In the official trailer for the next Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we briefly catch a glimpse of a one-eyed, tentacled monster battling Doctor Strange.
Although it is referred to as 'Gargantos' on the LEGO toy packaging, based on its classic appearance and significance, it is highly likely to be Doctor Strange's classic adversary, the 'One-Eyed Alien' Shuma-Gorath. What kind of entity is Shuma-Gorath? Let's introduce it now.
▼ The LEGO themed set for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is very likely based on the scene pictured above; the set name is 'Gargantos Showdown'. According to foreign media reports, it is highly probable that due to copyright issues with the Cthulhu Mythos, Marvel was unable to use the name 'Shuma-Gorath' and therefore opted to use the name of another similar villain, 'Gargantos'.
Shuma-Gorath is a character co-created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Frank Brunner. It was first mentioned in Marvel's Journey into Mystery Vol. 2 #1, released in 1972, and officially debuted in Marvel Premiere #10, released in 1973.
▼ The cover of Marvel Premiere #10, released in 1973.
OriginShuma-Gorath is one of the 'Old Ones' in the Marvel Universe, an entity even more ancient than the universe itself where many well-known characters reside. Its appearance is that of a monster with numerous tentacles and a single giant eyeball. Not only is its creation entirely derived from the 'Cthulhu Mythos', but it is also considered by many within the Marvel Universe to be Cthulhu itself.
▼ Shuma-Gorath appears before the 'Invaders' and Nazi forces.
Shuma-Gorath claims to have 'existed before all things, and waited before time was born'. It has ruled countless dimensions and realms, governing Earth alongside other Old Ones for millions of years, preying on the ape-men of that era, until the immensely powerful 31st-century time-traveling sorcerer 'Sise-Neg', persuaded by Doctor Strange, drained its power and banished it from Earth's dimension.
▼ 'Sise-Neg' and Doctor Strange.
Later, around 20,000 BCE, it returned to rule Earth, only to be sealed within a mountain by the young Celtic deity Crom, using three of Shuma-Gorath's 'Iron-Bound Books'. These Iron-Bound Books were created through magic by Shuma-Gorath and other high-level demons to brainwash humans into using them, extending their influence over Earth, and are far more ancient than any books produced by human civilization.
▼ Shuma-Gorath's Iron-Bound Books
As a powerful magical entity, Shuma-Gorath is also in an irreconcilable state with the 'Vishanti', the trinity of beings who bestowed the title of 'Sorcerer Supreme' upon Doctor Strange. They are eternal arch-enemies, yet neither can destroy the other.
▼ The 'Vishanti' are a trinity of deities composed of (from left): Oshtur, Agamotto, and Hoggoth.
▼ In the fighting video game Marvel Super Heroes, released by CAPCOM in 1995, Shuma-Gorath appeared as a playable character. Shuma-Gorath has also been seen in many subsequent Marvel-themed fighting games released by CAPCOM.
AbilitiesShuma-Gorath, along with another Elder God of chaos, Chthon, is considered among the most powerful of the Old Ones, possessing unimaginably immense power, even believed to be omnipotent. It can traverse dimensions to control others, manipulate vast magical energies, terraform entire planets, possesses extremely durable skin, and can freely alter its manifested form.
Furthermore, Shuma-Gorath's true form exists in other dimensions, and each appearance on Earth is merely a small manifestation of its actual self. For a long time, no one has ever successfully killed its true form; they can only defeat its avatars or temporarily banish it from its current dimension.
▼ The Disney+ animated series What If...? has featured multiple appearances of what is suspected to be Shuma-Gorath.
Within its own dimension, Shuma-Gorath is virtually unbeatable, but its manifestations in other dimensions are weaker, and its size shrinks accordingly. Even so, a weaker version of Shuma-Gorath can still overpower other powerful demons like Mephisto.
▼ Shuma-Gorath as depicted by American comic master Alex Ross.
Notable Events
Caused the Death of the Ancient One In modern times, Doctor Strange once battled many powerful demons alongside the 'Ancient One', who was then the Sorcerer Supreme. However, Shuma-Gorath seized this opportunity, attempting to use the Ancient One's mind as a conduit to return to Earth's dimension. Doctor Strange consequently engaged in a fierce battle with Shuma-Gorath within his mentor's mind but was defeated. Ultimately, to prevent this powerful Old One from endangering reality, Doctor Strange was forced to slay his own master and inherit his responsibilities.
Nearly Killed Doctor Strange During a confrontation between Doctor Strange and an alien sorcerer, the barriers between dimensions were weakened, allowing Shuma-Gorath and other Old Ones to invade Earth. Doctor Strange, along with his grand-uncle Kaluu, confronted the invading forces, traveling to Shuma-Gorath's dimension, located a thousand dimensions away, for a direct confrontation. Simultaneously, they continuously siphoned Shuma-Gorath's power through the artifact 'Wings of Needless Sorrow'.
However, Shuma-Gorath's true form was the energy itself, and Doctor Strange's actions merely assimilated him with Shuma-Gorath. Their battle affected Earth, causing numerous disasters. Ultimately, the Doctor truly merged with Shuma-Gorath, but managed to retain some control and timely self-terminated, seemingly destroying the demon. Kaluu eventually brought Doctor Strange's soul back to Earth, cleansing the demonic contamination, but Shuma-Gorath resurrected itself within its own dimension.
Led to the Birth of the 'Cancerverse' Along with other Old Ones, Shuma-Gorath once corrupted the original Captain Marvel (Earth-10011), who was then dying in a sickbed in a parallel universe. This led him and other corrupted heroes to perform an evil ritual, eliminating death in that universe by killing the avatar of 'Death', one of the five cosmic entities, allowing the Old Ones to truly enter this 'Cancerverse'. Life there no longer died, becoming living corpses and servants of the Old Ones.
▼ The heroes of the 'Cancerverse' all became evil versions.
Ultimately, with the combined efforts of the Guardians of the Galaxy and others from the mainstream universe, along with Thanos, they successfully summoned 'Death' back into that world, eradicating all the living corpses.
By: Marsus