Wikipedia

Kamar-Taj

Kamar-Tajis a fictional location appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.It first appeared inStrange Tales#110 (July 1963) and was created byStan LeeandSteve Ditko.The name "Kamar-Taj" does not appear in early Lee/Ditko Doctor Strange stories, but was created later as the country's backstory was fleshed out.

Kamar-Taj
Kamar-Taj. Script by Denny O'Neil, art by Bill Everett.
First appearanceStrange Tales#110 (Jul 1963)
In-universe information
TypeSanctuary
CharactersAncient One
PublisherMarvel Comics
CreatorsStan Lee
Steve Ditko

Description

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In Marvel Comics, Kamar-Taj is "a hidden land high in theHimalayas"[1][2]and the homeland ofDoctor Strange's mentor, theAncient One,and of the evil sorcererKaluu.Strange's majordomoWongalso stems from a family of monks living in Kamar-Taj.[citation needed]

Over 500 years ago, the man who would one day become the Ancient One was born in Kamar-Taj. With his friend Kaluu, he discovered the power of magic but the two friends disagreed on how to use it to protect their village. Kaluu sought to conquer neighboring villages and build a large empire. The two cast a spell eliminating sickness, disease, and age from Kamar-Taj and shortly afterward Kaluu was crowned king by the villagers under Kaluu's mind-control spell. The Ancient One tried to stop Kaluu and in their battle, the village of Kamar-Taj was wiped out. Kaluu was banished to an alternate dimension. The Ancient One left Kamar-Taj and traveled the Earth for centuries, battling evil creatures, gaining theAmulet of Agamottoand theBook of the Vishanti.[volume & issue needed]

He finally settled down in the Himalayan Mountains near Kamar-Taj, building a palace as his home with an order of monks to protect and assist him. In a tournament organized by the sorcerer Aged Genghis, the Ancient One won the title of Earth'sSorcerer Supreme.He took a student, who would one day becomeMister Jip,but banned him from his home when he found out the student had been studying the forbidden books to increase his own power.[volume & issue needed]

Feeling himself getting older and weaker, the Ancient One set out to find a student. He taught such beings asDoctor DruidandBaron Mordobut found his true apprentice inStephen Strange,claiming that this boy would become the new Sorcerer Supreme. Mordo began to plot against Strange, though the Ancient One kept protecting him. Mordo soon left the palace and Stephen became the Ancient One's successor. The Ancient One would often assist Stephen, untilShuma-Gorathkilled the Ancient One's physical body.[volume & issue needed]

In other media

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Marvel Cinematic Universe

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  • In the live-action filmDoctor Strange(2016),Wongis depicted as one of the Masters of Mystic Arts, tasked with protecting some of Kamar-Taj's most valuable relics and books.[3][4]ActorBenedict Wongwas pleased with the changes made to the character, and described him as "a drill sergeant to Kamar-Taj" rather than a manservant, who does not practice martial arts in the film, another racial stereotype.[5]Co-writerC. Robert Cargillsaid that the location of Kamar-Taj was shifted fromTibettoNepalto prevent censorship by theChinese government.[6][7]In the film, inKathmandu,the sorcererKaeciliusand his followers enter the secret compound Kamar-Taj and murder its librarian. They steal a forbidden ritual from a book in the personal library of Ancient One, a sorcerer who has lived for an unknown time and taught all at Kamar-Taj, including Kaecilius, in the ways of the mystic arts.
  • In the live-action filmDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness(2022),[8][9]Wong takesAmerica Chavezto Kamar-Taj and the Masters of the Mystic Arts fortify the place in preparation forWanda Maximoff's assault with a magical shield and various other defenses. However, Maximoff's telepathy targets a sorcerer and disables their magic, causing the shield to collapse, and allowing her to destroy Kamar-Taj's resistance. In the end, after Maximoff's defeat, Kamar-Taj is rebuilt again, and Chavez begins her training in the mystic arts.

See also

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References

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  1. ^Lee, Stan; O'Neil, Denny (September 1966). "The Origin of the Ancient One!".Strange Tales(148 ed.). Marvel Comics Group. p. 2.
  2. ^Shayo, Lukas (April 16, 2023)."10 Marvel Cities That Make Great Vacation Spots".Comic Book Resources.Retrieved2024-02-01.
  3. ^Couto, Anthony (July 6, 2016).""Doctor Strange" Prequel Comic Hints At Movie Secrets, Introduces Another Marvel Villain ".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-07-21.RetrievedJuly 7,2016.
  4. ^Sciretta, Peter (September 27, 2016)."Kevin Feige On How 'Doctor Strange' Will Change The Marvel Universe [On Set Interview]"./Film.Archivedfrom the original on September 28, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 27,2016.
  5. ^Mellor, Louisa (June 27, 2016)."Exclusive: Benedict Wong on new direction of his Doctor Strange role".Den of Geek.Archivedfrom the original on June 28, 2016.RetrievedJune 27,2016.
  6. ^White, Mark D. (2018).Doctor Strange and Philosophy: The Other Book of Forbidden Knowledge.John Wiley & Sons. p. 83.ISBN978-1-119-43794-9.
  7. ^"'India's Rama takes on China's Dragon': Taiwan News' unique 'photo of the day'".Free Press Journal.17 June 2020.Retrieved18 June2020.Before that, China got Disney to drop Tibet from Doctor Strange's origin story and shifted Kamar Taj from Tibet to Nepal.
  8. ^McNary, Dave (December 11, 2018)."'Doctor Strange' Director Scott Derrickson to Return for Sequel ".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on December 12, 2018.RetrievedAugust 10,2019.
  9. ^McClintock, Pamela; Couch, Aaron (April 24, 2020)."'Spider-Man' Sequel Delays Release to November 2021 Amid Sony Date Shuffle ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on April 24, 2020.RetrievedApril 24,2020.

Further reading

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