Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Stephen Strange may not be the most lovable character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - due to the relentless narcissism exhibited in Scott Derrickson’s 2016 feature. By the timeAvengers: Endgamerolled around, however, Doctor Strange seemed to have earned the loyalty of his comrades, the union between himself and the Cloak of Levitation, and the power that accompanied the Eye of Agamotto,just in time to continue his arc in the upcomingDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
We’ve known that Doctor Strange was going to be an integral part of Jon Watts’ conclusive chapter to Tom Holland’s Spidey trilogy, but the trailer shows the sorcerer wearing a familiar amulet without the driving crux of its power: the Time Stone. We explore the magic behind the Eye of Agamotto and why the relic does not rely on the energy of the Time Stone alone.
The Eye of Agamotto
Created byAgamotto, the first Sorcerer Supreme of Earth, the relic is first introduced in the MCU at Kamar-Taj withinDoctor Strange, revealed to be containing the Time Stone. The Eye was passed down between sorcerers for thousands of years and Doctor Strange used the time-altering powers of the Infinity Stone to defeat Kaecillius and Dormammu. However, Strange removed the stone from the relic prior to Thanos’ Battle of Titan, later returned to the Ancient One by Steve Rogers.
But with the Time Stone removed from the Eye, does the relic carry any power without it?
Yes, the Eye of Agamotto is one of three mystical Eyes created by Agamotto in the comics, accompanying the Eye of Power and the Eye of Prescience. First appearing in theStrange Talesseries from the 1960s, the Eye has nothing to do with the Infinity Stone outside of the MCU. Alternatively called the Eye of Truth or the All-Seeing Eye of Infinity, the relic allows the sorcerer to see through all lies and disguises. The Eye also uses its “all-revealing light” illusion to banish evil, including humans who dabble in Dark Arts.
Spider-Man: No Way HomeTrailer
During the recentSpider-Man: No Way Hometrailer, Doctor Strange can be seen standing on top of a moving train, racing through some sort of canyon. Strange is noticeably wearing the Eye of Agamotto, however, most fans know that it cannot contain the Time Stone due toNo Way Home’s linear place in the timeline afterAvengers: Endgame.
Some theories have alluded to the events ofEndgametaking place in a separate timeline toNo Way Home, explaining the return of the Time Stone to the Eye. Others have screamed “Mephisto!” at Doctor Strange, claiming that this variant is an imposter posing as the sorcerer. However, could Strange still be wearing the Eye of Agamotto to use its original comic book purpose to expose certain characters inNo Way Home? Or will this power be kept as a grand reveal forDoctor Strange 2?
Spider-Man: No Way Homewill release in theaters on December 17th andDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesswill release in theaters on June 02, 2025.
