Dormammu
Dormammu is a demonic comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Dormammu was a member of the Faltine race where he and his sister Umar were spawned by the Faltinian named Sinifer. Their birth was unusual for the race of energy beings as two had never been spawned before with this being unprecedented. In time, the siblings committed the most obscene crime among their race which was the lust for matter that they gathered into their forms the way other Faltinians did towards energy. Sinifer attempted to stop the abominable acts of his offspring but they transmuted his body into dead dark matter that was a crime inconceivable to the Faltine. As a result, the other Faltinians gathered and drove Dormammu along with Umar from their dimension. Thus, they descended to the lower planes where they were free to devour as much matter as they claimed. Eventually, they took on more humans forms and journeyed to the Dark Dimension where they proceeded to deceive its ruler King Olnar. He offered them sanctuary as they hid their true nature and crimes with them claiming to be refugees. The two Faltine volunteered to show Olnar how to break the barrier between dimensions and even absorb other universes into his own. Thus, King Olnar embarked on this path where he was eventually tricked into annexing the neighbouring universe of the Mindless Ones. The savage brutes proceeded to attack the natives killing many including Olnar himself with Dormammu along with Umar proceeding to exterminate the Mhuruuks. They then trapped the Mindless Ones in a corner of the Dark Dimension and established themselves as rulers. Umar's power had weakened during this time and she fell as her brothers lieutenant. Dormammu then abandoned his human guise for one that resembled his Faltinian form as he merged himself mystically with the Dark Dimension. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #22)
In 1944, the Dread Dormammu sought about to find a means of invading the mortal world of Earth. At the time, the Amulet of Agamotto was stolen by the Red Skull who was taken by the Faltine ruler. Whilst in that dimension, the Red Skull lost the amulet to Captain America which was when he encountered Dormammu. The Nazi attempted to attack the Faltine only to fail and in desperation the villain struck a bargain with him. Dormammu desired the Amulet and thought the Red Skull had potential in serving his interests so he gave him an opportunity to recover it. The Skull failed and Dormammu banished him back to Earth whereupon he was prepared to fight Captain America and his allies when an incursion of Mindless Ones came upon his domain. Dormammu was forced to allow his foes to escape in defence of his realm only to discover that the Mindless Ones were simply illusions from the Ancient One with the Faltine vowing revenge against his foe. (Captain America - Nick Fury The Otherworld War v1 #1)
Doctor Strange
Afterwards, the sting of his defeat at the hands of a mortal wore on Dormammu and he intended to get his revenge against Strange. However, he was bound by his word to not harm the human whilst he was on Earth. Thus, he orchestrated a plot to draw the mortal out which involved challenging Eternity himself as the cosmic embodiment of existence was deemed to be the next threat to his conquest. As such, Dormammu struck at Eternity during his slumber and contained him in a sub-cosmos with this drawing the attention of Doctor Strange who freed the cosmic being. Dormammu then battled with Eternity himself regardless of the cosmic destruction such an act would cause and even cared not for his own demise in the promise. He condensed his power into a single attack against Eternity but his substance was disintegrated and his physical body was no more. It was believed that Dormmamu was reduced to being a disembodied spirit shorn of mind and will though his evil still remained with Doctor Strange tasked with clearing it. (Strange Tales v1 #146)
At some point, he was known to had fought and been humbled by Doctor Strange when they battled at Stonehenge. (Strange Tales v1 #156)
Seeking to conquer Earth, he dispatched a messenger who used a spirit form to challenge the Ancient One of Earth. The old sorcerer though was too weak to battle to stop him with his disciple Doctor Strange going in his master's stead. (Strange Tales v1 #126)
Though his essence was scattered, the nucleus of his being found refugee in Doctor Strange who after a battle against Shuma-Gorath was travelling through many dimensions with his new mentor Kaluu. The reservoir of dark power that was gathered was enough for Dormammu to slowly gather his strength without either sorcerers noticing his presence. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #1)
In the interdimensional gulf, he encountered the blind Asgardian Loki where he wanted his aid in the conquest of Earth. Thus, the two became partners where they manipulated events on Earth from the shadows with Dormammu claiming that he would restore Loki's sight in the process. (Defenders v1 #8)
He later acted as an envoy to Lord Chaos where he was to fight a cosmic chess match against All-Father Odin. This was to determine the outcome of the universal balance between chaos and order with Master Order's champion being Odin. Magic was used to hide the match from others though Thor Odinson came to be capable of seeing it and sought to aid his father who was seemingly losing the game. In secret, Umar attempted to rig the game in her brother's favour and tried to manipulate Odin's son Thor to ensure the Asgardian's defeat. However, she failed to trick Thor and the cosmic game between Dormammu and Odin ended in a draw. (Thor Annual v1 #9)
With Umar's aid, he and his sister challenged Eternity himself where they defeated him and Dormammu claimed his great power. This allowed him to transform the universe in his own image which became known as the Dormammuniverse. (Defenders v3 #3)
Return
The Dark Dimension was later visited by the Empirikul who intended to purge it of magic. Dormammu initially planned to destroy these intruders but instead made a deal with them and sent them an alternate target with him providing the location for Shuma-Gorath who the science acolytes hated. (Doctor Strange v4 #16) He then acquired the services of Baron Mordo again where he set him the task of finding and killing the weakened Stephen Strange who had lost much of his magical power after surviving the Empirikul. (Doctor Strange v4 #12) Mordo had failed in his task with this angering Dormammu with the Baron departing from the Faltine's service and instead decided to kill Strange for himself. However, Mordo had to compete with both the Orb and Mister Misery also looking to kill he Sorcerer Supreme. It was then that Dormammu manifested on Earth and intended to claim the kill personally. (Doctor Strange v4 #15)
He later came to invade the Otherplace and take control of it where he brought its former master Illyana Rasputin before him. (Uncanny X-Men v3 #5) However, she proved to be a powerful foe to fight where it was claimed that he was killed by Illyana with the Otherplace back under her control. (Uncanny X-Men v3 #6)
After the events of the Secret Empire, the city of Las Vegas was destroyed with Doctor Strange attempting to use magic to restore it. The spell created a dimensional breach that attracted the attention of Dormammu alongside other mystical beings including Shuma-Gorath, Nightmare and Mephisto. All four travelled to the source of the breach where they battled one another to be the first to travel through it and invade Earth. Ultimately, Mephisto won the battle and imprisoned his competitors in the necro-realm without any means of returning to their respective dimensions. During this course of events, Doctor Strange stumbled upon the dimension with Dormammu attempting to use the Sorcerer Supreme to secure his own release from the necro-realm. (Doctor Strange v1 #389)
Dormammu later concocted a new plan to get defeat his foes which involved Doctor Strange's increasing debt for magic that he had not paid. He thus orchestrated the Faltine in calling in on their debt and when he forfeited they invaded Earth. This was all part of Dorammamu's plans for his enemies to defeat one another whereupon he would conquer the weakened remnants of both Earth as well as the Faltine realm. He was ultimately defeated by a restored Ancient One with Dormammu returning to his hellscape whilst the former Sorcerer Supreme helped banish the remaining Faltine. (Doctor Strange v5 #11) Afterwards, Galactus was banished into the realms of magic where Dormammu sought to claim his power and his corruptive influence on the mystical realms. He intended to use the World Devourer as a weapon against his enemies but Galactus ended up consuming Dormammu to sate his anger thus seemingly killing him. Afterwards, Galactus's presence became a corruptive nature to reality that broke down the distinction between magic and science. As a result, Doctor Strange and the various mystical beings allied with one another to dispel the World Devourer from their realm. (Doctor Strange v5 #15)
Last Annihilation
Later on, Doctor Doom secretly orchestrated a move Dormammu's power for himself which he intended to use in the coming Reckoning War and manipulated events so that the Dreadlord would invade Earth's dimension. (Guardians of the Galaxy v6 #18) This involved using the Skrull Sister Talionis and having her manipulating Ego the Living Planet into joining a cult named the Brethren of the Forgotten Flame. Countless followers were drawn to Ego where they were used as part of a self-sacrificial ritual that turning the living planet into a black shell. (Guardians of the Galaxy v6 #14) From this, Dormammu emerged after days of incubation where he came to possess the living planet as his vessel in this dimension as he began invasion of the universe. (Guardians of the Galaxy v6 #15) Heading an endless army of Mindless Ones, the dark lord Dormammu conducted an invasion with a strategy founded on magic. To secure his domination, he targeted five special worlds hat would be used to construct an cosmic magical pentagram that could be used to summon the entirety of the Dark Dimension. These worlds were Hala, Skrullos, Spartax, Aerie and Chitauri Prime each of which was the home of a different star-spanning race and embodied a different aspect of the elements. Using their teleportation abilities, the Mindless Ones gained a tactical advantage against the defenders and overwhelmed each world. At the same time, Dormammu funnelled his power into his puppet host body Ego allowing him to grow into a planet-sized form. (Guardians of the Galaxy v6 #17) By this point, he was ready for his attack on Spartax but at that point Doctor Doom led a team of the Guardians of the Galaxy in attacking Chitauri Prime. Once there, he managed to conduct a ritual that siphoned off some of Dormammu's great power which was gained through a connection with the mind controlled Chitauri. This caused Dormammu to falter giving an opportunity for the Guardians to use he Retaliator Mark II super-gun to fire a bullet made of Mysterium whose anti-magic properties were used in conjunction with the Nova Force and Star-Lord's sun powers. Their combined attack caused the projectile to punch hrough Ego at light speed seemingly killing the living planet and banishing Dormammu back to his Dark Dimension. (Guardians of the Galaxy v6 #18)
Overview
Personality and attributes
He held himself as being a Lord of Chaos. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #1)
It was said that his ways were alien to those of a human being. (Strange Tales v1 #126) Doctor Strange believed that he was evil by human standards but according to his own light he had his own moral code. This made him capable of being indebted to his enemies and even granting them a wish. (Strange Tales v1 #127) Dormammu stated that all who lived and all who died ultimately were meant to serve him. (Hellcat v1 #3)
After being sired, he and his sister were unlike others of their kind as they came to lust after matter. This was seen as the most obscene perversion possible for their Faltine who normally consumed energy from their limitless universe. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #22)
He did not tolerate insolence from his servants and punished them as a result. (Strange Tales v1 #126)
His genitor was the Faltinian Sinifer who had divided his accumulated energy to spawn Dormammu and his sister Umar. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #22)
Dormammu claimed to had found children to be annoying and wondered how one could tolerate them. (Thor Annual v1 #9)
Powers and abilities
As one of the Faltinians, he was one of a number of energy-creatures that were normally quite powerful entities. The Faltine dimension was noted for being very old and far denser than even the Dark Dimension. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #22) It was said that his power was great that was beyond description. In fact, it was truly said that in all the universe there was none compared to the Dread Dormammu. Even the Ancient One at the height of his power was not capable of defeating him. (Strange Tales v1 #126) It as said that he sucked in the flames in his own dimension which burnt through him. (Hellcat v1 #3) Such was his power that he held himself as being equal to the likes of Zeus and Odin. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #1)
Dormammu was capable of possessing the bodies of mortal humans and act through them. (Doctor Strange v4 #15)
Among the spells known to him included:
- Crimson Bands of Cyttorak : a spell whereby he was able to imprison enemies in bands of crimson mystical energy. (Strange Tales v1 #126)
- Sevens Rings of Raggadorr : a spell that he used to push back the invading tide of Mindless Ones. (Strange Tales v1 #127)
He could cast a spell known as the Mindless Plague that turned mortals into Mindless Ones and make them subservient to his will. (S.H.I.E.L.D. v3 #5) Those infected became barely sentient killing machines with it targeting those of highest intellect first before proceeding to infect others. (S.H.I.E.L.D. v3 #6)
His servants included:
- Asti the All-Seeing : a demonic being that appeared as a floating monstrous face. (Strange Tales v1 #144)
- Dykkors : these demons once served him after their leader was bested by Dormammu. (Doctor Strange v1 #172)
He could summon humanoid shadowy demonic wraiths that served as his eyes and ears across the dimensions with them able to pass through solid objects. (Doctor Strange v2 #39) They were described as being spirits from the netherworld that were invisible to untrained eyes and could be used to seek out enemies. (Strange Tales v1 #130) Certain spells could be cast that prevented a wraith from entering certain areas. (Doctor Strange v2 #39) He was capable of banishing others to limbo to be rid of them. (Strange Tales v1 #126)
Within his dark domain, it was noted that worlds within worlds had existed in that realm. (Strange Tales v1 #126) On the outskirts of his domain resided the primitive brutal Mindless Ones who were kept from entering his dimension due to a mystical barrier. (Strange Tales v1 #127)
Notes
- Dormammu was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko where he made his first appearance in Strange Tales v1 #126 (November, 1964).
- In 500 Comicbook Villains v1 #1 (2004), writer Mike Conroy sad, "To Lee and Steve Ditko, the Lord of the Realm of Darkness and the associated invocations were just another piece of business, another way of adding depth to the otherwordly [sic?] nature of Strange's adventures. However, the readers were intrigued. They wanted to know more. "It seems there was something about that nutty name, Dormammu, that was keeping Doc's devoted disciples awake at nights trying to figure out who Dormammu was," Lee explained. "I knew I was in big trouble. I had made up the name—now I had to dream up a character to go with the name. But who? How? Ditko visualized the answer. "He gave the demoniac DD...a visage totally different from any villain I had ever seen in comics before," proclaimed Lee."
Alternate Versions
- In Guardians of the Galaxy v1 #35 (1993), an alternate version of Dormammu was shown to exist in the possible future of Earth-691. It was said that he had been slain but the essence of the Earth-616 version of him travelled to the Guardians of the Galaxy future where it merged with that reality's energies thus reconstituting him in that universe. Upon his reformation, he took control of the Dark Dimension where once again worshippers of him began to form. In the 31st century, the new Sorcerer Supreme Krugarr discovered Dormammu who captured him and intended to use him to find this reality's Ancient One who was Stephen Strange. This led to a battle with the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Galactic Guardians. During the battle, the Ancient One Stephen Strange was killed when Dormammu caused his spell to reflect back against him with Krugarr vowing to avenge his fallen master.
- In Defenders v3 #3 (2005), Dormammu of the Earth-616 universe claimed the power of Eternity and created a universe in his own image that as the Dormammuverse that was designated as Earth-5113.
In other media
Television
- In Spider-Man, Dormammu appeared as an antagonist in the 1990s animated series where he was voiced by actor Ed Gilbert.
- In Iron Man: Armored Adventures, Dormammu did not feature but instead his name was mentioned in the episode "The Might of Doom". Dormammu was revealed as not being an individual but instead a dimension where there resided strange entities that primitive inhabitants on Earth once believed to be demons. Doctor Doom's advanced science and technology allowed him to harness such creatures where he made such feats appear as magic against his enemies when actually he was using superscience. Doom would summon a creature from the dark realm of Dormammu to attack Iron Man that traumatized him for a time.
- In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., Dormammu appeared in the animated television series in the episodes "Stranger in a Strange Land" and "Hulking Commandos" where he was voiced by actor Phil LaMarr.
- In Ultimate Spider-Man, Dormammu appeared in the animated television series in the episode "Cloak and Dagger" where he was voiced again by actor Phil LaMarr.
- In Avengers Assemble, Dormammu appeared in the animated television series in the episodes "Widow's Run" and "Into the Dark Dimension" where he was voiced once more by actor Phil LaMarr.
Films
- In Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme, Dormammu featured as the main antagonist in the animated film where he was voiced by Jonathan Adams. He was mentioned as being a dark demon who long ago conquered his home realm in the Dark Dimension. This later led to him moving to the Nexus between all realities allowing him to invade other dimensions that saw him attack Earth. He was defeated by the Ancient One who took control over the Nexus and created a barrier to prevent Dormammu from leaving the Dark Dimension. Among his only servants left on Earth was the Winged Mark that was prophesized to awaken when their master returned. Since that time, he made numerous attempts to regaining his foothold on Earth with one among them being invading the dreams of human children. Unaware of this attack, the Ancient One's apprentices battled Dormammu's creatures such as the Chinou and Shadow Hounds. Eventually, Doctor Stephen Strange learnt of Dormammu's plot and informed the Ancient One who tasked his apprentices with holding back the demonic hordes whilst Strange freed the children. In this moment, Mordo made a deal with Dormammu and betrayed his master but the rogue sorcerer failed to defeat Strange with the lord of the Dark Dimension consuming the traitor. Dormammu then was freed on Earth and prepared to conquer it until Strange used his innate ability to absorb magic to defeat the demon.
- In Doctor Strange, Dormammu appeared as an antagonist in the live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where motion-capture performance was given by actor Benedict Cumberbatch. He was the ruler of the Dark Dimension where there was no concept of time and from there he sought to conquer other dimensions with Earth being one of his targets. These attacks were repelled by the Masters of the Mystic Arts and their leader the Ancient One. One of the Ancient One's disciples named Kaecilius learnt of the Dark Dimension and sought to achieve immortality leading to him turning against his master in exchange for servitude to Dormammu. With his zealots, he attacked the Masters of the Mystic Arts in order to uncover the spell to summon Dormammu to Earth.
Video games
- In Marvel versus Capcom III, Dormammu appeared as a playable character in the game.
- In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Dormammu appeared as an antagonist in the video game with the backstory stating he was an exiled member of the Faltine race. He was the ruler of the Dark Dimension where he plotted to absorb or destroy other worlds. A dossier revealed part of his backstory that was said by Doctor Strange who said that Dormammu along with his sister Umar took over the Darke Dimension from King Olnar in the fifty-eighth cycle of the Penultimate Instar of Shuma-Gorath whereupon he betrayed and banished his sister. At some point, he discovered Earth and sought to conquer that world leading to various battles with Doctor Strange. A Psy-Ops operative named Marvin Flumm probed the Dark Dimension where he could briefly possessed by Dormammu who threatened to conquer Earth.
- In Marvel Heroes, Dormammu appeared as an antagonist in the MMORPG video game where he was voiced by actor Robin Atkin Downes. He was shown in a prequel comic cuts energy where Doctor Doom attempts to form a pact with him for ultimate power. However, Dormammu saw no benefit in the deal and did not like Dooms arrogance leasing to a fight that Doctor Doom lost. Dormammu sent the Latverian back to his castle to humble him and warned that another attempt to meet with him would lead to his destruction. He later appeared when Doctor Doom acquired the Cosmic Cube and attempted to stop him from upsetting the cosmic balance but was defeated by the Latverian ruler.
- In Marvel: Contest of Champions, Dormammu was added as a character in the fighting iOS video game.
- In Spider-Man Unlimited, Dormammu was referenced in the mobile video game with the character Dormammuverse Spider-Man who was playable and was said to be one of the Hellhounds who were defenders of that dimension.
- In Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, Dormammu appeared as a boss antagonist in the setting of the Switch video game where he was voiced again by actor Phil LaMarr.
Appearances
- Strange Tales v1: (1964)
- Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1:
- Guardians of the Galaxy v1:
- Hellcat v1:
- Defenders v3:
- Doctor Strange v4:
- S.H.I.E.L.D. v3:
- Uncanny X-Men v3:
- Doctor Strange v5:
- Guardians of the Galaxy v6: (2021)
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