Every Official Sorcerer Supreme in Marvel Comics History

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Marvel Comics has featured over twenty different Sorcerer Supremes throughout its history, but only six have been active since 1963, when the character first appeared in Strange Tales #110 with Doctor Strange’s debut. While Doctor Strange held the title longer than anyone else in modern Marvel history, many sorcerers wielded the power before him. Currently, the Scarlet Witch, not Doctor Strange, is the Sorcerer Supreme.

As a huge Marvel fan, I’ve always been fascinated by the Sorcerer Supreme! I decided to put together a list of every character who’s held the title, going all the way back to the beginning and listing them in order of when they became Sorcerer Supreme.

10) Agamotto

As a huge Marvel fan, I’m fascinated by the original Sorcerer Supreme, Agamotto! He’s the one who started it all, and we know his name because the current Sorcerer Supreme still uses the Eye and Orb of Agamotto. He wasn’t just a powerful sorcerer, either – he actually created the Book of the Vishanti! What’s really amazing is that he lived way back in 1,000,000 BC, even before the Elder Gods were forced off Earth – and one of his parents was an Elder God! He was so powerful he eventually became something beyond a normal sorcerer, and when he passed on, he helped create the Vishanti themselves. It’s a shame we don’t know much about how long he held the title or who followed him, but his legacy is definitely cemented in Marvel history.

9) Generational Sorcerer Supremes, Pre-Marvel

After Agamotto, Marvel Comics introduced several other characters who held the title of Sorcerer Supreme. These figures, like Zherad-Na, Shamhat Saraswati, and King Solomon, were often featured briefly in flashbacks exploring the history of magic. While many names appeared – including Ayesha, Hermes Trismegistus, and Nina the Conjuror – most never played a significant role in any story, and were primarily mentioned as historical figures within the comics themselves.

8) Merlin

As a huge Marvel fan, I always get a kick out of learning about the history of the Sorcerer Supremes. One of the older ones you might not expect is Merlin – yeah, the Merlin from the King Arthur stories! He was around way back in 500 CE. Interestingly, he actually showed up in Marvel comics before the official Sorcerer Supreme title was a thing, first appearing in ‘Young Allies’ back in 1943. It took a while for Marvel to solidify him as a Sorcerer Supreme, but his backstory is awesome. He was mostly known for being a powerful sorcerer advising Arthur, creating the Black Knight’s armor, and even building up the Captain Britain Corps. Eventually, he ended up in Otherworld and became something even bigger – the Omniversal Guardian for a while!

7) Sir Isaac Newton

Similar to Merlin, Sir Isaac Newton was once Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, according to Marvel Comics. Based on the famous scientist, this version of Newton wasn’t just a brilliant mind – he also practiced magic. He held the position in the 1700s as part of the Brotherhood of the Shield, stepping up when people thought the Ancient One was gone. He was incredibly powerful, even managing to control a powerful entity called the Mindless One, renaming it the Mindful One and making it serve him.

6) Yao, the Ancient One

Yao, also known as the Ancient One, was the first Sorcerer Supreme in Marvel Comics, appearing in 1963’s Strange Tales #110. He received the title and the Amulet of Agamotto from Eternity, the living representation of the universe, around the year 1450. Though others briefly held the position believing him to be deceased, Yao ultimately returned and remained the Sorcerer Supreme until the 1960s. It was then that he began training Doctor Strange to succeed him, and when Yao moved beyond the physical realm, Doctor Strange officially became the Sorcerer Supreme.

5) Doctor Strange

Most comic book fans consider Doctor Strange the definitive Sorcerer Supreme, as he held the title for over fifty years. He originally learned from the Ancient One and, though he’s lost the role a few times, he always managed to regain it. Currently, he isn’t the Sorcerer Supreme because Doctor Doom deceived him, and by the time Doom was defeated, the opportunity had passed. Despite this, when at his peak, few sorcerers in the Marvel Universe can match his power.

4) Doctor Voodoo

Jericho Drumm, also known as Doctor Voodoo, became the Sorcerer Supreme after Doctor Strange was deemed unfit for the role. Initially hesitant to embrace his Haitian mystical heritage, he ultimately used his powers as a necromancer to defend the innocent. Chosen by the Vishanti, he joined the Avengers and later gave his life to prevent Agamotto from causing harm. After Doctor Strange reclaimed the title, Doctor Voodoo dedicated himself to teaching a new wave of mystics at Strange Academy.

3) Clea

Clea is an exceptionally powerful sorcerer, considered one of the greatest Sorcerer Supremes ever. As the Sorcerer Supreme of the Dark Dimension, her abilities are equal to those of any Earth-based Sorcerer Supreme. Uniquely, Clea held the title in both dimensions after Doctor Strange’s death, and even adopted his last name to show her respect. In a remarkable event, she merged with Doctor Strange, amplifying their combined power. They successfully argued Doctor Strange’s case before Death, leading to his resurrection, after which Clea returned the title of Sorcerer Supreme to him.

2) Doctor Doom

Doctor Strange’s biggest mistake was entrusting Doctor Doom with the power of the Sorcerer Supreme. This occurred during a crisis where Varnae controlled Blade and launched a global assault. Doom persuaded Strange to grant him this power, promising to relinquish it once the world was safe. While Doom did help save the world, he cleverly kept the power, claiming more work remained. He then used this power to take over the world in the ‘One World Under Doom’ storyline, holding onto it until he ultimately sacrificed himself to protect his daughter, Valeria Richards.

1) Scarlet Witch

When Doctor Doom passed away, the magical artifacts responsible for choosing the Sorcerer Supreme – the Cape of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto – selected Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch. This decision upset the powerful entities called the Vishanti, but Wanda, known for her immense power, boldly refused to relinquish the title. Despite the Vishanti sending Agatha Harkness to stop her, Wanda defended her position and remains the Sorcerer Supreme in Marvel Comics. Knowing Wanda’s history, this situation is unlikely to end peacefully, but as of now, she holds the title.

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2026-02-26 22:11