- "Why was that octopus trying to eat you?"
"That thing was trying to kidnap me. It's like a henchman who works for a demon. All we knew is that they wanted to take my power for themselves." - ―Doctor Strange and America Chavez[src]
The Chase of America Chavez was an attempt by Scarlet Witch to capture America Chavez and take her powers, by summoning inter-dimensional beings to fight on her behalf.
Background[]
Scarlet Witch reads the Darkhold
- "Although it does exist, the Book of Vishanti is said to be unreachable."
"It is, except... we reached it." - ―Wong and America Chavez[src]
Wanda Maximoff managed to defeat Agatha Harkness in Westview, and claimed the Darkhold for herself, liberating the Westview citizens from the spell she had used over the town and escaping.[3] Taking shelter at an isolated hideout, Maximoff began studying the Darkhold and discovered the alternate universes that existed within the Multiverse, where alternate versions of her had found peace with Tommy and Billy Maximoff. Maximoff sought the way to make her way into the universe where she had a happy life with her children, and learnt about America Chavez, a teenager with the ability to travel through the Multiverse. She decided not to go after Chavez herself and summoned various inter-dimensional creatures, sending them after her.[1]
Chase[]
Ribboned Creature's Attack[]
- "I'm so sorry. This is the only way."
"What are you doing?!"
"We can't let that thing take your power. You can't control it." - ―Doctor Strange and America Chavez[src]
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Doctor Strange decides to take America Chavez's powers
While being hunted by the creatures, America Chavez made contact with Doctor Strange, who thought that the Book of Vishanti might be the key to Chavez's safety. As Chavez and Strange arrived at Gap Junction where the book was hidden, they were suddenly attacked by the Ribboned Creature. Strange desperately attempted to cast a spell to contain the creature, but he soon realized he wouldn't be able to hold it for long, so he made the decision to take Chavez's powers, so the creature wouldn't get the chance. Chavez begged Strange to stop, as it would surely kill her, but Strange was certain that there was no other way and that her sacrifice would save countless lives. However, before this could happen, the creature landed a fatal strike on Strange and captured Chavez, who opened a portal out of fear. Before his death, Strange cut the creature's tentacle, which allowed Chavez to go through the portal and escape.[1]
Gargantos' Attack[]
Doctor Strange fights Gargantos
- "Look, I left a very nice wedding to save a smartass kid from getting eaten by an octopus."
- ―Doctor Strange to America Chavez[src]
America Chavez found herself arriving on Earth-616's New York City through the portal, where she was attacked by Gargantos, who started to cause havoc in the city while trying to get to her. Doctor Strange, present at Christine Palmer's wedding reception, decided to investigate and confronted Gargantos. He used a spell to make it visible and attacked it with a bus, while sending the Cloak of Levitation to get Chavez to safety. Gargantos attempted to throw a bus at Strange, who managed to cut it in half, but it used Strange's distraction to knock him into Jonas & James with its tentacle. Gargantos then chased Chavez through the streets, before it was attacked by Wong, armed with a sword and the Eldritch Whip. Despite his best efforts, Gargantos still managed to capture Wong and held him captive.
Gargantos is killed by Doctor Strange
While Strange was still unconscious, the Cloak of Levitation rescued Chavez and took her to safety, before Gargantos neutralized it. Strange then woke up and cut off Gargantos' tentacle, liberating Wong, and they both attacked Gargantos with the Eldritch Whips, while it tried to get to Chavez. Strange blasted Gargantos with a magic fire, but it still managed to grab Strange, intending to kill him, before Chavez succeeded in distracting it. Strange then summoned the Cloak to temporarily blind Gargantos and grabbed a nearby pole, gouging Gargantos' eye out with it and seemingly ending its life.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "This isn't sorcery."
"It's witchcraft."
"Do we know anyone who's faced such a thing?"
"I think I might." - ―Wong and Doctor Strange[src]
Once America Chavez was rescued, she tried to steal Doctor Strange's Sling Ring and run away with it, but Strange and Wong caught up to her easily. Chavez then revealed to them that she was being hunted by monsters who desired her Multiverse-travelling powers, so she and an alternate Doctor Strange had tried to get the Book of Vishanti to thwart them. Chavez then showed the alternate Strange's corpse to Strange and Wong as proof, the two then realized that the monsters were summoned with the witchcraft rather than sorcery.
Scarlet Witch demands America Chavez to be handed over
Strange decided to ask Wanda Maximoff for help to protect Chavez, but Maximoff accidentally revealed that she was the one who was hunting her. Maximoff then showed the Darkhold to Strange and told him that she needed Chavez's powers to reunite with her children. Although Strange tried to reason with Maximoff, saying that her children were never real and Chavez might die, Maximoff refused to listen. She gave Strange an ultimatum: he was to either hand Chavez over peacefully, or Maximoff would attack Kamar-Taj to take her by force.[1]