by Dr. Wade McNasty » Thu Aug 16, 2012 7:29 am
This pretty much. Then again, I think they should create a story, each with it's own ground rules that determines what Strange can and can't do from the get go, as opposed to nerfing him or creating one scenario for all stories. This is something I've seen done with him each time and it never works. Back in the day, however, they really cut loose and had some fun with him. Maybe the problem is that the writers today want to tell a street level story but instead of creating a premise that would force Strange to operate at that level, they basically ignore it and keep going.
Maybe it's their insistence on having him interact so closely in the affairs of other characters, except even then, he's not used as much and would be better off giving that spot to a less powerful character that is of the same vein (Jericho Drumm, the new Shaman from Alpha Flight, Wiccan, or a new character created by that writer so they can truly have control over what the character can and can't do without the hassle of continuity - in these cases, Strange can be used for consultation, with each time they see him, he is busy "saving the universe" so all he can do is give suggestions as opposed to fixing everything with a wave of his hand). It's one reason why I always wished they would do something that sets some ground rules if they are going to do this or ideally, have the rules change from one story to the next due to factors in that story arc.
For example, in one story, some big time baddie attacks but the Vishanti will be mad at him due to some action Strange takes to stop him, limiting what he can do in the next story, where he will get the full measure of his powers back because the previous baddie had weakened the Vishanti with his antics (somehow) so now Strange can cut loose, in another story, a physical illness caused by some other-dimensional being that devours realities makes him sick so it can attack this realm, in another, he limits himself because reality is fragile because the other-dimensional being from the last story who tried to eat this reality in the last story had caused some damage to reality. Damage to reality can give way to all kinds of things from resurrections to some other high-powered magician trying to re-write the rules of magic to benefit him. Have him succeed, allowing Strange to be limited for the next story arc and thus he has to find a way to fix things and set things back to normal again. Conditions are put down at the start and are applied to that story arc, something that would allow them to actually write a good story with him. That or be more creative in the things he has to deal with (a foe that is really a sentient concept that possesses anyone that understands it, if Strange tries to use a banishment spell or some sort of exorcism, the person's soul will leave the body along with the bad guy so he has to use more creative means to stop him). The stories write themselves with Strange and I feel that the writers aren't trying hard enough.
It's been fun.
Arsenal wrote: That whole fight makes me want to hire Wade to write a rant for me and fill it with .GIFs that show how upset I am with it.
