the castle is Cobolorum, a mystical board game that has come to life. This isn’t just a static structure; Cobolorum is a living entity that requires players to sustain its existence. It ensnares people, forcing them into roles within its game. To rescue these trapped individuals, Doctor Strange must engage with Cobolorum on its own terms, assembling his own adventuring party to play by the game’s rules.
Doctor Strange and Clea in front of the castle, with strange flora
Assembling the Adventuring Party
Doctor Strange’s strategy involves forming a classic fantasy role-playing group. He needs a thief, a priest, a fighter, and a magic user to navigate Cobolorum’s challenges. Drawing upon his network, Strange recruits Black Cat as the thief, the new Fist of Khonshu as the priest, Taskmaster as the fighter, and himself, naturally, as the magic user. This eclectic team ventures into Cobolorum, ready to face whatever trials the living game throws at them and rescue the people trapped inside.
Doctor Strange explaining the situation to Black Cat
Strengths: Character Dynamics and Engaging Concept
Writer Jed Mackay excels at crafting distinct character voices, and Doctor Strange #13 is no exception. The dialogue is sharp and often entertaining, giving each member of Strange’s makeshift team a unique personality. The concept of Cobolorum itself is intriguing – a blend of Jumanji and Dungeons & Dragons within the Marvel Universe offers a lot of potential for fantastical adventure. The initial setup of a living board game invading reality is certainly exciting and imaginative.
Doctor Strange, Black Cat, Taskmaster, and Fist of Khonshu assembled as a team
Weaknesses: Rushed Pacing and Underwhelming Villain Reveal
However, the review points out a significant drawback: the story feels too expansive for a single issue, or even this arc. The potential for exploring the game’s rules, challenges, and team dynamics is curtailed by a sense of rushed pacing. Instead of a thrilling delve into Cobolorum, Doctor Strange and his party seem to “speedrun” through the game’s trials. This rushed approach diminishes the sense of adventure and team growth that a concept like this could offer.
Furthermore, the reveal of the antagonist behind Cobolorum is Baron Mordo, acting as the game’s “dungeon master”. For readers familiar with Mackay’s Death of Doctor Strange portrayal of Mordo, this reveal might feel underwhelming. The review expresses skepticism about Mordo’s potential as a compelling villain in this context, based on previous depictions.
Doctor Strange and his team facing challenges within Cobolorum
Nitpicks and Team Composition
The reviewer also notes a slightly odd element: Doctor Strange’s chosen team consists primarily of characters previously or currently written by Jed Mackay in other Marvel titles. While the character interactions are enjoyable, it creates a feeling that the Cobolorum arc is partly a device to bring together Mackay’s favored characters in one book. It’s a minor point, but it does slightly detract from the organic feel of the story.
Baron Mordo revealed as the dungeon master of Cobolorum
Final Verdict: Fun Concept, Mixed Execution
Doctor Strange #13 Variant Cover
Doctor Strange #13 presents an imaginative and fun concept with Cobolorum, a living fantasy role-playing game that invades reality. While the premise is promising and the character dynamics are well-written, the execution feels somewhat rushed. The story doesn’t fully capitalize on the potential for deep exploration of the game world and team development. Additionally, the villain reveal of Baron Mordo might not excite all readers. Despite these drawbacks, the inherently fantastical nature of the story and the established villain do leave room for potential improvement and excitement in the next issue.
Overall Score: 7.5/10
