What Dimensions Were Shown In Multiverse Of Madness, And Do Any Of Them Hint At Something Bigger?
Not content with just introducing a new race or a new country to the MCU, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness introduced a swath of new universes (or dimensions…more on that later).
Some of these might just be flavour or Easter eggs for the fans, but long-time MCU fans know that nothing Kevin Feige and Co. do is ever done by accident. With that in mind, let’s look at the universes we see in MoM, and what they could mean for the MCU going forward.
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Universe 1 – Defenders
Okay, I’m starting with one that is a technicality. The film opens with Stephen in an outfit reminiscent of his Defenders garb (including obligatory ponytail). While we don’t see this universe itself, it’s exciting to think there’s potential for that universe and for Morgan Le Fay to make an appearance.
Universe 2 – Earth 616
Do I really need to explain this one? It’s been over a decade since an arrogant billionaire took some shrapnel to the chest, and now we are battling alien races through time and space.
Universe 3 – The Living Tribunal
The first universe we see on our magical mystery tour appears to be the space where the Living Tribunal exists. This all powerful being is the Arbiter, Judge, and Overseer of all realities in the comics – so it would make sense that he has an interest in this unique being, who can break the laws of his domain. Fun fact: The Staff of the Living Tribunal actually appeared in the first Doctor Strange film, wielded by Mordo during training.
Universe 4 – Space – Nexus – Singularity
This is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it universe, which mostly just looks like space. But with the arrival of Kang and his converging timelines, as well as a possible Nexus of all realities, these space lanes joining could be a hint at one of these.
Universe 5 – Smoke and Fire
Another flash of a dimension. Hard to tell what this one is other than fiery, smoky, and rocky. We’ve already seen Musphelheim, so unlikely to be that, but there are plenty of fire-based villains out there who could emerge from these pits.
Universe 6 – Crystals
This one feels like a beautiful juxtaposition from fiery hard rocks to beautiful delicate ice crystals. Quite generic and hard to place from anything in the existing MCU.
Universe 7 – A Bugs Life
Everyone’s favorite: giant insects. First thing that came to my mind was this could be Annihilus army released from the Negative zone and wreaking havoc on an unsuspecting world. Where there’s a Reed Richards, there’s a Negative Zone, and where there’s a Negative Zone…
Universe 8 – Under the Sea
Our first more realistic arrival. Could this be a world where Namor or one of his villains has taken over the Earth? We know he is coming in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, so this would be a nice nod to his potential power.
Universe 9 – Grindhouse
The only distinguishing feature here is the “Grindhouse Releasing” taxi sign. So would that make it the Robert Rodriguez Universe? A terrifying and exciting thought. To me though, something about the softness and color palette reminds me of the Sam Raimi Spider-Man Films. So that’s my head canon.
Universe 10 – Tubes
Clean lines, tubes, and hover vehicles. Pretty vague – but could this be the home of the Mutants’ Utopia? We can’t see the ground so it could be just a giant asteroid, right?
Universe 11 – Fire and Bones
Another fire type to contend with. Definitely has a land-of-the-dead/Hell vibe, what with the rivers of fire and the piles of bones. Perhaps a home for Mephisto? He has been known for having a flair for the theatrical. Please see his tower of the dead in the middle of Las Vegas.
Universe 12 – Dinosaurs
Savage Land! Please, please, please let this be the Savage Land!
Universe 13 – ‘60s
This is a nice nod back to the roots of comic books. Very ‘60s, simple, and almost cell shaded. If we pan out, we might even see Spider-Man sitting at a desk with a picture of himself on the wall.
Universe 14 – Green Glow
While this could be another generic “apocalypse,” the glowing green in the background and the baroque violin make me think that this is the universe of The Maestro. We’ve had Hulk, Smart Hulk, and De-Powered Hulk. Why not The Maestro?
Universe 15 – Cubism
Honestly? No Idea. I could make up something about perhaps a fractured universe, or one that is built up from a fluctuating reality. But honestly? I think it’s just a cool visual.
Universe 16 – Painterly
Please see above. But wetter.
Universe 17 – Noir
Zeppelins? Check. Sepia tint? Check. Maniacal high-pitched sinister laugh? Check.
It’s got to be the Noir universe. While most recently in Into the Spiderverse, we got to meet Spider-Man Noir (perfectly cast as Nic Cage). In the comic books we have seen multiple characters given this treatment. Definitely a fertile ground for some expansion.
Universe 18 – Ziggurats
Strange one this is (see what I did there?). It looks almost like a mash up of sci-fi and ancient Babylon with its architecture and color scheme. Despite being such an ancient city, Babylon and ancient Mesopotamia have played a surprisingly large part in Marvel comics. Kang did some training, Doctor Strange and the Ancient One have popped in for a fight, and even a time-travelling Steve Rogers turned up for a while. Oh, and perhaps it’s a pipe dream, but in the Blade series, Dagon - the father of vampirism - calls Babylon his home. Isn’t Blade coming back?
Universe 19 – Nueva York
A dark, moody-neon futuristic landscape screams Spider-Man 2099. We got a cameo of Miguel O’Hara at the end of Into the Spiderverse, so there is a precedent we could be seeing his hometown.
Universe 20 – New Nueva York
This one flew past too quickly to see, even during a rewatch, so I’m going to guess this one is Nueva York with the lights on?
If pressed, though, this looks too clean and perfect to have anything to do with humans. Perhaps it’s a universe where Ultron won, and this is his perfect Utopia.
Universe 21 – More Fire…really?
Ok Sam. We get it. You like fire. This is the universe where Sam got revenge on the studios for Ash vs Evil Dead getting canceled.
Universe 22 – Earth 838 (Illuminati)
Phew. One we get more time in. This universe is quite similar to Steven’s home one – only he’s dead. We meet the Illuminati, who seem to fulfil the role of the Avengers here. But there are also Ultron bots. So, who built them? Definitely a universe that has unanswered questions and worth a revisit.
Universe 23 –The Home of the Book of the Vishanti: The Gap Junction
This one is actively explained in the film. This is The Gap, which is between all other realities and one which the Vishanti uses as a library.
Universe 24 – A Strange Turn
This film is the first to feature the term “Incursions,” which comic book fans know were a big deal a few years back. Essentially you are playing conkers with two universes, and there’s only one way this can end. So, if Earth 838 survived their incursion, perhaps this was the loser. Wracked with guilt, the only survivor blames himself, and since then has gone a little…off.
Not a lot to come back to here thanks to an orchestral push out a window and a sharp crescendo.
Universe 25 – America’s Home Dimension
America Chavez is from the Utopian Parallel, and there’s nothing to suggest that this isn’t the case here. A dimension existing outside of conventional time and space, this makes sense and would explain how America has her unique powerset and ability. This could definitely come back in future films or series as we explore America’s past and powers.
Universe 26 – Dark Dimension
Ok I started with a cheat, so I thought I should end with one too.
While we have seen the Dark Dimension before, the mid-credit sequence shows Clea (traditionally the Sorcerer Supreme of the Dark Dimension) appears from a riff in the universe, showing the dark Dimension behind her – and looking for Strange. This absolutely will be explored going forward – and hopefully with a happy ending for our Doc.
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