Doctor Strange, portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, has always been a fascinating and complex character in the MCU. Over the years, we’ve seen him evolve from a brilliant neurosurgeon to the Sorcerer Supreme, tasked with defending Earth from mystical and multiversal threats. As the MCU dives deeper into the multiverse with upcoming events like Secret Wars, the question arises: will Doctor Strange’s return be the same as before, or could we see him take a darker, more powerful path? One possibility that has generated a lot of buzz among fans is the potential for Doctor Strange to take on his most formidable form — the Black Priest. But how would this fit into the MCU? And why does it make sense to introduce this version of Strange? Let’s dive into why the Black Priest Doctor Strange could be a game-changer for the MCU.
Incursion in the MCU
To fully understand why Doctor Strange could become the Black Priest, we first need to explore the concept of an Incursion in the Marvel Universe. An Incursion is a catastrophic event where two universes begin to collide, threatening the existence of both worlds. This collision doesn’t happen immediately; instead, it begins with the creation of an Incursion point, a specific moment when the boundaries between two universes start to break down. As the two universes move closer, the multiverse contracts slightly with each Incursion event, speeding up the process. Eventually, this results in a rapid chain reaction where multiple universes converge, leading to the destruction of both.
In the comics, Incursions are a significant multiversal threat. Once two Earths collide, both are destroyed along with their respective universes. This is a devastating event that has been referenced in the MCU, particularly in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In the film, Strange is indirectly linked to triggering an Incursion, and this sets the stage for what’s to come. As the multiverse continues to expand and more universes begin to collide, Strange will likely be forced to face the consequences of his previous actions — and perhaps even take drastic measures to stop the looming multiversal catastrophe.
Illuminati and the Avengers
In the comics, the Illuminati, a group of the most powerful and influential beings in the Marvel Universe, are tasked with handling multiversal threats like Incursions. They are responsible for making difficult, often morally gray decisions to protect the multiverse. On Earth 616 (the main MCU universe), the Avengers will likely also be involved in devising strategies to prevent the destruction of their world. But here’s the question: how much time do the heroes have to stop an Incursion once it starts?
According to Reed Richards in the comics, when an Incursion is imminent, the planes of reality from both universes briefly merge. During this period, the two universes coexist in the same space, but this is only temporary. Soon after, the Earths collide, and both worlds are destroyed. With such high stakes, the Avengers and the Illuminati will need to come up with a plan to prevent total annihilation. Among the various strategies that could be employed, Doctor Strange, with his knowledge of the mystic arts and the multiverse, may take a different path — one that involves a much darker and more extreme solution.
Doctor Strange’s Dark Path: The Blood Bible
To combat the multiversal crisis, Doctor Strange might turn to the Book of the Dead — the Blood Bible, a powerful and corrupting artifact. In the comics, this book is known for its ability to warp the mind of anyone who reads it, granting immense power but at a significant cost. Strange, already familiar with the dangers of forbidden magic after his experiences with the Darkhold, might find himself at a crossroads. The moral lines that once guided him are beginning to blur. He has already shown his willingness to cross ethical boundaries when he used the Darkhold to dreamwalk into alternate versions of himself. Now, faced with the growing threat of Incursions, Strange might see no other way to save the multiverse but to embrace a darker side of his power.
This sets the stage for his potential transformation into the Black Priest — a version of Doctor Strange who is willing to sacrifice his own morality for the greater good. The Black Priest in the comics is an extremely powerful, almost god-like version of Strange who willingly embraces corruption to achieve ultimate power. In the MCU, this darker iteration could provide a powerful narrative shift for the character, allowing him to take on a more complex role as a protector of the multiverse, even if it means compromising his moral compass.
What Does it Mean to Become the Black Priest?
In the comics, Doctor Strange’s journey to becoming the Black Priest is anything but simple. He sets out on a quest for ultimate power, one that leads him to the Lost Land — a place where strange, otherworldly beings offer him the chance to obtain anything he desires, for the right price. Strange is presented with the Sinners Market, where the cost of power is steep. In his pursuit of god-like power, he is told that he can have anything he wants, but to achieve it, he must sacrifice one-fifth of his soul. Strange, initially reluctant, is willing to give up even more of himself to gain this absolute power, but ultimately, he is denied the ability to reach his goal because of lingering doubts about the consequences of his decisions.
This moral struggle — whether or not he is willing to sacrifice his soul and the lives of countless beings to gain power — is what makes Strange’s potential transformation into the Black Priest so compelling. In the MCU, this storyline would provide a deep philosophical exploration of what it means to be a hero. Is it possible to save the multiverse while sacrificing your humanity? This question becomes even more relevant as Doctor Strange’s role as Sorcerer Supreme puts him in the position to make such impossible choices.
Why Should Doctor Strange Become the Black Priest in the MCU?
On a technical level, the Black Priest’s role in the multiverse makes perfect sense within the context of the MCU’s upcoming storylines, especially with Secret Wars and the ongoing threat of Incursions. The Black Priest serves as the immune system of the multiverse, responding to catastrophic events like Incursions in order to maintain balance. Given Doctor Strange’s growing understanding of the multiverse, his transformation into the Black Priest could be a natural evolution of his character, as he moves from a heroic protector to a darker, more pragmatic figure willing to do whatever it takes to preserve existence.
However, this shift wouldn’t just be about power. It would also be about the internal conflict that Doctor Strange faces. The decision to embrace such immense power, to potentially erase entire universes for the greater good, is not one that he would make lightly. It’s a moral battle between his duty as Sorcerer Supreme and his commitment to the value of life. This internal conflict would make Doctor Strange’s journey to becoming the Black Priest even more compelling, as the character struggles to reconcile his responsibilities with the cost of those responsibilities.
The Complex Morality of Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange’s potential transformation into the Black Priest is not just about power—it’s about grappling with a deep moral dilemma. In the comics, Strange faces an internal battle between his heroic ideals and the grim reality of his responsibilities as Sorcerer Supreme. On one side, Strange holds onto his belief in the sanctity of life, where every decision is weighed by the value of each life. On the other side is his duty to protect Earth and the multiverse, a duty that requires extreme sacrifices.
This dichotomy is best illustrated when we compare Doctor Strange’s moral struggle to that of Captain America. Steve Rogers stands as a beacon of virtue, unwavering in his belief that the ends never justify the means. But as the MCU expands into darker and more complex territories, it asks the question: What happens when everyone holds onto the same ideals as Captain America? Who will step into the shadows to do the dirty work that no one else can? This is where Doctor Strange’s conflict intensifies.
Strange must decide whether to uphold his moral compass, which might ultimately lead to the destruction of everything, or to take drastic measures—perhaps even erasing entire universes—to save the multiverse. This is a concept that deeply resonates with the idea of cosmic nihilism. In this mindset, the value of individual lives becomes secondary to the survival of existence itself. It’s the same logic that Thanos used when he sought to bring balance by erasing half of all life in the universe. For Strange, adopting this viewpoint might be the only way to make the painful choices necessary to save everything else.
This internal conflict would be fascinating to explore in the MCU, providing Doctor Strange with a compelling arc that stretches his character beyond traditional heroism. It would challenge the audience to ask difficult questions: Is the sacrifice of a few lives worth the survival of many? And more importantly, how far can a hero go before they lose what makes them human?
The Impact of Black Priest Doctor Strange on the MCU
Introducing the Black Priest version of Doctor Strange would undoubtedly be one of the most compelling narrative shifts in the MCU. Benedict Cumberbatch has already shown his incredible range as the character, and the deeper, more conflicted version of Strange that would emerge from this arc could be his most powerful performance yet. The character of Doctor Strange has always been one of the most intriguing in the MCU, but seeing him wrestle with the idea of becoming a Black Priest—someone who is willing to sacrifice everything to save everything—would elevate his story to a new level.
The introduction of a character like Black Priest Strange would not only push Strange’s character forward, but it would also introduce a new level of complexity and gravitas to the multiversal storylines the MCU is about to explore. Fans are already familiar with Strange’s immense power, but the Black Priest version of Strange would take this to a whole new level. He would no longer be just a protector of Earth; he would be a force that could alter the very fabric of the multiverse itself. His willingness to sacrifice entire universes in order to save others makes him both a tragic hero and a terrifying figure.
Moreover, Doctor Strange’s transition to the Black Priest would also add a moral and philosophical depth to the MCU’s exploration of the multiverse. With Secret Wars on the horizon, the multiverse will undoubtedly be in chaos. A character like Black Priest Strange, who is willing to make morally ambiguous decisions for the sake of survival, is exactly what the MCU needs as it delves deeper into these complex, multiversal events. Fans would be captivated by the psychological and emotional toll that this transformation would have on Strange, and it would provide a fresh narrative angle to the multiverse saga.
Is the MCU Ready for an Overpowered Character Like the Black Priest?
As the MCU prepares for its most ambitious phase yet, introducing an overpowered character like Black Priest Strange could seem like a bold move. However, if we look at the direction the MCU is heading, it seems inevitable. A few years ago, the idea of introducing characters like Sentry—one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe—would have been unthinkable. Yet, with his upcoming appearance in Thunderbolts, the MCU has already shown it is ready to embrace characters with god-like powers.
Furthermore, the MCU has also laid the groundwork for even more powerful and morally complex characters like Doctor Doom and Null, who are set to make appearances. The introduction of the Black Priest Strange fits seamlessly into this evolving universe. If there’s any character who is ready to explore the complexities of ultimate power and the moral consequences of wielding it, it’s Doctor Strange.
In fact, with the multiverse already at the forefront of the MCU’s storytelling, Doctor Strange is the ideal character to embody the struggle between cosmic nihilism and moral integrity. The character is already burdened with the weight of the multiverse, and the Black Priest arc could be the perfect way to push him into uncharted territory—one where he must decide whether to retain his humanity or sacrifice it to save the multiverse.
Conclusion
The idea of Doctor Strange becoming the Black Priest in the MCU is not just an intriguing concept—it is one that could significantly enrich the MCU’s storytelling in the coming years. With the multiverse at the forefront of the narrative, introducing a character like Black Priest Strange would add layers of complexity, both philosophically and narratively. It would force Doctor Strange to confront his deepest moral dilemmas and challenge everything we know about heroism in the MCU.
Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal of Doctor Strange has already captivated audiences, but his evolution into the Black Priest would bring an entirely new dimension to the character. It’s a path that could reshape his identity as a hero, forcing him to make choices that are far more complicated than any he has faced before.
The MCU is ready for a character who embodies both the light and dark sides of heroism. And if there’s any character who can carry the burden of becoming the Black Priest, it’s Doctor Strange. This would not only serve as a defining moment for Strange’s character but also as one of the most memorable arcs in the MCU’s multiversal saga.
