Clea - Sorcerer Supreme of the Dark Dimension - Appreciation 2022

[Clea]

One of my favorite stories about Clea is "At the Bottom of My Garden," in Marvel Comics Presents #20. Clea wears the Flames of Regency and is now Ruler of the Dark Dimension. She is struggling to bring light and freedom to the worlds with the Dark Dimension but fears that eons of tyrannical rule by fear under Dormammu have left the peoples of the Dark Dimension unable to live in peace. The Flames of Regency act similarly to Sauron's Ring: they convey great power but relentlessly tempt Clea to turn to darkness and enforce her will on others. She refuses.


She takes a break to clear her head and while walking, comes across a portal to a part of the Dark Dimension that she's never seen. She forces the portal to open to her, only to encounter a monstrous being that Dormammu had set as a guard to prevent anyone, including himself, from accessing a treasure that Dormammu wanted to keep locked away from everyone. The monstrous guardian almost defeats her. The Flames of Regency begin to fade but then she remembers a spell to summon the Vishanti's deathless light that Stephen had taught her, and she defeats the creature, only to discover that the awful treasure that Dormammu had locked away. It was a single beautiful flower that radiated power and light. She takes the flower back to the throne with her.


Was the Dark Dimension once a place of joy and light before Dormammu and Umar arrived and began their reign of terror? Could Clea one day restore the power of Light to the Dark Dimension? It's an interesting thought.