Warning: spoilers ahead for Juggernaut #3!
In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Juggernaut, Cain Marko ends up providing a great example of just how powerful Doctor Strange is compared to other mystics in the Marvel Universe. The example provided involves the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, a spell frequently used by Doctor Strange and derived from the same demonic entity who chose Juggernaut as its avatar. While Marko had lost his armor prior to this series, this issue shows how he got an upgrade, and it underlines just how much power the Sorcerer Supreme is packing.
In this new issue from Fabian Nicieza and Ron Garney, Cain Marko has already regained the new armor, but a flashback reveals how that happened. Before the start of the series, Marko had been trapped in Limbo thanks to Magik, who had ripped away the gem that allowed him to access the power of the deity Cyttorak. After finding a way to escape Limbo, Marko went in search for a means to get his true power back. Finding a guide, Marko traveled to the Forge of Cyttorak, where he found a mystic residing within.
This scene from Juggernaut #3 in particular shows how insanely powerful Doctor Strange is as the Master of the Mystic Arts. The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak are a frequent tool used by Strange in his battle with supernatural threats, acting as a means to restrain his foes, which he can summon in mere seconds. He even uses them in the MCU's Infinity War when trying to keep Thanos from using the Infinity Gauntlet. If anything, the Crimson Bands are Strange's first choice in battle - a spell he can cast from memory, whether against enhanced super-villains or the dark forces of the cosmos. In comparison, the mystic found by Marko in this issue reveals that his work to summon the Crimson Bands has been the labor of a lifetime.
Summoning and forging the Crimson Bands took this man nearly his entire life. As a result, there's absolutely no way he'd allow someone else to access its power, leading to a brawl for the Bands with Marko. Unfortunately for the mystic, it turns out Cyttorak has his own plans, choosing Marko once more and granting him his old powers as the bands coalescence into the new suit he's been wearing since the start of this new series.
It's surprising to learn the sheer amount of time it took this mystic to summon the Crimson Bands, but ultimately this goes to show just how mighty Marvel's Sorcerer Supreme actually is. While fans are used to seeing Doctor Strange compete against the deadliest magical enemies - beings like Dormammu, Nightmare, and Mephisto - this encounter with a normal mystic offers a startling contrast that shows just how skilled Doctor Strange is compared to even dedicated practitioners of the mystic arts. In Marvel's cosmology, the most powerful spells tend to draw from magical beings like Cyttorak, meaning that magic isn't just a case of raw power or dedicated study, but a constant negotiating of relationships with often fickle deities. This is why individuals like Juggernaut can be imbued with power at the whim of beings like Cyttorak, while mystics like Marko's accidental armorer can spend their whole lives teasing out a Demon Lord's energy. Thankfully, Doctor Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme in every respect, and this incident underscores both the incredible power of the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak and the immense ability of Marvel's Master of the Mystic Arts in manifesting them with such apparent ease.