10 Sorcerer Supremes That Aren't Stephen Strange
Because Stephen Strange is the most common character identified with the title of Sorcerer Supreme, it's easy for casual fans to forget that many others have held the title beyond him and the Ancient One. They were not the first and won't be the last. In the MCU we've already seen another take up the mantel due to technicalities and, within the comics, we have seen many that have come before them and many that come after. The title itself has been passed down since 1000000 B.C. when the first unofficially took up the mantel. Following this, the mantel has been passed down to those who can pass the trials necessary, able to defeat the current holder for the title or have it surrendered to them by the current holder.
Earth is not the only place within the universe a Sorcerer Supreme may call home. Throughout the universe, the title is held by many who seek to protect their planet from the threats posed by the mystical threats and dimensions. Within those dimensions, alternate supremes exist as well. Poised to defend against threats that may bring their's and the cosmic order's downfall. Beyond those dimensions, there exists an infinite number of Sorcerer Supremes throughout the multiverse. Here we will explore ten alternate Sorcerer Supremes, in no particular order, that span across the multiverse ready to defend their realities from any threat they may face.
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10. Wong (Earth 616 MCU)
The MCU gave viewers quite the twist in revealing that Wong has taken up the mantle as Sorcerer Supreme following the blip event of Avengers Infinity War. With Stephen Strange being blipped and Thanos, as well as numerous other mystical threats still existing, it is understandable why he had to take up the mantle. One of the best parts of this current phase of the MCU (especially in Multiverse of Madness) has been watching Stephen come to terms with losing his title. While the MCU has had Wong appear in this title in three movies thus far, beyond Shang Chi, it is always concerning something Stephen Strange is involved in. Hopefully, we'll see Wong facing crises of his own going forward.
9. Clea (Earth 616 MCU & Comics)
Once an ally of Dormammu, Clea helped Stephen Strange in his conquest to rid the Dark Dimension of the being. This caused a power vacuum that saw Clea's mother take the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme until Clea returned to the dimension to defeat her mother and take the throne from her. Following this, Clea and Strange would embark on many adventures together and eventually marry. Their marriage remained rocky throughout its entirety.
With her only able to visit Earth at certain times, their time apart created a rift that was completed by her discovery of Stephen being unfaithful. After the death of Stephen Strange, Clea became the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth and took the last name of Strange as a tribute to her former lover.
8. Merlyn (Earth 148/Otherworld Comics)
Merlyn has existed as a fictional character for centuries, but did you know that he exists within the Marvel universe? He is an extremely powerful being that can commit acts that go beyond that of Stephen Strange. Trained by the Sorcerer Supreme Necrom, while being his pupil Merlyn had to face another one of the Marvel Universe's most powerful beings, the Phoenix Force. After the altercation, Necrom was able to escape with a piece of the Phoenix Force while the rest remained on Earth 616. While he was only Sorcerer Supreme briefly, he would be pivotal in the origins of Captain Britain and would make himself the Omniversal Guardian of Otherworld.
7. Isaac Newton (Earth 616 Comics)
Not only a master of the mathematical arts, within Marvel comics, Newton also came to be a master of the mystical arts. After joining the Brotherhood of the Shield and discovering the secret of everlasting life, Newton continued to delve deeper into magic. Eventually, he became so powerful that he was named Sorcerer Supreme in a time when the Ancient One was believed to have died. He would go on to murder some of his rivals during this time. Existing well into the 20th century, he would go on to work with the likes of Howard Stark and Nathaniel Richards even after he was no longer the world's mystic protector.
6. Agamotto (Earth 616 Comics)
Agamotto was the first mortal (not human) to hold the title of Sorcerer Supreme. According to legend, he was born as a tear of an Elder God though it is known that he was born well before those legends take place. He is the creator of numerous mystical objects such as the Eye and Orb of Agamotto and the Book of Vishanti. Being amongst, if not the most powerful, Sorcerer Supremes, Agamotto has not always been an ally of the human race.
There came a time when he felt that Stephen Strange was not worthy and Brother Voodoo was too inexperienced to hold the title, so he engaged in a war with Earth. Whether or not Voodoo was too inexperienced, he was eventually the downfall of Agamotto. Giving his life as a sacrifice, Voodoo would be the one to destroy Agamotto, but not entirely.
5. Tony Stark (Earth 9810 Comics)
Earth 9810 gives a unique spin on the story of Sorcerer Supreme. Whilst driving Stephen Strange home, he and Tony Stark were involved in an accident that caused the usual occurrence of Strange's hands being damaged beyond repair. Stark vows to help Strange regain the use of his hands and in doing so travels to Tibet to train with the Ancient One. He realizes that Mordo has cursed the Ancient One. After finishing his training and defeating Mordo in combat, Stark is granted the title of Sorcerer Supreme. Upon learning of an impending invasion by Dormammu, he travels to the Dark Dimension and faces off against the mystical being. Though he puts up a good fight with the help of an iron suit he built, Strange ultimately betrays him in order to regain the use of his hands. Dormammu imprisons the Sorcerer Supreme and is victorious for a time. Clea convinces Strange to help in the release of Tony Stark, and Tony is able to defeat Dormammu.
4. Loki (Earth 616 Comics)
Loki, the God of Mischief, gained his position as Sorcerer Supreme doing exactly what he does best, with tricks and illusions. After a tournament hosted by Vishanti to decide who would hold the title, Loki was named to the position even though Stephen won. This was said to be because Vishanti no longer believed that mortals should be the Sorcerer Supreme. Stephen Strange was not satisfied with this and searched to usurp the God of Mischief. In a moment of weakness yet decisiveness, Strange enlisted the help of the Void. This proved to be a grave mistake, causing Strange and Loki to team up to defeat it. While the void corrupted Strange, Loki attempted to take a spell from Zelma that would allow him to take control of all of the world's magic. Yet in doing so, Zelma was able to see into Loki's mind and discover that the Asgardian had faked the entire tournament to obtain the title. Once freed from the Void, Strange was given this information by Zelma. Loki ultimately returns the cloak and title.
3. Magik (Earth 616 Comics)
Magik may not be a household name, but New Mutants readers will know that she is one of the most powerful magic users in Marvel. Kidnapped at a young age, Illyana Rasputina was raised within the Limbo Dimension and would go on to be its Sorcerer Supreme. Magik has a long and winding history that is too much to place here. She has fought in some of the mutants' largest events, trained under Stephen Strange at the Strange Academy, and even returned from the dead. She can teleport through Limbo and Earth. She trained in both light and dark magic and was even considered to replace Stephen Strange as Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. She is immensely powerful and a pivotal piece in many of her appearances.
2. Victor Von Doom (Earth 938 Comics)
In an attempt to save the soul of his mother, Earth 938's Victor Von Doom traveled to the Ancient One. Once there he trained in the mystic arts and asked for assistance in defeating the demon Mephisto. While training, Stephen Strange arrived in hopes of healing his hands. Doom cut off his hands and replaced them with advanced, robotic ones. Once he finished his training, Doom and the Ancient One faced off against Mephisto. They were able to defeat him, but only at the cost of the Ancient One's life. Doom would take up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme and continue to protect the Earth from mystical threats. Once Dormammu invaded Earth, he sought help from the Fantastic Four. Though they were victorious, Doom's fate was the same as the Ancient One's. To live on, in his last moments, Doom used a Doombot to transfer all of his memories and his personality into his surgeon, Stephen Strange.
1. Dr. Strangefate (Earth 9602/Amalgam Comics)
For those who are unaware, Marvel and DC embarked on a joint venture that saw numerous characters combined into a single character. Some examples are Dark Claw (Wolverine and Batman), Super Soldier (Captain America and Superman), Lobo the Duck (Lobo and Howard the Duck), and Dr. Strangefate (Stephen Strange, Charles Xavier, and Dr. Fate). While traveling through the Himalayas, Charles Xavier was rescued by Nabu the Ancient One. While in each others' presence, Xavier enlisted Nabu's help in mastering the mystical arts and his own telepathic abilities. Eventually taking over as Lord Supreme of Order, Strangefate protected the Earth but from the confines of his sanctum.
Once he learned that his universe was a combination of two pre-existing universes (Marvel and DC), Strangefate attempted to kill the one person who could separate them in an attempt to save the Amalgam Universe. He was unsuccessful and the universes split. Once split, Strangefate survived. He was able to bury himself within the subconscious of Stephen Strange and no one would be aware until the universes began to clash again. Strange ultimately released Strangefate and was able to defeat him with help. Strangefate pleaded with Dr. Strange to not destroy him and to help restore his universe. Strange agreed, but only to make it as a pocket dimension so that the two universes would not merge into one ever again.
There you have it, ten Sorcerer Supremes that aren’t Stephen Strange. Have you heard of any, or all, of these? Do you have a favourite Sorcerer Supreme?
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Source(s): Marvel Fandom, cbr.com