Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1

I think this is the best comic Rick Remender has written. I've said in the past that he's either hit or miss with me, but man, is this a hit. Doctor Voodoo is just plain awesome in this. The book opens Voodoo arriving in Dormammu's Dark Dimension, where he proceeds to use a mix of Dr. Strange-style magic and voodoo to trap Dormammu for the foreseeable future. And that's before the credits!

Strange hangs around for a few pages to chat strategy with Voodoo, making a lot of comments about how risky Voodoo is in setting himself up as Sorcerer Supreme. It seems Voodoo is willing to dabble is a bit darker of magics in order to protect the universe. There is a lot of comparison made by the entire cast that Voodoo had already been the Houngan Supreme, now he's just getting a promotion but still able to use his old powers too. I love the buddy-aspect of the character too. Having your dead brother's ghost around will sure keep you from getting a swelled head, I'd say.

I also like the set-up that Voodoo is continuing his life as Jericho Drumm, non-profit doctor in New Orleans. The double confrontation at his clinic drives home how difficult the secret life of Sorcerer Supreme will be. Remender introduces a new voodoo-themed villainess (complete is stylized, awesome dialogue) and in the middle of that fight, in walks Dr. Doom, anxious to take over the Sorcerer Supreme mantle. Remender did a fantastic job of giving us new ideas and yet scratching the itch of setting a book in the Marvel U. This premiere issue is a fantastic balancing act that delivers action and a fascinating status quo that I can't wait to follow.

The art by Jefte Palo is a tad uneven. He does a great job with Voodoo (has any other good guy ever had shrunken heads on his staff?). I think he took some shortcuts though too, there are panels where background characters don't have faces. The nurse at Drumm's clinic loses her face after one panel and is looking a bit blank for the rest of the page. The art lives up to the billing where it counts though. The confrontations with Doom, Dormammu, and the voodoo baddie are tremendous.

Excellent