Doctor Strange is wearing a few different costumes in Multiverse of Madness, including some that are based on some of his best looks in the comics.
The trailers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have revealed at least a few different variants of the Sorcerer Supreme, and some of them appear to wear outfits based on Doctor Strange's best costumes in Marvel Comics. The most distinctive is the Defender Strange variant, who wears a costume right out of the character's early 2010s comic book run with the New Defenders.
Strange's best looks in the comics take his classic design, established by legendary artist Steve Ditko in the 1960s, and take it to new extremes. They sometimes turn the idea inside out or add little details that contribute to a new interpretation. Some of the best costumes could appear in the upcoming movie or even beyond as it's all but certain that the multiverse will continue into the future of the MCU.
The Original
The original Doctor Strange costume establishes most of the iconic elements of the character's look, making it one of his best. There are some key differences, though, particularly in the realization of the Eye of Agamotto.
The costume was designed by Ditko, one of the best Spider-Man artists ever, and lays down most of the signature elements. Another major difference is in the color of the cape, which was initially blue instead of the classic red.
MC2
The MC2 version of Doctor Strange presents an older Sorcerer Supreme whose outfit has aspects of Medieval Arthurian motifs. It's defined by the skullcap, particular to this version of the character.
The skullcap features an Eye of Agamotto icon that echoes the third eye concept Strange sometimes manifests through magic. The cape is also blue, a throwback to the original version from Strange Tales #110, the character's first appearance.
Croctor Strange
Croctor Strange is one of the weirdest versions of Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics but his costume is one of the best because of its inspired simplicity. Though this iteration of Strange is a crocodile, his cape employs a tiger stripe theme that's perfect.
Though the costume is otherwise the same as the original version from Earth-616, it's also distinguished by its extremely exaggerated cowl. Most versions of the Sorcerer Supreme have a large one, but Croctor Strange's take on it is for the ages.
Venomverse
The Venomverse Doctor Strange is one of the most dramatically different takes on the character, using a black-and-white color scheme to make an instantly memorable and unnerving costume. His cowl is now a spiked element spanning his shoulders that echoes his claw-like fingers.
This Doctor Strange from Earth-22249 is bonded with the alien symbiote that gave rise to Venom. The costume translates the Eye of Agamotto from a mystical jewel to a creepy eye in the center of the Sorcerer Supreme's chest.
Dr. Strangefate
Dr. Strangefate is a unique fusion of several famous comic book characters, blending elements of each to create one of the best Doctor Strange costumes. Dr. Strangefate combines the cape of Strange and the helmet of Dr. Fate from DC Comics.
This costume, a product of the Amalgam Comics crossover between Marvel and DC in the '90s, creates a distinctive silhouette that feels natural for either superhero universe. It also has echoes of the best Moon Knight costumes from the comics.
Modern Armor
In 2018, Doctor Strange got a new armored costume in the comics. The simple yet practical outfit made for one of the best by shielding the Sorcerer Supreme in black-and-white body armor that maintained some aspects of the original.
The suit feels very much like it would fit into the MCU, and some version of it may eventually appear as Doctor Strange encounters more and more dangerous enemies who may be immune to magic — or may be more powerful than he is.
Midnight Sons
Comic book fans know the Midnight Sons are a major supernatural super-team that includes Doctor Strange. During his time with the team in the 1990s, he wore a dark blue-and-black costume that succeeded in the way it pushed the true strangeness of the character.
Wearing a mask that was somewhat reminiscent of Rorschach from Watchmen with giant spikes growing out of his arms, this magically created avatar of Doctor Strange is one of the most outlandish in terms of look but is certainly one of the most memorable.
New Defenders
One costume in the upcoming movie is directly based on a Doctor Strange look from the early 2010s. When he joined the New Defenders, he took on an iconic black-and-red costume that emphasized his classic chest emblem over other traditional elements.
The visual simplicity of the costume makes it one of the best in the comics, which is why it's likely the MCU decided to use it for the variant of the character that has been identified in merchandise as Defender Strange.
The Necromancer
The Necromancer is a Doctor Strange variant from Counter-Earth, and his costume is essentially the same as the Earth-616 Sorcerer Supreme... with a major exception. His blue face mask creates an unsettling profile that tips the design over into the unnatural.
This version of the character also has blue gloves, a contrast from the usual orange or red gloves worn by Doctor Strange. His look could inform some of the variants in the movie, as his backstory is very similar to the Doctor Strange variant from What If..?
Classic Costume
Doctor Strange's classic look has remained more or less unchanged since the late 1960s, and its enduring iconography makes it the best version of the costume in the comics. Though the costume has a lot of color and design elements going on, they all combine into a satisfying whole.
The exaggerated red cape is instantly recognizable, as is the simple red and blue color contrast in the costume. The yellow and orange embellishments on the cape and in the gloves make the character a vivid and vibrant focus in any panel or shot he's in.
NEXT: 8 Sam Raimi Trademarks We Hope To See In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
