The Rains of Raggadorr

Classification: Extradimensional meteorological event

Creator: Raggadorr

User/Possessors: Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange)
    possibly Baron (Karl) Mordo

First Appearance: Marvel Premiere I#5 (November, 1972)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Rains have cleansing effects, removing some curses and their consequences. They seem particularly effective against leeching/draining origins.

    The Rains could have other life-favoring functions (see comments).

History:

(Marvel Premiere I#5) - When he investigated in Starkesboro, Doctor Strange had to fight Ebora and Sligguth. The green-scaled demon managed to infect him with a curse: the curse of the fiends of the Fungol Thopa. Fungus spots formed upon Strange's body, draining his very life. Strange conjured the Rains of Raggadorr, the rich waters of which washed away the Fungus and its effects.

Comments: Created by Gardner Fox and Irv Wesley

    The Manual of Magic (TSR6870) suggested that the Rains coming from the dimension of Raggadorr may be powerful enough to support life without any other need of sustenance; the Rains might also grant good health and increased longevity to its inhabitants. The hypothesis took into consideration that Kaluu aged very slowly in the 500 years he lived in the Raggadorr's dimension.

    Dr. Strange conjured the Rains while other spells were already in action: the Flames of the Faltine and the Crystals of Cyttorak. It is rare to see two enchantments contemporaneously maintained by the same caster. In those cases, it is likely that one of the spells did nott actually need concentration to go on, and that it would fade after some time. The Flames hit for at least some seconds. Strange also mentioned "the sacred fires." However, tiny sparks burned Sligguth's hide after the Crystals hit him. The motes kept on burning even after the Rains of Raggadorr started falling. The origins of the "sacred fires" or the "energy motes" is unclear:

• They could be caused by the interaction between the Rains and one of the two previous spells.
  
• It could be an ongoing effect of the Crystals of Cyttorak.
• Fires and flames are quite the same thing, nonetheless "sacred" and "Faltine" have almost opposite meanings.
  
• They could be "fires" from the sky, i.e. lightning bolts from the same clouds that produced the Rains. Still, in Strange Tales I#150, Kaluu claimed that a spell learned in Raggadorr's dimension could destroy even a magic shield cast by the Ancient One.
  
• Kaluu shot a Mystic Bolt. It is unrevealed if the Mystic Bolts are the bolts produced by the same clouds that births the Rains of Raggadorr.

Profile by Spidermay

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Rains of Raggadorr have no known connection to:

• Bromagdon's Ruby Rain - spell that burns the mind and melts the flesh, used by Xander--Doctor Strange II#19
  
• the Rains of Castamere - a song, popular in another universe--A Game of Thrones TV series.
• any other "Rain" characters/spells.

The Rains of Raggadorr (magic spell)

    Given the almost-miraculous effects of the Rains, it's easy to consider the Rains of Raggadorr as a spell itself.

    Their power can be recalled outside the Raggadorr dimension through Conjuration spells. In that case, the caster needs only few seconds to enact the enchantment. The Rains have been seen appearing in a point chosen by the magic-user, not far than 30 feet and with an area of effect not wider than 10 feet of diameter. The spell and the Rains keep on pouring if the caster keeps on concentrating.

--Marvel Premiere I#5

The Mists of Ragador

    In the Hyborian Era, the Mists of Ragador were used by Renrutanit the witch, to make a truth serum, to learn from Keiv about Conan.

--Conan the Barbarian I#180

Note: Given the wondrous qualities of the Rains, it isn't impossible that other meteorological events in Raggadorr's dimension would have other extraordinary qualities as well. On Earth, the mist is rich with water, while the rain is made of water. The equivalent of water in the Raggadorr Dimension has probably more qualities than Earth's water.

     As the mystic principalities are ancient, generally older than Earth, there's no reason they could not be referenced circa 10,000 B.C. It is a little atypical to reference such beings in the Conan comics, but we definitely see some crossover from the mainstream Marvel Comics/Modern era into the Conan comics, including beings like Shuma-Gorath and Varnae.
    --Snood

CLARIFICATIONS:

• the Mists of Munnoprr, surrounding the sentient world of Munnopor, and also the name of a spell--Strange Tales I#120/2
• the Mists of Hoggoth, spell used to travel to Nightmare's world--Strange Tales#116/2
• the Mists of Maalock, used by Joshua Kale to transport Man-Thing to Sandt--Adventures into Fear#14
  
• the Mists of Morpheus, another spell, with calming effects--Doctor Strange II#47
  
• the Mists of Valtorr, spell used for concealment--Avenging Spider-Man#8 (fb)
  
• the mists of Madness, unrevealed event, which were referred to by an exclamation of Doctor Strange--Doctor Strange II#53
  
• any other "Mist" characters/spells.

Appearances:
Conan the Barbarian I#180 (March, 1986) - Jim Owsley (writer), John Buscema (pencils), Bob Camp (inks), George Roussos (chine), Larry Hama and Jim Shooter (editors)

The Rains of Raggadorr in other realities

Earth-Doctor Strange: Dimension War

(Doctor Strange: Dimension War - Novel ~ Strange Tales I#126/2) - In an alternate reality, very similar to Earth-616, Doctor Strange also became a Master of Mystic Arts and journeyed to the Dark Dimension. As happened to his 616 counterpart, he was attacked by a golden Golem capable of absorbing the spell cast at it, becoming more powerful.

    Differently from what happened in the 616 reality, however, Strange found the solution into the Rains of Raggadorr. He conjured them, made them pour on the Golem, and had them wash out all the magic within it. Deprived of its magic nourishment, the Golem's height decreased at less than one foot and it was easily crushed by Strange.

Comments: In Reality-616, in Strange Tales I#126,  when Doctor Strange confronted the Golden Golem, he used "the strongest spell of all...", which was not named, but had been suggested by Oshtur (behind-the-scenes? by Divination?). Strange shot a magic wavering beam not different from the previous ones used in the fight. The effect was similar to that in the Dimension War reality, because the Golem shrunk to annihilation. It is unlikely that Strange used the Rains of Raggadorr.
    The images on the right are from the Strange Tales story.

Earth-92131

(Spider-Man: The Animated Series - Season#3, Episode#1) - In the alternate reality Earth-92131, the Rains of Raggadorr were a bit different. Mordo summoned them to attack Doctor Strange.
The verbal component of the spell was: "I call down the Rain of Raggadorr".

The Rains seemed like golden drops falling in a very limited area of effect (5 feet), ignoring the other enemies nearby. The Master of Mystic Arts protected himself simply using his cloak to cover himself.

Meanwhile, Mordo was able to attack by eldritch blasts. However, when Strange summoned the Rings of Raggador as a barrier, the Rain bounced back, hitting the ceiling, smashing it quite easily.

Images: (without ads)
Marvel Premiere I#5, page 7, panel 2 (the Rains free Dr. Strange from the curse)
Strange Tales I#126/2, page 5 panel 8+page 6, panel 1 (Dr. Strange battling the golden Golem, without the Rains)
Spider-Man: The Animated Series - Season#3, Episode#1, minute 15:00 - 15:15 (the Rains conjured by Mordo, falling on Strange)

Appearances:
Marvel Premiere I#5 (November, 1972) - Gardner Fox (writer), Irv Wesley (pencils), Don Perlin (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic/Octessence Profile (2007) - David Sexton, Jeff Christiansen (head writers/coordinators), Madison Carter, Michael Hoskin, Eric J. Moreels, Ronald Byrd, Chad Anderson, Al Sjoerdsma, Mark O'English, Chris Biggs, Stuart Vandal (writers), Jeff Youngquist, Jennifer Grunwald (editors)

Mentions:
MHAC 9 - Realms of Magic, Book 1 and 2 - TSR (before August, 1986) - Kim Eastland (designer), Ed Sollers (editor)

Appearances in other realities:
Spider-Man: The Animated Series - Season#3, Episode#1 (April, 1996) - John Semper, Jr. & Mark Hoffmeier (writers), John Vernon (Doctor Strange's voice), C.K. Horness (editor)
Doctor Strange: Dimension War - Titan Books (2024) - James Lovegrove (writer)

First mentioned in Raggadorr's profile: 05/31/2011
First Posted as a main profile: 03/22/2024
Last Updated: 03/22/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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