Unlocking the Infinite Possibilities: Reviving the Multiverse's True Potential

Marvel's achievement in creating a cinematic universe through interconnected origin stories and a blockbuster team-up initially broke new ground. However, the concept of intertwining comic book superheroes has since become imitated by others, resulting in the proliferation of multiverses. This overabundance of interconnected universes has even begun to wear thin on die-hard fans.

The concept of parallel universes coexisting alongside our own can be traced back to Ancient Greece. The term "multiverse" was first coined by William James, but it described the unpredictability and moral ambiguity of nature. The use of the multiverse in fiction is credited to comic books, with DC's 1961 release of "Flash of Two Worlds" establishing the concept as it is widely portrayed in superhero media today.

Every Superhero Franchise Using The Multiverse

After the conclusion of the beloved Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the franchise embarked on the Multiverse Saga. While the concept of a multiverse existed throughout the entire timeline of the MCU, it was formally introduced in the Loki series. Sylvie's defeat of He Who Remains caused alternate timelines to emerge, opening up endless possibilities for new stories and characters. The What If series explored a number of theoretical alternate realities, while Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness took audiences on a journey to various new Earths alongside the former Sorcerer Supreme and America Chavez. Spider-Man: No Way Home delivered what fans desired the most – a collaboration between all the live-action cinematic portrayals of Peter Parker, including the highly anticipated return of Patrick Stewart as Professor X.

In contrast, the DCEU has been less structured in its utilization of the multiverse concept. The idea was not prominently featured in their films until The Flash, primarily because of the extensive history of DC Comics characters appearing on television and in movies. Currently, there are three distinct versions of the Joker on the big screen, each existing independently. The DCEU has long teased the return of a beloved Batman actor, with Michael Keaton slated to reprise his role for Batgirl until the project's cancellation caused a delay. The Flash has now solidified the concept of the multiverse within the DCEU, presenting a playful slideshow showcasing various DC properties, prominently featuring Keaton's Batman. Blatantly utilizing CGI recreations of deceased actors, the film shamelessly incorporates callbacks designed to evoke recognition and nostalgia among the audience.

Why Are Fans Getting Sick of the Multiverse?

Both major superhero franchises have embraced the concept of the multiverse, but only one series took the initiative. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse burst onto the scene and introduced the multiverse in a single, captivating film that also delivered an incredible personal narrative. Its sequel, Across the Spider-Verse, is a remarkable achievement that skillfully interconnects various franchises to create yet another flawless storyline. Instead of merely using the multiverse as a means to build up to something or expand an infinite empire, the Spider-Verse films are trailblazing narratives that utilize this concept just like any other storytelling tool. This brings the count of cinematic multiverses within the superhero genre to three, each with drastically different outcomes.

There are significant disparities between the beloved multiverse that captures everyone's admiration and the tiresome duplicates that people are growing weary of. Spider-Verse perceives the multiverse as an expansive realm of infinite potential. It subtly integrates numerous nostalgic allusions and references without making them the central focus. On the other hand, Marvel and DC treat their multiverses as treasure troves, utilizing them to resurrect past performers, characters, and storylines in hopes of appealing to an audience driven by nostalgia. This approach is evident and represents a grave misinterpretation of the original comic book concept in the history of cinema. The multiverse, originally intended as a catalyst for writers and artists to create unrestrictedly, has been repurposed simply to recycle and exploit already exhausted ideas on the big screen. It stands as the ultimate representation of the lack of creativity among those who possess popular intellectual properties, such as Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, and other major studios. This immense power to do anything has become their excuse for doing nothing new or innovative. Instead, they persist in resurrecting characters and real individuals from the past solely to capitalize on the dwindling nostalgia.

The multiverse has the potential to foster creativity, but unfortunately, studios have abused it as a convenient way to revive old content. Fans are not tired of the concept itself, but rather, they are fatigued by the excessive reliance on material from four decades ago in the most expensive entertainment projects on the planet. The multiverse holds endless possibilities for new ideas and has the power to sustain major superhero franchises for years to come. However, its success depends on the creative minds behind it.