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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[1]

The Eye of Agamotto (/æɡəˈmɒtoʊ/) is a fictional, mystical item appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. 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!.[2] The Eye of Agamotto is the name commonly given to the amulet Strange wears on his chest, though the Eye 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).[3] In designing the Eye, Ditko drew inspiration from the Eyes of Buddha, a Nepali symbol meant to protect its wearer against evil.[4][5]

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 Infinity Stones.

Fictional history

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Agamotto, a powerful mystic being and one of Doctor Strange's three Vishanti,[6] 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."[7]

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.[8][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'.[9]

In the New Avengers Annual #2 (2008), though Strange has at first retained both the Eye and the Cloak, the Hood, on Dormammu's commands, has targeted Strange to eliminate him and seize the Eye of Agamotto. Strange, having evoked Zom's power tells him that he is not ready to use it because of his tainted soul and demonic connection.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12]

When Doctor Strange and Daimon Hellstrom are possessed by an unspecified demonic entity, they attempt to claim the Eye from Doctor Voodoo, causing it to teleport to Avengers Mansion. Luke Cage touches the object and mutates in a monstrous version of himself,[13] the entity that has possessed him subsequently 'jumping' into Iron Fist, who then teleports away with the Eye, triggering a rift in the sky that Strange states means the end of everything.[14] 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'.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17][18] 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.[19] The Eye was later returned to Strange at the end of the New Avengers.

Other versions

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The Eye and Strange's Cloak of Levitation are seen in the 1992 Hulk comic book limited series Future Imperfect. Set a hundred years in the future, after a nuclear war, the cloak, tattered, and the Eye are among the many artifacts in the memorial room in the home of Rick Jones.[20] 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.[21]

The Eye is used by the 2099 version 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.[22]

Powers

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The Eye of Agamotto can radiate mystical light that enables the user to see through disguises and illusions,[23][24] see past events, and track ethereal and corporeal beings by their energy. Its light can weaken various mystical beings, such as demons, devils, undead beings, and human magic users. Additionally, the Eye can probe the minds of others, project mystical shields, create portals to other dimensions, levitate the user, and place others in suspended animation.[6][25]

In other media

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Television

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Film

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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

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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 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This version contains the Time Stone, one of six Infinity Stones, which grants the ability to manipulate probabilities and time.[27][28]

Miscellaneous

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The "Eye of Agamoto" is referenced in the eponymous Don Preston song, which is included on the album Grandmothers by Rhino Records.

References

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  1. ^ Cardona, Ian (June 6, 2019). "Marvel Has Quietly Introduced the Third Eye of Agamotto". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  2. ^ "GCD :: Issue :: Dark Shadows #34 [Whitman]".
  3. ^ Lee, Stan (w), Ditko, Steve (a). "The Origin of Dr. Strange". "Strange Tales" #115 (1965). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Wizard #156 (August 2004) p 168
  5. ^ "Strange But Untrue: Dr. Strange & the Lesser Book of the Vishanti", Carnival Obscura, November 20, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Tim Bryant, "Doctor Strange", in: M. Keith Booker, ed., Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels, 2 vols., Volume 1: A–L, Santa Barbara, California: Greenwood, 2010, ISBN 9780313357480, pp. 155–56, p. 155.
  7. ^ Strange Tales Volume 1, #115 (December 1963), cited in "By the Eye of Agamotto!", in: Mark D. White, ed., Doctor Strange and Philosophy: The Other Book of Forbidden Knowledge, Blackwell philosophy and popculture series, Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, 2018, ISBN 9781119437949, n.p.
  8. ^ Vaughan, Brian (June 22, 2011). Doctor Strange: The Oath #2. Marvel Entertainment US. p. 1.
  9. ^ Dr. Strange Annual #2 (1992)
  10. ^ New Avengers Annual #2 (March 2008). Marvel Comics
  11. ^ New Avengers #53. Marvel Comics
  12. ^ Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1 (October 2009). Marvel Comics
  13. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #1. Marvel Comics
  14. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #2. Marvel Comics
  15. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #3. Marvel Comics
  16. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #4. Marvel Comics
  17. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #5. Marvel Comics
  18. ^ White, note 10.
  19. ^ Heroic Age: New Avengers #6. Marvel Comics
  20. ^ David, Peter (w), Perez, George (a). The Incredible Hulk: Future Imperfect #1-2 (Dec 1992 - Jan 1993). Marvel Comics
  21. ^ David, Peter (w). Captain Marvel #30 (May 2002). Marvel Comics
  22. ^ David, Peter (w). Spider-Man 2099 #33 (July 1995). Marvel Comics
  23. ^ Anthony Lioi, "The Radiant City: New York as Ecotopia in Promethea, Book V", in: Jörn Ahrens and Arno Meteling, eds., Comics and the City: Urban Space in Print, Picture and Sequence, New York: Continuum, 2010, ISBN 9781441130808, pp. 150–62, p. 154.
  24. ^ For example, dispelling the illusion that he has returned to his previous life as a surgeon when he is in fact in Hades: A. David Lewis, American Comics, Literary Theory, and Religion: The Superhero Afterlife, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014, ISBN 9781137465603, p. 36.
  25. ^ The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe Mystic Arcana: The Book Of Marvel Magic #1 (2007)
  26. ^ Walker, Glenn (April 26, 2016). "Avengers: Ultron Revolution S03 E07: Into the Dark Dimension". biffbampop.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ Hoffer, Christina (September 28, 2016). "Doctor Strange: The Eye Of Agamotto Holds An Infinity Stone". ComicBook.
  29. ^ Chin, Daniel (April 22, 2019). "A Comprehensive Guide to the Infinity Stones Before Avengers: Endgame". The Ringer. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  30. ^ Armitage, Hugh (May 1, 2019). "Doctor Strange's Avengers: Endgame plan explained". Digital Spy. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  31. ^ Knight, Rosie (September 1, 2021). "What If...? Episode 4 Review: Doctor Strange Loses His Heart". Den of Geek. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  32. ^ Elvy, Craig (September 1, 2021). "Every MCU Easter Egg In What If? Episode 4". ScreenRant. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Eisenberg, Eric (May 1, 2022). "Why Doctor Strange Still Wears The Eye Of Agamotto After Avengers: Endgame, According To Sam Raimi". Cinema Blend. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
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