Know Your Marvels: ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

by David Mumpower · February 21, 2022

Back in the earliest days of MarvelBlog, I wrote a series of articles to prepare you for upcoming MCU titles; today we discuss Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

My favorite of those was a film about which we knew very little; It was this long awaited sequel. You can read the old version here.

Source: Marvel Studios

I never updated it for…reasons. You see, around that time, a little thing called COVID-19 arrived and set back the planet by two full years.

Now, we’re finally ready to move on. So, we’re going to start from scratch with a new batch of Know Your Marvels.

Here’s everything you should know about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Source: Marvel Studios

Who Is Doctor Strange?

Much of what I said previously still applies. Doctor Strange is the big wizard of the MCU, the magician with the ostentatious title of Sorcerer Supreme.

Strange claimed that title from the Ancient One, which means that he has some big (and old) shoes to fill.

Source: Marvel Studios

I previously mentioned the obvious comparison to Tony Stark, as that’s the reality here.

Back in the day, someone at Marvel (Steve Ditko!) scratched out inventor and changed the profession to surgery instead.

Otherwise, the premise for both characters is nearly identical. They’re career-driven, self-obsessed geniuses who are self-destructive beyond the point of fault.

I mean, you can trace a direct line between some of Tony Stark’s decisions and Thanos’ Snap.

Doctor Strange met and instantly disliked Stark because they’re totally the same person. I always thought that was a nice touch.

Neither of them is self-aware enough to see themselves in others. But the brilliance is unmistakable.

Source: Marvel Studios

To wit, after a life-changing car accident, Strange heads to a foreign land hidden from humanity…and somehow winds up running the place in a matter of months.

Strange has appeared in more Marvel movies than anyone else recently because A) Benedict Cumberbatch elevates every scene and B) Marvel loves magic.

However – and this may be important – Strange fell victim to The Snap. Because of this, he is NOT currently the Sorcerer Supreme.

Source: Marvel Studios

I won’t spoil the identity of who is in case you haven’t watched Spider-Man: No Way Home yet.

Still, with the weight of his job title lifted, Strange may behave differently from now on.

Some people presume the current change in Supremes is temporary; I’m less certain.

Photo: Marvel

What Is the Multiverse of Madness?

Did you catch the final episode of Loki? Or did you get teased by WandaVision? And did you see any of the vital episodes of What If…?

Most importantly, have you watched Spider-Man: No Way Home?

Source: Marvel Studios/ Sony Pictures

All these episodes and movies teased the underlying premise. The MCU comprises but one of an infinite number of universes.

In each one, the stories of the various Marvel superheroes play out slightly differently.

Doctor Strange exemplifies this premise the most, as he turns super-mega-evil in an episode of What If…? Please hold that thought.

Source: Marvel Studios

The title of the Doctor Strange sequel hints at more than that, though. It’s a subtle play on an H.P. Lovecraft story, At the Mountains of Madness.

In that tale, humans encounter beings from another realm, who are either humanity’s creators or destroyers or both.

The first Dr. Strange movie actually leaned into this idea, as Dormammu at least somewhat mimics the appearance of a Lovecraftian monster.

Source: Marvel Studios

From Marvel’s perspective, the larger point here is to expand the MCU. In the wake of Thanos’ Endgame, that story has concluded.

Unfortunately, lots of people developed strong feelings for some of the characters who didn’t survive the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME..Photo: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2019

Time travel can only cure so much. In Marvel’s case, it’s half the population and, later, Loki.

So, we’re getting alternate realities wherein Avengers in goatees can act like villains instead.

To wit, the trailer at least hints that the evil Doctor Strange from What If…? will appear in this series.

Source: Marvel Studios

Should you expect that to happen? Everyone who has watched WandaVision is emphatically shaking their heads no. But it could…

That’s the whole point here. The MCU is opening the gate and inviting the barbarians inside for storytelling purposes.

Source: Marvel Studios

What Is the Plot of the Doctor Strange Sequel?

I’m walking on eggshells here because I don’t want to spoil anything from No Way Home.

I’ll presume that you have at least watched the trailers, though. If not, here’s a good example:

As you can see, various Spider-Man movie villains of yesteryear appear. They can do that because Peter Parker asks a favor of Doctor Strange.

In a decision that’s almost too stupid to believe, the warlock agrees to reset reality such that he protects the world from Spider-Man…and vice versa.

Doctor Strange in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Photo: Marvel Studios/Sony Pictures

Guess what! It doesn’t work right! So, Parker already spent an entire movie trying to fix everything he broke.

Meanwhile, Stephen Strange fails the self-accountability test. He blames a high school student rather than himself. They’re on the outs right now.

That’s not even the worst part. While all this is happening, Wanda Maximoff is terrorizing the good people of Westview because she’s broken.

Source: Marvel Studios

Ultimately, Wanda earns the full power of the Scarlet Witch of prophecy. Also, she finds some closure along the way, but she’s still…unwell.

Wanda’s abilities make her, at worst, the second-most powerful of all known characters in the MCU. I think she’s number one.

Now, she’s hearing voices from the other side of the abyss that she believes are her children…the ones she knows don’t exist.

Photo: Marvel Studios

Apparently, even fictional children bring out the best and worst in parents. Wanda is prepping to do whatever it takes to get her twin boys back.

Doctor Strange discovers that he is in Wanda’s way, as he feels like the one in charge of protecting this reality.

Yes, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is shaping up to be MCU Magical Civil War.

Source: Marvel Studios

Final Thoughts

I should mention one other essential component of this project.

Legendary director Sam Raimi has joined the MCU for this film. The only other name that could be fitting is Tim Burton.

Source: Vanity Fair

The latter director started the entire superhero cinema trend with Batman. Raimi later elevated it with Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man trilogy.

When the director of Doctor Strange dropped out of the sequel, Marvel correctly chose Raimi as the ideal leader for the Multiverse of Madness.

This film combines superhero and horror elements in a daring first for the MCU. Raimi has mastered both genres, with horror as the way he originally made his bones.

Source: Marvel Studios

In addition, Raimi possesses one of the best and most caustic senses of humor in the industry. Remember that he’s also the creator of Xena: Warrior Princess as well.

So, Raimi’s strengths blend perfectly with the aspirations of Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It’ll combine action, terror, and humor.

The trailer emphasizes the frenzied nature of this film: