Before we start, this is a major spoiler alert, better read at your own risk!
If you follow Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from the beginning, then you will know that the recent Marvel Avenger release Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness isn't their first introduction to the Multiverse, despite being the only title that includes the sentiment. Back in 2019, when Thanos snapped his fingers and abolished half of the humanity, the remaining Avengers did time travel, which briefly explains the concept of timelines.
 Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness/ Foto: Art Machine IMP Awards |
In Avengers: Endgame, The Ancient One mentions that time travel creates branching realities, or in other words, alternate universes. Then, the Loki TV series elevate our knowledge about an infinite number of parallel universes and timelines. For instance, there was one universe where Loki was a woman or another one where Loki is an alligator. Then, the concept of the Multiverse finally starts to get clearer with Spiderman: No Way Home with the appearance of three Spidermans from different realities battling with the villains from their own universes. What happens next is Doctor Strange's story dealing with the Multiverse through its sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Undoubtedly, this movie enhances the concept of what Marvel Phase 4 is trying to adhere to and further deepens our understanding of MCU's concept of the Multiverse. Because MCU's settings like the Quantum Realm (Ant-Man), or the Mirror Dimension (Doctor Strange) aren't something that people would refer to when addressing the concept of Multiverse. Yes, all of these unique places even though Marvel didn't give an exact explanation of what they are seem to exist in tandem with the main reality of the MCU (which was later known as Earth-616).
 Doctor Strange/ Foto: YouTube Marvel Entertainment |
It's refreshing to finally see the whole glimpse of another reality in this sequel; one where the mightiest heroes are called the Illuminati instead of the Avengers. This is due to the fact that with an alternate universe, Marvel is bringing exciting crossovers that leave you screaming, such as the appearance of Professor Charles Xavier from X-Men or Reed Richards from Fantastic 4. The movie also reveals a piece of new information about how the Multiverse works, where dreams are actually visions of something that is happening in another universe. It's where the root conflict lies because Wanda Maximoff's 'made-up' children always appear in her dreams, meaning that they were actually real.
 Scarlet Witch/ Foto: YouTube Marvel Entertainment |
Regardless of how it's an enjoyable 2 hours and a half experience in the storytelling of the Multiverse, it weighs more greatness towards the other witch in Avengers instead of the main protagonist. I feel like Doctor Strange would never win a battle against the over-powered Scarlet Witch. I mean, she makes Earth 838's version of Avengers appears way too weak; the fight was bland and doesn't feel proper enough to showcase each member of the Illuminati's great abilities. Story-wise, I can say it's a decent proportion so that it does not direct the attention to the battle between Scarlet Witch and the Illuminati, but still, it doesn't give satisfaction.
Needless to say, every hero's movie mostly resides on the main character trying to navigate their power to defeat the evil that can endanger the world, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is no different, except, with a lot of visually pleasing scenes and something different from any other MCU movies; good jumpscares.
Unlike America Chavez who can travel realities to realities, the main reality we know doesn't contain mutants like X-Men, but with Professor X's appearance, we learned that somewhere, they exist. And what's a Multiverse without a crossover? So a question strikes; which alternate reality will Marvel focus on after this? Hence, as a Marvel enthusiast, I can say it all slowly gets twisted in a good way, and I can't wait to see more upcoming MCU movies to untangle all of these question strings in my head.
Lastly, if the multiverse theory about your dream reflecting your life in another reality is true, then I feel content knowing that a different version of me embarked on a romance story with my favorite K-pop idol!
