In 2018, Marvel Comics published Infinity Wars, a 6-issue event that saw Gamora inadvertently use the Infinity Stones to create some mash-up characters such as Iron Hammer (Iron Man and Thor) and Soldier Supreme (Captain America and Doctor Strange). It was a crazy idea that made resulted in some great-looking character designs, but they ultimately stayed behind in their own Warp World when things returned to normal.
Infinity Wars certainly didn’t corner the market on character mash-ups. Donny Cates has made a living on them and the long-running What If…? comic series explored the idea often but the idea hasn’t really translated to the big screen. However, some newly located concept art from Avengers: Infinity War reveals that fans were almost introduced to Iron Strange in the 2018 film!
Found on Reddit, the concept art from Phil Saunders, who has worked on Marvel Studios from Iron Man through Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which was created for a scene that didn’t make the final cut of Avengers: Infinity War, explored the idea of Tony Stark using the Mark 50 suit to save Doctor Strange from his torture at the hands of Ebony Maw. However, according to Saunders, it wasn’t just as simple as Strange wearing the suit. Once covered in the Mark 50, Strange’s Eye of Agamotto became the power source for the suit, making it a true mash-up: Iron Strange!
One early script idea that didn’t make into the final movie was this hybrid of the Iron Man Mk 50 suit and Dr. Strange. This would have been for a scene in the Q ship when Tony and Spidey are trying to rescue Dr. Strange from Ebony Maw. To protect Strange from Maw’s magic needle torture, Tony transfers his suit onto him. I imagined the Eye of Agamotto would have taken the place of Tony’s RT and powered the suit, burning a sigil around it. Later in the scene Tony gets Strange’s cloak, leading to a bizarre team-up. Could have been cool, I don’t know why they cut it from the script.
Avengers: Infinity War Concept Artist Phil Saunders
The concept even goes so far as to show Strange’s signature energy projection coming from the suit! As Saunders points out, this would have made for a fascinating scene and one that would likely stand out in the minds of fans for its uniqueness. Perhaps there’s a chance for the concept to find new life down the road, perhaps in Avengers: Secret Wars, should Doctor Strange come across any multiversal Iron Men.
Sources: Phil Saunders Art Station, Reddit
