Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will take MCU fans on one of the biggest and most bizarre adventures to date based on the trailers. Not all of it is unexpected though, and there are a number of Marvel Comics featuring the Sorcerer Supreme that are great primers for what fans may see, including his connection to the Illuminati, the secret council that potentially includes Professor X.
Some of the best Doctor Strange comics to read before the movie deal with his conflicts with the Scarlet Witch and some of his most powerful villains like Nightmare and Shuma-Gorath, who could also appear. They explore the concept of variants of Doctor Strange, and it's clear from the previews that there will be many of them in the film, including some possibly based on the comics.
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #47
The release is going to feature numerous variants of Doctor Strange and seemingly include evil ones, and that makes Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #47 a key issue to read. This comic showcases one of the most powerful variants of Doctor Strange, the Necromancer.
This version of the Sorcerer Supreme hails from Counter-Earth and this early 90s issue offers a story that seems similar to the What If..? Doctor Strange (who may be in the movie too). The Necromancer's world was destroyed and he was trapped in another dimension before ultimately escaping.
Avengers #503
Avengers #503 is one of the best Avengers comics of the 2000s and one of the most pivotal in the relationship between Doctor Strange and the Scarlet Witch, which will be the focus of the feature. In this issue, the two battle with the Avengers in the balance.
Wanda has gone on a rampage after learning her children never existed, leading to the death of Hawkeye. Doctor Strange incapacitates her with the Eye of Agamotto, foreshadowing a potential showdown in the MCU if Wanda is intent on finding her sons, Billy and Tommy.
New Avengers: Illuminati #1
New Avengers: Illuminati #1 has been a key comic book in the lore of Marvel Comics since its publication, but it's an important issue to read ahead of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, as it reveals the origin of the secretive Illuminati council.
Some version of the Illuminati will appear in the movie, and comic book fans know the Illuminati includes Doctor Strange, Professor X, Mr. Fantastic, Namor, Iron Man, and Black Bolt. Based on the trailers, at least a few of that characters are likely to appear.
New Avengers #3
Doctor Strange may be forced into difficult decisions in the story, and a great issue that depicts how far he will go is New Avengers #3. In this issue, Doctor Strange uses a spell to wipe Captain America's memories on behalf of the Illuminati.
This cold and cruel act is in keeping with his actions already in the MCU, where Doctor Strange has erased the memories of the entire world vis-a-vis Peter Parker. He may be forced to do even more drastic things with the multiverse at stake.
Strange Tales #110
The trailers for Doctor Strange 2 make cryptic references to Nightmare, and that makes Strange Tales #110 a great issue to read. Not only is this the first appearance of Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics, it introduces one of Doctor Strange's most powerful villains.
Nightmare draws power from the nightmares of people and it seems as though both Doctor Strange and the Scarlet Witch are experiencing some kind of nightmare based on the trailers. Nightmare could end up being the ultimate antagonist in the movie.
Strange Tales #111
The movie will feature the continuation of the conflict between Doctor Strange and Baron Mordo and that makes their first-ever encounter in Strange Tales #111 a must-read comic book. This issue details the origin of Mordo and the root of their conflict.
It's not clear if the Mordo in the movie is the one introduced in the first Doctor Strange or if he's a variant, but in either case, he seems to harbor the same grievance with Doctor Strange and his use of powerful magic.
Doctor Strange #12
Baron Mordo returns and leads a major assault on the Sanctum Santorum, making Doctor Strange #12 from 2016 another great comic book to read in preparation for the sequel. This battle could be the inspiration for the one seen in the trailers.
Though the movie will depict a major attack on Kamar-Taj, this comic book fight pits Strange, Wong, and other mystics against Mordo to defend the Sanctum and ends with the reveal of Nightmare, which could be a twist in the story as well.
New Avengers #51
New Avengers #51 could end up being a key comic book not just for the movie but the MCU. In this issue, Doctor Strange meets with Wiccan to see if he is a possible future Sorcerer Supreme. In the comics, Wiccan is Billy Maximoff, the son of the Scarlet Witch.
Trailers for the release reveal that Billy and Tommy both will be making some kind of appearance and it's possible that Billy continues in the MCU as Wiccan and a possible apprentice to Doctor Strange, making this issue a must-read.
Secret Defenders #1
One thing that may emerge from this film is the Defenders, making Secret Defenders #1 a good comic to read beforehand. While the line-up may not end up being exactly the same in the MCU, the concept of Doctor Strange bringing together a team to fight secret missions is likely.
Doctor Strange has been at the helm of most versions of the Defenders in Marvel Comics and he could form the team to combat threats that emerge in the MCU, or one of his variants could already be part of a fusion of the team and the Illuminati.
Marvel Premiere #10
Marvel Premiere #10 features the first battle between Doctor Strange and the superpowerful Shuma-Gorath and will likely end up being a key issue for fans to read before the movie. A number of clues in the trailers point to Shuma-Gorath being a villain in the sequel.
Tentacle monsters abound in the trailers, including a figure identified as Gargantos. He may only be a servant of Shuma-Gorath in the MCU, a giant tentacle monster who could also be the tentacled figure glimpsed in episodes of What If..?
