Book of the Vishanti
Encyclopedia
The Book of the Vishanti is a fictional grimoire
appearing in Marvel Comics
, most closely associated with the character of Doctor Strange
. It first appeared in Strange Tales
#116 (January, 1964) and was created by Stan Lee
and Steve Ditko
. It is the greatest known source of "white" magical knowledge on the Earth of the Marvel Universe
dimension. It contains many spells of defensive magic, and is itself indestructible. Its counterpart is the Darkhold
which contains all the knowledge of black magic in the Marvel Universe and is likewise indestructible. Still, it is possible to destroy single pages of either book, but the balancing spell in the other book will be destroyed as well to maintain a mystical balance. Also the Vishanti
, a collective of the three powerful magical beings Agamotto
, Oshtur
and Hoggoth
, must allow the spell to be destroyed.
Even though the Book of Vishanti is a tome of benevolent magic, the spells within can still be dangerous when used improperly, as proven when a young, inexperienced Doctor Strange
tried to use the Book to resurrect his dead brother Victor Strange, but the spell, known as the Vampiric Verses, would cause Vincent Strange to become the vampire
Baron Blood years later.
Apart from spells and mystical knowledge, the Book of Vishanti also contains information about persons and events as seen in The Book of Vishanti backstories in Doctor Strange vol. 3. It is unknown how exactly the Book is able to contain very recent information while written thousands of years ago.
The first known owner was the Atlantean
sorcerer Varnae
around 18,500 B.C. After his death Varnae was turned into a vampire
by a spell from the book of the Darkhold, making him the first vampire on Marvel Earth.
The next known owner was the Babylonian god Marduk
, who may or may not be the same as Daimon Hellstrom
's father Marduk Kurios. Marduk set a griffin
to guard the Book. The sorcerer known as the Ancient One
travelled back in time to circa 4000 B.C. and defeated the griffin and returned to the 20th century A.D.
The Ancient One would remain the book's owner, despite a brief loss when the dark wizard Kaluu returned the Book to the Griffin, until he deemed his student, Doctor Strange
worthy of taking the book.
The current owner, Doctor Strange, keeps the Book in the library of his townhouse in New York City
's Greenwich Village
. He briefly lost the book when he destroyed his home to prevent the alien wizard Urthona
from taking his magical artifacts, but the book was saved by Agamotto himself, who transported it to his realm and returned it to Strange some time later.
Grimoire
A grimoire is a textbook of magic. Such books typically include instructions on how to create magical objects like talismans and amulets, how to perform magical spells, charms and divination and also how to summon or invoke supernatural entities such as angels, spirits, and demons...
appearing in Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, most closely associated with the character of Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
. It first appeared in Strange Tales
Strange Tales
Strange Tales is the name of several comic book anthology series published by Marvel Comics. It introduced the features "Doctor Strange" and "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.", and was a showcase for the science fiction/suspense stories of artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and for the...
#116 (January, 1964) and was created by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
. It is the greatest known source of "white" magical knowledge on the Earth of the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
dimension. It contains many spells of defensive magic, and is itself indestructible. Its counterpart is the Darkhold
Darkhold
The Darkhold, also known as The Book of Sins, is a fictional book in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:The Darkhold was co-created by Gerry Conway and Mike Ploog. The Darkhold was first mentioned in Marvel Spotlight #3 but first shown in Marvel Spotlight #4...
which contains all the knowledge of black magic in the Marvel Universe and is likewise indestructible. Still, it is possible to destroy single pages of either book, but the balancing spell in the other book will be destroyed as well to maintain a mystical balance. Also the Vishanti
Vishanti
The Vishanti are a fictional triumvirate of powerful mystical beings appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. The three beings who make up the Vishanti are Agamotto the All-Seeing , Omnipotent Oshtur , and Hoary Hoggoth...
, a collective of the three powerful magical beings Agamotto
Agamotto
Agamotto is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He is known mainly as the source of the Eye of Agamotto—a tool of magical clairvoyance used by superhero sorcerer Doctor Strange.-Publication history:In a preface to the Dr...
, Oshtur
Oshtur (Marvel Comics)
Oshtur is a fictional character published in Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as an Elder Goddess born from the demiurge sometime billions of years ago. Unlike her siblings, Oshtur had a fascination with the realms beyond Earth. She took to the heavens before the fall of the Elder Gods...
and Hoggoth
Hoggoth
Hoggoth is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The character appears in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #43 , #48-49 , and #54 ....
, must allow the spell to be destroyed.
Even though the Book of Vishanti is a tome of benevolent magic, the spells within can still be dangerous when used improperly, as proven when a young, inexperienced Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
tried to use the Book to resurrect his dead brother Victor Strange, but the spell, known as the Vampiric Verses, would cause Vincent Strange to become the vampire
Vampire (Marvel Comics)
Vampires are fictional characters found in the Marvel Universe.-History:They were created roughly 15,000 years ago when a small band of sorcerers from the legendary city of Atlantis discovered a book known as the Darkhold, an indestructible text filled with arcane lore and dark magic written...
Baron Blood years later.
Apart from spells and mystical knowledge, the Book of Vishanti also contains information about persons and events as seen in The Book of Vishanti backstories in Doctor Strange vol. 3. It is unknown how exactly the Book is able to contain very recent information while written thousands of years ago.
History
The Book of the Vishanti was written by unknown authors, possibly the Vishanti themselves, but more likely dictated by the Vishanti to human students of the white magical arts.The first known owner was the Atlantean
Atlantis (Marvel Comics)
Atlantis is a fictional location in the Marvel Universe. It is based on the mythical island of Atlantis first mentioned in Plato's initial dialogue the Timaeus, written circa 360 BC. In the Marvel Universe, Atlantis was a small continent with many human settlements...
sorcerer Varnae
Varnae
Varnae is a fictional villainous vampire in the Marvel Comics universe. He has been an adversary of several of Marvel's supernatural and fantasy-related heroes, and is a major character in Marvel's Dracula mythos...
around 18,500 B.C. After his death Varnae was turned into a vampire
Vampire (Marvel Comics)
Vampires are fictional characters found in the Marvel Universe.-History:They were created roughly 15,000 years ago when a small band of sorcerers from the legendary city of Atlantis discovered a book known as the Darkhold, an indestructible text filled with arcane lore and dark magic written...
by a spell from the book of the Darkhold, making him the first vampire on Marvel Earth.
The next known owner was the Babylonian god Marduk
Marduk
Marduk was the Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi , started to...
, who may or may not be the same as Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...
's father Marduk Kurios. Marduk set a griffin
Griffin
The griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
to guard the Book. The sorcerer known as the Ancient One
Ancient One
The Ancient One is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe. He was the mentor of Doctor Strange and preceded him as Sorcerer Supreme.-Fictional character biography:...
travelled back in time to circa 4000 B.C. and defeated the griffin and returned to the 20th century A.D.
The Ancient One would remain the book's owner, despite a brief loss when the dark wizard Kaluu returned the Book to the Griffin, until he deemed his student, Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
worthy of taking the book.
The current owner, Doctor Strange, keeps the Book in the library of his townhouse in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
. He briefly lost the book when he destroyed his home to prevent the alien wizard Urthona
Urthona (comics)
Urthona is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:Urthona is an extra-dimensional sorcerer from another planet. He sought to become Sorcerer Supreme of the entire universe, and targeted Doctor Strange. Urthona gained possession of half of Topaz's soul, which...
from taking his magical artifacts, but the book was saved by Agamotto himself, who transported it to his realm and returned it to Strange some time later.