| Ancient One | |
|---|---|
 The Ancient One promotional art byCarl Potts | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Strange Tales #110 (July 1963) |
| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Ancient Ones Strange Academy |
| Partnerships | Doctor Strange |
| Notable aliases |
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| Abilities |
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TheAncient One is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. He was the mentor ofDoctor Strange and was his predecessor asSorcerer Supreme.
The character was voiced byMichael Ansara in the 1978 television filmDr. Strange.Tilda Swinton portrayed a femaleCelticversion of the character in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmsDoctor Strange (2016),Avengers: Endgame (2019), and theDisney+ seriesWhat If...? (2021).
The Ancient One was created byStan Lee andSteve Ditko and first appeared inStrange Tales #110 (cover-dated July 1963).[1]
The character has appeared in some Marvel Comics graphic novels.Doctor Strange: Season One (January 2, 2012, byGreg Pak and illustrated byEmma Ríos),Doctor Strange - Marvel Masterworks Volume 1, andDoctor Strange: From the Marvel Vault #1 (June 15, 2011, byRoger Stern and illustrated by Neil Vokes).[citation needed]
The character who would eventually become the Ancient One was born inKamar-Taj, "a hidden land high in theHimalayas",[2] more than 500 years ago.[3] He spent his youth as a simple farmer, until his friendKaluu learned to wield magic.[2] When Kaluu shared his discovery with the Ancient One, the two disagreed on how to use it. The Ancient One sought to use their power for the benefit of others, while Kaluu desired power and conquest over nearby villages.[4]
The Ancient One and Kaluu combined their powers to transform Kamar-Taj into a paradise where no one grew old or sick. Kaluu then cast a second spell, placing the inhabitants under his control and declaring himself their ruler. The Ancient One defeats Kaluu in mystical combat, but Kamar-Taj and its people are destroyed.[2] After banishing Kaluu to another dimension, the Ancient One loses his immortality and much of his original power. Nonetheless, he retains a slowed aging process and an unsurpassed knowledge of sorcery.[5]
Wiser from his past experiences, the Ancient One settles in the Himalayas and trains an order of monks to support and aid him. In a tournament organized by the sorcerer Aged Genghis, the Ancient One wins the title of Earth's Sorcerer Supreme and subsequently takes on a chosen successor, who later becomesMister Jip. The successor is subsequently banished for studying forbidden works of dark magic; fearful of unleashing evil upon the world, the Ancient One decides not to train a new successor.[6]
Centuries pass, and as the Ancient One realizes that his advanced age will eventually prevent him from defending Earth, he approaches Anthony Druid, a psychiatrist with mystical talents. Posing as the "High Lama", the Ancient One trains Druid to becomeDoctor Druid.[7] However, he deems Druid insufficient to become Sorcerer Supreme.
After a car crash, surgeonStephen Strange seeks assistance from the Ancient One to cure the nerve damage in his hands, only to angrily refuse when offered to be the Ancient One's apprentice instead. Strange then learns thatMordo, a monk considered the best of the Ancient One's pupils, plans to usurp him and unleash the demonic forceDormammu to consume the universe. Restrained by Mordo's spells, Strange sheds his selfish nature and wishes to learn magic so he may aid the Ancient One. The Ancient One promptly frees Strange from his restraints and explains the whole situation.[8]
Mordo is chased away, and Stephen becomes the Ancient One's successor under the nameDoctor Strange.[8] The Ancient One continues to assist Strange. When the extra-dimensional monsterShuma-Gorath tries to invade Earth through the Ancient One's mind while the latter is in the Crypts of Kaa-U, the Ancient One prompts Strange to psychically purge his mind ofego, or sense of self. While this action blocks the way for Shuma-Gorath, trapping him within the Ancient One's mind, the Ancient One's physical body disintegrates. His soul subsequently achievestranscendence and becomes an avatar ofEternity. Strange inherits the Ancient One's title as Sorcerer Supreme.[9]
DuringHercules' journey to the underworld inDark Reign, the Ancient One is seen in Erebus gambling for his resurrection. As explained to Hercules, the afterlife has become a shambles, due to various entities not paying attention.[10]
During a demonic invasion of New York via theEye of Agamotto,Iron Fist is transported to a white void when he comes in contact with the Eye, resulting in a face-to-face confrontation with a form that appears to be the Ancient One; the form claims that both he and a currently-unidentified associate are responsible for the demonic invasion due to his anger at Strange's recent "failures".[11] However, a casual comment bySpider-Man prompts Strange,Doctor Voodoo, andDaimon Hellstrom to realize that they are dealing withAgamotto himself, as the Ancient One's demands for the Eye defy everything that was previously told to Strange about how the Eye is passed from one sorcerer to another.[11]
After Strange (who is no longer the Sorcerer Supreme) defeatsDaniel Drumm's ghost using dark magic that does not control him, the Ancient One's spirit appears and speaks to him:
You taught yourself to vanquish a foe who used your friends as weapons against. And you did it without hurting any of them. You protected this realm even though it is no longer your duty. I know that you relinquished your role as Sorcerer Supreme because you thought you did not deserve it anymore. Yet you continued to act as hero to anyone and everyone. And you asked for nothing in return. And because of this, I bequeath you once again the all-seeing Eye of Agamotto. For you are the Sorcerer Supreme once more."[12]
The Ancient One in spirit form provides guidance as a teacher to multiple magical students in aschool established by Strange.[13]
The Ancient One possessed the ability to manipulate the forces of magic for a vast number of effects and was able to tap into extra-dimensional energy by invoking entities or objects of power, existing in dimensions tangential to those of the Earth, through the recitation of spells. The Ancient One was capable ofastral projection,levitation, interdimensional teleportation, and a large number of other effects. However, in his extreme old age, the Ancient One was unable to perform any major feats of sorcery without placing great physical strain upon himself.
The Ancient One also possessed a variety of mystical objects, such as the Book of the Vishanti, theOrb, Amulet, andEye of Agamotto, and devices gathered throughout his lifetime. After he unified with Eternity, the extent of the Ancient One's powers ceased to be known.
The Ancient One makes a non-speaking appearance in a flashback in theSpider-Man episode "Doctor Strange".[16]
TheAncient One appears in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed byTilda Swinton. This version is depicted as anandrogynousCelt to reflect the mystery of the character.[18] Following her first appearance in the live-action filmDoctor Strange (2016),[19] alternate timeline variants appear in the live-action filmAvengers: Endgame (2019)[20] and theDisney+ animated seriesWhat If...? (2021) episode "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?".[21][16]
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