A Buried Treasure
In this book The Ancient One calls a gathering of sorcerers to the Temple Of Three in Indonesia. As the wizards arrive at the temple they are introduced, yet none garner the awe as the sorcerer supreme Doctor Strange, and none get the scorn as the dictator of Latveria Dr. Doom.
As soon as all of the wizards arrive, the Vishante consisting of Oshtur, Hogath, and Agomotto, address them and tell them that there will be a contest. The task is to free the ancient one from a crystal. The prize is the title of sorcerer supreme.
After he is told to deactivate the technology in his gloves, that only wizardry and not technology is allowed in the contest, Dr. Doom complies, and the battle is on. One by one the sorcerers fall, finding it useless to call on the three for help since they are the adversaries, and noticing that any attack is reflected back at the attacker, Dr. Strange notices that only he and Dr. Doom are left.
Realizing what needs to be done, Dr. Strange ends the contest, and retains his title as the Sorcerer Supreme. The title this time comes with a wish. Not for the winner, but granted by the winner to the one who is in second place.
Fearing he would ask for help to rule the world, Dr. Strange argues to no avail. Yet Dr. Doom assures him he needs no help to do that, and would assure him that all he will askof him is to help free his mothers soul from hell.
Okay, using a movie analogy, we know that the Watchmen is our version of Citizen Kane. In nearly every opinion poll it is said to be the greatest comic ever made, just as Orson Wells opus is generally seen as the or one of the best films ever made. I would equate this one to a movie like Usual Suspects, or Memento. Not too many people saw it, but as they do they come to find out how cool it is.
This is really a closet classic, that unfortunately time has buried rather than having this particular spoonfull of cream rising to the top. I would really like to be the one to share this with people and point out that it is a story worth finding. Also it has some cool Mike Mignolia art.
Trust me on this one kids, it may not have the fame of a Pheonix Saga, but it is everybit as good.
