Writer: Matthew Rosenberg | Artist: Jesus Marino | Colorist: Ulises Arreola

With the looming mega-event The Death of Doctor Strange set to hit shelves in September, Savage Avengers #23 gives us an idea of what might bring on the Sorcerer Supreme’s untimely demise.

Conan and Doctor Strange team up to halt Kulan Gath and put an end to Shuma-Gorath once and for all. We also find out what oddities Strange keeps in his refrigerator and why he needs to order a new microwave.

Patch Zircher’s art is amazing. Working on a Doctor Strange book presents its own unique obstacles but, I would imagine, one of the greatest challenges is taking the traditional comic book ayout and turning it on its head. Zircher creates panels that my college-aged self would’ve hung on the wall and illuminated with a blacklight.

Although Conan joined Marvel a number of years ago, it’s still a cool thing to see him interacting with the Marvel 616. As I mentioned the upcoming Death of Doctor Strange titles are coming and this is as good a place as any to jump right on in.

This issue is not really a Savage Avengers book as much as it is a solo Doctor Strange one. As Marvel gears up for yet another mega-event, you might want to pass on this title as it will undoubtedly be summed up in a two-sentence editor’s note in an upcoming issue. That’s not an indictment of the work put into the book—it is a fun and interesting story—but an indictment of Marvel’s (and DC’s) need to have annual mega-events with a thousand-and-one tie-in books. If you’re not interested in checking out the upcoming Death of Dr. Strange series you might want to skip this one.