Acclaimed artist Alex Ross has delivered many covers for Marvel over the years, and the painter's latest offering for The Marvels featuring Doctor Strange is absolutely stunning. The painting is one of the best illustrations of the Sorcerer Supreme's madcap adventures yet. Plus, the cover also hints at an ominous tidings for the varied cast of the mini-series.
Written by Kurt Busiek and illustrated by Yildiray Cinar, The Marvels sees a diverse group of Marvel's best characters drawn into an increasingly strange web alongside the superhero tour guide Kevin Schumer. The events are being observed by the bizarre Threadneedle, all hinging towards some as-of-yet unknown purpose. As past and present collide, the assembled characters find themselves drawn together by a mysterious design. Much like Busiek's past work on Astro City, the mini-series explores what life is like in the Marvel Universe from both the perspective of superheroes as well as regular people.
The art itself, first posted on Twitter by Alan Ro Gallardo, features the Sorcerer Supreme descending down the cover, with Doctor Strange's Cloak of Levitation fluttering up behind him in glorious full-color. Mysterious broad red lines appear to be tying Strange literally to the comic's logo. The comic's incredibly eclectic cast - which includes characters like Storm, Black Cat, Captain America, Iron Man and Human Torch - watch on in either amazement or dread. It's not quite clear if the cast is reacting to Doctor Strange's predicament, or if he in fact the source of everyone's panic.
The cover suggests whatever is going on, Doctor Strange is undoubtedly at the center of it. It's possible Doctor Strange is privy to seeing things that the other characters are not, much like Threadneedle is throughout the book. Of course, there are some sinister implications to this cover. In particular, the mysterious red strands that emerge from the cut-out logo seem to suspend the Sorcerer Supreme in mid-air, implying Doctor Strange is being restrained by an unknown force. Interestingly, every figure looks on in horror or apprehension except for Human Torch and Kevin Schumer, with an unknown figure in the shadows turning towards Schumer. Doctor Strange's own face isn't visible as he seems to be looking down, so it's hard to tell if all the chaos is his doing or the result of another, more sinister force.
So far, Kurt Busiek's The Marvels has been a fun and unpredictable foray into the stranger corners of the Marvel Universe. The cover makes it clear that the arrival of the Sorcerer Supreme probably won't dampen the story's wild exploration of the unknown. If anything, the cover implies there are limits to what Doctor Strange can do. With characters like Threadneedle and Ace in the mix, Doctor Strange might not have the impact that many of the superheroes are hoping for. Either way, this beautiful Alex Ross cover is one more selling point in an already engrossing storyline.
Source: Alan Ro Gallardo
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July 07, 2021 at 12:17AM
