Who Is Clea And What Was She Doing In 'The Multiverse Of Madness'?
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness shook things up tremendously in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Sam Raimi-helmed film uses the multiverse concept to offer a plethora of possibilities for the character and give the film and the future of the MCU higher stakes than before. Like most MCU movies, it featured post-credit scenes that tease what will come next. One of these features a character named Clea, who has come to prime Doctor Strange's universe to seek his aid in dealing with a universal incursion. However, many fans who are only familiar with Doctor Strange through the comics may ask themselves this question: Who is Clea, and what is she doing here?
Who is Clea?
Clea is the sorceress supreme from the Dark Dimension. She made her first comic appearance in Strange Tales #126. Doctor Strange was asked by the Ancient One to travel to the Drak Dimension to stop Dormammu's attempt to conquer the Earth. Dormammu was the ruler of the Dark Dimension and Clea's uncle. Once he arrived, he was spotted by a curious Clea, who decided to follow him. She was impressed by him and thus tried to save his life by discouraging him from facing Dormammu.
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Clea was unsuccessful and was soon imprisoned by Dormammu for her betrayal, planning to punish her after his duel with Strange. It was during this duel, however, that the Mindless ones, beings created by Plokta that were being kept in check by Dormammu, escaped. Strange and Dormammu temporarily worked together to contain these creatures, causing Dormammu to be in Strange's debt. He complied with the doctor's desires to release Clea and cease his invasion of the planet Earth.
Clea would eventually be banished from the Dark Dimension and begin her dimension-hopping adventures, ultimately deciding that Earth was the only safe place for her. Strange helped Clea get an apartment in New York. Once he became the sorcerer supreme, he invited her to become his disciple. Eventually, however, she became ruler of the Dark Dimension and even married Doctor Strange.
Clea has several powers due to her being a half-Faltine and half-Dark Dimensional mortal, allowing her to fly and hover naturally. Under Doctor Strange, she studied the ways of magic. Her techniques include Magical Energy Bolts, Energy Shields, Thoughtcasting, Teleportation, Creation/Life Granting, Molecular Rearrangement, Spells and Phrases, and controlling the Flames of Faltine.
Her purpose In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Clea meets up with Doctor Strange so he can help in solving a dimensional incursion caused by Strange's recent actions. It is clear that Clea will be playing a large part in the next major film for Strange, but it is unclear what role she will play precisely at this time. Will this mark a return for the villain Dormammu, who appeared in 2016's Doctor Strange? If so, will Clea be working with or against her uncle? Only time will tell how this story will play out.
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