Doctor Strange is one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the Sorcerer Supreme and master of New York's Sanctum Sanctorum, he has access to all sorts of magic relics and artifacts. From the Eye of Agamotto to the Crimson Bands of Cytorrak, he has an impressive array of items he can utilize at his discretion. However, there is one relic in particular that has proven to be his most reliable source of protection. The cloak of levitation is, by far, is his most important asset, as it not only keeps him safe but also allows him to pull off feats such as flying.
Yet, despite its usefulness, the cloak was locked away in a glass case among many other relics for an unspecified amount of time. It wasn't until Doctor Strange when the titular sorcerer crashed into it during a fight with Kaecilius that the cloak made its way onto the scene. From that point on, the cloak has rarely ever been shown away from Strange, as it has "chosen" him as its master. While this introduction was a clever way of introducing the cloak, it does make one wonder why it was locked away in the first place. Perhaps a piece of its comic book lore could answer that.
The Cloak of Levitation's Comic Book Origins
The cloak of levitation has a bit of a mysterious background in the comics. After the first 17 issues of Doctor Strange’s original run went from giving him no cloak to a blue one, readers were introduced to the red cloak that is now synonymous with the character. It made its first appearance in the pages of Strange Tales #127. It was a gift to Doctor Strange from the Ancient One for successfully defeating the interdimensional being known as Dormammu.
The cloak's origins beyond that, however, are largely unknown, but there were brief hints that a powerful entity made it. According to Enitharmon the Weaver, an ancient lizard-like sorcerer who is also a skilled master weaver, the cloak of levitation was created by someone far greater than even him. While this is not much to go on, considering that Enitharmon’s abilities have rarely ever been explored, it does suggest that the cloak’s creator was extremely powerful.
The Doctor Strange's Cloak and Its Role in the MCU
The origins of the cloak in the MCU are currently even scarcer than those of its comic book counterpart. However, if those origins are anything like its inspiration, then it's probably connected to a very powerful entity. This may be the reason why the item was locked away in a glass case in Doctor Strange, as letting it get out could have had dangerous repercussions, especially with its "fickle" nature. While it is difficult to even guess at the source of its power given how little is known about the mystical entities of the MCU, the cloak's abilities should make it extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. This was likely even more of a concern before Strange's arrival, when not even the Ancient One seemed sure of the cloak's allegiances.
Of course, whatever the reason behind its lock-up, the cloak’s true nature appears to be far more peaceful than it is harmful. In fact, it only ever seems to physically harm those who threaten its “chosen” master. Even outside of that, it is shown helping those in need. This is particularly evident in the What If…? episode “What If... Zombies?!” where the cloak spends most of its time saving and protecting the team of survivors. What makes it noteworthy, though, is that it was established in this scenario that Doctor Strange was lost to the zombie virus. As such, it was acting under its own free will, and not solely out of loyalty to its master. This fact could hint at what is to come for the cloak somewhere down the line, and its visible desire to protect could be an integral element going forward.