Episode 99: Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

 

We're back with a spoiler-filled discussion of Marvel Studios' 28th film, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Surprisingly, Bob and Karen both liked this movie more than Larry did! But we all enjoyed it. As usual, this film is bursting at the seams with guest appearances and all sorts of craziness. We'll do our best to examine the story and characters and share our thoughts on some of the plot points.

A big part of this movie is Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, and it definitely helps if you've seen Wandavision before you plop your butt down in your seat to catch this film. Wanda's past and her motivations are at the center of the movie. We had a lot of feelings about this and her eventual fate.

This is not to say our titular hero doesn't get his fair share of time in the spotlight. This may be one of Dr. Strange's best outings in the MCU, showing him in a more nuanced light. Of course, we get more than one Dr. Strange, as we are voyaging through the multiverse, and it's enlightening and enjoyable to see how different, and yet how alike, each version of Strange is. 

Traveling through the multiverse is a blast, if a bit condensed. But we do get to meet The Illuminati, a group of superheroes who believe they are the only ones who can make the important decisions that shape the world. It was quite a thrill to see who comprised this group, including some characters we'd never seen on screen before -and one we had, but not in the MCU. The scenes with them, while brief, were terrific.

Director Sam Raimi left his imprint on the film - this is not a bland or faceless production. All the hallmarks of a Raimi film are here, and as many have said, this does often feel like a horror film. There are several jump cuts and some genuinely scary scenes. But there's nothing grisly or gory. 

How will this lead into the remaining MCU films? Hard to say. We know we are getting more of the multiverse. But for now, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stands on its own as a solid Marvel production.

Our Sensor Sweep this time ties right into our film. Commander Larry gladly presents The Book of the Vishanti: A Magical Exploration of the Marvel Universe. Described as  "the ultimate collection of spells, history, and personal accounts recorded by practitioners over centuries, including notes from Doctor Strange himself." This hardbound book can be purchased from your local bookseller or bought online. Who needs to go study with the Ancient One? Just buy this book!

We also have some sad news. After a long battle with cancer, legendary comics artist George Perez has passed away. You can't sum up his career in a sentence or two. He was an incredible artist who did landmark work on titles like New Teen Titans, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wonder Woman, Avengers, and so many more. Beyond his artwork, he was known for being one of the nicest people in comics. His passing is a huge loss. We send our condolences to his loved ones.

That's it for now. Thanks again for tuning in, and for your support for the podcast. And hey, episode 100 is right around the corner! Please share your thoughts, on the movie, or anything else:

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By the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth!