Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #3
Issue #3 is the payoff of a storyline years in the making: four former New Defenders — Valkyrie, Interloper, Andromeda, and Manslaughter — who sacrificed themselves at the climax of the original Defenders series in issue #152 finally complete their battle against the Dragon of the Moon's spirit forces and are reborn into mortal host bodies by the will of the Vishanti. The issue also introduces the Dragon Circle as a named team concept, bringing the Spirit of King Arthur into the Marvel universe in an active, embodied role alongside these resurrected heroes. On the personal side, Peter Gillis uses the issue to deepen the emotional texture of the Sorcerer Supreme title by having Stephen Strange and Clea formally commit to each other romantically — a notable character beat for both figures. As the third chapter of Gillis's brief but cohesive opening arc, it demonstrates the new series' ambition to resolve long-dangling Defenders mythology while establishing Doctor Strange as the connective tissue between Marvel's supernatural corners.
In "Dragon Circle," Doctor Strange and Clea take a surprising step in their relationship, while the New Defenders make a radical move—sharing their bodies with mortals to battle a threat tied to the reincarnated spirit of King Arthur. Written by Peter B. Gillis and illustrated by Richard Case, with inks by Randy Emberlin, colors by Bob Sharen, and letters by Janice Chiang, this 1989 Marvel classic features a cover by Al Milgrom.
Sell my copy
Have this issue — or a whole collection? Get a fair offer from us, skip the marketplace fees and the hassle.
We Buy Collections ▸History
The 1988 *Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme* ongoing series launched under writer Peter B. Gillis and artists Richard Case and Randy Emberlin, continuing directly from Gillis's run on *Strange Tales* vol. 2 — with the same creative team carrying over into the new title's first four issues. The series was edited by Carl Potts under Editor-in-Chief Tom DeFalco. Gillis had been building toward the Defenders' resurrection across the preceding *Strange Tales* installments, where Strange had briefly summoned their spirit forms against Erlik Khan and Nightmare, making issue #3 the intended narrative resolution of that multi-part setup. After issue #4, Gillis departed and Roy and Dann Thomas took over writing duties for the bulk of the series' run.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Title and story: 'Dragon Circle' Part 1 of 2; cover-dated March 1989, released November 29, 1988.
- Creative team: Writer Peter B. Gillis; Penciller Richard Case; Inker Randy Emberlin; Colorist Bob Sharen; Letterer Janice Chiang; Cover by Al Milgrom; Editor Carl Potts.
- Four former New Defenders — Valkyrie (Brunnhilde), Interloper, Andromeda, and Manslaughter — who were presumed dead since Defenders #152 are resurrected here by the Vishanti into new mortal host bodies: Sian Bowen, Will Fanshawe, Genevieve Cross, and Roger Loomis respectively.
- The Spirit of King Arthur (the Pendragon) unexpectedly possesses Welsh man Dafydd ap Iowerth, marking Arthur Pendragon's active return to the Marvel universe as a supporting character; Roger Loomis, Sian Bowen, Will Fanshawe, Genevieve Cross, and Dafydd ap Iowerth all make their first appearances in this issue.
- This issue marks the first use of the team name 'Dragon Circle' for the group — they were known only as the New Defenders previously, and the Dragon Circle designation was coined here when ap Iowerth/Arthur joined the roster.
- The Dragon of the Moon's escape back to Earth is directly linked to Doctor Strange's earlier destruction of his mystical talismans in the battle with Urthona (recapped here in flashback), tying the new series to the immediately preceding Strange Tales run.
- A key personal subplot: Stephen Strange and Clea commit to each other romantically in this issue, a significant emotional development for both characters in the Gillis era.
- The Marvel Database records two separate reprints of this issue, and the entire Gillis run (issues #1–4) is collected in the Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme Omnibus Vol. 1.
Cast · 16 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Doc and Clea get "married". The New Defenders share bodies with mortals and return to fight alongside the reincarnated spirit of King Arthur.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).