Strange Academy #1 - Marvel Comics

STRANGE ACADEMY No. 1, November 2020

Absolutely crammed full of all manner of new characters and numerous guest-star cameos, Skottie Young’s script for Issue One of “Strange Academy” could easily have overwhelmed its 71,039 strong audience when it first hit the spinner racks in March 2020. But mercifully, the Illinois-born writer does such a terrific job of presenting “the very first class attending Strange Academy” in a semi-piecemeal fashion, that the comic’s considerable cast actually proves to be one of the thirty-page periodical’s biggest draws rather than a meaningless parade of non-relatable protégé sorcerers, demons and frost giants.

For starters, the publication initially just purely focuses upon the magical awakening of Emily Bright, and the Midwestern girl’s rather dramatic initial meeting with Zelma Stanton. This combination of a new wannabe wizard and the much more familiar librarian from the Bronx arguably proves a great way to meet the title’s lead protagonist, whilst simultaneously exploring the enormous estates of Stephen Strange’s vast educational facility buried deep within the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street in New Orleans; “There are many ways to access the grounds, but today we’re just going in through the front gates.”

Similarly as well-penned are the introductions of the haughty Iric and Alvi of Asgard, Doyle – the Lord of the Dark Dimension’s son, and the super-energetic pink-coloured fairy Shaylee. All of these magic users are immediately blessed with plenty of personality straight from the ‘get-go’, and some of their fractious relationships with one another bode very well for future frictions. Indeed, Zelma’s insistence that Iric become room-mates with the satanic-headed offspring of Dormammu promises plenty of adventures to come, especially after the arrogant Asgardian immediately attacks the “evil minion” upon first setting eyes upon him.

Furthermore, Humberto Ramos’ sensational layouts really go a long way to selling the sheer size of Strange Academy’s amenities, staff and students to this comic’s readers. The Mexican artist’s ability to imbue every character with an individualism all of their own is breath-taking, as is his pencilling of Doctor Strange’s sudden appearance towards the end of this book, when the Sorcerer Supreme requires the assistance of his new pupils to help him battle a multi-tentacled Throzil.

The regular cover art of "STRANGE ACADEMY" #1 by Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado