"I Am No Longer Earth's Sorcerer Supreme": Doctor Strange's New Era Officially Begins, As He Crowns a New Sorcerer Supreme

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.

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

The Sorcerer Supreme Is One of the Most Powerful People in the Marvel Universe

Now That Power Belongs to Doctor Doom

The mantle of Sorcerer Supreme has been passed 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.

Doctor Doom has long sought to become Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, and is a perpetual runner-up for the title. Now that he has obtained the position, the heroes will have to contend with a super-charged Doctor Doom. Marvel has already given fans a good idea of how this will play out: early next year, the publisher launches One World Under Doom. Exact details about this event have been kept under wraps, but advanced art shows Marvel’s heroes kneeling before Doctor Doom. Clearly, Doctor Doom has plans as the Sorcerer Supreme–and they are not good.

Related Doctor Strange's Dark Evolution Turns Him into the Ultimate Anti-Avengers Weapon In a preview for Doctor Strange 15, the Sorcerer Supreme undergoes a dark evolution, making him the perfect weapon to destroy the Avengers.

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 terms 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.

Source: AIPT

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