Dormammu
Encyclopedia
Dormammu is a fictional character
that appears in comic book
s published by Marvel Comics
. The character first appeared in Strange Tales
#126 (Nov. 1964), and was created by Stan Lee
and Steve Ditko
.
Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books
, Dormammu has appeared in over four decades of Marvel publications, featuring prominently in the Doctor Strange
titles and limited series as the recurring nemesis
of the mystic
hero. The character has also appeared in associated Marvel merchandise including animated television series, toy
s, trading cards and video games.
#126 - 127 (Nov. - Dec. 1964), but had in fact having already been mentioned, as was his realm the "Dark Dimension", in passing in the title.
Writer Mike Conroy stated
After being established as the ruler of an alternate dimension
(later described as the god-tyrant of its denizens), Dormammu became a perennial foe of Sorcerer Supreme
and maverick Doctor Strange, who until this time had dealt almost exclusively with off-beat "one-off" mystical threats in Strange Tales #110 - 125 (July 1963 - Oct. 1964). Strange's first encounter with Dormammu in the "Dark Dimension" also introduced Clea
- eventually revealed to be the niece of the villain (like Clea's name, this was not initially revealed in Strange Tales #126 (Nov. 1964) and the monstrous and imprisoned Mindless Ones
.
Major appearances include starring in an epic fifteen issue storyline in Strange Tales #131 - 146 (April 1965 - July 1966); the discovery that Dormammu has a sister, Umar, and both are in fact mystical beings called Faltine in Strange Tales #150 (Nov. 1966); teaming with fellow villain Loki
to instigate the "Avengers-Defenders War" in Avengers
#115 - 118 (Sep. - Dec. 1973) and Defenders
#8 - 11 (Sep. - Dec. 1973); Thor
Annual #9 (1981); Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #1 - 2 (Nov. 1988 & Jan. 1989) and the limited series
Doctor Strange: The Flight of the Bones #1 - 4 (Feb. - May 1999) and Hellcat #1 - 3 (Sep. - Nov. 2000).
After a major appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man
#498 - 500 (Oct. - Dec. 2003), Dormammu became the patron of small-time villain the Hood
in New Avengers #46 (Dec. 2008).
, senior apprentice of the appointed "Sorcerer Supreme
" the "Ancient One
", who, in the entity's service, attempts to slowly weaken the sorcerer, but is stopped when his fellow pupil Stephen Strange
manages to alert his master to the betrayal.
The character later appears in person when sending a messenger to boast his renewed intentions of conquering his universe before his aging adversary. In response, Doctor Strange travels to Dormammu's "Dark Dimension" as the Ancient One does not consider himself powerful enough to defeat Dormammu, and manages to overcome all supernatural servitors sent against him. Dormammu engages Strange in mystic combat and shows himself to be far more powerful, but, when drawing upon the realms energies, inadvertently weakens the barrier containing the horde of Mindless Ones
. Since they threatened Dormammu's subjects, Strange helped his enemy to re-seal the juggernauts by letting power from his amulet flow into Dormammu. Indebted to Strange for his help, Dormammu ends the fight, and in return Strange demands a binding vow to never enter the "Earth realm" again and to not harm Clea. Dormammu complies, but gains a burning hatred against Strange for the humiliation.
Dormammu uses a loophole to his oath by granting Mordo vast power, whereupon the sorcerer leads his minions on a lengthy hunt for Strange, and abduct the Ancient One as a bargaining chip. Dormammu's niece, Clea
, assists Strange by weakening the barrier of the Mindless Ones, forcing her uncle to focus elsewhere. Dormammu learns of her betrayal, brings all three Earth sorcerers to a neutral realm, to let her see his disciple destroy Strange, and summons fellow "Lords of the Netherworlds" to watch the spectacle. When Strange begins to get an advantage against Mordo, Dormammu decides to face the sorcerer in a contest of pure hand-to-hand-combat. The physically stronger entity eventually falls to his foe's greater familiarity with martial arts
. To Dormammu's humiliation, before the gathered Lords, Strange forces him to vow not to menace the Earth even by proxy. The villain strikes a parting blow by banishing Clea, and inciting another lord to attack Strange.
In an apparent bid for power the character engages the universal embodiment, Eternity
, in single combat, but is defeated and banished.
Dormammu captures Clea, and overpowers and imprisons Strange, but after the sorcerer manipulates Umar to free him, and then surprises Dormammu by pushing him through a portal to the Earth. This makes the entity wither from the curse cast by his own power, when vowing to never enter the Earth realm, and he departs to his own plane.
(adopted brother of the thunder god Thor
) and tricks superhero teams the Avengers
and Defenders
into fighting each other for components of the artifact
the Evil Eye
. The Eye is reassembled, and allows Dormammu to merge his own universe with all the planets of the "regular" Marvel Universe without breaking his vow. Dormammu imprisons the traitorous Loki and effortlessly overwhelms all of his other opponents, leaving only the Scarlet Witch
. When Loki escapes and distracts Dormammu, the Avenger casts a hex on the Eye that causes it to absorb Dormammu into itself, which costs Loki his sanity as a side-effect.
After being seen in flashback
, the character manages to reintegrate himself on Earth, but is recovering slowly to full strength. Together with sister Umar, Dormammu captures the elder goddess
Gaea, and seeks revenge against the Scarlet Witch by kidnapping her, and her mentor Agatha Harkness
, from her intended marriage to the android Avenger the Vision
, but after Wanda and Harkness remove the heat needed for his regeneration, he seemingly accepts to depart to his own realm. In fact, Dormammu does not feel bound to hold this vow, due to not owing the Witch any favors, and almost immediately following attempts to destroy Doctor Strange and Clea, but is betrayed by Umar who steals his power, allowing the character to be banished from Earth.
Dormammu tricks Strange into battling both the demon Ghost Rider
and the Bounty Hunter
in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the hero, and appears in the alternate universe
story.
Dormammu's agent Baron Mordo travels back in time to London
in the year 1943, where he allies with the aristocrats
Viscount Krowler and Sir Anthony Baskerville. Dormammu possesses Krowler, and begins to manifest on the Earth plane by absorbing power from the destruction wreaked during World War II
, but is banished by Doctor Strange.
The character reappears during the "Inferno
" storyline. Strange, following an arduous confrontation with Shuma-Gorath
, heals through processes that takes him through various mystical realms. This allows Dormammu to attach himself to his foe, and possess the sorcerer’s body, which exempts him from the vow to not directly enter the Earth-realm. Summoning extraterrestrial sorcerers as his lieutenants, Dormammu vows to "burn" and replace the Celestials
as the greatest power in the Earth's universe, but is distracted and tricked by Clea and Strange (his consciousness occupying a rat
), while their ally Topaz
exorcises Dormammu’s presence.
After two brief appearances, Dormammu, in the guise of another Faltine, lures his niece Clea into gathering mystic allies among the Lords of the Netherworlds to depose her mother. This freed Dormammu to reclaim his realm, as he absorbs Umar and Mordo into himself, becoming more powerful than ever before, and he dismissively disintegrates the assembled entities.
Strange, at the time weakened without support from the "Principalities", confronts Dormammu alongside his allies Clea, the Silver Surfer
, Hulk
, and the modern Ghost Rider
, but they are unable to cause any damage to the villain, who is ecstatic with his victory and overwhelming power. Strange journeys into the core of Dormammu's essence and uses the Eye of Agamotto
to strip away his self-delusion, and make him acknowledge that his thirst for chaos, power, and conquest are unworthy for a being of his stature, as a desperate gamble to make him see reason. Dormammu is momentarily shaken, and appears to be defeated, but it is shown to be a mirage. The villain gloats that he has not shown "one tenth" of his true power against the heroes, but that he now realizes that rulership of "one puny" universe is beneath his notice, as he now has far greater and "more interesting" ambitions, and contemptuously dismisses the "insignificant mortals".
The character observes the Guardians of the Galaxy - adventurers from the 31st century
of Earth-691
- travel to the mainstream era of Earth-616
. Now curious, Dormammu follows them back to their dimension, merges with his counterpart in this timeline, doubling his power, and attacks their headquarters, demanding the presence of the Doctor Strange of their time. Strange, now called the Ancient One, arrives with his disciple, the alien Krugarr, and battles Dormammu, assisted by the Guardians, the "Galactic Guardians", and the cosmic entity the Phoenix Force. Dormammu kills the elderly Strange, and almost overwhelms his other foes, but is defeated when Krugarr summons the spirit of Strange, and they channel the combined power of everyone in the assembly to banish Dormammu to his home dimension.
Dormammu appears as the guiding force behind an attack on the self-titled Goddess
during the "Infinity Crusade
" storyline. During The Flight of the Bones storyline the character is revealed as the instigator behind a series of spontaneous combustion
s of criminals and an attack on an ally of Strange by cultists.
(revealed as his creation) and warlock
Nicholas Scratch
to lead his armies to capture five of the inter-dimensional places of Hell, in a plot to eventually conquer all life and afterlife. Dormammu, however, is thwarted when the heroine Hellcat rallies the powers of Hell to weaken the character by engineering a complete absence of mystic flame. Dormammu also allies with the entity Mephisto
to drive an attacking force out of their respective dimensions.
Dormammu sends an army of Mindless Ones to attack the city of New York
, and trick several prominent Marvel superheroes into unintentionally making him materialize on Earth by combining dimensional energies. Doctor Strange engages Dormammu in combat, and sends the hero Spider-Man
back in time to a critical moment to stop his enemy from being able to re-enter Earth's universe.
Dormammu returns, now in a symbiotic link with Umar due to their previous merged state. Together they petition the "Pan-dimensional Oversight Council" (counting Strange and Nightmare
among its members) to perform a preemptive strike
against Earth's superhumans, as "potential weapons of mass-destruction", and when the petition fails, Dormammu eats most of the present council-members, whereas Umar reduces the rest to "screaming blobs of mindless jelly". The siblings then attack and overcome an avatar
of the entity Eternity and use the acquired power to remake the universe in their image. The pair are opposed by a reuniting of some of the original Defenders (Strange; the Hulk; and Namor the Sub-Mariner), with Dormammu retreating when Umar steals his power. The character also appears briefly during a storyline in which Strange contemplates his past.
Acting in secrecy, Dormammu empowers criminal mastermind the Hood
, who in turn resurrects several dead supervillains and forms a crime army. When the Hood asks for information about his "benefactor" from the demoness Satana
, she claims that Dormammu disposed of his sister off-page.
The character temporarily takes control of the "zombie" virus that decimates Earth-2149
., and also takes advantage of the fact that Strange loses the title of Sorcerer Supreme, but the latter eventually exorcises
his influence from the Hood together with Daimon Hellstrom
and Doctor Voodoo
.
" Doctor Voodoo, and he arrogantly dismisses the "unworthy" opponent and his vastly inferior "gutter gods". However, the passive boasting allows Voodoo to strengthen the seals to the entity's realm. The character also appears as one of the prospective "suitors" (holders of a slave-contract) for the hand of Satana, but it is uncertain if it was intended as within "regular" continuity, given the irreverent morbid spoof nature of the story.
, and certain similar beings, such as the Dweller-in-Darkness
are known to predate it. He is known to well precede the creation of the current demonic netherworlds; to have clashed with Agamotto
hundreds of millions of years ago, to have served as the primary enemy of the Vishanti
ever since, and to have been considered an extreme threat by the mages of "pre-cataclysm" Atlantis
.
Dormammu is presented as the most powerful and malevolent of "the Faltine", fictional higher-dimensional mystical energy beings. Not native to the "Dark Dimension", Dormammu and "his" sibling Umar were exiled for slaying their progenitor "Sinifer" (and what was considered a morbid/unclean obsession with physical matter), whereupon they journeyed there in search of experience, and assumed corporeal forms. Dormammu merged with the local "Flames of Regency" to further enhance his power, and returned to an energy state, whereas Umar had grown accustomed to physical pleasure. After imprisoning the horde of marauding virtually unstoppable Mindless Ones
behind a barrier Dormammu enslaved the entire realm to be worshipped as its sole deity, and continued to gradually merge other mystical universes to his own, while spreading his worship to any sorcerers throughout the multiverse who invoked his powers.
Already being a "dimension lord", the absolute god-tyrant
of his own universe, Dormammu's current displayed goals are to slaughter any opposing conceptual forces, assume control of all life and afterlife, and rewrite the laws of nature to turn both states of existence into a neverending Nazism
-reminiscent torture-camp for every sentient being within them, with himself as their glorified deity. What makes him different from other prominent Marvel supervillains with similar aims, is that he is shown as fully capable of personally defeating cosmic entities even without external power sources.
The character is sometimes shown as incredibly patient, with certain plots to achieve his goals spanning billions of years, whereas others are planned far more recently or even improvised through opportunity. However, although extremely intelligent, with tremendous knowledge of the mystic arts, he is overwhelmingly arrogant, generally does not adapt well to sudden confusion and unexpected developments, and has a tendency to indulge, and brag to, technically outmatched foes rather than swiftly finish them off. He and his sister (originally genderless siblings) Umar have an unpredictable love-hate relationship. Sometimes being loyal and collaborating, and other times gladly betraying and taking the other's power for themselves. Umar has an occasional tendency to sarcastically puncture her brother's obsessive histrionics with more pragmatic sadistic hedonism.
Writer Keith Giffen
has described them as "Donnie and Marie from hell. The brother-sister sibling rivalry relationship blown up to nightmarish, universe-shattering proportions." Whereas Dormammu himself is "completely inhuman", the kind of character that "commits mass murder... on a whim".
The character is an interdimensional entity composed of mystical energy that can be used to achieve almost any effect he desires, including: energy projection; matter transmutation; size shifting and teleportation; body possession; resurrection of the dead; bestowing of power; and creating demon lords. In certain instances Dormammu has been displayed approaching a universal scale of influence.
Dormammu is apparently stronger in the Dark Dimension, being empowered by the worship of his followers, and can draw upon its power. The character has been shown to have one significant weakness: being vulnerable in environments that cannot fuel his mystical Faltine flames.
title Ultimatum
introduces an alternate universe
version of the character who succeeds in killing Doctor Strange (actually the son of the original) during the limited series Ultimatum
.
by The Incredible Hulk (Nick Fury
is revealed to be behind the attacks by the Hulk as well).
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
that appears in comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by 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...
. The character 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...
#126 (Nov. 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....
.
Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books
Silver Age of Comic Books
The Silver Age of Comic Books was a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream American comic books, predominantly those in the superhero genre. Following the Golden Age of Comic Books and an interregnum in the early to mid-1950s, the Silver Age is considered to cover the...
, Dormammu has appeared in over four decades of Marvel publications, featuring prominently in the 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 ....
titles and limited series as the recurring nemesis
Archenemy
An archenemy, archfoe, archvillain or archnemesis is the principal enemy of a character in a work of fiction, often described as the hero's worst enemy .- Etymology :The word archenemy or arch-enemy originated...
of the mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
hero. The character has also appeared in associated Marvel merchandise including animated television series, toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s, trading cards and video games.
Origin
Dormammu first appeared in Strange TalesStrange 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...
#126 - 127 (Nov. - Dec. 1964), but had in fact having already been mentioned, as was his realm the "Dark Dimension", in passing in the title.
Writer Mike Conroy stated
After being established as the ruler of an alternate dimension
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
(later described as the god-tyrant of its denizens), Dormammu became a perennial foe of Sorcerer Supreme
Sorcerer Supreme
Sorcerer Supreme or Sorceress Supreme is a title granted in the fictional Marvel Universe to the "practitioner of the mystic or magic arts who has greater skills than all others or commands a greater portion of the ambient magical energies than any other organism on a given world or dimension". By...
and maverick Doctor Strange, who until this time had dealt almost exclusively with off-beat "one-off" mystical threats in Strange Tales #110 - 125 (July 1963 - Oct. 1964). Strange's first encounter with Dormammu in the "Dark Dimension" also introduced Clea
Clea
Clea is a fictional character, a sorceress in the . She is the disciple and lover of Doctor Strange. Created by co-plotters Stan Lee and Steve Ditko , Clea first appeared in the Doctor Strange feature in Strange Tales #126 .Clea is a human-appearing being and maternally related to the...
- eventually revealed to be the niece of the villain (like Clea's name, this was not initially revealed in Strange Tales #126 (Nov. 1964) and the monstrous and imprisoned Mindless Ones
Mindless Ones
The Mindless Ones are fictional monsters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. Their first appearance was in Strange Tales They are extra-dimensional creatures summoned via magic to do the bidding of others . They appear to have a thick, roughly humanoid shape standing taller than most men and a...
.
Major appearances include starring in an epic fifteen issue storyline in Strange Tales #131 - 146 (April 1965 - July 1966); the discovery that Dormammu has a sister, Umar, and both are in fact mystical beings called Faltine in Strange Tales #150 (Nov. 1966); teaming with fellow villain Loki
Loki (comics)
Loki is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. He is the adoptive brother and archenemy of the superhero Thor. He is based on the being of the same name from Norse mythology...
to instigate the "Avengers-Defenders War" in Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
#115 - 118 (Sep. - Dec. 1973) and Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
#8 - 11 (Sep. - Dec. 1973); Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
Annual #9 (1981); Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #1 - 2 (Nov. 1988 & Jan. 1989) and the limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
Doctor Strange: The Flight of the Bones #1 - 4 (Feb. - May 1999) and Hellcat #1 - 3 (Sep. - Nov. 2000).
After a major appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#498 - 500 (Oct. - Dec. 2003), Dormammu became the patron of small-time villain the Hood
Hood (comics)
The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
in New Avengers #46 (Dec. 2008).
1960s
Dormammu is first mentioned by Karl Amadeus MordoBaron Mordo
Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by Marvel Comics and appearing as an enemy of Doctor Strange...
, senior apprentice of the appointed "Sorcerer Supreme
Sorcerer Supreme
Sorcerer Supreme or Sorceress Supreme is a title granted in the fictional Marvel Universe to the "practitioner of the mystic or magic arts who has greater skills than all others or commands a greater portion of the ambient magical energies than any other organism on a given world or dimension". By...
" 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:...
", who, in the entity's service, attempts to slowly weaken the sorcerer, but is stopped when his fellow pupil Stephen 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 ....
manages to alert his master to the betrayal.
The character later appears in person when sending a messenger to boast his renewed intentions of conquering his universe before his aging adversary. In response, Doctor Strange travels to Dormammu's "Dark Dimension" as the Ancient One does not consider himself powerful enough to defeat Dormammu, and manages to overcome all supernatural servitors sent against him. Dormammu engages Strange in mystic combat and shows himself to be far more powerful, but, when drawing upon the realms energies, inadvertently weakens the barrier containing the horde of Mindless Ones
Mindless Ones
The Mindless Ones are fictional monsters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. Their first appearance was in Strange Tales They are extra-dimensional creatures summoned via magic to do the bidding of others . They appear to have a thick, roughly humanoid shape standing taller than most men and a...
. Since they threatened Dormammu's subjects, Strange helped his enemy to re-seal the juggernauts by letting power from his amulet flow into Dormammu. Indebted to Strange for his help, Dormammu ends the fight, and in return Strange demands a binding vow to never enter the "Earth realm" again and to not harm Clea. Dormammu complies, but gains a burning hatred against Strange for the humiliation.
Dormammu uses a loophole to his oath by granting Mordo vast power, whereupon the sorcerer leads his minions on a lengthy hunt for Strange, and abduct the Ancient One as a bargaining chip. Dormammu's niece, Clea
Clea
Clea is a fictional character, a sorceress in the . She is the disciple and lover of Doctor Strange. Created by co-plotters Stan Lee and Steve Ditko , Clea first appeared in the Doctor Strange feature in Strange Tales #126 .Clea is a human-appearing being and maternally related to the...
, assists Strange by weakening the barrier of the Mindless Ones, forcing her uncle to focus elsewhere. Dormammu learns of her betrayal, brings all three Earth sorcerers to a neutral realm, to let her see his disciple destroy Strange, and summons fellow "Lords of the Netherworlds" to watch the spectacle. When Strange begins to get an advantage against Mordo, Dormammu decides to face the sorcerer in a contest of pure hand-to-hand-combat. The physically stronger entity eventually falls to his foe's greater familiarity with martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
. To Dormammu's humiliation, before the gathered Lords, Strange forces him to vow not to menace the Earth even by proxy. The villain strikes a parting blow by banishing Clea, and inciting another lord to attack Strange.
In an apparent bid for power the character engages the universal embodiment, Eternity
Eternity (comics)
Eternity is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by scripter-editor Stan Lee and artist-plotter Steve Ditko, the character is first mentioned in Strange Tales #134 and first appears in Strange Tales #138 Eternity is a fictional character that...
, in single combat, but is defeated and banished.
Dormammu captures Clea, and overpowers and imprisons Strange, but after the sorcerer manipulates Umar to free him, and then surprises Dormammu by pushing him through a portal to the Earth. This makes the entity wither from the curse cast by his own power, when vowing to never enter the Earth realm, and he departs to his own plane.
1970s
Dormammu enters into an alliance with the Asgardian god LokiLoki (comics)
Loki is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. He is the adoptive brother and archenemy of the superhero Thor. He is based on the being of the same name from Norse mythology...
(adopted brother of the thunder god Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
) and tricks superhero teams the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
and Defenders
Defenders (comics)
The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...
into fighting each other for components of the artifact
Magic item
A magic item is any object that has magical powers inherent in it. These may act on their own or be the tools of the person or being whose hands they fall into. Magic items are commonly found in both folklore and modern fantasy...
the Evil Eye
Evil Eye of Avalon
The Evil Eye of Avalon is a fictional potent mystical magical artifact in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
. The Eye is reassembled, and allows Dormammu to merge his own universe with all the planets of the "regular" Marvel Universe without breaking his vow. Dormammu imprisons the traitorous Loki and effortlessly overwhelms all of his other opponents, leaving only the Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch
The Scarlet Witch is a fictional comic book character that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
. When Loki escapes and distracts Dormammu, the Avenger casts a hex on the Eye that causes it to absorb Dormammu into itself, which costs Loki his sanity as a side-effect.
After being seen in flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
, the character manages to reintegrate himself on Earth, but is recovering slowly to full strength. Together with sister Umar, Dormammu captures the elder goddess
Elder Gods (Marvel Comics)
The Elder Gods are fictional characters from the Marvel Comics universe. They were the first generation of Earth's gods, apparently inspired by Greek mythology and the Cthulhu Mythos.-Fictional group history:...
Gaea, and seeks revenge against the Scarlet Witch by kidnapping her, and her mentor Agatha Harkness
Agatha Harkness
Agatha Harkness is a fictional character, a powerful witch in the Marvel Comics universe. Supposedly, she was one of the original witches from the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. She somehow survived and later became a significant figure in Marvel continuity, protecting Franklin...
, from her intended marriage to the android Avenger the Vision
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
, but after Wanda and Harkness remove the heat needed for his regeneration, he seemingly accepts to depart to his own realm. In fact, Dormammu does not feel bound to hold this vow, due to not owing the Witch any favors, and almost immediately following attempts to destroy Doctor Strange and Clea, but is betrayed by Umar who steals his power, allowing the character to be banished from Earth.
Dormammu tricks Strange into battling both the demon Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
and the Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter (comics)
Bounty Hunter is a fictional American comic book character, owned by Marvel Comics, who exists in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Bounty Hunter appeared in Ghost Rider #30–32 , and he was created by Don Perlin and Roger McKenzie.-Fictional character biography:Haskill was a 19th century...
in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the hero, and appears in the alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
story.
1980s
Dormammu acts as the envoy of Lord Chaos by playing King of the Norse gods Odin in a cosmic chess match that controls the universal balance of chaos and order. Umar attempts to rig the game in her brother's favor through manipulating Odin's son Thor, but it ultimately ends in a draw after the hero realizes this.Dormammu's agent Baron Mordo travels back in time to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the year 1943, where he allies with the aristocrats
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
Viscount Krowler and Sir Anthony Baskerville. Dormammu possesses Krowler, and begins to manifest on the Earth plane by absorbing power from the destruction wreaked during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but is banished by Doctor Strange.
The character reappears during the "Inferno
Inferno (Marvel Comics)
Inferno was a Marvel Comics company-wide crossover in 1989 that mainly involved the mutant titles, namely The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Terminators, Excalibur, and The New Mutants...
" storyline. Strange, following an arduous confrontation with Shuma-Gorath
Shuma-Gorath
Shuma-Gorath is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard, best known for his later interpretations as a demonic enemy of Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics publications. He is also well known for being an unconventional playable character in the Marvel Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom video...
, heals through processes that takes him through various mystical realms. This allows Dormammu to attach himself to his foe, and possess the sorcerer’s body, which exempts him from the vow to not directly enter the Earth-realm. Summoning extraterrestrial sorcerers as his lieutenants, Dormammu vows to "burn" and replace the Celestials
Celestial (comics)
The Celestials are a group of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters first appear in Eternals #1 and were created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
as the greatest power in the Earth's universe, but is distracted and tricked by Clea and Strange (his consciousness occupying a rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
), while their ally Topaz
Topaz (Marvel Comics)
Topaz is a fictional character, a sorceress in the Marvel Comics universe. She debuted in Werewolf By Night v. 1 #13 .-Fictional character biography:...
exorcises Dormammu’s presence.
1990s
The character reconstitutes again, regains control of the Dark Dimension from Clea by subverting her will, and summons her parents, Umar and Orini, back from exile. However, Umar and sometimes-pawn Baron Mordo eventually decide to join forces with Clea and Doctor Strange. The enraged Dormammu threatens to completely destroy the "Dark Dimension" in retaliation, but Umar convinces him to accept a compromise as the ruler of a sub-realm, whereas his sister takes over rulership from Clea, with Mordo as her consort. Clea accepts to abdicate as a better temporary solution than seeing all of her people killed, but promises to return if Umar becomes a tyrant again. Dormammu finds that he has been tricked into being trapped as the ruler of the realm of the Mindless Ones.After two brief appearances, Dormammu, in the guise of another Faltine, lures his niece Clea into gathering mystic allies among the Lords of the Netherworlds to depose her mother. This freed Dormammu to reclaim his realm, as he absorbs Umar and Mordo into himself, becoming more powerful than ever before, and he dismissively disintegrates the assembled entities.
Strange, at the time weakened without support from the "Principalities", confronts Dormammu alongside his allies Clea, the Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue arc that fans call "The Galactus Trilogy"....
, Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
, and the modern Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
, but they are unable to cause any damage to the villain, who is ecstatic with his victory and overwhelming power. Strange journeys into the core of Dormammu's essence and uses the Eye of Agamotto
Eye of Agamotto
The Eye of Agamotto is a fictional mystical item in the Marvel Comics universe. The artist Steve Ditko, drew inspiration from the real world charm called '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...
to strip away his self-delusion, and make him acknowledge that his thirst for chaos, power, and conquest are unworthy for a being of his stature, as a desperate gamble to make him see reason. Dormammu is momentarily shaken, and appears to be defeated, but it is shown to be a mirage. The villain gloats that he has not shown "one tenth" of his true power against the heroes, but that he now realizes that rulership of "one puny" universe is beneath his notice, as he now has far greater and "more interesting" ambitions, and contemptuously dismisses the "insignificant mortals".
The character observes the Guardians of the Galaxy - adventurers from the 31st century
31st century
The 31st century AD will span from January 1, 3001–December 31, 3100 of the Gregorian calendar. It will be the first century of the 4th millennium.-Astronomical events:...
of Earth-691
Earth-691
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth 691 or Earth-691 is the name used to identify a secondary continuity inhabited by Killraven and the original Guardians of the Galaxy.-Overview:...
- travel to the mainstream era of Earth-616
Earth-616
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 or Earth 616 is the name used to identify the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.-Origin of Earth-616:...
. Now curious, Dormammu follows them back to their dimension, merges with his counterpart in this timeline, doubling his power, and attacks their headquarters, demanding the presence of the Doctor Strange of their time. Strange, now called the Ancient One, arrives with his disciple, the alien Krugarr, and battles Dormammu, assisted by the Guardians, the "Galactic Guardians", and the cosmic entity the Phoenix Force. Dormammu kills the elderly Strange, and almost overwhelms his other foes, but is defeated when Krugarr summons the spirit of Strange, and they channel the combined power of everyone in the assembly to banish Dormammu to his home dimension.
Dormammu appears as the guiding force behind an attack on the self-titled Goddess
Goddess (comics)
The Goddess is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The name is assumed by the "feminine, self-aware" supposedly "good" aspect of Adam Warlock, subconsciously exiled from his psyche whilst he was in possession of the Infinity Gauntlet...
during the "Infinity Crusade
Infinity Crusade
Infinity Crusade is a six-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in 1993. The series was written by Jim Starlin and penciled by Ron Lim, Ian Laughlin, Al Milgrom and Jack Morelli....
" storyline. During The Flight of the Bones storyline the character is revealed as the instigator behind a series of spontaneous combustion
Spontaneous combustion
Spontaneous combustion is the self-ignition of a mass, for example, a pile of oily rags. Allegedly, humans can also ignite and burn without an obvious cause; this phenomenon is known as spontaneous human combustion....
s of criminals and an attack on an ally of Strange by cultists.
2000s
Dormammu uses the demon lord SatannishSatannish
Satannish is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Satannish is a very powerful extra-dimensional demon who has clashed with Doctor Strange. Satannish is known for granting mortals mystical power in exchange for their souls...
(revealed as his creation) and warlock
Warlock
The term warlock in origin means "traitor, oathbreaker".In early modern Scots, the word came to be used as the male equivalent of witch ....
Nicholas Scratch
Nicholas Scratch
Nicholas Scratch is a fictional wizard in the Marvel Comics universe. He is predominantly a foe of the Fantastic Four. The name "Nicholas Scratch" is an amalgam of colloquial names for the Devil: "Old Nick" and "Old Scratch" or "Mr...
to lead his armies to capture five of the inter-dimensional places of Hell, in a plot to eventually conquer all life and afterlife. Dormammu, however, is thwarted when the heroine Hellcat rallies the powers of Hell to weaken the character by engineering a complete absence of mystic flame. Dormammu also allies with the entity Mephisto
Mephisto (comics)
Mephisto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Silver Surfer #3 and was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, loosely modeled on Mephistopheles - a character from the Faust legend.Debuting in the Silver Age of comic books,...
to drive an attacking force out of their respective dimensions.
Dormammu sends an army of Mindless Ones to attack the city of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and trick several prominent Marvel superheroes into unintentionally making him materialize on Earth by combining dimensional energies. Doctor Strange engages Dormammu in combat, and sends the hero Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
back in time to a critical moment to stop his enemy from being able to re-enter Earth's universe.
Dormammu returns, now in a symbiotic link with Umar due to their previous merged state. Together they petition the "Pan-dimensional Oversight Council" (counting Strange and Nightmare
Nightmare (Marvel Comics)
Nightmare is a fictional character, a supernatural being who has appeared in many Marvel Comics stories, most commonly as one of Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider's major enemies.-Publication history:...
among its members) to perform a preemptive strike
Preemptive strike
A preemptive strike refers to a surprise attack launched with the stated intention of countering an anticipated enemy offensive. Preemptive strike may also refer to:...
against Earth's superhumans, as "potential weapons of mass-destruction", and when the petition fails, Dormammu eats most of the present council-members, whereas Umar reduces the rest to "screaming blobs of mindless jelly". The siblings then attack and overcome an avatar
Incarnation
Incarnation literally means embodied in flesh or taking on flesh. It refers to the conception and birth of a sentient creature who is the material manifestation of an entity, god or force whose original nature is immaterial....
of the entity Eternity and use the acquired power to remake the universe in their image. The pair are opposed by a reuniting of some of the original Defenders (Strange; the Hulk; and Namor the Sub-Mariner), with Dormammu retreating when Umar steals his power. The character also appears briefly during a storyline in which Strange contemplates his past.
Acting in secrecy, Dormammu empowers criminal mastermind the Hood
Hood (comics)
The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
, who in turn resurrects several dead supervillains and forms a crime army. When the Hood asks for information about his "benefactor" from the demoness Satana
Satana (Marvel Comics)
Satana is a fictional character, a comic book half-demon appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. She is the sister of Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan.Satana first appeared in Vampire Tales #2 in October, 1973...
, she claims that Dormammu disposed of his sister off-page.
The character temporarily takes control of the "zombie" virus that decimates Earth-2149
Marvel Zombies
Marvel Zombies is a five-issue limited series published from December 2005 to April 2006 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Robert Kirkman with art by Sean Phillips and covers by Arthur Suydam. It was the first series in the Marvel Zombies series of related stories...
., and also takes advantage of the fact that Strange loses the title of Sorcerer Supreme, but the latter eventually exorcises
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
his influence from the Hood together with 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...
and Doctor Voodoo
Brother Voodoo
Brother Voodoo is a fictional character, a supernatural superhero in the Marvel Universe. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Gene Colan, he first appears in Strange Tales #169...
.
2010s
Dormammu briefly appears when his domain is entered by the newly appointed "Sorcerer SupremeSorcerer Supreme
Sorcerer Supreme or Sorceress Supreme is a title granted in the fictional Marvel Universe to the "practitioner of the mystic or magic arts who has greater skills than all others or commands a greater portion of the ambient magical energies than any other organism on a given world or dimension". By...
" Doctor Voodoo, and he arrogantly dismisses the "unworthy" opponent and his vastly inferior "gutter gods". However, the passive boasting allows Voodoo to strengthen the seals to the entity's realm. The character also appears as one of the prospective "suitors" (holders of a slave-contract) for the hand of Satana, but it is uncertain if it was intended as within "regular" continuity, given the irreverent morbid spoof nature of the story.
Character
Dormammu has been described as "something worse than a demon". It is unknown exactly how ancient he is, as he inhabits a wholly alien, conventional-laws-of-physics-defying realm separate from the regular Marvel UniverseMarvel 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...
, and certain similar beings, such as the Dweller-in-Darkness
Dweller-in-Darkness
The Dweller-in-Darkness is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a demon, one of the Fear Lords, who has clashed with Doctor Strange.- Publication history :...
are known to predate it. He is known to well precede the creation of the current demonic netherworlds; to have clashed with 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...
hundreds of millions of years ago, to have served as the primary enemy of 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...
ever since, and to have been considered an extreme threat by the mages of "pre-cataclysm" Atlantis
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...
.
Dormammu is presented as the most powerful and malevolent of "the Faltine", fictional higher-dimensional mystical energy beings. Not native to the "Dark Dimension", Dormammu and "his" sibling Umar were exiled for slaying their progenitor "Sinifer" (and what was considered a morbid/unclean obsession with physical matter), whereupon they journeyed there in search of experience, and assumed corporeal forms. Dormammu merged with the local "Flames of Regency" to further enhance his power, and returned to an energy state, whereas Umar had grown accustomed to physical pleasure. After imprisoning the horde of marauding virtually unstoppable Mindless Ones
Mindless Ones
The Mindless Ones are fictional monsters appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. Their first appearance was in Strange Tales They are extra-dimensional creatures summoned via magic to do the bidding of others . They appear to have a thick, roughly humanoid shape standing taller than most men and a...
behind a barrier Dormammu enslaved the entire realm to be worshipped as its sole deity, and continued to gradually merge other mystical universes to his own, while spreading his worship to any sorcerers throughout the multiverse who invoked his powers.
Already being a "dimension lord", the absolute god-tyrant
Tyrant
A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Tyrants were a group of individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the aristocratic governments.Plato and...
of his own universe, Dormammu's current displayed goals are to slaughter any opposing conceptual forces, assume control of all life and afterlife, and rewrite the laws of nature to turn both states of existence into a neverending Nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
-reminiscent torture-camp for every sentient being within them, with himself as their glorified deity. What makes him different from other prominent Marvel supervillains with similar aims, is that he is shown as fully capable of personally defeating cosmic entities even without external power sources.
The character is sometimes shown as incredibly patient, with certain plots to achieve his goals spanning billions of years, whereas others are planned far more recently or even improvised through opportunity. However, although extremely intelligent, with tremendous knowledge of the mystic arts, he is overwhelmingly arrogant, generally does not adapt well to sudden confusion and unexpected developments, and has a tendency to indulge, and brag to, technically outmatched foes rather than swiftly finish them off. He and his sister (originally genderless siblings) Umar have an unpredictable love-hate relationship. Sometimes being loyal and collaborating, and other times gladly betraying and taking the other's power for themselves. Umar has an occasional tendency to sarcastically puncture her brother's obsessive histrionics with more pragmatic sadistic hedonism.
Writer Keith Giffen
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
has described them as "Donnie and Marie from hell. The brother-sister sibling rivalry relationship blown up to nightmarish, universe-shattering proportions." Whereas Dormammu himself is "completely inhuman", the kind of character that "commits mass murder... on a whim".
Powers and abilities
Presented as one of the most powerful known mystical entities within the Marvel Universe, Doctor Strange refers to Dormammu as his "most terrible foe"; a threat to "the life of the universe itself", that "at full power no one could stand against."The character is an interdimensional entity composed of mystical energy that can be used to achieve almost any effect he desires, including: energy projection; matter transmutation; size shifting and teleportation; body possession; resurrection of the dead; bestowing of power; and creating demon lords. In certain instances Dormammu has been displayed approaching a universal scale of influence.
Dormammu is apparently stronger in the Dark Dimension, being empowered by the worship of his followers, and can draw upon its power. The character has been shown to have one significant weakness: being vulnerable in environments that cannot fuel his mystical Faltine flames.
Ultimate Marvel
The Ultimate MarvelUltimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
title Ultimatum
Ultimatum
An ultimatum is a demand whose fulfillment is requested in a specified period of time and which is backed up by a threat to be followed through in case of noncompliance. An ultimatum is generally the final demand in a series of requests...
introduces an alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
version of the character who succeeds in killing Doctor Strange (actually the son of the original) during the limited series Ultimatum
Ultimatum (comics)
ULTIMATUM is a fictional terrorist organization in the Marvel Comics universe. It was founded by the Flag-Smasher in his attempts to destroy nationalism...
.
Marvel Mangaverse
Dormammu is summoned into Marvel MangaverseMarvel Mangaverse
The Marvel Mangaverse is a series of comic books published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2002, with a sequel "New Mangaverse" released in late 2005 and early 2006....
by The Incredible Hulk (Nick Fury
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
is revealed to be behind the attacks by the Hulk as well).
Television
- Dormammu appears in the 1979 Spider-WomanSpider-Woman (TV series)Spider-Woman is an animated television series, based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Woman. The series was produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and Marvel Comics Animation, and aired on September 22, 1979 to January 3, 1980, one season of sixteen episodes, on the ABC-TV network...
episode "Realm of Darkness." This version bears little relation to his comic book look instead bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Green Goblin. He is summoned to Earth by worshippers from Grand Cayman Island. He plans to stop the Earth in its orbit when the eclipse occurs so that he can engulf the Earth into complete darkness.
- Dormammu appears in the 1990s Spider-ManSpider-Man (1994 TV series)Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
series' episodes "Doctor Strange," "Venom Returns," and "Carnage" voiced by Ed Gilbert.
- Dormammu appears in The Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad Show is an American cartoon series by Marvel Animation. It is based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad action figure line from Hasbro, which portray the characters of the Marvel Universe in a cartoonish super-deformed-style...
episode "Enter: Dormammu" voiced by Robert EnglundRobert EnglundRobert Barton Englund is an American actor, voice-actor and director, best known for playing the fictional serial killer Freddy Krueger, in the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. He received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in...
. Doctor Strange (whose Eye of Agamotto is holding an Infinity Sword fractal) ends up unleashing Dormammu from his Dark Dimension into Super Hero City. A recurring gag during this episode was Falcon asking Dormammu if he knows that his head is on fire. When Dormammu unleashes his Mindless Ones upon Super Hero City, Dormammu manages to steal the fractals from the Vault and Villainville while taking Captain America and Doctor Doom hostage. When the fractal is extracted from the Eye of Agamotto, Doctor Strange then uses a spell to banish Dormammu back into the Dark Dimension. In "This Al Dente Earth," Doctor Strange briefly pulls Dormammu's head out of the Dark Dimension in order to damage Galactus' machine.
- Whilst not appearing in Iron Man: Armored AdventuresIron Man: Armored AdventuresIron Man: Armored Adventures is a 3D CGI cartoon series based on the Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man. It debuted in the USA on the Nicktoons on April 24, 2009, and has already begun airing on Canadian network Teletoon. The series is story edited by showrunner Christopher Yost, who also worked on...
, Dormammu and his Dark Dimension are referenced by Doctor DoomDoctor DoomVictor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
, when he attempts to drag Iron Man into the Dark Dimension.
Film
- Dormammu is the main antagonist in the 2007 animated Direct-To-DVDDirect-to-videoDirect-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
film Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer SupremeDoctor Strange: The Sorcerer SupremeDoctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme is a direct-to-DVD & BD animated movie based on the Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange. The film was released August 14, 2007 and had its American broadcast premiere on Cartoon Network November 1, 2008....
voiced by Jonathan AdamsJonathan Adams (American actor)Jonathan Adams is an American actor, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Career:He has appeared in several roles in American television, most notably in American Dreams. On this, he played series regular Henry Walker, an employee in the radio and television store owned by the patriarch of the...
.
Video games
- Dormammu appears as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two WorldsMarvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worldsis a crossover fighting game developed by Capcom. It features Capcom's own characters and characters from American comic book company Marvel Comics. It is the fifth installment of the Marvel vs...
and its standalone update Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3, voiced by Michael T. WeissMichael T. WeissMichael Terry Weiss is an American actor best known for playing the title role in The Pretender.-Early life:Weiss was born in Chicago, Illinois. His father was a steel-industry executive and his mother was a homemaker. He has a sister, Jamie Sue Weiss, who became a make-up artist for television...
. - Dormammu appears as a villain character in Marvel Super Hero Squad OnlineMarvel Super Hero Squad OnlineMarvel Super Hero Squad Online is a MMOG for younger audiences based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise.The MMOG officially was released as a open beta on April 29, 2011 and a closed beta was released in early 2011. The first debut trailer for Marvel Super Hero Squad Online was released on...
, voiced by Robert EnglundRobert EnglundRobert Barton Englund is an American actor, voice-actor and director, best known for playing the fictional serial killer Freddy Krueger, in the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. He received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors in...
.
External links
- Dormammu at MarvelDirectory.com