Clea: Here’s What Her Origin, Powers & MCU Future Could Be Like

Clea was introduced by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but who is she and what does her future hold?? Clea joins the Marvel

By Mabel Judith Andrady
May 9,2022
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Clea was introduced by Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but who is she and what does her future hold?? Clea joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s long tradition of post-credits scenes character introductions, like Harry Styles’ Star Fox in Eternals. It’s exciting for the MCU to have her, especially since so much of her history is intertwined with that of Doctor Strange!

Doctor Strange returns to New York after saving the multiverse from a potentially catastrophic event. After using the Darkhold to dream-walk into the dead body of his doppelgänger from another universe, he soon develops a Third Eye. As a result of the incursion, which occurs when two parallel universes collide, a mysterious woman in purple appears through a portal and demands that Doctor Strange accompany her to fix it. No matter what happens, Doctor Strange will be there to help her through it.

Despite the fact that she isn’t named in the scene, Charlize Theron, who plays Clea, is clearly visible in the credits. For those who are familiar with the comics, her purple outfit would have been a dead giveaway. Clea has been a Marvel character for decades, and her origins and powers are fascinating to learn more about. Doctor Strange’s involvement in her life is one of the most intriguing aspects of her character. We now know more about Clea, her origins in comic books, the extent of her powers, and exactly how she could play a role in future MCU events.

When did Clea first appear in the comic?

Clea
Clea

Clea is a Faltine, an extra-dimensional being produced through magic, who comes from the Dark Dimension, and was first introduced in 1964’s Strange Tales #126. After he arrives to defeat Dormmamu, she meets him at this location. Superhuman strength and the ability to create energy bolts are just two of Clea’s many abilities. Additionally, she has telekinesis and is a telepath who can influence others. Similarly to Doctor Strange, Clea can use magic to create illusions that trick people into believing that something isn’t there, just like the Marvel hero does. Clea has the ability to bring life to inanimate objects. Clea’s ability to imitate Doctor Strange’s spells is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of her character.

She’s on par with Doctor Strange and other interdimensional beings when it comes to magical prowess. In the Dark Dimension, Clea and Doctor Strange form a romantic relationship, and Clea moves to New York City to train with the sorcerer. Her father is exiled from the Dark Dimension, and Clea eventually marries Doctor Strange, but not before returning to the Dark Dimension to become the domain’s Sorceress Supreme. After Doctor Strange’s death, Clea assumed the title of Sorcerer Supreme of Earth-616, a title she had previously held while residing in the Dark Dimension.

The Dark Dimensional Link Between Clea and Dormammu

Dormammu
Dormammu

One of the most memorable scenes from Doctor Strange (2016) takes place in the Dark Dimension. He wanted to conquer several dimensions in order to rule over them all in his primary one, and this was the domain of the demonic creature Dormamm. The fact that Clea was related to Dormammu didn’t mean that she had any strong feelings of loyalty to him, and when she helped Doctor Strange fight him, she was kidnapped by her uncle. Her father Orini and mother Umar were the only members of her family who weren’t frightened to stand up for what was right, even if it meant helping a stranger take on her own uncle. The defeat of Dormammu was followed by victories over Umar and Orini, who were exiled from the Dark Dimension and replaced by Clea as the ruler of the region.

When Clea was a young girl, she was forced to defend her family’s home against the likes of Umar, Baron Karl Mordo, and Dormammu, who were all enemies of the Illuminati. As a result, the Dark Dimension is a sacred place for her and her background. Clea, like Doctor Strange and Wanda, works tirelessly to prevent the Dark Dimension from falling into the hands of tyrants who are more than eager to wreak havoc to gain more power and control.

Clea’s MCU Prospects

Doctor Strange 2_ Multiverse of Madness Reported Runtime Revealed

Ending Doctor Strange’s story in the Multiverse of Madness, Clea’s introduction serves as an extension. Because of his past experiences with the Dark Dimension, Clea’s arrival opens up new avenues of exploration. As a result of her comics origin, she has an advantage in this situation because she already knows who Doctor Strange is. Also, she’s aware of the existence of the multiverse and any threats it may face.

Clea’s understanding of the multiverse and her immense power—which she appears to have already perfected without having to train with Doctor Strange would be extremely beneficial as the MCU continues to explore other dimensions. For all we know, the multiverse may be collapsing on Earth-616, and it’s going to take a lot of effort from Clea, Doctor Strange, and others to save it.

The fact that Clea is both a wizard and an extra-dimensional being opens up new horizons for the MCU’s explorations. It’s possible that Clea’s next big adventure will involve teaming up with Doctor Strange to fight Dormammu, who is still alive and likely planning something quite sinister, regardless of what happens in the multiverse.

The comics and how Doctor Strange and Clea’s relationship is established would most closely align with this storyline. The MCU is likely to set up Doctor Strange’s romantic relationship with Clea, who is his foremost love interest in the comics, once he has moved on from Christine Palmer. In any event, the fact that Charlize Theron was cast as Clea in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness implies that she will play an important role in the future, either alongside or on her own.