Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Neil Edwards
Release Date: 2nd July 2014

Doctor Spektor first debuted in 1973 when he appeared in Mystery Comics Digest before spinning off into his solo series The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor. His series ran for 4 years and appeared in all four issues of Gold Key’s Spine-Tingling Tales. Now, over 30 years later, the master of the occult has been given a modern update at the hands of Daredevil writer Mark Waid.

Doctor Adam Spektor is your modern day David Blaine, a celebrity magician with his own reality TV show. He makes his Bruce Wayne-like fortune with his reality TV show exposing psychic frauds and hunting down supernatural monsters like Vampires, Werewolves and the rest of the monster mash gang.

Issue 2 throws Spektor and his lovely assistant Abby into a time stream where people who should exist don’t and people who can’t exist do. With the two separated from each other Spektor uncovers the mysterious forces causing the rift while Abby shares in the audiences confusion as to just what the heck is going on. The issues leaves of a cliffhanger of complete uncertainty as you want answers but are left with more questions.

The first half of the book is split between now and one hour ago making you feel like your reading two different stories at the same time. When the timelines eventually meet it is not the same as what we saw an hour from now as Abby and Spektor appear to exist in two separate time streams. The structure is fantastic albeit a little confusing at first but it just adds to the magic of Waids writing as you’ll have to read through it several times to see past all the smoke and mirrors.

Doctor Spektor Master of the Occult is off to a great start in this new revival. It’s dark and mysterious with great character moments and witty dialogue to invest your time into. Spektor and Abby have great personality and plenty of space to grow as individuals if while they remain separated. If you like Sci-Fi and supernatural themes then I would highly recommend picking up this title before the curtain calls on this magicians act.

Rating: 5/5.

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The writer of this piece was: Dean Walsh