by Why Doctor Strange Doesn’t Age (Even Though He’s Been Alive For Centuries)
In Marvel’s “What If…” Episode 4, why does Doctor Supreme remain the same age for centuries?Sorcerers like Stephen Strange and the Ancients are some of the most powerful characters in the MCU, as they can manipulate time, alter reality, and perform a variety of spells that make life difficult for near-invincible villains like Thanos. Magic can be a source of infinite power in the MCU, but it also has its drawbacks. In Doctor Strange, it is revealed that the Ancient One draws energy from the Dark Dimension to stay eternally young. Unlike Kaecilius, she appears to have control over her desire for eternal life, but the dangers of the Dark Dimension still threaten her. Fortunately for the MCU’s main universe, Doctor Strange sets aside his selfish tendencies and dedicates his life to protecting reality. In the process, he becomes wise and powerful enough to resist the lure of eternal life and prevent Dormammu’s Dark Dimension from invading his universe.
What if…Episode 4 shows how easy it would have been for Doctor Strange to follow in the footsteps of Kaecilius and the Ancient One, and the death of Christine Palmer leads Doctor Strange to seek a way to change the past. Strange’s determination turns into an unhealthy obsession, but rather than relying on the Dark Dimension, he goes a step further and searches for hidden knowledge in the Lost Library of Cagliostro. The immense power he draws from the creatures he absorbs to reverse Christine’s absolute timing seems to make him virtually invulnerable, and it is only when he sees his mentor Orben grow old that he realizes that centuries have passed.
If neither magic nor the Time Stone are the right path to immortality, how can MCU characters live for centuries without aging? The most obvious option is to be born with alien genes, since the Eternals and Asgardians have a natural lifespan of thousands of years. Another option is to remain at the End Age Citadel and the Time Variance Administration, where the Remainers and their staff seem to be immune to aging. However, Doctor Strange’s downfall in Marvel’s What If… Episode 4 is no reason to give up magic, since at least since the Salem Witch Trials, Agatha Harkness was able to age very slowly in order to steal powers from other witches.
