Baron Mordo

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Baron Mordo
Mordo.jpg
Baron Mordo battles Doctor Strange.
Art by Steve Ditko.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #111 (Aug. 1963)
Created byStan Lee
Steve Ditko
In-story information
Alter egoKarl Amadeus Mordo
Team affiliationsLegion Accursed
Offenders
AbilitiesSkilled martial artist
Extensive knowledge of magical lore
Astral projection
Teleportation
Hypnotism
Mesmerism
Thought and illusion casting
Force blast projection
Magical energy manipulation
Ability to conjure demons

Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo (known as Baron Mordo) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted commonly as an adversary of Doctor Strange. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #111 (Aug. 1963). Baron Mordo is a gifted magician, especially adept in the black arts of magic, including summoning demons.

Karl Mordo was studying the magic arts under the Ancient One in Tibet when Dr. Stephen Strange arrived. Strange foiled Mordo's plot to kill the Ancient One, leading to Mordo being cast out and Strange eventually becoming Sorcerer Supreme. Mordo has since clashed several times with Dr. Strange, at times with the backing of the demon Dormammu, briefly even impersonating Dr. Strange.[1]

The Baron Mordo character has appeared in other forms of media, such as animated television series, films, and video games. Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange[2] and will reprise the role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).[3]

Publication history[]

Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Baron Mordo first appeared in Strange Tales #111 (Aug. 1963).[4]

Fictional character biography[]

A Transylvanian nobleman (born in Varf Mandra), Karl Amadeus Mordo became a student of the Tibetan sorcerer known as the Ancient One.[5][6] When Mordo plotted to kill his teacher, Dr. Stephen Strange learned of the plot. Mordo was forced to cast restraining spells to prevent Strange from warning the Ancient One. In desperation, Strange decided to accept the Ancient One's offer to take him on as his mentor in magic to have some hope of stopping Mordo. The Ancient One, however, was fully aware of Mordo's plot and of Strange's desire to warn him. Pleased at Strange's unselfish decision, the Ancient One's magical teachings immediately freed the doctor and explained the full situation. Thus informed in the face of his recent experiences, Strange agreed to become the Ancient One's apprentice despite the requirement that he abandon his former life. The Ancient One trained him to be a formidable opponent of Mordo. Eventually Mordo was exiled by the Ancient One.[7] Mordo's abilities were similar to those of Doctor Strange, but Mordo was particularly skilled at astral projection and hypnosis, as well as mesmerism. He was more than willing to use powerful black magic and invoke demons, both of which Strange was reluctant or unable to do. Mordo's use of these darker arts would sometimes backfire.

The evil Mordo became an open foe of Doctor Strange. He sent his astral form to hypnotize the Ancient One's servant into poisoning his food, hoping the old man would reveal his secrets of magic. However, Strange tricked him into returning to his physical body after engaging in astral contact with him, thus breaking his hold over the servant, who helped the Ancient One to recover. Mordo disguised himself as Sir Clive Bentley, and trapped Doctor Strange with a drugged candle that paralyzed him, but Strange was able to use his mental powers to call a local girl to free him.[8] He opposed Doctor Strange's discipleship to the Ancient One.[9] He set a series of new traps for Strange in a bid to wrest magical secrets from the Ancient One.[10] Mordo took Strange's body while Strange was astral projecting for a threat he sensed that Mordo had caused, and cast a barrier around it, knowing that if his astral form was out for 24 hours it would die. Strange found it in a wax museum, but was unable to enter. However, Strange took control of a wax model in the last minute, distracting Mordo and enabling Strange to return to his body.[11] He imprisoned the Ancient One, but was again defeated.[12] Mordo made a deal with his new master, the demonic Dormammu of the Dark Dimension, to amass additional power to defeat Doctor Strange.[13] He dispatched agents, other evil magicians around the World and Spirit wraiths, to search for the incognito Strange,[14] and then banished him from the Earth.[15] He fled from Strange,[16] and then dispatched agents to kill Strange.[17] He engaged in personal combat with Strange.[18] Mordo was exiled to the Dimension of Demons by Dormammu.[19] He battled Doctor Strange once more at Stonehenge, but was ultimately banished from Earth.[20]

Mordo would return eventually to continue to bedevil Doctor Strange. He impersonated Doctor Strange during Strange's brief retirement, but was soon vanquished.[21] Mordo discovered the Book of Cagliostro, and battled Strange in 18th-Century Paris. He then accompanied Strange and Sise-Neg to the dawn of time.[22] After suffering a mental breakdown, he was placed in Doctor Strange's care, but later escaped.[23] Mordo transformed the dead Lord Phyffe into Azrael, angel of death, and dispatched him against Strange.[24] He sent the Man-Thing to kill Strange, and assembled thirteen people for human sacrifice to the Chaos Demon. Mordo was defeated by Strange, Jennifer Kale, and the Man-Thing.[25] He attacked Strange, and escaped into the 1940s, but was manipulated by Dormammu.[26]

Mordo later sold his soul to both Mephisto and Satannish for power, gaming that Strange would save him. He was trapped with Sara Wolfe, and later rescued her.[27] Mordo himself was later imprisoned, and Sara Wolfe freed him from imprisonment. Mordo battled Dormammu to defend the Earth. He was defeated, and pretended to ally himself with Dormammu, and then allied himself with Umar to defeat Dormammu.[28]

Umar and Mordo were eventually deposed by Clea.[29] Mordo eventually contracted terminal cancer as a side effect of his use of black magic, and renounced evil just before his death.[30] He later returned to life.[31] He later allies himself with Terrax, Tiger Shark and Red Hulk as the "Offenders", to be opposed by his old rival and newly costumed Doctor Strange, aided by the other three original Defenders.[32]

Mordo appeared in the pages of X-Factor vol. 3 #203, where it is revealed that he kidnapped politician Cartier St. Croix in order to lure his daughter Monet St. Croix into a trap.[33]

Mordo appears to be deceased in Uncanny Avengers #6.

Mordo returns during the aftermath of the Last Days of Magic arc.[34] Mordo forces a family to leave their residence, but lets the mother stay as his servant. Dormammu incinerates the woman's body as he possesses her in order to chastise Mordo for delaying his plans. Mordo heads to the Sanctum Sanctorum and attacks Wong with Doctor Strange confronting him and the two briefly battle before the latter is taken by Nightmare.[35] Mordo, angered that his foe was taken by another, is confronted by Dormammu again (in the form of a swarm of rats) who proceeds to attack Mordo causing him to leave.[36] He later catches up to Doctor Strange when he is attacked by Orb, until Dormammu arrives. He then helps Doctor Strange in banishing Dormammu directly to Shuma-Gorath.[37]

During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Baron Mordo becomes the caretaker of Manhattan after it gets surrounded by Darkforce following Hydra's takeover of the United States. In addition to using the Sanctum Sanctorum as his residence, Baron Mordo has the Elder God Pluorrg guarding the Sanctum Sanctorum.[38] He later catches Daredevil, Luke Cage, Cloak and Iron Fist when they are attempting to fight him. Mordo is then defeated by Doctor Strange, Spider-Woman, Ben Urich and Kingpin.[39]

Powers and abilities[]

Baron Mordo has vast magical abilities derived from his years of studying black magic and the mystic arts. He can manipulate magical forces for a variety of effects, including hypnotism, mesmerism, thought-casting, and illusion casting. He can separate his astral form from his body, allowing him to become intangible and invisible to most beings. He can project deadly force blasts using magic, can teleport inter-dimensionally, and can manipulate many forms of magical energy. He can tap extra-dimensional energy by invoking entities or objects of power existing in dimensions tangential to Earth's through the recitation of spells. He can also summon demons, but often does not have enough power to force them to do what he wants them to do.

Baron Mordo has some knowledge of a karate-like martial art form, and has an extensive knowledge of magical lore.

Other versions[]

Mutant X[]

Baron Mordo appears in the last issue of Mutant X, being referred to as the 'Ancient One'. He is still considered a villain, though he allies himself with other heroes and villains in order to stop the Beyonder/Goblin Queen entity.

2099[]

In Secret Wars, the Avengers 2099 investigate the threat of the mysterious Martin Hargood.[40] In the final issue, it is revealed he is Baron Mordo's descendant and, after reclaiming his ancestral title, uses Alchemax's Virtual Unreality lab to summon the Dweller in Darkness. Captain America 2099 punches Mordo out, while Roman, the son of Namor, summons a Giganto to defeat the Dweller.[41]

In other media[]

Television[]

  • Baron Mordo appears in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Tony Jay.[42] This version serves as Dormammu's minion and is the archenemy of Doctor Strange. In the latter's self-titled episode, Dormammu orders Mordo to steal the Wand of Watoomb and use it to create a portal for him to escape his dimension. To assist him, Mordo brainwashes Mary Jane Watson to become his servant. He nearly succeeds until Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Wong, and Mary Jane defeat him. In the episodes "Venom Returns" and "Carnage", Dormammu orders Mordo to bring the Venom symbiote back to Earth and re-bond it to Eddie Brock to assist them in a new scheme to free Dormammu. Following this, Mordo and Venom infiltrate Stark Enterprises to retrieve a portal machine, only to be confronted by Spider-Man and War Machine. In response, Dormammu orders Mordo to bond a symbiote that split off from Venom to Cletus Kasady to assist them further. Dubbing himself Carnage, Kasady is granted the ability to absorb life energy from humans to strengthen Dormammu enough to escape. However, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Venom interrupt him. After Venom sacrifices himself to stop Carnage and Dormammu, Mordo escapes.
  • Baron Mordo appears in The Super Hero Squad Show animated series, voiced by Dave Boat.[43] In the episode "Night in the Sanctorum", he was imprisoned inside a soda can until the Enchantress's magic vexes Thor into opening it. Mordo fights Thor until Doctor Strange arrives and re-imprisons the latter. In the episode "Invader from the Dark Dimension", Wong recycles Mordo's soda can prison into the Dark Dimension. When Iron Man accidentally ends up in the dimension, Mordo takes advantage by possessing him in order to escape. Dubbing himself the "Iron Menace", Mordo takes over Stark Industries and uses technology to brainwash most of the Super Hero Squad and Lethal Legion. In response, the Defenders, Doctor Doom, and MODOK join forces to free their allies, exorcise Mordo from Iron Man, and send the former back to the Dark Dimension.
  • Baron Mordo appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man vs. the Sinister Six animated series, voiced by Danny Jacobs.[44] In the episode "Miles from Home", he is enlisted by Doctor Octopus to use the Siege Perilous to bring a demonic Green Goblin from another reality to theirs. While the plan succeeded, the Goblin attacks them both and claims the Siege Perilous for himself. With help from Spider-Man, Doctor Strange engages Mordo in battle while the web-slinger summons Miles Morales from the Goblin's reality to help them. Amidst the fight, the enhanced Goblin hits Mordo, causing him to shatter like glass and fade away. In the episode "Strange Halloween", Mordo reassembles himself in the Quantum Realm, where he uses his magic to turn trick-or-treaters into monstrous versions of their costumes. Upon tracing Mordo, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and Ant-Man arrive and eventually bring him back to their reality. Mordo attempts to use the transformed trick-or-treaters and animated inanimate objects against them, but Spider-Man uses an imagination spell to enlarge Strange's Eye of Agamotto to help him defeat Mordo.
  • Baron Mordo appears in the Avengers: Secret Wars animated series episode "Eye of Agamotto" Pt. 1, voiced by Phil LaMarr.[45] This version is depicted as an African-American and an ally of Hydra. After a group of Hydra agents raid a warehouse filled with magic items, Mordo works on the Talisman of Kaluu for the terrorists. However, Captain America and the Black Panther track the stolen items to him. Following a brief fight, Mordo escapes, but the heroes track him to an island where light and dark magic meet. With help from Shuri, Captain America and the Black Panther defeat Mordo, who is dragged into another dimension by a disguised Agamotto as he destroys the Talisman of Kaluu.
  • Baron Mordo appears in the Spider-Man: Maximum Venom animated series episode "Amazing Friends", voiced by Leonard Roberts.[46][47] This version is an African-American. He collaborates with Monica Rappaccini and A.I.M. in a plot to target Groot and extract his DNA to create wooden golems. Though Mordo sent Doctor Strange and Miles Morales to the Unknown Realms, Spider-Man, Ironheart, and the Totally Awesome Hulk intervene and foil their plans before Strange and Morales return to assist them further. Following their defeat, Mordo and the A.I.M. operatives are incarcerated in Avengers Tower until the rest of the Avengers return.

Film[]

  • Baron Mordo appears in the 2007 animated film Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme, voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson. This version's origin is altered, though he maintains his dislike of Doctor Strange and the Ancient One. Additionally, he is a warrior-like sorcerer who began to think only about victory instead of what is truly important about his battles, willing to go as far as killing innocent children, which was against what the Ancient One stood for. This led the latter to reject Mordo's attempt to become Sorcerer Supreme. Believing the Ancient One had turned his back on him, Mordo sides with Dormammu and kills his former master. Strange, accepting his destiny as the new Sorcerer Supreme, avenges the Ancient One and defeats Mordo. Angered at his failure, Dormammu eats his failed servant.
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Karl Mordo in the 2016 film Doctor Strange.
  • Karl Mordo appears in live-action films set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor.
    • Mordo is introduced in Doctor Strange (2016).[48] This version is a member of the Masters of the Mystic Arts who trains Stephen Strange and wields the Staff of the Living Tribunal. While helping Strange combat the zealot Kaecilius, the Ancient One notes that Mordo's strength must be balanced by Strange since the former is unable to recognize the need for moral flexibility and compromise. After learning the Ancient One harnessed power from the Dark Dimension and Strange broke the natural order to defeat Kaecilius, a disillusioned Mordo leaves his fellow sorcerers. Coming to believe that magic perverts the natural order, he undergoes a quest to stop others from using magic. He later visits fellow magician, Jonathan Pangborn, and steals his magic, stating that the world has "too many sorcerers".
    • Mordo will return in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).[3]

Video games[]

  • Baron Mordo appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by Philip Proctor. This version is a member of Doctor Doom's Masters of Evil and serves as one of his lieutenants. Two simulation disks see Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider protecting Clea and Wolverine respectively from Mordo.
  • Baron Mordo appears as a boss and unlockable character in the Facebook game Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
  • Baron Mordo appears in the mobile game Marvel: Future Fight.[49]
  • Baron Mordo appears as a playable character in the game Marvel: Contest of Champions.
  • Baron Mordo appears as a playable character in the match-three mobile game Marvel Puzzle Quest.[50]
  • Baron Mordo appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.[51] This version resembles the Marvel Cinematic Universe version. After Kang the Conqueror steals various locations from across space and time to create Chronopolis, Mordo infiltrates the Sanctum Sanctorum to steal the Book of the Vishanti so he can absorb Chronopolis into the Dark Dimension. However, Doctor Strange, She-Hulk, and Spider-Man defeat Mordo and reclaim the book.[52]

References[]

  1. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 19. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  2. ^ "D23 Expo 2015: Marvel's 'Doctor Strange' Updates & More". Marvel Comics. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Doctor Strange 2: Chiwetel Ejiofor Confirms Return as Mordo". ScreenRant. June 25, 2020.
  4. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  5. ^ Strange Tales #115 (Dec. 1963)
  6. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-1465455505.
  7. ^ Strange Tales #111
  8. ^ Strange Tales #114
  9. ^ Strange Tales #115
  10. ^ Strange Tales #117
  11. ^ Strange Tales #121
  12. ^ Strange Tales #125
  13. ^ Strange Tales #130
  14. ^ Strange Tales #131
  15. ^ Strange Tales #132
  16. ^ Strange Tales #134
  17. ^ Strange Tales #135-136
  18. ^ Strange Tales #139
  19. ^ Strange Tales #141
  20. ^ Strange Tales #159-162
  21. ^ Marvel Feature #1
  22. ^ Marvel Premiere #13-14
  23. ^ Doctor Strange #10
  24. ^ Doctor Strange #40
  25. ^ Man-Thing Vol. 2 #4; Doctor Strange #41
  26. ^ Doctor Strange #49-50
  27. ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #5-8
  28. ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #22-23
  29. ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #48
  30. ^ Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #87 (March 1996)
  31. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #500
  32. ^ Hulk #10
  33. ^ X-Factor vol. 3 #203
  34. ^ Doctor Strange vol. 4 #11
  35. ^ Doctor Strange vol. 4 #12
  36. ^ Doctor Strange vol. 4 #13
  37. ^ Doctor Strange vol. 4 #15-16
  38. ^ Doctor Strange vol. 4 #21. Marvel Comics.
  39. ^ Doctor Strange vol. 4 #22-24. Marvel Comics.
  40. ^ Secret Wars 2099 #2
  41. ^ Secret Wars 2099 #5
  42. ^ "Spider-Man: The Animated Series (TV Series 1994–1998) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
  43. ^ "David Boat". IMDb.
  44. ^ "Miles From Home". Ultimate Spider-Man. Season 4. Episode 3. February 28, 2016. Disney XD.
  45. ^ "The Eye of Agamotto Pt. 1". Avengers Assemble. Season 4. Episode 15. January 7, 2018. Disney XD.
  46. ^ "Amazing Friends". The Futon Critic. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  47. ^ "Amazing Friends". Spider-Man. Season 3. Episode 2. May 17, 2020. Disney XD.
  48. ^ Strom, Marc (August 15, 2015). "D23 Expo 2015: Marvel's 'Doctor Strange' Updates & More". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  49. ^ "An Epic Quest Brings Doctor Strange to Marvel Future Fight," Marvel. Retrieved December 21, 2016
  50. ^ "Piecing Together Marvel Puzzle Quest: Mordo". News - Marvel.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  51. ^ "Characters". IGN Database. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  52. ^ "Rune to Maneuver". IGN Database. Retrieved 24 January 2018.

External links[]

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