Eye of Agamotto

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Eye of Agamotto
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #115 (December 1963)
Created byStan Lee, Steve Ditko
In story information
TypeMystic item/artifact
Element of stories featuringDoctor Strange

The Eye of Agamotto (/æɡəˈmɒt/) is a fictional, mystical item appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and other media, particularly in their Marvel Cinematic Universe films, with its first appearance in Doctor Strange. The item appears in publications that feature Doctor Strange. The Eye of Agamotto and Agamotto in his caterpillar form also appeared in the Gold Key Dark Shadows comic book, Collinwood Possessed!.[1] The Eye of Agamotto is the name commonly given to the amulet Strange wears on his chest, though the Eye actually resides within the amulet and is released from time to time.

Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, it first appeared in "The Origin of Dr. Strange", an eight-page story in Strange Tales #115 (December 1963).[2] In designing the Eye, Ditko drew inspiration from the real world charm The All Seeing Eye of the Buddha, known among Buddhists as The Amulet of Snail Martyrs, a Nepali symbol meant to protect its wearer against evil.[3][4]

The Eye of Agamotto appears in several forms of Marvel-related media, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which it contains the Time Stone, one of the fictional universe's Infinity Stones.

Fictional history

Agamotto, a powerful mystic being and one of Doctor Strange's three Vishanti,[5] is said to have used the Eye during his time as Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth dimension. The Eye's origins are currently unknown, but there are theories of how it came into existence. Some believe that it was discovered by Agamotto among the seas and stars, where it had drifted for ages. Others claim that it was created by Agamotto himself, which makes sense when the Eye's powers are compared to those of "the All-Seeing."[6]

It is said that the Eye of Agamotto draws on Agamotto's own mystical ability to span distances and dispel disguises and illusions. Agamotto is also presumably aware of every time the Eye is used and may even record those events for later viewing.[7][volume & issue needed]

Rintrah, a disciple of Doctor Strange, is able to call on many of the effects of the eye by using the 'Amulet Of Agamotto'.[8]

In the New Avengers Annual #2 (2008), though Strange has at first retained both the Eye and the Cloak, the Hood, on

Zom's power tells him that he is not ready to use it because of his tainted soul and demonic connection.[9]

Strange shows it to the New Avengers, describing the Eye as "one of the most powerful mystic conduits on this physical plane." Strange and the New Avengers now battle against the forces of the Dark Dimension as Strange searches the planet for new potential candidates. The Eye is presented to the new Sorcerer Supreme,

Brother Voodoo, in New Avengers #53, who bears it as he fights against Dormammu. Strange had lost the eye because of his own corrupted connection to Zom.[10]

Later, Doctor Doom arrives to challenge Brother Voodoo's 'claim' to the Eye. Doom claims the object must belong to him, for the protection of others, but abandons the Eye after using it to see his future, informing Brother Voodoo that he will gain nothing from it.[11]

When Doctor Strange and

Iron Fist, who then teleports away with the Eye, triggering a rift in the sky that Strange states means the end of everything.[13] As the Avengers battle the demons back on Earth, Iron Fist finds himself in a white void where he encounters the Ancient One, who claims that he is responsible for the current invasion due to his anger at Strange's recent 'failures'.[14] When Iron Fist returns to Earth—now dressed in a new costume—-, he claims that the Ancient One has told him that Strange stole the Eye from the Ancient One rather than being given it by his master, challenging Strange to admit the truth.[15] Noting that such a claim contradicts everything the Ancient One taught him about the Eye, Strange realizes that the entity they are facing is not his master, with a casual comment by Spider-Man prompting the sorcerers to realize that the enemy they face is Agamotto himself, trying to reclaim his Eye after the apparent 'death' of the Vishanti.[16][17] Although the group attempt to defeat Agamotto by empowering Wolverine to serve as their 'avatar', Doctor Voodoo is finally forced to sacrifice himself to contain their foe, apparently destroying himself and the Eye at the same time.[18]
The Eye was later returned to Strange at the end of the New Avengers.

Other versions

The Eye and Strange's

Rick Jones.[19] The same cloak and Eye are then stolen as part of a plot by Thanatos, a version of Rick Jones, who wished to become the ultimate version of himself. Thanks to other versions, including the elderly, Thanatos is stopped.[20]

The Eye is used by the 2099 version of the Sorcerer Supreme, a young woman who hangs it on her jacket. It is used to keep her demonic half in check. She teams up with the 2099 version of Spider-Man.[21]

Powers

The Eye is a weapon of wisdom

Megagrams (fifteen thousand pounds). The Eye of Agamotto can be used to transport a group of dozens of beings of all kinds and power levels into another point within a universe, as Strange did to combat the threat of Thanos.[24]

In other media

Television

Film

The Eye of Agamotto appears in

Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme
. This version is a legendary mystical artifact that belongs to the active bearer of the Sorcerer Supreme title.

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Official prop of the MCU Eye of Agamotto on display at an exhibition
Official prop of the Eye of Agamotto as it appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Eye of Agamotto appears in media set in the

Time Stone, one of six Infinity Stones, which grants the ability to manipulate probabilities and time.[25][26]

Miscellaneous

The "Eye of Agamoto" is referenced in the eponymous

Rhino Records
.

References

  1. ^ "GCD :: Issue :: Dark Shadows #34 [Whitman]".
  2. Ditko, Steve (a). "The Origin of Dr. Strange". "Strange Tales" #115 (1965). Marvel Comics
    .
  3. ^ Wizard #156 (August 2004) p 168
  4. ^ "Strange But Untrue: Dr. Strange & the Lesser Book of the Vishanti", Carnival Obscura, November 20, 2008.
  5. ^
    ISBN 9780313357480, pp. 155–56, p. 155
    .
  6. ^ Vaughan, Brian (June 22, 2011). Doctor Strange: The Oath #2. Marvel Entertainment US. p. 1.
  7. ^ Dr. Strange Annual #2 (1992)
  8. ^ New Avengers Annual #2 (March 2008). Marvel Comics
  9. ^ New Avengers #53. Marvel Comics
  10. ^ Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1 (October 2009). Marvel Comics
  11. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #1. Marvel Comics
  12. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #2. Marvel Comics
  13. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #3. Marvel Comics
  14. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #4. Marvel Comics
  15. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #5. Marvel Comics
  16. ^ White, note 10.
  17. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #6. Marvel Comics
  18. Perez, George
    (a). The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1-2 (Dec 1992 - Jan 1993). Marvel Comics
  19. ^ David, Peter (w). Captain Marvel #30 (May 2002). Marvel Comics
  20. ^ David, Peter (w). Spider-Man 2099 #33 (July 1995). Marvel Comics
  21. ISBN 9781441130808, pp. 150–62, p. 154
    .
  22. .
  23. ^ The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe Mystic Arcana: The Book Of Marvel Magic #1 (2007)
  24. ^ Collis, Clark (December 29, 2015). "Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige explains the powers of Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  25. ^ Hoffer, Christina (September 28, 2016). "Doctor Strange: The Eye Of Agamotto Holds An Infinity Stone". ComicBook.

External links