The first scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness shows a variant of the famous wizard wearing a ponytail and trying to help America Chavez. A version of the character straight from the comics.
The following clarifies the opening scene and variants of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and reveals some details.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness features several versions of Stephen Strange’s character, including one that appears in the opening scene, an action sequence pitting the Sorcerer and young America Chavez against a demonic creature from another universe.
And this version of Strange, which is not the one we have seen so far in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has a very specific name.
This alternate Stephen Strange sports a ponytail that sets him apart from the wizard we know. We could also see this character in the first trailer of the film, in free fall:
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And we even saw it directly in this spot broadcast on American television, and of which here is a freeze frame:
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Defender Strange in the movie
This ponytailed Doctor Strange bears a name which is not pronounced in the film, but which is present on the box of his figure as well as in the production notes of the feature film, available for the press: “Defender Strange”.
This character does exist in Marvel comics, since Doctor Strange is part of the creators of the superheroic team of the Defenders with Namor the Prince of the Seas and Hulk. In the marvel feature n°1, their first official adventure, they enlist the services of the Silver Surfer.
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Doctor Strange in The Defenders (2012 release)
The team will vary over the years, going from Clea to Hawkeye, and from Daredevil to the Thing, among many others. In the Marvel universe, a series around the Defenders has emerged on Netflix, bringing together Daredevil, Iron Fist, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. Each of these heroes had their own solo series before joining their colleagues in a joint show.
Doctor Strange 2 also features a zombie version of Defender Strange, used by Stephen at the end of the film to fight the Scarlet Witch. As for the What If…? she had introduced us to “Strange Supreme”, a rather unsympathetic super-villain tempted by the power of the eye ofAgamotto and capable of the worst to increase his power.
Generous in variation, Strange 2 finally gratifies us with Supreme Strange (not to be confused with Strange Supreme!), Doctor honored on the Earth of the Illuminati but who used the Darkhold and of “Sinister Strange”, the version that Stephen Strange fights with the blow of musical notes.
And if you think that’s too many variants of Doctor Strange, think back to all those seen in the Loki series!
To discover Defender Strange, go to theaters!