WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Savage Avengers #12 by Gerry Duggan, Adam Gorham, Java Tartaglia, and Travis Lanham, on sale now.
With Kulan Gath's return imminent, Doctor Strange has been preparing for the big confrontation. But considering that the last time he encountered Gath, he nearly killed Doctor Strange, Conan, and Doctor Doom, it became apparent to Strange that he would need to up his game if he wanted a chance at surviving and eventually defeating him.
In Savage Avengers #12, he and Elektra travel to both the Swamps of Ogun and to South America to bring the Savage Avengers together for the fight with Gath. But among their numbers are an old enemy of Gath's and a friend to Doctor Strange in the New Mutant, Magik.
Magik's connection to Kulan Gath is one that goes back years, but one that may be the key to stopping him. In Savage Avengers #0, Doctor Strange arrives on Krakoa, then promptly begins floating to not break its human ban. Strange was on Krakoa to recruit Magik, the one person whose power was strong enough to undo Kulan Gath's dark spells. When she arrived to greet him, Strange only needed to remind her of the time Gath cast a spell over the city of New York, transforming it and everyone living there into a fantasy world. Magik was among those affected, but unlike the others, her innate mystical power acted as something of a counter to Gath's magic, being able to break through it and help end his plan.
After being freed from his imprisonment at Kulan Gath's hands, Doctor Strange accepted that he was not strong enough to undo Gath's spell, but realized he could stop Gath with Magik's help. Explaining that her power tied into the flow of time itself, Strange combined his knowledge with her power to reverse the flow of time back to the point just before the spell was cast. It undid the damage but left Gath alive. This lead Doctor Strange to begin a mentor-like relationship with Magik. While acknowledging that her magical talents could flourish under his tutelage, he was wise enough to see that what Magik needed wasn't an exploration of her power, but rather of herself. Strange determined that Magik would be better served staying with the X-Men as they could provide her with a home and love.
The two still kept in touch, and Magik was not at all surprised to see Doctor Strange and readily agreed to join him in his fight with Kulan Gath. She even drew her sword, seeming to relish the chance to fight him again. She would keep her word, as she joins the Savage Avengers that Strange put together at the end of issue #12.
In the past, Strange was only able to undo Kulan Gath's spell with the aid of Magik. This makes her the perfect antithesis to Gath, able to break his smaller scale spells and reverse the direction of time in the event he pulls something more large scale. Should he attempt to do this again, Doctor Strange, Magik, and the other Savage Avengers will be more than ready this time.