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- With The Multiverse Saga unfolding in the MCU, fans can expect even more Doctor Strange variants to appear in live-action and animation. No doubt What If..? and perhaps other properties return to the Dark Doctor Strange from season one. Other possibilities emerge as magic becomes a greater force in the franchise. Agatha: Coven of Chaos promises to explore magic in even more depth, and the chance that Doctor Strange or Sorcerer Supreme variants from the past, present, and future appear becomes more likely.
A dark and twisted Doctor Strange appeared in What If...?, acquiring dark magic to ultimately count among the most powerful Doctor Strange variants in the MCU multiverse. Even more variants appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with some based on powerful Doctor Strange versions from Marvel Comics.
These powerful variations exist both in standard Earth-616 continuity and across the infinite realities and dimensions in the comics. Some explored white magic to its powerful limits, while others indulged darker - and sometimes sillier - paths to becoming supreme in magic, an outcome that may be happening in the upcoming movie as well.
Updated on November 19th, 2022, by Darby Harn:
With The Multiverse Saga unfolding in the MCU, fans can expect even more Doctor Strange variants to appear in live-action and animation. No doubt What If..? and perhaps other properties return to the Dark Doctor Strange from season one. Other possibilities emerge as magic becomes a greater force in the franchise. Agatha: Coven of Chaos promises to explore magic in even more depth, and the chance that Doctor Strange or Sorcerer Supreme variants from the past, present, and future appear becomes more likely.
Carlo Strange
Die-hard comic book fans know Doctor Strange isn't actually the first Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics. That distinction goes to Doctor Carlo Strange, whose powers rested in science and technology. Unlike Stephen Strange, he wasn't a sorcerer at all.
The first Doctor Strange invented laser guns and devices that amplified his mental acuity. He preceded Stephen Strange by only a few months in Marvel Comics, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #41 in 1963.
The Necromancer
The Necromancer, also known as the Doppelganger Doctor Strange, shares all the same powers and abilities as the Sorcerer Supreme. He possesses an extraordinary knowledge of ancient mystical arts and the will to use them.
This Doctor Strange variant from Counter-Earth killed Baron Mordo rather than accepting his help, sending him down a dark path. The Necromancer appeared in the best Doctor Strange comics from the 1990s and could appear in future entertainment.
Strange 2099
Strange 2099, or Jeannie as she was also known, emerged in what is arguably Marvel Comics' darkest timeline. The Sorceress Supreme wields numerous magical powers, including immunity to changes in the timeline by actions in the past.
She casts powerful illusions and also uses magical healing, though her abilities aren't as advanced as the Earth-616 Doctor Strange. When she first appears in the comics, she hasn't had the instruction that Stephen Strange or others have, though she is naturally very gifted in magic.
MC2
Earth-982, the MC2 alternate universe, looked forward into Marvel Comics' future by a few decades. Doctor Strange no longer served as the Sorcerer Supreme but maintained his powers from Earth-616, including the ability to travel between dimensions. He emerged from retirement and reformed the Defenders to face his successor, Doc Magus.
Doc Magus actually defeated Doctor Strange in this confrontation, showing that the older sorcerer had lost a step or two when it came to the mystical arts in this universe.
Sir Stephen Strange
Sir Stephen Strange belongs to Earth-311, the 1602 reality, where the Marvel Universe exists in an Elizabethan setting. He commands the same powers and abilities as his contemporary version and used his powers to achieve a brief communion with Uatu The Watcher, who stands with the most powerful cosmic beings in Marvel Comics.
This gave Strange rare insight into the multiverse and the danger facing his reality. He used his knowledge to help save his world but at the cost of his own life.
Advanced Idea Magician
The Advanced Idea Magician attacks the Avengers in Marvel Action: Avengers #12, bringing the Sorcerer Supreme's infinite supernatural arsenal to bear against Earth's mightiest heroes. A.I.M. brainwashed this Doctor Strange variant, leveraging his ability to cast spells like the Images of Ikkon, which create doubles.
With A.I.M. controlling Doctor Strange, his restraint and wisdom proved useless, and he transformed him into a supernatural wrecking ball along with numerous other Avengers.
Paradox
This purely magical being, conjured from aetheric energy in mysterious circumstances, commanded considerable supernatural skill. Paradox housed fire gems within his hands that provided him with broad mystical abilities, including the power to generate flames and reanimate the dead.
Paradox also featured the ability to detect enormously powerful magical objects from considerable distances, which he could store within his amorphous body for transport across space and time.
The Ancient One
Comic book fans know the Guardians of the Galaxy originally hailed from the 31st century. An older Doctor Strange evolved to become the Ancient One in this alternate timeline. He continued to accrue knowledge and power over the centuries, enough to fight powerful Doctor Strange villains like Dormammu across time and space.
Dormammu succeeded in killing Doctor Strange, though. His pupil and the new Sorcerer Supreme, Krugarr, helped bring an end to Dormammu's tyranny in the future.
Punisher Strange
Some wild Doctor Strange variants exist in Marvel Comics. Punisher Strange numbers with the strongest versions. He wields Doctor Strange's mystical abilities, though Frank Castle doesn't have the Sorcerer Supreme's experience, requiring Doctor Strange's spirit to guide him.
He does have the Punisher's unrelenting and unfettered appetitive for violence, including conjuring magical machine guns he uses to gun down his enemies. This version emerged from the 2015 Secret Wars, likely the basis for the upcoming movie.
Ultimate Doctor Strange
The Doctor Strange variant in Earth-1610, the Ultimate Comics universe, seems more powerful in general than his father. Stephen Strange Jr. utilizes supernatural powers without even using any magic, including astral projection and hypnotism. The younger Strange, whose mother was Clea, inherited nearly unlimited potential.
Stephen Strange Jr. simply exists as a powerful Marvel Comics magical being. He accesses latent magical energy in the universe and manipulates it on a scale his parents could only imagine, despite their manifest skill and knowledge.
Ducktor Strange
Ducktor Strange, the Mallard of the Mystic Arts, hails from the same reality as Howard The Duck. This Doctor Strange version proved his enormous skill in the mystical arts when he used magic to move people from Duckworld, Earth-791021, to the main Marvel universe through the Nexus Of All Realities.
His ability to navigate different dimensions and realities places him high among the strongest Doctor Strange versions in the comics. He also enjoys the added natural ability his avian physiology grants him.
Croctor Strange
Anthropomorphic Doctor Strange variants abound in the comics. Croctor Strange appears to have all the same powers and abilities as his human counterpart in Earth-616, with the addition of reptilian attributes. Like other Doctor Strange variants, he uses the Cloak of Levitation, which allows him to fly and also defend himself from some enemies.
Croctor Strange originates from the same universe as Spider-Ham, and with that character making it to the movies, it's possible that the cold-blooded Doctor Strange variant could as well.
Clea
Comic book fans know Clea serves as a powerful Sorcerer Supreme in the comics, with power and skill equal to Stephen Strange. She's not only Doctor Strange's disciple but also a powerful being from the Dark Dimension, home to Dormammu. She harnesses the Flames of Faltine to increase her natural ability even more.
Clea served as the Sorcerer Supreme of the Dark Dimension and is now the Sorcerer Supreme in Earth-616 after Doctor Strange died in recent comics. Her extraordinary skill in magic made her the ideal choice to take over for him.
Strange-Thing
Strange-Thing, a powerful amalgamation of Doctor Strange and Man-Thing, shares both character's considerable abilities. Not only does Strange-Thing rank with the most powerful magicians in the Marvel Universe, but as guardian for the Nexus Of All Realities on Earth, he has the ability to displace reality and cross dimensions.
This Doctor Strange variant comes from Earth-1298, where he helped stop the Goblin Queen from harnessing the Nexus' cosmic power for nefarious means.
Right Hand Of Doom
The Doctor Strange variant who serves as the Right Hand of Doom in 2015's Secret Wars ostensibly shares the same power as his Earth-616 version, but he contributed to Battleworld's creation along with God Emperor Doom. He also possessed the potential to become God-Emperor himself in this collapsed multiverse but passed on the chance.
This suggests that the Right Hand of Doom possessed terrific power unrivaled among other Strange variants. It wasn't enough to save him from Doom's wrath, though. Doom killed him for betraying the throne in this epic event.
Disciple Of Dormammu
The Doctor Strange in the What If..? animated series turns to dark magic to save Christine's life. In What If..? #18, Stephen Strange goes down a similarly dark path. Strange achieves enormous power as the disciple of Dormammu, but he loses all of his scruples.
This Doctor Strange murders Baron Mordo, even after he heals Strange's injured hands. He releases Umar, Dormammu's sister, from her dimensional prison and conspires with her against his dark master, bringing this Strange close to the power of the dark entities.
Black Priest Doctor Strange
The Black Priest Doctor Strange perceives and witnesses the multiverse on a scale similar to The Watcher in Marvel Comics, far beyond the Earth-616 Sorcerer Supreme. With The Words, he also alters reality simply by speaking.
The Black Priest shares some similarities with the evil Strange that appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, lacking any consideration for others. In the comics, the Black Priests destroy universes to try and save the entire multiverse from becoming unstable.
Hammer Supreme
2018's Infinity Warps crossover event introduced escalating Strange variants, culminating in The Hammer Supreme. This powerful variant combines numerous Marvel Comics heroes into one, including Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Thor, and Iron Man, with all their attendant abilities.
The Hammer Supreme wielded god-like strength, cosmic knowledge, and technical genius into one being. Though this variant may merge many heroes into one, he's far from the most powerful Doctor Strange fusion that Marvel put on the page.
Scarlet Strange
Arguably the strongest Doctor Strange variant came about inadvertently in Tarot #3. This 2020 comic saw the Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange fuse into Scarlet Strange. With Wanda's limitless ability to alter reality and probability on cosmic levels, Scarlet Strange generates potentially unrivaled mystical power.
Scarlet Strange also integrated another powerful Marvel Comics icon, Namor the Sub-Mariner. While the comic barely explores this idea, she seems to share his strength and power as well.
Dr. Strangefate
Dr. Strangefate combines two mystical powerhouses in the superhero genre: Doctor Strange from Marvel Comics and Dr. Fate from DC Comics. The two magical characters share many abilities in common, but Dr. Fate can naturally travel between parallel worlds, making this variant incredibly powerful.
What's more, Doctor Strangefate, who emerged from the Amalgam Comics crossover in the 1990s, also incorporates Charles Xavier. With Professor X's unparalleled mental power, this hybrid makes a case for being possibly the most powerful superhero in comic books.