Missing Links: Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #38

Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #38
“Fear Itself”
Writer: Roy & Dann Thomas
Penciler: Geoff Isherwood
Inker: Jim Sanders III
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Mike Rockwitz
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco
Co-conceptualizer: R.J.M. Lofficier (Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier)
Released: Dec. 30, 1991

The shortboxes at one table at this year's Classic Plastics Toy Expo had several key comic issues, including the first appearance of Taskmaster, for hefty price tags. But I found what I was looking for in a $2-an-issue assortment of seemingly random issues.

“Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme” #38 – the first appearance of Roadkill.

Just in case you somehow haven't read “Secret Defenders” #4-5, or my recaps thereof, Roadkill is the host of a late-night horror anthology show in the vein of “Tales From the Crypt.” His on-screen backstory as an undead killer searching the former Route 66 to exact vengeance upon the hit-and-run driver who took his life became a threat to actual motorists when he was magically brought to life. Dr. Strange teamed with Punisher, Namorita and Sleepwalker to try and stop the monstrous being.

Issue 4 included a handy asterisked editor's note referring readers to the moment Roadkill crossed over from the TV to the real (well, Marvel) world: the aforementioned issue of Strange's late '80s/early '90s solo series.

Since that offbeat Secret Defenders tale is one of my favorites, and Roadkill such a simultaneously clever and ridiculous concept, I had the issue on my list to search for at cons and shops. I consider it a Missing Link in my collection, even though I've never had much of an interest in Strange's solo titles.

The issue opens with Strange training his apprentice Rintrah, a green minotaur who popped up in the recent “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” film. Rintrah is one of those characters I always thought was cool even though I know next to nothing about him. I found him quite likable in this issue, a humorous, well-spoken man-beast whose polite demeanor belies a temper that gets the better of him and the good doctor.

Their sparring session is interrupted when Doc's paramour Clea and Lisa, a lady with whom I'm unfamiliar, arrive with a problem for the Sorcerer Supreme to investigate. Folks are freaking out over waking nightmares – “daymares,” if you will – that are tied to a portal the magical Clea can also see.

Lisa presumes Strange will consult the Orb of Agamotto about the issue, but he opts for CNN, to see if there are any similar incidents being reported. Instead, he finds a much skinnier, folksier Roadkill than we would see in Secret Defenders, along with his flat cat, Splatt.

As Strange wonders why anyone would watch such a program, Roadkill reaches out of the TV and attacks the sorcerer, before breaking right through the fourth wall and waltzing out of the Sanctum Sanctorum. And that's the end of Roadkill's involvement with the story; he doesn't show up again until more than a (real-time) year later in Secret Defenders.

Before Strange or his allies can pursue the rogue, rotting raconteur, they are transported into a dream dimension by Nightmare, a magical being who preys on... um... people's bad dreams... I think there's a word for that...

Nightmare is part of a convocation of fright-consuming beings known as the Fear Lords, who were also referenced in that Secret Defenders story. He wants Strange out of the way for whatever the group is planning.

After escaping from Nightmare, Strange receives another clue and challenge from the TV set – Skirra Corvus, the Horror Network's owner invites Strange onto the channel to discuss a recent tell-all book about the sorcerer. I would think the Fear Lords messing with mortal minds would take precedence, but Strange and Clea head to the network HQ. It's partly based on intuition and partly on Strange's knowledge of old Icelandic and Latin, as the executive's name translates to “Scare Crow.”

That's the dude on the cover, a former Fear Lord who prefers to go by Straw Man “to avoid confusion with a certain mortal psychotic.” I presume that's Marvel's Scarecrow rather than DC's science-based master of fear, although this story does mention the multiverse.

Of note from my perspective is the Horror-TV headquarters, with mammoth monster decorations outside, is in New York rather than Los Angeles. But a quick check back to Secret Defenders 4 confirms Roy Thomas and company addressed that as well, noting the company had moved west.

The Scarecrow/Straw Man established Horror-TV to build up human toleration of fear in anticipation of the Fear Lords' plot. Frankly, that's as good a justification as any for why we watch horror movies. The actual plot isn't elaborated upon, as Fear Lords the Lurking Unknown and D'Spayre attack, seemingly destroying the turncoat. Strange and Clea defeat them. Clea gets bonus points for noting the Lurking Unknown “sounds more like some sort of trans-dimensional disease” than an actual name.

Strange and Clea vow to thwart the Fear Lords' scheme, while their leader, the Dweller-in-Darkness (smaller and more vocal than his Shang-Chi movie incarnation) assures the rest of the group Strange will be defeated.

It's not exactly groundbreaking (fear demons creating fear), but a fun story nevertheless. Strange and Clea do not appear as stilted and dull as I always sort of assumed they were outside of guest appearances in other titles.

Without Roadkill, my interest in how this plays out is reduced, but if I see parts 2 and 3 of the storyline in future bargain bins, I'll probably grab them, completionist that I am.

I thought acquiring this issue would allow me to check off all three of Roadkill's appearances, but according to Fandom's Marvel wiki, he showed up briefly in a recent issue of the Infinity Wars tie-in featuring Sleepwalker. That's already in my collection, but I didn't notice the villain there, so I may have to break out that issue again soon.