This article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange #5.
some of the spells being used in the comics feel like they're pulled straight from the pages of Potter.
The comparison is most explicit in Strange Academy, which is essentially Marvel's version of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. Granted, the class are a whole lot more interesting than Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and the teachers include accomplished superheroes like Scarlet Witch, Brother Voodoo, and Nico Minoru. What's more, as great as Dumbledore may be, as Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange would be able to beat him with one hand tied behind his back.
This week's Doctor Strange #5 sees Strange travel to Marvel's own version of Diagon Alley - although a better parallel would perhaps be Knockturn Alley, where black magic artifacts were for sale and decent wizards like Harry should never tread. In Marvel's case, though, this is an entire city on another plane of existence, called Kryll City. It's one big market-city, sometimes called the Infinite Bazaar, a prime gathering place for unsavory sorcerers because it magically adapts to accommodate any bio-system. Whether you require Earth-compatible gravity or neon gas to breath, Kryll provides.
Doctor Strange has heard of Kryll City before, but he's never visited. He does so in disguise, and is chilled to realize he recognizes the vast majority of species, beings he's battled many times and considers sworn enemies. Even more disturbing, the artifacts for sale are so dangerous they're outlawed by the Living Tribunal himself; soul twisters, cauldrons of evernight, and Mephisto's Tears. The comic is silent as to just what these can do, but it's thrilling to imagine the possibilities.
Strange is there because he's learned of an auction taking place at the Infinite Bazaar. He's become aware someone is stealing magical items from his forge, and is selling them on the magical black market. Strange has one goal; to shut down this operation, even though he knows he's up against a small army of vengeful creatures who have access to some of the most dangerous magical weapons in all creation. There's just one thing in his favor; his foes have no idea he's there. As far as Doctor Strange is concerned, it's game on.
