In order to help a little girl plagued by the demon Nightmare, Moon Knight is forced to seek out the aid of the hero who hates him most: Doctor Strange. Since his triumphant return to the land of the living, Doctor Strange has set himself up as a consulting doctor for other heroes, and in the latest issue of Doctor Strange, Moon Knight calls on the Sorcerer Supreme, who makes it clear that he does not like the Fist of Khonshu.
Doctor Strange #2 is written by Jed MacKay and drawn by Pasqual Ferry and begins with Marc Spector welcoming Stephen and Clea Strange into a home in the Bronx to help a little girl who will not wake up. In narration, Clea makes it clear that although her husband does not like Moon Knight, she does. Moments later, even Marc acknowledges to Stephen that he knows he’s not his favorite person, a fact that the good Doctor confirms, adding that his dislike is compounded by Moon Knight’s friendship with Clea. However, Moon Knight also knows that he is not equipped to deal with the situation at hand, adding, “Opening a brain like mine to hers would be like using a depleted uranium shell to open a diary lock–nothing left but burning, radioactive shrapnel.” Saving the young girl calls for a scalpel, not a fist. Putting aside his dislike of Moon Knight, Doctor Strange and Clea enter the Realm of Nightmare to rescue her.
Moon Knight and Doctor Strange Do Not Get Along
The last year and a half in Doctor Strange’s life has been his busiest ever. Following his seeming death, he returned as the grim Harvest Man–Death’s equivalent of the Sorcerer Supreme. In his absence, his wife Clea became the Sorcerer Supreme. After banishing the Blasphemy Cartel, Death released Strange from his obligations, and he returned to life–and Clea. Writer Jed MacKay, who shepherded Doctor Strange and Clea through these tumultuous times, also writes Moon Knight’s ongoing monthly. In the pages of Moon Knight, the Fist of Khonshu has set up the Midnight Mission, offering protection to travelers at night. And now, Moon Knight is calling on Doctor Strange to help someone under his protection.
Moon Knight and Doctor Strange have met on several occasions, and throughout his various titles, MacKay has made it clear they do not like each other. Doctor Strange, like many others, views Moon Knight as unstable and dangerous. Clea, on the other hand, has taken to Moon Knight–much to Doctor Strange’s chagrin. Indeed, Clea and Moon Knight’s personalities are far more in line; when she was the Sorcerer Supreme, Clea was far more brutal and abrasive than Strange. Moon Knight no doubt appreciated these qualities. And while these same qualities have endured him to Clea, they rub Doctor Strange the wrong way. Doctor Strange is cultivated and tactful, and while he gets along just fine with the decidedly less refined Clea, the same cannot be said for Moon Knight.
Yet if Moon Knight wishes to help the young girl, he and Doctor Strange must put aside their differences. Moon Knight’s capabilities are incompatible with the affliction facing the young girl, and magic is the only cure. Since his return, these are the types of cases Doctor Strange has been taking, establishing himself as a consulting doctor in the same way Sherlock Holmes is a consulting detective. Moon Knight has come seeking Doctor Strange’s help, but the two must learn to work together–or else a young life is doomed.
Doctor Strange #2 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
