[ad_1]
When Marvel and DC began experimenting with the multiverse again within the Nineteen Sixties, it didn’t take lengthy earlier than retaining observe of all these parallel realities obtained difficult. The answer? Give you names to determine every universe.
In DC Comics, the primary story takes place on Earth One, whereas Marvel in some way wound up calling its prime universe Earth-616. (This conference goes past comics; in Rick and Morty the primary plotline takes place in Dimension C-137).
Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is wading into the multiverse, it’s time to offer the MCU a numeric designation of its personal.
Luckily, Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity does simply that. Nevertheless, there’s a catch. Fortunately, we’re right here to clarify. (Gentle spoilers forward for Physician Unusual 2.)
Earth-616 in Marvel
As revealed in Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity, the universe the place the MCU’s story has taken place up to now is formally designed Earth-616. If that sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of we heard the identical quantity again in Spider-Man: Far From Dwelling, when Quentin Beck (aka, Mysterio) claimed to be a multiversal traveler. After all, Beck was a liar, so we assumed he was mendacity about Earth-616 too. Seems he was proper — or only a fortunate guesser.
However the origins of Earth-616 return a lot additional than the 2019 Spider-Man movie. In Marvel’s comics, the primary continuity has been referred to as Earth-616 for many years (what this implies for the excellence between comics and films stays unclear). Marvel editor Tom Brevoort tells Inverse the origins of the quantity will be traced again to an unlikely comedian.
Right here’s Brevoort (through electronic mail):
The mainstream Marvel universe was designated Earth-616 in, of all locations, a Captain Britain story revealed solely in the UK. In that storyline, Dave Thorpe had Captain Britain study that he was one in every of a myriad of various parallel champions who had taken up the position of Captain Britain throughout the multiverse, and who had been introduced collectively as a Captain Britain Corps for this explicit disaster. Dave designated our Captain Britain as coming from Earth-616 as a little bit of a tweak, it was based mostly on 666, the variety of the Beast, minus 50 as a pleasant spherical quantity. So it was a little bit of a joke, however comedian guide followers, significantly the Marvel ones in these days, had been fanatical about continuity, and so when Alan Moore continued to make use of the Earth-616 designation in his well-regarded Captain Britain tales with Alan Davis thereafter, followers took discover and commenced to make use of it themselves. It wouldn’t actually take root inside Marvel publishing normally till the mid-2000s, after which solely reluctantly.
So you may thank Captain Britain and Alan Moore (amongst others) for the arrival of the phrases “Earth-616” within the MCU. However what about a few of the different universes we’ve heard about in these films?
What’s Earth-838 in Marvel?
When Physician Unusual meets the Illuminati within the new film, it’s in an alternate actuality the place their Unusual was corrupted after utilizing darkish magic. Particularly, he’s in Earth-838 — not less than, that’s what the Illuminati say.
Sadly, if you happen to’re searching for extra data on Earth-838, you’re out of luck. This particular universe has by no means appeared in any Marvel story earlier than. A Google search turns up this Wiki web page, which is clearly marked as a “Momentary Actuality Quantity” for a “actuality with no official designation.” In different phrases, it’s only a coincidence.
Nevertheless, it’s in all probability value noting that when Mysterio confirmed up in Far From Dwelling, he claimed to return from Earth-833. It’s not 838, however it’s shut…
What about Earth-199999? Isn’t that the MCU?
Congrats, your stuff. Lengthy earlier than Physician Unusual 2 and Far From Dwelling, Marvel revealed a espresso desk guide in 2008 titled Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z, Vol. 5. Launched the identical 12 months as Iron Man, the guide formally designated the MCU as “Earth-199999.” For nearly twenty years, followers assumed this was the tip of the story. Till now.
If the MCU actually is Earth-616, which means Earth-199999 is nearly as good as useless. Then once more, was it ever actually canon within the first place? Sadly, we could by no means know.
Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity is in theaters now.
[ad_2]
Source link