The 10 Most Important Magical Powers That Strange Academy Students Might Learn

A new school can be intimidating. You've got to get the lay of the land, figure out where all your classes are, and hope to avoid getting sucked in to the Dark Dimension. Thankfully, the staff at the new Strange Academy features top-notch talent who will make sure the kids are well-prepared.

Created by Skottie Young and Humberto Ramos, STRANGE ACADEMY brings together young sorcerers of the Marvel Universe in a learning environment overseen by Doctor Strange, Brother Voodoo, Scarlet Witch, the Ancient One, Magik, Hellstrom, and more. STRANGE ACADEMY #1 goes on sale Wednesday, March 4, so study up on ten of the most important skills the students could be learning to survive the supernatural.

Research

The least exciting skill learned at Strange Academy has to be proper research skills. Magic can be complicated and dangerous, so you have to know exactly what you're doing. Making sure to use the Book of Vishanti instead of the Darkhold is super important. Additionally, the more tomes you read, the more spells you learn, so hitting the books can be the difference between survival and horrible death.

Illusion

One of the primary tricks that a young sorcerer needs to learn is how to trick the eyes of those around them. That can come in the form of glimmers (making oneself look like another), invisibility, creating copies of oneself and generally making another see exactly what you want them to see, which can range from a monster to a mother. Strange has also used illusions to mask the true nature of his Sanctum Sanctorum.

Levitation

Doctor Strange, of course, has the Cloak of Levitation, but there are plenty of other ways to float around on a variety of planes. The skill comes in handy, not only for avoiding attacks, but also seeing potential problems from a variety of angles.

Astral Projection

When you absolutely, positively need to get somewhere quickly, the fastest way for a sorcerer to travel is astral projection. This skill allows the conjurer to separate their consciousness from their body and send it anywhere they like, making consultation and observation much easier.

Interdimensional Travel

The Earth has plenty of threats to it from all angles, but there are myriad other dimensions out there that need exploring or protecting. When astral projection just won't do and a physical presence is needed, students will need to find ways to make their way there.

Protection

Every spell-caster needs to be able to keep themselves safe as they traverse the wonderful world of wizardry. The simplest way to do that is to throw up a shield or bubble that will keep the conjurer and those around her or him out of harm's way at least for a few moments.

Binding

When facing a foe of any form, one finds oneself faced with a choice: capture, kill, or be defeated. Obliteration has all manner of repercussions, so binding an enemy becomes an important arrow in the quiver. Doctor Strange usually calls upon the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak or the Rings of Ragga-Dorr for this purpose, but plenty of other spells exist for the same purpose.

Self-Defense

Even as the Sorcerer Supreme, the Master of the Mystic arts, Doctor Stephen Strange has found himself unable to access his spells and up against a physical threat. That's when his own martial arts training kicks in. Though not directly tied to magic, the skill set still seems incredibly important for the students to learn.

Possession

Occasionally, a sorcerer will need to take on not just a new set of powers, but an entirely new being to achieve the task at hand. That can lead to one of two forms of possession, the conjurer taking over another body, or allowing another essence to move through them, like when Doctor Strange channeled Zom in an attempt to stop Hulk and his Warbound from killing their fellow heroes.

Paying the Cost

One of the most important lessons Doctor Strange and his staff need to convey to their students is the very simple but integral truth that magic always comes with a cost. The ability to play with the very forces of the universe is not free. Stephen has paid his dues by eating things that would make an angler fish cringe and absorbing any manner of monster into his own self. In exchange, he wields incredible power as the Master of the Mystic Arts. Though the students will not be working on quite that level, they will definitely need to understand the balance involved in conjuration.

When classes at Strange Academy commence – and STRANGE ACADEMY #1 hits comic shops – it’s easy to predict that these are just a few of the core classes that will be offered. But magic, as we know, can also be unpredictable…

STRANGE ACADEMY #1, written by Skottie Young with art by Humberto Ramos, goes on sale Wednesday, March 4. Pre-order your copy today online or at your local comic shop!