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I think it's time to read comics🙄

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Dr Strange and Clea by Nszerdy

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Clea: Sorceress Supreme!

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The Circle of Life

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“Daughter of the Faltine”

Clea’s true form, half-Faltine, half-Mhuruuk. She usually keeps the shape of a 20-30 years old woman, her “true” form has been seen only once in the comics and she seemed made of purple fire or magic energy like Domammu.

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Strange #4 review

This is actually the issue I’ve waiting for!!

Since I already post the preview and pointed out pretty much everything, let’s go a bit ahead, with the exception of this panel. It was missing from the website I first used as a source, but I think it’s important to discuss the relationship between Clea and Umar.

As I pointed out just yesterday, Umar isn’t a good mother. In fact, she has never even TRIED to be one. She developed a disgusting feeling towards Orini and by consequence, Clea. The sacrifice she talks about isn’t really out of love. She was forced to keep her human form after getting pregnant, and the experience was traumatizing to her. Besides, Orini was a SIMP, he’d rather follow Umar instead of taking care or even loving Clea. In fact, Clea was raised in a terrible environment, so it’s really beautiful and inspiring of her to seek love as a motivation unlike her entire family, whose utmost driving desire is power.

And the reason Umar paid her a visit is even worse. Let’s get there.

First of all, Clea confesses that she once wished her mother would care for her, be proud of her. But after EONS, it’s understandable that Clea grew past that need. And well, Umar isn’t here only to congratulate her daughter for being the Sorcerer Supreme of both Earth and the Dark Dimension. She thinks Clea schemed her way up to the top.

I know the concept of love is unknown to Umar, but so was it to Clea. And she learned it all the same thanks to Stephen, the literal manifestation of love. And I cannot stress how this is BRILLIANT because it’s always the other way around. It’s always the woman who’s sentimental and teaches love to her partner. And once more you can see how Doctor Strange has always been ahead of his time when breaking sexist standards, especially for a character conceived in the 60s, as well as the supporting roles. Of course, they’re not perfect, they do have problematic things, but when it comes to equality, he stands out in the hero community.

Now, back to the chapter. Here Clea tells Umar that the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme is actually a burden. And guess who talked about this before? Yep, that’s me. Also more evidences to prove my point.

From Strange Tales #127 and What If Magik Became Sorcerer Supreme?

And finally Umar opens her heart.

I mean, yes. She strongly believed Clea achieved great things by conquering power, but no one saw what Clea truly went through and sacrificed to get there. That includes the decades she spent in the Dark Dimension being the leader of the rebellion against Dormammu, that one time she almost died to Imperator’s army, the horrors Dormammu put her through when she betrayed him for Stephen, the banishment to an alien dimension, the loneliness and pain, the self-doubt she struggled with when she only had Stephen, and even the many times she fought her own mother for the crown - or merely survival.

Clea’s life has been mostly a story of violence and loneliness, and it only changed when Stephen took her in. She found love, she made friendships (Val and Patsy, for starters), she honed her magic skills, and none of it was thanks to her family.

Maybe they can learn how to connect, but it will demand A LOT from Umar.

Unfortunately, their conversation was interrupted by the Blasphemy Cartel. I really loved this panel because it portrays the similarities between Clea and Umar. They are different, but also they’re mother and daughter. Some things are not avoidable haha.

From Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #23.

The cartel unleashes a new revenant on them, in the shape of Moon Knight’s dead brother, Randall. Clea then tells Umar to deal with the cartel, taking the expression “slay, queen!” a little too literal.

In the meantime, and here’s my second favorite part of the chapter, we FINALLY, FINALLY see Clea’s magic skill at its peak. First, she casts the Images of Ikonn, one of the most important spells in Stephen’s inventory!!

Then she summons the demon she captured in the last issues, only enough to buy her time and CREATE A NEW SPELL.

I cannot, CANNOT STRESS how this is breathtaking - and yes, I’m going full fanmode because magic is such a fantastic concept in the marvel universe!!

Clea explains why it is so hard to create a new spell.

“Which is why I am taking on the suicidal task of assembling a new, untested spell-formula on the spot.”

I WONDER WHERE SHE GOT THAT RECKLESSNESS FROM

From Avengers v8 #5.

Also these two pages are incredible.

If someone had any doubts Clea wasn’t powerful enough, here’s proof. There are few occasions in which she displays such power, but never like this. I’m really happy to see the extention of her abilities in a way that only a Sorcerer Supreme would.

The last page shows the second thing I’m really looking forward to, which is Harvestman and Clea’s team-up! I had months to reflect on their possible relationship - assuming he’s not Stephen. Plus the idea of Clea developing a bond with someone on her own really excites me.

PS: the page says “to be concluded”. Jed tweeted that it must have been a mistake. The title isn’t canceled (hopefully), we have more issues to come and we also need Stephen back!!

Overall, I think this chapter, despite the same feeling that I wish I had more, found the perfect balance between emotional growth and epic fights. First half gave a deep insight into Clea and Umar’s complicated relationship and it was enough for both of them to rethink where they’re standing and where they could go if they wish to heal and bond. Second half was epic in many senses, and I can’t wait to see Clea and Moon Knight teaming up!!

In short, this chapter was AMAZING. I really loved it.

Gods, this comic book is amazing, but it’s also such a torture to wait for 5 weeks to get a new issue. That’s not fair y’all :(

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“You would not understand, boy. What I did… I did for love.”

Clea, Sorceress Supreme

Earth X (1999)

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Strange #2 variant cover by Stephanie Hans.

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Strang #1 (Artgerm)

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Clea by ~jasonbaroody

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✨

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clea does feel off to me too yeah. but i can't for the love of all that is holy put my finger on how exactly. what she says just doesn't sound like .. her

I'm glad you think so, because I haven't found time to see what the rest of the fandom has been thinking since her series came out. And I want to get into this for a minute.

For context I've really only have a little insight on Clea.

I read a bit about her was when she was a new student of Doctor Strange (in the silver age comics), and that's a obviously a drastically different Clea than the one we have now. I believe she was written more as a damsel in distress than the strong independent sorcerer we know now.

And even recently I only had a small sense of her as his ex-wife in the modern version of Doctor Strange (2015 series to now). Now I believe that version of Clea was written very well, where she was characterized as this leader (Herald Supreme arc, Death of Doctor Strange (2021)), taking charge, having influence, bringing together an entire community to act as one. I like this Clea, she's great!

Because I now enter Strange (2022) with that Clea in mind, and it's just so odd to me how she acts now.

First of all, the most appalling thing is how she acts as a Supreme. Apparently she also counts as the Supreme of her home dimension, so maybe it's okay if she acts like this there, (and yes, I get that she's not gonna be just like Dr. Strange), but just look at this, for example:

(from Strange #1)

First, I strongly appreciate Wong calling her out on this. Now as we know, Wong has been Dr. Strange's longest friend. He was there at the very beginning of his arc as a sorcerer, so he's seen it all and helped Stephen through it all. Guiding Dr. Strange to grow as a Supreme, which he states, is his very job. And Strange #1 is where the weird stuff with Clea really starts becoming prominent, and I don't want to excuse it even if she's still in her mourning phase. A couple things that stand out to me:

1) She's KILLING people.

More on this in a minute.

2) She constantly dismisses Wong.

Wong comes from a family who have served the Supreme for generations. The dude is just here to help! But the thing is, he's grown beyond just "the Sorcerer Supreme's aid" because he and Dr. Strange are literally friends now. They love each other, they care about each other. He allowed Wong to enter his life as his friend, and that bond allowed Wong to become great friends with Clea and the rest of Stephen's friends and family.

So Clea and Wong also have a history together. That's why it's so so weird for me to read this and see Clea literally wave him off without first taking in his advice. It's honestly a little rude.

Yeah maybe Doom was a little right to be concerned that Clea just adopted her late husband's title without going through the procedures with the Vishanti first. People tend to earn the Supreme title and this just feels like Loki's goofy self acting like Supreme again.

She's not even performing the regular duties of a Supreme. As much as I don't like the Avengers, it is proper for her to tell them that she's the one in charge of mystic stuff for right now, but she doesn't even care about that. Her basic role as earth's Supreme is being ignored!

Clea really shouldn't be lectured on how to be a Supreme. She's been with Doctor Strange for ages and has seen how he worked, why is she acting brand new?

3) Her strong attachment to this "warlord" persona.

Now I have not read too many stories with Doctor Strange and Clea's adventures in the dark dimension where they fight off her bastard relatives, but I thought she had moved on from them? It's so so weird to me that she keeps laying claim to her relation with them like a mantra. When the hell has Clea ever acted like this?

Why is it that she keeps repeating this line? She literally says this line at least once an issue. Who cares what your relatives did in the past? They're literally evil. And they kill people!

And even if you do now too, why?? You're a Supreme, honey. That's not what we do here. Dr. Strange would never do this, and I don't think you should either. Yeah, he had a doctor's oath, but it was more than just that.

4) "Gangsters"

She says the word "gangster" like a kid who just learned a new favorite word. Doesn't it just seem so funny whenever she calls someone a "gangster"? She says this as many times she lays claim to her "warlord" heritage.

Just why, Clea?

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“Life is the most precious gift the cosmos can bestow. The cosmos is everything! To affect any part of the cosmos is to affect the totality! And it is the lot of Doctor Strange to preserve the gift.”

And the bond they feel that makes his soul ache…. My mans is so full of love 😭😭

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Boyfriend of the fuckin’ year right here… sometimes I wonder why Clea puts up with his bullshit…