As Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange took on many responsibilities outside the traditional scope of his office. Chief among these was his establishment of a school to train the next generation of mages and magical beings.
But Doctor Strange is no longer the Sorcerer Supreme. Doctor Doom is.
Luckily for the students of Strange Academy, Doom is a believer in quality education. Indeed, he has promised universal schooling as part of his One World Under Doom initiative. To that end, Doom has absorbed the school into his own Latverian educational institution, Doom Academy.
As Doom Academy #1 opens, the first wave of students is adjusting to their second year of studies. In many ways it is like starting over at any school, although the new uniforms with hooded green cloaks are a bother. For newbie necromancer Zoe Laveau, however, her concerns go a bit beyond the friends she left behind and her weird new roommate.
Zoe’s unique powers make her more sensitive to certain energies than other mages. This leaves her sensing something sinister about Doom Academy that her remaining friends do not. Throw in the odd voices calling to her in the night and Zoe is really not liking her new school.
Doom Academy is magical yet inaccessible
MacKenzie Cadenhead does a fair job establishing Zoe as the main protagonist of Doom Academy. The atmosphere is reminiscent of quite a few popular young adult book series based around magical schools and the central mystery is engaging. Unfortunately, this first issue presumes the reader is already familiar with the cast from Strange Academy. For instance, Zoe makes reference to an amulet that masks her undead appearance, but the details go unexplained.
Almost no effort is made to introduce the reader to existing characters like Doyle, son of Dormammu or Shaylee Moonpeddle. While it is easy enough to read about them online, it seems strange (no pun intended) that a first issue should care so little about establishing its ensemble. We also don’t learn much about the teachers, particularly Zoe’s mentor Zelma Stanton.
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The artwork of Doom Academy #1 is far more engaging. Pasqual Ferry gives every panel a sense of energy that is simply charming. The character designs are memorable and the story flow smooth. Throw in the colors of Edgar Delgado and Clayton Cowles‘ letters and the whole thing looks truly magical.
Doom Academy #1 requires more homework than a first issue should. Get past the steep learning curve, however, and there’s likeable characters and spirited artwork. It may be best enjoyed by existing fans of Strange Academy, but there’s much for fans of sorcerous school fiction to admire here.
Grade: 6/10
Doom Academy #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on February 19, 2025.
