Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #42 Synopsis by
Rob Johnson
In Infinity War #1 Dr Strange was surprised at home by a sudden blast of light. His protégé Rintrah is the only other 1 present, but Stephen Strange leaves him behind as he flies into the air to investigate what hit the building. He sees a ball of light flying around and hits it with a Bolt Of Bedevilment, and a human figure falls from the sky which turns out to be the fiery female Nova, the current Herald Of Galactus. DrS's worried because the last time a Herald dropped in it was Silver Surfer announcing the start of the Infinity Gauntlet event. (And he's right because she's about to drag him into the Infinity War.)
Rintrah joins them in the sky using Strange's old Cloak Of Levitation and Amulet Of Agamotto. Then they return to the Sanctum Sanctorum where Nova explains that Galactus is on his way to see the Sorcerer Supreme. But before she can say more Stephen Strange's wife Clea returns from a trip to the Purple Dimension (in a backup tale in Annual #2) with Flyx, a fellow Faltinian who needed her help with a family dispute. She is immediately suspicious of Stephen consorting with a seemingly-naked female, but they explain she's only as nude as Silver Surfer - their 'skin' is a covering to enable them to survive in space.
Then Nova gets back to her story. She and Big G found Eternity rendered catatonic by some unknown agency (IW#1). The culprit has erected mystic barriers to stop Galactus following his trail, which is why he wants Strange's help but he sent his Herald on ahead. DrS thinks she's holding info back and prepares to hypnotise her with the Eye Of Agomotto, but Nova responds with another blinding flash. And then immediately apologises for any damage.
Clea takes her husband aside to tell him she's got her own quest to follow, to do with her mother (Umar). Stephen listens as he also repairs the damage with a casual spell. But said repair seems to result in the roof being taken away. However it's really Galactus making his own entrance. DrS and Nova fly out to meet him hovering in the sky, and Big G erects an invisibility screen to protect them from human gaze. But Clea and Rintrah can see them when they rush outside. Flyx urges Clea to continue their quest to regain her rule of her Dark Dimension home, but Clea says she can't leave while her husband is in danger.
Galactus demands that Strange accompany him. DrS says he'll investigate the Eternity problem on his own, thank you. G sends a minor blast of power his way which the Sorcerer deflects with the Shield Of The Seraphim. Clea and Rintrah try to fly to his aid but can't penetrate G's barrier. Galactus then uproots a tenement building and C&R have to use spells to protect civilians from falling debris. He then further demonstrates his power by folding the building around DrS. C&R try to get through the hole G made in his barrier to pull the building through. Strange breaks free and hurls a spell at Galactus which knocks him over but he still hovers above the ground.
G tells Strange that his skill has only increased his determination to bend the mage to his will. To prevent further damage to New York Stephen agrees to go with him, but 1st he leaves Clea with a goodbye kiss of such intensity that she thinks he fears never to return. To counter her worrying she leaves with Flyx on her own mission, and Rintrah is left alone.
Dr Strange, Galactus and Nova fly into space. On the way G mentally transmits to DrS all he knows about Eternity's condition. But the experience causes our hero to lose consciousness in the hands of Nova, and possibly his life. And it is this scene that greets angry Silver Surfer when he arrives.