We are just mere days away from the MCM, Marvel Cinematic Multiverse, receiving its first major showcasing on the cinema side of Marvel. It has previously been explored, albeit briefly, inLokiprior to a deeper exploration inWhat If…?. Remember, theComic Book 101series is for the casual viewer, someone who hasn’t grown up reading the comics, but more so a person who enjoys the incredible stories and overall charm of MCM. A ‘multiverse’ can be a scary concept if you are just a casual viewer. Don’t even get me started on theTransformersmultiverse (Shattered Glass).
Here is a word of advice: don’t let this concept bother you. You have probably already been introduced to it in the past. Have you seeSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? How about the originalX-MenorSpider-Mancartoon shows? Still no? Ok, how aboutX-Men: Days of Future Pastor evenBack to the Future?All of these films and shows explored a multiverse at one point or another. So, what exactly is the Marvel Multiverse?
The Multiverse is a concept that DC and Marvel both use. Each company uses a primary Earth or universe, as the host of the majority of their stories, leaving other stories to be explored in parallel universe’s, one-shot comics, or other concepts to enrich the lore and to keep things fresh. In DC, the main Earth is Earth Prime. Marvel, on the other hand, likes using numbers. The original Earth in Marvel is Earth-616.The current MCM just received the moniker Earth-616 after being recognized as Earth-199999 previously.Earth-199999 essentially was replaced officially by 616 last month.
So what exists in the multiverse? Well, if you can think of it, it exists. Does the Age of Apocalypse interest you? Earth-295 has your back. Fan of horror films? Earth-2149 is the home of the Marvel Zombies. Want to see Scarlet Witch at her most powerful while simultaneously being part of of the greatest Marvel stories ever told? Earth-58163 andHouse of Mis your cup of tea.Want to take a deeper dive into Thanos? Try Earth-18138, an unthinkable world where Thanos becomes The Punisher. The list goes on and on.
InSpider-Man: No Way Homewe will deal with a very cool aspect of the multiverse: a group outing from various previous film universes. Even if we don’t get Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield (a sad thought, but hey, there’s a universe where this possibility exists), we do know we are getting Green Goblin, Electro, Sandman, Lizard, and Doctor Octopus. If you add one more to that list, you have a very special desgination: The Sinister Six. This isn’t just any version the that super villain team though. This is a mixture of the team from those various film universes, or perhaps a Multiversal Six.
In my previous articles on theSpider-Manfranchise, I have made it clear that I expect this version of Dr. Strange to be a villain, or at the very least an anti-hero of sorts. I also expect that ultimately, Doctor Octopus will end up being a good guy. I’m not alone in this certianly, but just putting it out there as further complications of a multiverse. In the comics, the Sinister Six causes all sorts of fits for the titular hero. From kidnapping Aunt May or Mary Jane, to even having sixty six members at one point, the faction has seen different iterations, but of course Spider-Man always brings them down in the end.
I do want to add a new train of thought that I have not previosly discussed. In the trailer, we hear Dr. Strange say something to the effect of it being the fate of all of these villains to die fighting Spider-Man. If you haven’t seen the originalSpider Mantrilogy or the double feature ofAmaizng Spider-Manmovies, you need to know this to be a lie. This lie lends more creedence to the thought that this version of Dr. Strange could be a bad guy. Doctor Octopus, while possibly dying off-screen inSpider-Man 2, did not die. We know his story here picks up from the moment he was seen sinking to the bottom of the harbor after saving New York after his fusion creation went extremely wrong. At the very least, he had taken control of his robotic arms in the end and acknowledged to them that Peter was right, that catastrophe was on the horizon. He isn’t the only one that survived though: Lizard, Sandman, and possibly even Electro, all survived their battles with Spider-Man.
No matter what happens, the multiverse is about to open up fully and what better way to enjoy it than in a story with one of Marvel’s most beloved characters.Spider-Man: No Way Homehits theaters Thursday. Don’t be in the universe of spoiling the movie for others as it is sure to smash box office records this weekend and next. You do have some homework. Simply watchSpider-Man1 and 2, you’re able to thank me for not making you sit through the third installment though, and watchAmazing Spider-Man. Class dismissed.
