- "Greetings Mage. Once you knew me as Lord Phyffe. Because of you I died. Now I am here to repay you. I am Azrael -- and my touch is death!"
- ―Azrael
| "Dawn of Death!" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Doctor Strange | |
| Title: | "Dawn of Death!" |
| Volume: | 2 |
| Number: | 40 |
| Cover price: | .40 |
| Cover date: | April, 1980 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jim Shooter |
| Writers: | Chris Claremont |
| Pencilers: | Gene Colan |
| Inkers: | Dan Green; Ricardo Villamonte |
| Cover artists: | Bob Layton |
| Cover inker: | Bob Layton |
| Colorists: | Bob Sharen |
| Letterers: | Mark Rogan |
| Assistants: | Allen Milgrom |
| Editors: | Jo Duffy |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Doctor Strange #39 |
| Next: | Doctor Strange #41 |
"Dawn of Death!" is the fortieth issue of the second Doctor Strange ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was Written by Chris Claremont with artwork by Gene Colan and inks by Dan Green & Ricardo Villamonte. It was colored by Bob Sharen and lettered by Mark Rogan. The story was edited by Jo Duffy with Allen Milgrom as a consulting editor. This issue shipped with an April, 1980 cover date and carries a cover price of .40 cents per copy.
"Dawn of Death!"[]
Doctor Strange confronts Julian Phyffe.
Doctor Strange enters the room of Lord Julian Phyffe, who now reveals himself to a pawn of Baron Mordo. Phyffe reveals Mordo's plan to open the Seven Gates of Chaos, which will unleash Chaos Demons that will destroy the world. Strange tries to stop him, but Phyffe repels him with a Bolt of Bedevilment then races out of the house into his car. As Strange pursues him, Baron Mordo uses his magic to force Phyffe to lose control of the vehicle, sending it crashing into the Seine. Strange dives into the river to save him, but it is too late. Phyffe's neck is broken. Madeleine St. Germaine arrives and helps Strange out of the river. She brings him back to her house to recover his strength and formulate a plan. Little do they know that Baron Mordo has resurrected Lord Phyffe as an undead instrument of death - Azrael.
Meet Azrael. He has come to stomp the yard!
Back in the United States, Sara Wolfe fields a telephone call from Stephen to get an update on recent events. He is trying to find Clea, who is currently in the Adirondack Forest Preserve trying to track down the missing Wong. From behind a tree, an unseen assailant fires a weapon at Clea and she tumbles down a hill unconscious.
Back in Paris, Stephen finds a copy of the International Herald Tribune, which details strange disappearances taking place in the Florida Everglades. He then takes some time to reflect upon how he first met Madeleine St. Germaine, then explains Baron Mordo's plans to enact a ritual that will ultimately unleash Hell on Earth.
Strange uses the Flames of the Faltine against Azrael.
Suddenly, Azrael appears and uses the power given to him by Mordo to age Madeleine's maid, Colette Joubert, into dust. Strange snaps into action and unleashes the Flames of the Faltine against his adversary. Azrael appears to be immune to Strange's effects, and Stephen erects the Shield of the Seraphim strengthened by the Winds of Watoomb. He then tries to confuse Azrael by creating duplicate images of himself using the Images of Ikonn.
Members of the Parisian police arrive and burst into the room. They fire their handguns, which have no effect. Strange grabs Madeleine and leaps out of the window onto the street below. Azrael catches up to him and grabs Strange by the throat. Baron Mordo astral projects his face over top of Azrael's face, then uses his servant's power to cause Strange's body to instantly age.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
- Colette Joubert (Only appearance; dies)
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
- Florida (Referenced only)
- Citrusville (Referenced only)
- Florida Everglades (Referenced only)
- Nexus of All Realities (Referenced only)
-
-
- Greenwich Village
- Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum
- New York Hospital (In flashback only)
-
Items
- Cloak of Levitation
- Eye of Agamotto
- Handgun
- Seven Gates of Chaos (Referenced only)
Vehicles
- Ambulance (In flashback only)
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
All this... plus Clea!
- Doctor Stephen Strange was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in the third story from Strange Tales, Volume 1 #110 in July, 1963 titled "Dr. Strange - Master of Black Magic".
- This issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- This issue is cover copy number 02914.
- This issue is ISBN 714860291404.
- The tagline for this issue is "Asrael, Angel of Death!"
- This issue is reprinted in black and white in Essential Dr. Strange, Volume 4, released in June, 2009. It is reprinted in color in the Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange, Volume 8 hardcover collection released in May, 2017.
- Al Milgrom, credited as Allen Milgrom, serves as a consulting editor on this issue.
- Dan Green is the inker on pages 5-18 of this issue only.
- Ricardo Villamonte is the inker on pages 1-4 of this issue only.
- This issue is job number LF 36.
- Azrael is mis-spelled as "Asrael" on the cover to this issue. It is spelled correctly in the story itself though.
- Julian Phyffe is the first character to appear in this issue.
- The events of this issue continue in Man-Thing, Volume 2 #4, then circles back to Doctor Strange, Volume 2 #41 for its conclusion.
- For some reason, Doctor Strange removes the Cloak of Levitation before diving into the Seine. Though a wet cape is certainly detrimental, it would have proved useful when Strange started drowning.