Whether in D&D or The Multiverse of Madness, whenever someone thinks of a wizard, images of Gandalf the Gray, Albus Dumbledore, and Merlin the Magician are what typically spring to mind. They all have long white beards, pointed hats, and eccentric personalities, and yet some of fiction's greatest conjurers exist not in the written word but in the panels of a comic book.
Although there are a few that share similar tools of the trade, many powerful wizards, warlocks, and sorcerers all exchange their hats and staves for capes and cowls.
Merlyn
Marvel's incarnation of Merlin the Magician, Merlyn is a being of Outworld who has not only appeared beside King Arthur but also heroes like Captain Britain, Black Knight, and Doctor Strange.
An otherworldly being with all the bells and whistles associated with the wizard archetype, Merlin has many magical talents as well as many different forms he takes on to suit the plot line. He might be an androgynous alien being one minute and an old bearded druid the next, but he will almost always be recognized as one of the most powerful wizards in the known universe.
Timothy Hunter
To put it bluntly, Timothy Hunter was Harry Potter before Harry Potter was even conceived. Brought to life by the legendary Neil Gaiman, Timothy leaves his schoolboy life behind when he is inducted into the Trenchcoat Brigade and sent on a magical quest to fulfill his destiny.
Not only is he suddenly bestowed with magical abilities, taken to other dimensions and realities, and temporarily inducted into Justice League Dark, but he's also prophesied to be the most powerful wizard of all time. Comic readers who want their fantasy with a side of Constantine will definitely want to give Timothy's volumes a glance.
Wiccan
Wiccan is a complicated character to discuss. The reincarnated son of Scarlet Witch and Vision, this combination of magician and mutant can alter reality with a word and a wave of his hand and manipulate all manner of magical forces to his desires. Limited only by his imagination, he certainly takes after his mother to a huge degree.
The spellcaster has served under the Young Avengers and has even been featured in his own romantic miniseries. A cult and an occult favorite to be sure, perhaps he'll return to the MCU now that the multiverse has been torn wide open with the new Doctor Strange film.
The Ancient One
Whether it's the Tibetan mystic seen in the pages of the comics or the ethereal and enigmatic version brought to life by Tilda Swinton in the movies, there is no questioning the Ancient One's impeccable magical abilities. One of the most powerful wizards in all of the Marvel Universe, the Ancient One has mentored and trained many sorcerers of the Sanctum Sanctorum and has played a key role in protecting the universe from magical threats.
Possessing the ability to draw forth energy from other dimensions, including Dormammu's Dark Dimension, the Ancient One can invoke various forces and beings, astral project, and command other forces of magic to alter the realm around them. It's easy to see how they were able to shape and mentor the rest of the order of sorcerers.
Doctor Destiny
A magical menace against the Justice League, Doctor Destiny is a mysterious and malicious magic-user who created the Materioptikon to corrupt and manipulate his victims' dreams. Recognizable by his grim-reaper-inspired attire, John Dee went from criminal scientist to evil wizard with a desire to manipulate and torture the world to his desires. His spectrum of danger entirely depends on the series and just who he goes up against.
Perhaps the most horrifying version of the character is the one seen on the pages of Sandman who wields the power of Dream's stolen Dreamstone to manipulate the visions and mental states of his victims. Even in the confines of a roadside diner, the doctor can drive a small group of unfortunate characters to the edge of sanity and back again for his own amusement. As the saying goes, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Doctor Fate
Bestowed magical abilities by an ancient Mesopotamian deity, Doctor Fate is DC's master of the mystic arts on the Justice Society of America, and his powers venture into godlike territory depending on the fount from which he draws his powers. But whether he pulls forth his energies from an ancient mentor or an enchanted helmet, there's no denying the mastery of his craft.
While some skeptics might be quick to compare him to a certain Sorcerer Supreme, there's more to him than just ankhs and magical energies. Doctor Fate isn't just a mystical superhero who works alongside the likes of Batman and Young Justice, but a dimension-hopping magical powerhouse who has tangled with the forces of evil in both the mortal world and the ethereal planes.
Loki
There's no denying that no matter what variant of Loki it is, the green god of mischief simply exudes warlock energy every time he appears. He might have the god status, but he's very often cast in the magic-user role in whatever position he plays. Whether he's the main villain, the antihero, or the disruptor of the Sacred Timeline, Loki will always have a trick or two up his sleeve.
Although Tom Hiddleston's interpretation has his own brand of magic to manipulate characters and situations to his will, the Asgardian sorcerer represented by the Loki in the comic books truly captures the essence of the character as a whole. Sorcery, trickery, and illusions are all his forte, and no Reality Stone required.
Raven
Known for her role in the Teen Titans, Raven Roth is both a powerful and an intimidating force of magical might. Calling on the forces of Azeroth, the half-demon sorceress has enchanted and beguiled many fans since she first appeared in the panels of DC comics.
Her manipulation of dark energies alone makes her a force to be reckoned with. As powerful as she is mysterious and intriguing, she definitely gives the Titans a much-needed mystical flavor rivaled and represented by her skills in the dark arts. Needless to say, there's a lot more under the hood than just a pretty face.
Dream/The Sandman
Dream is a special case when it comes to comic book magic users. As one of The Endless, he is an immortal being with domain over dreams, visions, and realms of the imagination. Yet with his talismans and robed appearance, he certainly checks a lot of boxes for the wizard archetype.
Although he is ultimately a force for good, the Sandman is a being that should never be crossed, a lesson Doctor Destiny learns the hard way. Armed with his enchanted helmet, his Dreamstone, and his pouch of magic sand, Dream can alter dimensions, manipulate consciousness, and even get the upper hand over demonic entities on multiple occasions. Truly, he's a mighty force of immortal magic that few can top.
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange, the surgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme, has been captivating readers with his magical ways since 1968 and has been traveling the multiverse ever since.
Defending the mortal plane from the forces of darkness across the multiverse is certainly no easy feat. Although he might be more well-known thanks to his induction into the MCU, he's easily one of the most powerful Avengers thanks to his gift for magical prowess. With or without the Eye of Agimoto, Strange and his magical manipulations are some of the greatest displays of power seen in the Marvel universe.
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