Strange Fascination

Doctor Strange Leads a Team of Wizards in Marvel’s New Sorcerers Supreme Comic. Stephen Jewell Talks to Writer Robbie Thompson to Find Out More...

Although he is perhaps best known for his scripting and producing credits on TV series like Supernatural, Jericho and The Human Target, Robbie Thompson is also a lifelong comic book fan, who in recent years has become one of Marvel’s most prolific writers. Since making his debut in 2014’s Spider-Verse anthology with a two-part tale about a steampunk Spider-Woman, he has carved out his own corner in the Spider-Man universe, regularly scripting the monthly adventures of Silk, Venom: Space Knight and the teenage Peter Parker in Spidey. Now Thompson is venturing into the ever-expanding magical realms of the Master Of Mystic Arts as he teams up with artist Javier Rodriguez on the new team book Doctor Strange And The Sorcerers Supreme, which is out just in time for Benedict Cumberbatch’s debut as Stephen Strange in Marvel’s latest cinematic blockbuster.

Comic Heroes: How does scripting comic books compare to working on television series like Supernatural?

Robbie Thompson: I love doing both, as they both offer wonderful opportunities to collaborate with great storytellers. The format is very different, but there’s a lot of overlap in terms of finding ways to let the characters drive the narrative. There are fewer collaborators in comics than in TV for sure: the artists, colourists and letterers are doing what many crew members would do in TV in that they’re acting, designing, lighting and shooting the story.

CH: Has your interest in comics influenced your TV work at all?