Warning: contains potential spoilers for Doctor Strange #3!Doctor Strange just gave his MCU nemesis an ultra-suave redesign. Movie-goers thrilled to Strange’s reality bending battle with the dread Dormammu in his 2016 film and now, in a preview for Doctor Strange #3, the Lord of the Dark Dimension returns – with a snazzy new look. Yet what does Dormammu want with Doctor Strange now, and why is he dressed to the nines?
The story is titled “A Day With Dormammu,” and is written by Jed MacKay, drawn by Pasqual Ferry, colored by Heather Moore and lettered by Cory Petit. Former Sorcerer Supreme Aggamon has been killed, creating a power vacuum in the magical corner of the Marvel Universe. Doctor Strange, Clea, Wong and Pandora discuss strategy, but Stephen must bow out as he has other commitments. He takes his leave of Strange and Clea, only to greet the Dread Dormammu, shrunken down to human size and in a stylish suit.
Dormammu Gets a Glow-Up to Parley With Earth
Dormammu is one of Doctor Strange’s greatest foes, as well as the uncle of Clea. One of the Marvel Universe’s most powerful magic users, Dormammu rules the Dark Dimension with an iron fist and has come into conflict with Doctor Strange on many occasions. When Doctor Strange made the leap to live action in 2016, Dormammu came with him, although the villain played a relatively minor role in the film, dispatched by Strange in a time-bending battle of wits. Dormammu ranks as Doctor Strange’s greatest foe, so why does this seem like a social call?
Related: Doctor Strange Twist Makes Dormammu More Terrifying Than Ever
Dormammu Is Acting Out of Character – Or is He?
The primary question is: why is Dormammu visiting Strange? Furthermore, why is he choosing such a polite way to announce his presence? Dormammu has the powers of a god, and frequently tries to break through to Earth’s reality. The parley that Strange mentions would suggest that Dormammu is here to conduct an official discussion of their hostilities, and perhaps even to try and bring them to an end. This makes sense for the heroic Doctor Strange, but Dormammu is a warlord who wants to reign over all of reality – what could have brought him to the bargaining table, and is this a special occasion, or something the two enemies do regularly?
No one knows Dormammu’s reason for visiting Doctor Strange yet, but it makes sense that the villain is finally trying a new form of approach. Dormammu recently made one of his biggest bids for control of all time, in the Last Annihilation event, but was foiled by the Guardians of the Galaxy. With such a huge plan falling to pieces, Dormammu clearly needs a new approach, and it seems that he’s choosing diplomacy. To settle their ages-old grudge match, Dormammu will have to have something amazing up his sleeve, but in arriving at the Sanctum Sanctorum dressed to the nines, the Marvel villain seems suspiciously confident in his chances.
Doctor Strange #3 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!
