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The Cloak of Levitation was the enchanted cape of Doctor Strange.

History

Origin[]

Enitharmon the Weaver once met the being who wove the Cloak of Levitation that would eventually be given to Doctor Strange. Enitharmon described that being as one who was far greater than he.[2]

Modern Age[]

The Cloak of Levitation is one of Doctor Strange's most prominent parts of his attire and equipment. There are two versions of it, a blue and a red one. The blue Cloak of Levitation is the lesser one, worn by Strange during his earlier days.[4] Strange would later give that cloak to his then-apprentice Rintrah.[5]

The red cloak was gifted to Strange by the Ancient One as a reward for prevailing in battle against Dormammu.[6] It was soon destroyed by the monster Zom in combat with Strange[7] but Strange skillfully restored it soon afterwards in a feat that impressed the Living Tribunal.[8]

Years later, when a minor Khat demon attacked Strange, it tormented him by shredding the Cloak before Strange was able to banish it.[9] Strange attempted to repair the Cloak but that task proved to be beyond his powers so he sought out the ancient and reclusive Enitharmon the Weaver in the alien dimension where he lived. Enitharmon recognized the Cloak and told Strange that he should be ashamed for having let so precious a treasure be hurt but agreed to repair it in exchange for a price that he would name later.[2] A few days later, the repaired Cloak was delivered to Strange on Earth by Rintrah, who was then Enitharmon's apprentice.[10]

Still more years later, during the Empirikul's attack on magic and after Doctor Strange's defeat, the Cloak was torn apart by the Empirikul's leader, the Imperator.[11] When Strange managed to be teleported away to safety, he retained a shred of the Cloak which barely retained its magical properties and could not even fly.[12]

When Loki took the title of Sorcerer Supreme from Doctor Strange, he recovered the cloak's rags and sewed them together with Asgardian thread that he had spun himself. Although repaired, the cloak's many new seams stood out plainly.[13]

Properties

  • Flight: Both Cloaks of Levitation grant their user the ability to float and fly, in a much more effective way than using a flight spell. The red Cloak is capable of reaching subsonic speeds, though must require some small extent of magic in the wearer to function, as shown when the magic-drained Doctor Strange fell to earth, his Cloak of Levitation unable to be controlled.[citation needed] It is also possible to use the Cloak while standing on it, in a similar way to a magic carpet.[14] Additionally, the Cloak responds to commands and can be directed even if not being worn.[citation needed]
  • The Cloak can also be used as shield, because of its durability, offering the wearer some protection,[citation needed] or as a weapon, due to its ability to ensnare opponents.[11] It can also alter its shape, being capable of grabbing onto ledges[12] and take the form of a scarf.[14] The cloak apparently can have its physical shape augmented, as Strange once modified the cloak into a kimono-like trench coat.

Alternate Reality Versions

Image Description Source
Cloak of Levitation from Doctor Strange (film) 001

Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999)[]

The Cloak of Levitation is one of many relics, items imbued with power to sustain magics that practitioners of the mystic arts cannot. Rather than being selected; said relics choose their owners, and this was the case with Dr. Stephen Strange when he was deeply entrenched in battle with the rogue sorcerer Kaecilius in the New York Sanctum. When the cloak's display case was breached, it initially helped Strange fend off several attacks before joining fully in the conflict, at one point even saving Strange from a potentially lethal fall. It continued to serve Strange thereafter, allowing him to levitate while wearing it and also acting autonomously to interfere with enemy actions, and occasionally even the actions of Strange himself when it was seemingly in his best interests for the cloak to do so. Given the cloak's degree of autonomy; it's safe to assume a certain level of awareness, in several instances, the cloak displays a certain degree of concern or affection upon its wearer.[15]
Doctor Strange (film)

Notes

  • Although the more powerful Cloak was depicted as being entirely yellow in color when it first appeared in Strange Tales #127, by the very next issue it had been changed into a cloak that was completely red except for some yellow design work. Additionally, in reprints and retellings of that first story, the cloak that Strange is shown receiving from the Ancient One is now depicted as having been mostly red in color from the beginning.[citation needed]

See Also

Links and References

References

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