| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Debut: | Strange Tales #115 |
| Debutmo: | December |
| Debutyr: | 1963 |
| Creators: | Stan Lee, Steve Ditko |
| Artifact: | y |
| Supports: | Doctor Strange[1] |
| Subcat: | Marvel Comics |
| Sortkey: | Eye Of Agamotto |
The Eye of Agamotto is a fictional, mystical item appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The item appears in publications that feature Doctor Strange. The Eye of Agamotto and Agamotto in his caterpillar form also appeared in the Gold Key Dark Shadows comic book, Collinwood Possessed!.[2] The Eye of Agamotto is the name commonly given to the amulet Strange wears on his chest, though the Eye resides within the amulet and is released from time to time.
Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, it first appeared in "The Origin of Dr. Strange", an eight-page story in Strange Tales #115 (December 1963).[3] In designing the Eye, Ditko drew inspiration from the Eyes of Buddha, a Nepali symbol meant to protect its wearer against evil.[4] [5]
The Eye of Agamotto appears in several forms of Marvel-related media, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which it contains the Time Stone, one of the Infinity Stones.
Agamotto, a powerful mystic being and one of Doctor Strange's three Vishanti, is said to have used the Eye during his time as Sorcerer Supreme of the Earth dimension. The Eye's origins are currently unknown, but there are theories of how it came into existence. Some believe that it was discovered by Agamotto among the seas and stars, where it had drifted for ages. Others claim that it was created by Agamotto himself, which makes sense when the Eye's powers are compared to those of "the All-Seeing."[6]
It is said that the Eye of Agamotto draws on Agamotto's own mystical ability to span distances and dispel disguises and illusions. Agamotto is also presumably aware of every time the Eye is used and may even record those events for later viewing.[7]
Rintrah, a disciple of Doctor Strange, is able to call on many of the effects of the eye by using the 'Amulet of Agamotto'.[8]
In the New Avengers Annual #2 (2008), though Strange has at first retained both the Eye and the Cloak, the Hood, on Dormammu's commands, has targeted Strange to eliminate him and seize the Eye of Agamotto. Strange, having evoked Zom's power tells him that he is not ready to use it because of his tainted soul and demonic connection.[9]
Strange shows it to the New Avengers, describing the Eye as "one of the most powerful mystic conduits on this physical plane". Strange and the New Avengers now battle against the forces of the Dark Dimension as Strange searches the planet for new potential candidates. The Eye is presented to the new Sorcerer Supreme, Brother Voodoo, in New Avengers #53, who bears it as he fights against Dormammu. Strange had lost the eye because of his own corrupted connection to Zom.[10]
Later, Doctor Doom arrives to challenge Brother Voodoo's 'claim' to the Eye. Doom claims the object must belong to him, for the protection of others, but abandons the Eye after using it to see his future, informing Brother Voodoo that he will gain nothing from it.[11]
When Doctor Strange and Daimon Hellstrom are possessed by an unspecified demonic entity, they attempt to claim the Eye from Doctor Voodoo, causing it to teleport to Avengers Mansion. Luke Cage touches the object and mutates in a monstrous version of himself,[12] the entity that has possessed him subsequently 'jumping' into Iron Fist, who then teleports away with the Eye, triggering a rift in the sky that Strange states means the end of everything.[13] As the Avengers battle the demons back on Earth, Iron Fist finds himself in a white void where he encounters the Ancient One, who claims that he is responsible for the current invasion due to his anger at Strange's recent 'failures'.[14] When Iron Fist returns to Earth - now dressed in a new costume - -, he claims that the Ancient One has told him that Strange stole the Eye from the Ancient One rather than being given it by his master, challenging Strange to admit the truth.[15] Noting that such a claim contradicts everything the Ancient One taught him about the Eye, Strange realizes that the entity they are facing is not his master, with a casual comment by Spider-Man prompting the sorcerers to realize that the enemy they face is Agamotto himself, trying to reclaim his Eye after the apparent 'death' of the Vishanti.[16] [17] Although the group attempt to defeat Agamotto by empowering Wolverine to serve as their 'avatar', Doctor Voodoo is finally forced to sacrifice himself to contain their foe, apparently destroying himself and the Eye at the same time.[18] The Eye was later returned to Strange at the end of the New Avengers.
The Eye and Strange's Cloak of Levitation are seen in the 1992 Hulk comic book limited series Future Imperfect. Set a hundred years in the future, after a nuclear war, the cloak, tattered, and the Eye are among the many artifacts in the memorial room in the home of Rick Jones.[19] The same cloak and Eye are then stolen as part of a plot by Thanatos, a version of Rick Jones, who wished to become the ultimate version of himself. Thanks to other versions, including the elderly, Thanatos is stopped.[20]
The Eye is used by the 2099 version the Sorcerer Supreme, a young woman who hangs it on her jacket. It is used to keep her demonic half in check. She teams up with the 2099 version of Spider-Man.[21]
The Eye of Agamotto can radiate mystical light that enables the user to see through disguises and illusions,[22] [23] see past events, and track ethereal and corporeal beings by their energy. Its light can weaken various mystical beings, such as demons, devils, undead beings, and human magic users. Additionally, the Eye can probe the minds of others, project mystical shields, create portals to other dimensions, levitate the user, and place others in suspended animation.[24] [25]
The Eye of Agamotto appears in . This version is a legendary mystical artifact that belongs to the active bearer of the Sorcerer Supreme title.
The Eye of Agamotto appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This version contains the Time Stone, one of six Infinity Stones, which grants the ability to manipulate probabilities and time.[27] [28]
The "Eye of Agamoto" is referenced in the eponymous Don Preston song, which is included on the album Grandmothers by Rhino Records.