Stephen Strange’s ability to restore the multiverse is hinted at in a new poster for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Phase 4 of the MCU’s slate revolves around the multiverse, and that naturally has implications for the Masters of the Mystic Arts. Their power derives from the multiverse itself, according to the first Doctor Strange film. Sorcerers are attracted to other planes of existence by drawing power from them, so they are highly sensitive to interdimensional disturbances, according to the Ancient One.
As the Masters of the Mystic Arts have never faced disruption like this before, Doctor Strange 2 will be no exception. There is uncertainty about the cause; the trailers teased villains ranging from Doctor Strange to Scarlet Witch, but it appears that a book of dark magic known as the Darkhold lies at the heart of the problem. The Elder God Chthon forged this, and its spells can damage and corrupt reality itself when used. WandaVision was used by Scarlet Witch to obtain the Darkhold, and she spent considerable time reading from it. Strange himself can also be seen using the magic of the Darkhold in trailers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. But, despite all of this, evidence suggests Darkhold won’t be the only book of magic to appear in the film.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness tickets is now on sale. Recently, Marvel released several new posters for the film. In one of them, the viewer gets a glimpse at a spellbook that appears quite different from the one in the Darkhold; it’s positioned as though it’s important, perhaps implying it’s the MacGuffin of Doctor Strange 2. The Book of the Vishanti, literally the opposite of the Darkhold, has also been lifted from the comics, with Agamotto, the first Sorcerer Supreme, channeling a triad of benevolent mystical beings known as the Vishanti.
Marvel’s “mirror image” has always been known for its villains and concepts. A super-spy who had lost all agency stalked Black Widow, Iron Man fought the Iron Monger, and Killmonger ingested the Heart-Shaped Herb to become Black Panther’s equal. Doctor Strange’s rogue version is one example of the variants of the multiverse the MCU can take much more literally. To take this one step further, Marvel should add the opposite force to the Darkhold. There is a possibility that the Book of the Vishanti will be able to restore order to the Multiverse of Madness if the magic of the Darkhold is responsible.
The presence of the Book of the Vishanti raises the curious question of whether Doctor Strange will meet the Vishanti himself if it is indeed the Book of the Vishanti. Comic books show how the Vishanti decided who should be the Sorcerer Supreme. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Wong may believe he is now the Sorcerer Supreme, but the Vishanti may have other ideas. If he proves to be a sorcerer supreme in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Stephen Strange may very well earn the title of Sorcerer Supreme.