Summary

• Doctor Strange relinquishes the Sorcerer Supreme title to Doctor Doom, prompting feelings of self-doubt and failure.
• Doctor Doom's new power brings caution and danger to both the Marvel Universe and Doctor Strange as Baron Mordo attacks.
• Marvel teases a future event where heroes bow before the super-charged Doctor Doom.

Warning: contains possible spoilers for Doctor Strange #18!

Doctor Strange has entered a new era, as he crowns a new Sorcerer Supreme for Earth. There have been multiple Sorcerer Supremes in the Marvel Universe, and Doctor Strange currently holds the title. However, the events of Blood Hunt changed all of that, forcing Strange to abdicate the title in favor of Doctor Doom, and now fans see the fallout in a preview for Doctor Strange #18.

Marvel shared a first look at Doctor Strange #18, written by Jed MacKay and drawn by Pasqual Ferry, with AIPT. The preview opens with Doctor Strange laying in bed, ruminating on how, to help stop the vampire invasion, he stripped himself of the title of Sorcerer Supreme and gave it to Doctor Doom. Strange is beginning to see himself as a failure, noting that Doom was able to save the world, but he was not.

With this downgrade in power comes the need for greater caution–just as Baron Mordo attacks.

Doctor Doom is The New Sorcerer Supreme

Wielding power as one of the most powerful people in Marvel's Universe

The mantle of Sorcerer Supreme has been ed down for generations, and Doctor Strange is perhaps the best known person to hold the title. Others, such as Doctor Voodoo, have also been Sorcerer Supreme, but the title seems to find its way back to Strange every time. During Blood Hunt, Doctor Strange travels to Latveria, which was weathering the vampire invasion, seeking Doctor Doom’s help. Doom agreed on one condition: Strange would make him Sorcerer Supreme. When Doom followed through on his word, Strange had no choice but to do the same, thus giving Doom the power he desired.

In the Marvel Universe, Doctor Doom is a double threat, equally proficient in advanced science as he is in sorcery. Doom’s seamless synthesis of the two has helped cement his status as one of comics’ greatest villains, as most of his contemporaries rely on one or the other. Doctor Doom’s interest in magic traces its roots back to his childhood. Doom’s mother, who was also proficient in magic, was killed by Mephisto and her soul spirited away to his realm. Seeing magic as a way of retrieving her soul from an unjust fate, Doom began intensely studying the subject.

Magic Runs in Doctor Doom's Family

Rescuing His Mother from Mephisto Drove Doom's Studies of Magic

At the story’s end, Doctor Strange confesses Doom had what it took to be a Sorcerer Supreme.

Doom’s mother was skilled at sorcery, and this rubbed off onto him. In addition to the magic he learned from his mother, Doom has pursued other mystical avenues as well, in some cases using trickery and might to get what he wants. In 1989’s Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment, a tournament was called to find a new Sorcerer Supreme. While Strange emerges victorious, Doom comes in a close second. At the story’s end, Doctor Strange confesses Doom had what it took to be a Sorcerer Supreme.

Now, Doctor Doom has finally achieved something he so desperately sought. After decades as a perennial runner-up, Doom is now Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. What exactly this means for the Marvel Universe will play out over the course of the next several months. At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel announced a forthcoming event, called One World Under Doom. Exact details were kept mum, but the publisher did provide a teaser image, showing Marvel’s biggest heroes kneeling before Doom. One World Under Doom could very well be the fulfillment of Doom’s deepest wishes, and it is thanks to being the new Sorcerer Supreme.

Doom's Major Upgrade is Just in Time For His MCU Return

The always-powerful Doom is getting even more of Marvel's spotlight

The timing of Doom’s ascension to Sorcerer Supreme, as well as One World Under Doom, are impeccable. During the Marvel Studios at San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced Robert Downey Jr would return to the MCU as Doctor Doom for the next two Avengers films. One of the movies was even retitled: Avengers: Doomsday, to stress how important Doom was going to be. While the casting announcement was met with mixed reactions, it has served to get fans talking about Doctor Doom once again.

In addition to Robert Downey Jr's return as Doctor Doom, the next two Avengers movies will be directed by the Russo Brothers, who brought fans Infinity War and Endgame.

Doctor Strange Now Feels Like a Failure--And This is Not Good

Will Doctor Strange Reclaim the Title of Sorcerer Supreme?

While the Marvel Universe navigates a world with Doctor Doom as the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange must come to with what he has done. Not only has he handed Doctor Doom the keys to great power, but he must contend with his failure to stop the vampire invasion. MacKay and Ferry show this sense of self-doubt in the preview. If this self-loathing is allowed to continue, it could adversely affect Doctor Strange, and maybe even diminish his chances of taking the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme back from Doctor Doom.

Doctor Strange #18 is on sale August 7 from Marvel Comics.

Source: AIPT