Dormammu is an inter-dimensional entity that rules over the Dark Dimension and is often an antagonist for Doctor Strange. He is a master of dark arts who can teleport through dimensions, manipulate mystical energy, possess people, and travel through time.

Dormammu debuted 60 years ago in Strange Tales #126 (November 1964) as a creation of Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Karl Mordo who was a senior apprentice working for the Ancient One, was secretly acting in Dormammu’s service. Mordo tried to progressively weaken the Ancient One so that Dormammu could rule over Earth, but when Doctor Strange found out he alerted the Ancient One.

When he made a second attempt to conquer our universe, Doctor Strange went to the Dark Dimension to stop him. After Strange bested Dormammu’s underlings, the two engaged in a mystic fight that drew on the realm’s energies, inadvertently freeing the Mindless Ones. Recognizing the greater threat, Strange helped Dormammu trap the horde by filtering some of his power into the villain. After resolving that problem, Dormammu agreed to a binding vow that he would never enter the Earth realm again.

Humiliated by the fact that he needed Doctor Strange’s help, Dormammu came to hate the sorcerer. Since he couldn’t reenter our realm, he gave Mordo more power, who then led Dormammu’s minions in a battle against Doctor Strange. Clea, Dormammu’s niece, helped Strange to weaken the barrier to the Mindless Ones so that Dormammu would have to divert his focus.

Then the entity summoned Strange, Clea, and other Lords of the Netherworlds to a neutral location where he challenged Strange to a hand to hand fight. Dormammu assumed his superior physical strength would win the fight, but Strange beat him again, this time with his martial arts abilities. Strange made Dormammu vow not to attack Earth by using others, and the embarrassed and enraged entity got another lord to attack Strange.