Fans of Marvel Comics know that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will finally bring the full brunt of multiversal craziness into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And whatever crazy magic Doctor Strange just pulled off at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, he’s managed to pull forces from beyond the universe to their general direction. Whatever effect this may have in the grander scheme of things in the MCU is anyone’s guess at this point.Thankfully, Marvel Comics has no shortage of stories that tell some similar tales. In the entire history of Doctor Strange or even that of Marvel Comics, some tales do talk of encounters that explore the repercussions of toying with the multiverses. And fans might want to explore these comics before Multiverse of Madness:
10 Avengers/Doctor Strange: Rise Of The Darkhold (1970s)
What better way to read before Multiverse of Madness than a maddening story that involves both the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange himself? In the compilation Avengers/Doctor Strange: Rise of the Darkhold, fans can finally learn the origins of the mysterious tome of dark magic known as the Darkhold.
In the compilation, the Darkhold’s origins are connected to the elder god Chthon, with multiple parties seeking the tome for their own uses. On one hand, Mordred the Mystic wants to use the Darkhold for good until Chthon corrupts him into darkness. On the other hand, Chthon plans on using Scarlet Witch as his host for his eventual rebirth. Being dragged into this craziness is Doctor Strange, who plans on using the book to destroy all vampires. And lastly, Thor finds himself battling Dracula, Lord of the Vampires himself!
9 What If…? #40, #52 (1983, 1993)
While What If…? Season 1 Episode 4 depicts a darker reality where Doctor Strange lost his heart instead of his hands, other “dark” Sorcerer Supremes have actually existed in the comics. Particularly in What If…? #40 and #52, the comics explored possibilities of Baron Mordo and Doctor Doom becoming Sorcerer Supremes, respectively.
Being villains, the stories don’t necessarily end well for the two, but the implications of gathering their abilities were quite interesting. Considering how Baron Mordo’s pride became his own undoing as Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Doom had a more personal take on his story. In particular, Doctor Doom used his newfound powers to save his mother’s soul from Mephisto - but not at the cost of a series of events that would put the universe at risk.
8 Strange Tales #110-141, #169-183 (1960s)
Perhaps one of the best ways to read Doctor Strange is at the beginning of his story, all set in the 1960s courtesy of Strange Tales. While other stories in Strange Tales introduced other Marvel Comics characters, it’s the truly bizarre adventures of Doctor Strange beginning #110 and especially around #169 that cemented the title of the series.
In these early parts of his appearances, Doctor Strange easily establishes his status as Sorcerer Supreme. With most of his adventures dwelling on the bizarre, it’s often with Doctor Strange that Marvel’s most powerful entities get introduced. Not to mention, it’s around the 1960s that Doctor Strange’s powers are at their maximum, with issues often giving him bizarre abilities that modern Doctor Strange couldn’t possibly accomplish. Perhaps Multiverse of Madness will show more of this side of Doctor Strange.
7 Strange Origin (2016)
Fans of comics who couldn’t quite appreciate the eccentric art style of Doctor Strange in the 70s would probably want to grab Strange Origin as a means of getting to know Doctor Strange’s origins, albeit repacked in a more modern format. As with the comics, Strange Origin shows how an arrogant and selfish Stephen Strange would be trained as a Master of the Mystic Arts.
However, Strange Origin isn’t just a retelling of the Doctor Strange origin story. In Strange Origin, Doctor Strange would have to team up with the hot-headed Iron Fist as they try to foil a magical scheme from darker forces. Interestingly enough, Strange Origin will be tying together multiple elements of the modern mystic scene in Marvel comics, particularly between Doctor Strange’s Kamar-Taj and Iron Fist’s K’un-Lun.
6 The Eternity Saga (1965)
Continuing from Doctor Strange’s introduction in Strange Tales story after story demonstrates Stephen's prowess in the mystic arts. Unfortunately for him, the likes of his former friend Baron Mordo and the powerful Dormammu want nothing but to end his existence. In The Eternity Saga, Doctor Strange finds himself on the run after Dormammu-empowered Baron Mordo injures the Ancient One. Doctor Strange discovers that the only way to truly defeat Dormammu and Baron Mordo is through the help of an entity called Eternity.
Soon, Doctor Strange meets Eternity and realizes that it’s a manifestation of eternity itself. While Doctor Strange eventually defeats the Dormammu, The Eternity Saga is also a formal introduction to Eternity in Marvel comics, of which it will have a larger role in the cosmic end of things. This story is a hallmark of Doctor Strange’s connections with the truly bizarre and is proof that anyone meeting more powerful entities for the first time can trust that Doctor Strange probably met them first way, way back.
5 Becoming The Sorcerer Supreme (1973)
While fans of Doctor Strange know that he’s the world’s Sorcerer Supreme, not a lot know the trials he’s had to overcome to achieve the title. And while the Doctor Strange film depicted the Ancient One’s sacrifice to help Stephen achieve the title, the movie evidently did this under the backdrop of the Eye of Agamotto being the Time Stone.
In Marvel Premiere #4 to 14, Doctor Strange will have to fight the horrifying eldritch horror that is Shuma Gorath, who has successfully entered the mortal realm through the mind of the Ancient One. As Doctor Strange realizes he has to sacrifice his Master to defeat Shuma Gorath and become the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange will immediately have to hop timelines to stop Baron Mordo and ancient Cagliostro’s plans to destroy the future. As in typical Marvel fashion, Doctor Strange will immediately have to stop another crisis just as soon as he resolves another one, similar to Multiverse of Madness, which will seem to happen right at the ending of No Way Home.
4 Doctor Strange: The Way Of The Weird (2015)
There aren’t a lot of Doctor Strange comics that depict the Sorcerer Supreme solving day-to-day magical issues, but Doctor Strange: The Way of the Weird does exactly this, adding a more modern spin to Doctor Strange’s adventures without the universal crises that often needed the help of other superhero teams. It doesn’t mean that The Way of the Weird didn’t tackle anything serious, though.
In The Way of the Weird, Doctor Strange sees himself in a race against time as it seems an unseen force is hell-bent on eliminating all magic from the universe. Unfortunately for Doctor Strange, this new adventure will be forcing him to do more than what he’s bargained for as Sorcerer Supreme.
3 Sorcerer Supreme Once More (2012)
It’s not just in Spider-Man: No Way Home that the world will see Doctor Strange retire his title of Sorcerer Supreme. In the comics, Doctor Strange had to relinquish his title of Sorcerer Supreme after using dark magic in a bid to stop a rampaging Hulk in World War Hulk. Back then, Doctor Strange was simply a Master of the Mystic Arts while Brother Voodoo became Sorcerer Supreme. Unfortunately for them, and for other magic users, a sudden demonic invasion will have them grasping at straws trying to figure out what was going on.
Soon, Doctor Strange and the other sorcerers will learn that Agamotto himself wants the Eye of Agamotto back, as the entities within the Vishanti have brought their war to the mortal realms. In Sorcerer Supreme Once More (New Avengers Vol. 2, #1-6, 31-34), Doctor Strange will show the world that the lack of his Sorcerer Supreme title won’t stop him from trying to save the world - something that will help him earn the title back.
2 Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph & Torment (1989)
In recent outings outside his own comics, Doctor Strange is often a background character amongst the Avengers. However, a lot of Doctor Strange’s greatest stories come in the form of unlikely adventures with others, which in the case of Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph & Torment comes in the form of Doctor Doom himself. As fans of Doctor Doom know, the Lord of Latveria himself is just as competent a sorcerer as he is a technological genius. However, Triumph & Torment isn’t about another one of Doctor Doom’s plots, but rather a quest to free his mother from Mephisto’s clutches.
As Doctor Strange finds out, Doctor Doom has spent year after year attempting to free his mother but to no avail. And with Doctor Strange having recently gained his title of Sorcerer Supreme, he decides to help Doctor Doom in this ordeal. Unlike other stories that feature Doctor Strange as a background character in odd tales, Triumph & Torment shows a more grounded and emotional take on why some people eventually get into the mystic arts.
1 Doctor Strange: The Oath (2007)
Surprisingly enough, perhaps the best Doctor Strange story to read prior to Multiverse of Madness is one that tells a rather grounded supernatural mystery. In Doctor Strange: The Oath, Doctor Strange finds himself in a race against time as he finds himself shot with a silver bullet, and he discovers Wong is dealing with a brain tumor. And with the only elixir to cure him missing, Doctor Strange eventually comes to blows with another Sorcerer with quite a surprising origin.
Unlike other adventures of Doctor Strange, it’s The Oath that presents him at his most human. At some point in the story, Doctor Strange will have to choose between saving Wong and saving the world, and the choice he makes will have fans see the deepest reaches of Doctor Strange’s heart.
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness will be released on May 6, 2022.
