Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== Crisis on Infinite Earths: A Marvel Multiversal Perspective ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity:** **While famously the title of a universe-redefining 1985 event from DC Comics, within the context of the Marvel Multiverse, the concept of a "Crisis on Infinite Earths" refers to any catastrophic, reality-ending event characterized by the collision and annihilation of entire universes, most notably the phenomenon known as an Incursion.** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** The concept represents the ultimate existential threat to the Marvel Multiverse. Unlike singular villains who threaten a planet or galaxy, a multiversal crisis threatens all of existence, everywhere, all at once. It is the framework for Marvel's most epic and consequential storylines, such as the 2015 [[secret_wars|Secret Wars]]. * **Primary Impact:** Events analogous to a "Crisis" have resulted in the complete destruction and subsequent rebirth of the entire Marvel Multiverse. This has led to fundamental shifts in the cosmic hierarchy, the merging of characters from alternate realities into the prime universe (like [[miles_morales]]), and the establishment of new cosmic laws. * **Key Incarnations:** In the comics ([[earth-616]]), the ultimate crisis was the "Great Collapse" caused by Incursions, a chain reaction of universes colliding and destroying one another. In the [[marvel_cinematic_universe|Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)]], a similar large-scale crisis is being established as the "Multiversal War," a conflict orchestrated by variants of [[kang_the_conqueror]] that threatens to unravel the fabric of all timelines. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== The term "Crisis on Infinite Earths" is inextricably linked to the 12-issue limited series published by DC Comics from 1985 to 1986. Written by Marv Wolfman and penciled by George Pérez, it was a landmark event designed to simplify DC's convoluted 50-year continuity by destroying their multiverse and merging all characters onto a single Earth. Its massive scale, high stakes, and lasting consequences set a new standard for comic book "event" storytelling. For Marvel Comics, the mid-1980s was also a period of universe-wide storytelling innovation. While DC was preparing its //Crisis//, Marvel launched its own first-ever company-wide crossover event, [[secret_wars|Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars]] (1984-1985), written by Jim Shooter with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton. Though different in premise—heroes and villains transported to a "Battleworld" by the cosmic entity known as the [[beyonder]]—//Secret Wars// shared the revolutionary ambition of bringing together nearly every major character in a single, high-stakes narrative. Crucially, while DC's //Crisis// was about //reducing// complexity, Marvel's stories of this era often embraced and expanded it. The long-running [[captain_britain]] mythos, primarily written by Dave Thorpe, Alan Moore, and later Chris Claremont, was deeply exploring the Marvel Multiverse through concepts like the Captain Britain Corps, a legion of protectors from countless alternate Earths. Therefore, while Marvel has never published an event titled "Crisis on Infinite Earths," the influence of its DC counterpart is undeniable. It created a reader appetite for epic, continuity-altering events. In response, Marvel would eventually create its own, even more complex multiversal collapse storyline, culminating in the 2015 //Secret Wars//, which serves as Marvel's true spiritual and functional analogue to DC's seminal work. ==== In-Universe Origin of Multiversal Crises ==== The idea of a threat that could unravel all reality is not new to the Marvel Universe. Cosmic entities like [[eternity]], the [[living_tribunal]], and the world-devouring [[galactus]] have long represented threats on a scale beyond mortal comprehension. However, the specific concept of universes ending each other in a domino-like cascade has a more recent and specific origin. === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === The most direct Marvel parallel to a "Crisis on Infinite Earths" is the multiversal collapse detailed in Jonathan Hickman's epic run on //Avengers// and //New Avengers// from 2012 to 2015. This storyline, often called the "Incursion Saga," established the definitive origin of Marvel's multiversal death. The origin was revealed to be a cosmic cataclysm. A mysterious, impossibly powerful race of beings from beyond the multiverse, known as the [[beyonders|Beyonders]], conducted an experiment: they killed the [[living_tribunal]], the ultimate arbiter and guardian of the Multiverse. With the Living Tribunal dead, the cosmic laws began to fray. The primary consequence was the premature death of the Multiverse itself. This decay manifested as **Incursions**. An Incursion is a six-hour event where two Earths from two different universes are drawn into the same physical space. During this period, both universes are visible in the sky of the other. At the end of the six hours, if one of the Earths is not destroyed, both universes are annihilated completely. This created an impossible, horrifying choice for the heroes of any given Earth: commit genocide by destroying another world, or allow your entire reality to be erased. The first Incursion witnessed by Earth-616's heroes involved an encounter with a mysterious being named Black Swan, who destroyed the alternate Earth. She warned [[the_illuminati]]—a secret cabal of Marvel's most intelligent heroes including [[reed_richards]], [[iron_man|Tony Stark]], [[doctor_strange]], [[black_panther|T'Challa]], [[namor]], and [[black_bolt]]—that this was the beginning of the end. The cause was a contraction of multiversal time; the birth of the Multiverse was a "Big Bang," and its end would be a "Big Crunch," but this was happening trillions of years too soon. This was the "Great Collapse," and the Incursions were its symptoms. This slow, agonizing death of everything, universe by universe, was Marvel's ultimate "Crisis." === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === The MCU introduced its Multiverse more gradually, but the seeds of its own "Crisis" were sown explicitly in the Disney+ series //[[loki_series|Loki]]// (2021). Here, the origin of the crisis is not a natural decay but a man-made one. It was revealed that in the distant future, a 31st-century scientist variant of a man named Nathaniel Richards discovered the existence of alternate universes. While some of his variants were peaceful explorers, many were conquerors, leading to an all-out **Multiversal War**. Variants of this man, each known as [[kang_the_conqueror|Kang]], used their advanced technology to battle across timelines, seeking total dominion over the Multiverse. This war was so destructive it threatened to annihilate all of reality. To stop the war, one variant, "He Who Remains," weaponized a creature called Alioth that could consume time and space. He used it to end the war by isolating a single cluster of timelines, pruning all others, and creating the "Sacred Timeline." He then established the [[time_variance_authority|Time Variance Authority (TVA)]] to manage this timeline and prevent any branches ("Nexus Events") that could lead to the birth of new Kang variants and another war. The "Crisis" in the MCU began the moment Sylvie, a variant of Loki, killed He Who Remains. His death shattered the Sacred Timeline, allowing the multiverse to branch uncontrollably. This act, while freeing the timeline from his control, also unleashed all of his warlike variants back into existence, effectively restarting the Multiversal War that he had fought so hard to prevent. The MCU's version of a "Crisis" is this inevitable, universe-spanning conflict among the Kangs, a concept further reinforced in //[[ant-man_and_the_wasp_quantumania|Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania]]// and the introduction of Incursions in //[[doctor_strange_in_the_multiverse_of_madness|Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness]]//. ===== Part 3: Timeline, Key Concepts & Aftermath ===== === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === The anatomy of Marvel's "Crisis" is a complex tapestry of cosmic concepts, impossible moral choices, and universe-shattering technology. ==== Key Concepts ==== * **Incursions:** The core mechanic of the multiversal collapse. An Incursion Point would appear over an Earth, linking it to another Earth for a short duration. The only way to save one's own universe was to destroy the other Earth, a choice that broke many of Marvel's greatest heroes. * **The Illuminati:** This secret group took on the burden of dealing with the Incursions. They built weapons of mass destruction, including Antimatter Injectors, capable of destroying planets, and grappled with the immense moral cost of their actions. Their secrecy and brutal methods put them at odds with the [[avengers]], particularly [[captain_america]]. * **The Beyonders:** The enigmatic, god-like beings who instigated the collapse as a grand experiment. They exist outside the confines of the Multiverse and possess power far exceeding that of even the most powerful cosmic entities like Galactus or Eternity. Their goal was the simultaneous destruction of everything. * **The Great Destroyer, Rabum Alal:** A mysterious figure believed to be the source of the multiverse's destruction. It was eventually revealed that "Rabum Alal" was in fact [[doctor_doom]], who had traveled through time and space with the [[molecule_man]] to confront the Beyonders head-on. * **Battleworld:** The final result of the Incursion crisis. As the final Incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610 (the Ultimate Universe) occurred, Doctor Doom, having stolen the Beyonders' power, managed to salvage fragments of dozens of dying realities. He stitched them together into a single, patchwork planet called Battleworld, which he ruled as the god-emperor. * **The Life Raft:** A specialized vessel designed by Reed Richards and the Future Foundation to survive the end of all things. A handful of heroes managed to board it before the final destruction, preserving a flicker of the old universe. ==== Aftermath of the Crisis ==== The 2015 //Secret Wars// event concluded with the total destruction of the Multiverse. On Battleworld, the survivors from the Life Raft challenged God Emperor Doom. Ultimately, Reed Richards wrestled the Beyonders' power from Doom. Instead of keeping it, Reed, with the help of his son Franklin Richards and the Molecule Man, used the power to methodically rebuild the entire Multiverse. The new Prime Earth, still designated Earth-616, was subtly different. Key characters and concepts from other destroyed universes, most notably Miles Morales (the Ultimate Spider-Man) and his supporting cast, were integrated into the main reality as if they had always been there. The universe was restored, but fundamentally and irrevocably changed, making it a "soft reboot" of the Marvel line, similar in function to what DC's //Crisis// did for their continuity. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === The MCU's "Crisis" is still in its early stages, but several key concepts have been established that will define its trajectory. ==== Key Concepts ==== * **The Sacred Timeline:** The carefully curated collection of timelines controlled by He Who Remains to prevent a Multiversal War. Its destruction at the end of //Loki// Season 1 is the inciting incident of the new crisis. * **Variants:** Alternate versions of a single being from different timelines. The existence and interaction of Variants, particularly those of powerful beings like Kang, are the primary driver of multiversal instability. * **Nexus Events:** A choice or action that causes a timeline to branch away from the Sacred Timeline, creating a new universe and, potentially, a new Kang. The TVA's primary mission was to "prune" these branches. * **Incursions (MCU Version):** As explained by the Reed Richards of Earth-838, an Incursion in the MCU is a catastrophic event where the boundary between two universes erodes and they collide, destroying one or both. A being's "large footprint" in a universe other than their own, such as through dreamwalking, can trigger one. This directly parallels the comic concept. * **The Council of Kangs:** An infinite gathering of Kang Variants from across the Multiverse. After the death of He Who Remains, they have been unleashed and appear to be a primary antagonistic force, viewing the heroes of Earth-616 (designated Earth-199999 in official handbooks) as a growing threat to their plans. ==== Anticipated Aftermath ==== While the MCU's crisis has not yet reached its climax, the trajectory points toward a massive-scale conflict, likely to be depicted in the upcoming film //Avengers: Secret Wars//. The aftermath is expected to be a major restructuring of the MCU. It could serve as a "soft reboot," allowing for the seamless integration of characters from previously separate franchises (like the [[x-men]] and [[fantastic_four]]) into the main MCU continuity. It provides a narrative tool to recast actors, write out characters, and streamline over a decade of storytelling, much like its comic book counterparts did. ===== Part 4: Key Figures and Factions ===== While a multiversal crisis affects everyone, certain individuals and groups stand at the epicenter of the conflict, acting as either its architects or its staunchest defenders. ==== Architects of Destruction ==== * **[[The Beyonders]] (Earth-616):** The ultimate villains of Marvel's "Crisis." Their motives are alien and their power absolute. They are not merely conquerors; they are cosmic vandals who decided to end all of creation simply to see what would happen. * **[[Doctor Doom]] (Earth-616):** Victor von Doom is a complex figure in the crisis. While he ultimately fought the Beyonders, his goal was not to save the Multiverse, but to steal their power for himself. He succeeded, becoming a temporary god but also saving the last remnants of humanity on his Battleworld. He is both a savior and a tyrant. * **[[Kang the Conqueror]] and his Variants (MCU):** The central antagonists of the MCU's Multiverse Saga. Whether it's the manipulative He Who Remains, the exiled Conqueror, or the vast Council of Kangs, their collective ambition, power, and conflict are the direct cause of the impending universal war. ==== Defenders of Reality ==== * **[[The Illuminati]] (Earth-616):** The first line of defense against the Incursions. They made the most horrifying decisions imaginable, sacrificing their morality and honor to save their world, destroying other Earths and mind-wiping their allies like Captain America to keep their secrets. Their story is a tragedy of good men forced to do monstrous things. * **[[Reed Richards]] (Earth-616):** Mister Fantastic is arguably the single most important hero of the Incursion Saga. His intellect was dedicated to solving the crisis, and his rivalry and twisted friendship with Doctor Doom formed the core philosophical conflict of //Secret Wars//. In the end, it was his vision, not Doom's, that restored the Multiverse. * **[[Doctor Strange]] (MCU & Earth-616):** As the Sorcerer Supreme, Strange is a primary defender against mystical and extradimensional threats. In the comics, he sold his soul for greater power to halt the Incursions. In the MCU, his journey through the multiverse in //Multiverse of Madness// showed him the direct consequences of Incursions and positioned him as a key expert in the coming conflict. ===== Part 5: Iconic Events & Marvel's "Crisis" Analogues ===== Over the decades, several key Marvel storylines have served as precursors or direct analogues to the concept of a "Crisis on Infinite Earths." === Secret Wars (1984) === The original //Secret Wars// was Marvel's first attempt at a truly all-encompassing event. A near-omnipotent being called the Beyonder transported heroes and villains to a "Battleworld" and commanded them: "Slay your enemies and all that you desire shall be yours!" While it didn't involve the destruction of universes, it established the template for universe-wide crossovers, brought characters together who would never normally interact, and had lasting consequences, most famously being the introduction of [[symbiote|Spider-Man's black symbiote suit]], which would later become the villain [[venom]]. === The Infinity Gauntlet (1991) === This storyline saw the Mad Titan [[thanos]] acquire all six Infinity Gems (Stones in the MCU) and assemble the Infinity Gauntlet, giving him absolute mastery over reality. He proceeded to wipe out half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers to court the cosmic entity Death. While the threat was contained to a single universe (Earth-616), the sheer scale of the cataclysm—erasing trillions of lives in an instant—and the desperate alliance of heroes and cosmic beings needed to stop him made it a "Crisis"-level event in its own right. Its influence on the MCU's Infinity Saga is monumental. === The Incursion Saga (Avengers/New Avengers, 2013-2015) === This is the most direct and philosophically complex analogue to //Crisis on Infinite Earths//. Spanning dozens of issues across two flagship titles, writer Jonathan Hickman crafted a slow-burn cosmic horror story. It wasn't a story about heroes fighting villains; it was a story about heroes fighting a law of physics. The saga forced characters like Black Panther and Reed Richards into impossible moral quandaries and systematically deconstructed the very concept of heroism in the face of inevitable, total annihilation. === Secret Wars (2015) === The climax of the Incursion Saga. This event saw the final death of the Marvel Multiverse and the birth of Battleworld, a patchwork planet ruled by God Emperor Doom. The storyline brought together dozens of alternate versions of Marvel characters from famous past events, including the original //Secret Wars//, //Age of Apocalypse//, //Marvel 1602//, and //Old Man Logan//. It was a celebration of Marvel's multiversal history even as it was being destroyed. Its resolution, which saw the restoration of the Multiverse by Reed Richards, was a powerful statement about hope and creation, and it served to streamline Marvel's continuity for a new era. ===== Part 6: Variants and Alternative Versions ===== The concept of a multiversal crisis has been explored in other Marvel media, often serving as the narrative engine for bringing different versions of characters together. * **Spider-Verse (Comics and Film):** The 2014 comic storyline //Spider-Verse// and its subsequent film adaptations (//Into the Spider-Verse//, //Across the Spider-Verse//) present a "Crisis" focused on a single type of hero. The Inheritors, a family of totemic hunters, travel the multiverse to feed on the life force of Spider-powered individuals. This forces hundreds of Spider-Men, Women, and Animals from across reality to band together to survive. The films brilliantly use the multiversal premise to explore the core tenets of what it means to be Spider-Man. * **What If...? (MCU Series):** This animated series directly explores the consequences of timeline-altering Nexus Events. The first season culminates in its own mini-"Crisis" when a variant of Ultron, having fused with Vision and acquired the Infinity Stones, becomes aware of the Multiverse and seeks to destroy it all. The Watcher is forced to break his oath of non-interference and assemble a team of heroes from different universes—the "Guardians of the Multiverse"—to stop him. * **JLA/Avengers (2003 Crossover):** In a rare, official crossover between Marvel and DC Comics, the "Crisis" concept was directly addressed. The storyline, written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by George Pérez (co-creator of //Crisis on Infinite Earths//), involved a cosmic game between Marvel's Grandmaster and DC's Krona. The conflict caused the two multiverses to bleed into one another, with characters experiencing memories of both realities. The finale sees the heroes defending both universes from Krona, who seeks to witness a Big Bang and inadvertently causes a cycle of universal destruction and rebirth, directly echoing the themes of //Crisis//. ===== See Also ===== * [[secret_wars]] * [[incursion]] * [[multiverse]] * [[the_illuminati]] * [[kang_the_conqueror]] * [[beyonders]] * [[doctor_doom]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((The original //Crisis on Infinite Earths// was so influential that its title has become shorthand for any continuity-resetting, multiversal comic book event.)) ((George Pérez, the artist for DC's //Crisis on Infinite Earths//, was specifically chosen to draw the //JLA/Avengers// crossover due to his legendary ability to handle massive casts of characters and cosmic-scale action, which he had perfected on //Crisis//.)) ((In the build-up to the 2015 //Secret Wars//, the story in //Avengers// focused on the Avengers' efforts to stop the decay, while the parallel story in //New Avengers// focused on the Illuminati's morally grey efforts to survive it by any means necessary. This created a powerful internal conflict between Marvel's two biggest teams.)) ((The concept of Incursions in the MCU, being caused by a "large footprint" in another universe, is a simplification of the comic book origin. In the comics, the Incursions were an automatic, unavoidable process, making the heroes' dilemma even more hopeless.)) ((The MCU's official designation for its main timeline is Earth-199999, as established in the //Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z, Vol. 5//. The characters within the films, such as the scientist Erik Selvig, refer to it as Earth-616 as an homage, a designation confirmed by Mysterio in //Spider-Man: Far From Home// (though he was lying) and by the TVA in //Loki//.))