Doctor Strange Epic Collection: A Separate Reality (Doctor Strange (1974-1987))

Reading Order:Masterworks vol 3 / Essential Collection 2 (black and white only, overlaps)**Epic Collection A Separate Reality**Masterworks vol 6 / Essential vol 3 (black and white only, overlaps)This book is well put together and collects issues from the early to mid 70s in chronological order, and for the price you get more issues than the Masterworks volumes. The colors pop, which I like, since it really visualizes all the crazy worlds you will visit which is typical of Dr Strange. You also get some bonus art material in the back of the book which is a nice bonus.Now onto the context of this book and why it's a bit disjointed. Dr Strange was cancelled after issue #183 and then came back with Marvel Premiere. This book basically contains 3 separate comic series, the fairly awkward ending to his first solo stories followed by 2 reboots. During Marvel Premier we get a very mixed bag of art and writing, with a different writer for each issue until Englehart and Brunner take over. The Englehart/Brunner duo do a real good job of taking over the character and giving him back his epic multi-issue stories Strange was known for. Marvel Premiere #12-14 is probably one of the best Strange storylines I've read and makes this book worth the read. It was great to see the origins of Shuma-Gorath as well as a few tie ins with the Defenders.If you're looking to gobble up all the Strange books you can, you will find a more complete run by collecting the Masterworks volumes but considering this as a pretty cheap alternative, you get some good stuff here for the price. Definitely recommend that if you liked this book to check out Masterworks vol 3 for the Roy Thomas origin story, you would only miss one issue between the two books, #180. As a follow up for additional stories, Masterworks vol 6 would continue the story but you would be missing 4 issues, #6-9.A cool Easter egg for any fan of the movie, this book includes issues where the book of Cagliostro comes from, the book of time. Also if you remember Master Hamir, the fake Ancient One you see at the beginning of the movie is in the book but he's just a servant to the Ancient One.

This is a heck of a chunk of comics for a pretty decent price (especially if you go with the Kindle edition), and it manages to be a bridge from the end of the first Doctor Strange series to the start of the second, with a long run in Marvel Premiere that almost seems to have been a round-robin challenge (eventually it settles down to Gardner Fox writing, but up until then the writer would change with each issue, as would the art team.)It's actually rather fascinating to see the way that the writing matures, too -- although it's fairly static and purpleish during the Marvel Premiere run...until Fox is replaced by Steve Englehart, and Frank Brunner shows up on the artwork, at which point we're off to the philosophical and existential races, with a great deal of darkness (there's a great deal of Being Inspired By Lovecraft), and a rather bleak story of Christian fundamentalist lunacy to close out the volume.The upgrade that was done on the artwork for the Masterworks edition of this material has really benefited Brunner's work -- lovely stuff, and Clea never looked better than she does here.

I purchased this collection simply because I remembered one issue from my youth. I remember enjoying it then, and I wanted to enjoy it one last time before I "shuffle off my mortal coil."Surprisingly, that particular story lived up to my expectations. Other stories surpassed it. Windsor-Smith and Brunner have interesting, creative artwork, and this only adds to the story, but they aren't the only ones wielding a pencil. The last story arc, sadly, has the tired old trope of a religious fanatic wanting to "kill the witch." Because of this and some uneven artwork, I rated this only four stars, but there is enough here to enjoy to rate it a good read.

Lovecraftian touch in some of this. Great older Doc Strange well rendered and imaginative with homage to the sublime work and creativity of the legendary Steve Ditko

Dislike the fact that it's been recolored making it look weird with the bright hues.( I have a few of the original comics and I had used it to compare) otherwise this collection takes care of a few of those missing in my collection.

This is essential Dr. Strange. Includes the great Silver Dagger arc. This collection is full of so many great stories. Get it.

You just cant beat classic era comics from the 60's and 70's. Especially Marvel. Great Dr. Strange stories here...all the lore and all the drama. Love the colorful artwork and writing. You can't go wrong.

Reviewers keep mentioning how the bright colors don't fit the comic story. I had the same issue -- until I just turned down the Kindle lighting. That gives it the original mysterious feel.

As is the wont with the Epic Collection line, Dr Strange's first foray into Epics is with volume three. But seeing as this particular period has some really neato stuff, who are we to complain?. Covering the years 1969-1974, the good doctor goes through a fair few changes in the space of this chunky volume.We start off with the last four issues of Dr Strange's original series, where Dr S (at this stage in his lamentably silly mask), his lover Clea, and his faithful servant Wong, face the terrors of Nightmare under the steady hands of writer Roy Thomas and art legend Gene Colan. After battling the lord of bad dreams, Strange tackles a mysterious threat in a storyline that actually outlives the title itself, spilling over into issues of Sub-Mariner and Incredible Hulk (both included here).After a brief reintroduction as Strange teamed up with said heroes to form the Defenders, he took over the pages of Marvel Premiere for a dozen issues, and here's where the book gets very interesting. A succession of creators (including Stan Lee and Barry Windsor-Smith) kick off the Shuma-Gorath epic, a sprawling tale that sees Strange and his allies face a series of VERY Lovecraft-inspired monstrous foes on the way to a confrontation with a mysterious and deadly being.Partway through this saga, the new regular team of Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner take over, and give a wonderful extra psychedelic spin to everything. Finishing the Premiere run and shepherding the doctor back into a book of his own, they throw the hero into far-out stories about time-travelling gods and death itself. It's brilliant, and really helps the character stand apart from the rest of Marvel's stable.Extras include original art (some rarely seen), adverts and pinups.

Wonderful quirky epic collection with a selection of unusual 70s tales in particular the adventures from the Marvel Premiere Dr Strange and HP Lovecraft / R E Howard / Weird Tales feel. Nice selection of bonus material as well.

A fantastic collection of stories with wonderful artwork from Gene ColanCannot recommend enough

All good.

Je l'ai acheté comme cadeau à une fan de Dr Strange et elle a adoré. Ce volume regroupe les oeuvres de ses artistes préférés de la série.