Marvel 1976.06 - Doctor Strange #15

Doctor Strange #15

Title: Where there's smoke

Writer: Steve Englehart

Artist: Gene Colan

Villain: Satan

Regulars: Clea, Wong

Despite Dracula being mentioned in conversation between Doctor Strange and Wong, this issue seems to be a continuation of the story in Doctor Strange #13, when Eternity recreated the Earth after its destruction by Baron Mordo. My suspicion is that last month's crossover story was written at short notice at the request of staff higher up in the Marvel hierarchy.

Doctor Strange and Wong are walking in Greenwich Village when they pass a building on fire. The fire brigade is already at work, but a young woman leaps from a fire escape to get away from the flames. Doctor Strange casts a spell to break her fall. Only one person in the crowd sees what he's done.

Doctor Strange returns home, brooding over the fact that he's the only survivor of the old Earth, and everyone around him is a replacement. Clea tries in vain to cheer him up. There's a knock at the door. It's James Mandarin, the man who was observing Doctor Strange earlier. He's been watching him for ten years, ever since he moved into Greenwich Village, and he knows that he's a practitioner of the mystic arts. He sees him as a guru and wants to become his disciple. When Doctor Strange denies it and tries to send him away, he slits his neck with a knife. Using his medical skills, he heals the man and places him in a bed in a guest room.

Doctor Strange is becoming desperate. He tries to consult the Ancient One, but he's attacked by minor demons. He easily defeats them, but curses himself for acting like a novice and letting them into his house. Lord Phyffe and Rama Kaliph, two occultists who've been staying in his house since Doctor Strange #9, sense his distress and ask him what's wrong. Doctor Strange tells them that they're new creations. They're shocked, but they recommend that he should also tell Clea as his lover. He tells her, but she can't take the news and screams at him.

James Mandarin is also in despair at being rejected by Doctor Strange. He wants to kill himself, but Satan comes to him and tells him he'll be his Messiah. Satan loves a situation like this where there's so much despair. Satan possesses James Mandarin's body. He takes Doctor Strange and Clea to Hell.

Satan has been watching closely since the beginning of this issue. Did you spot him in the top right corner of the splash page?