Warning: contains spoilers for Death of Doctor Strange #6!
In a world full of zero consequences for powerful men, The Death of Doctor Strange, has thus far encomed six issues of magical detective work, eldritch creatures from another dimension, and general superheroics. But in Death of Doctor Strange #6, Stephen Strange dies - and he shockingly does not return at event's end.
The event began with Strange's death - murdered on his own doorstep via a magical knife to the gut. But nothing is what it seems in the magical world of the Sorcerer Supreme, and a younger Doctor Strange arrives to investigate his own murder. It's a contingency plan concocted by Strange in the event of such a catastrophe, and the younger Strange, inexperienced as he is, eventually finds the culprit: Kaecelius, Strange's long-term nemesis. A massive magical battle ensues between sorcerers.
Kaecelius eventually makes a mistake and reveals he possesses Strange's soul - and the past Strange thus uses a healing spell to "heal" Kaecelius' body into Strange, bringing the Sorcerer Supreme back from the dead. However, in a subsequent battle with the magical Galactus-esque Child, the younger Strange is killed...and though the Child is vanquished, Strange reveals that his resurrection was only a temporary measure. Making good on the promise of the title, Doctor Strange dies - for good.
Readers know that death in comics is astoundingly impermanent. Nevertheless, seeing Strange actually die at the end of his own event is quite a shock, especially in the wake of the murder of the Scarlet Witch that set up the X-Men: The Trial of Magneto event. In the event, the Scarlet Witch reappeared halfway through the proceedings, essentially exonerating Magneto and taking the wind out of the event's sails for the duration. The consequence-free event is emblematic of comic book crossovers today: much Sturm und Drang with very little to show for it.
Doctor Strange's death, while undoubtedly not permanent (only Uncle Ben's death sees to stick these days), is nevertheless a much better end in that there are realistic consequences that change the Marvel Universe at the end of the event. Namely, Clea has been elevated to the rank of Sorcerer Supreme and Doctor Strange is no more. The fallout from his death remains to be explored, but for now, Doctor Strange is truly dead.
