Content Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ahead!
The massive crossover event of 2022 has now out in theaters and fans of Marvel Cinematic Universe expands it even more opening the star-shaped portal to every other universe.
With fascinating magic and witchcraft right out of the comics and incredible, yet brief introductions of iconic characters like the Illuminati, Rintrah, and Ultron drones, there is no shortage of easter eggs. Of the extra-special moments – whether they reference the past or portend the future – these are some of the best.
Earth-616
Partway through the movie, after some exciting trips, literally, through other universes, Doctor Strange and his new companion, America Chavez, arrive in a new New York City. He finds the world slightly dissimilar to his own – they walk on red lights rather than green, they are technologically advanced, and he is dead.
They are then captured by the Illuminati and learn from this universe’s Christine Palmer, that this is Earth-838, and he is from Earth-616. Of course, this is the modern designation in the comics for the main continuity, and was actually first referenced in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Turns out, Mysterio was right. It's certainly exciting to see this element come into the MCU.
Bruce Campbell
With Sam Raimi, usually comes Bruce Campbell. The duo has worked together on so many different projects – including Evil Dead franchise – so it came as no surprise to see Campbell's cameo here. He plays an Earth-838 street vendor, who gets forced to punch himself senseless by Doctor Strange until the post-credits scene, giving a cheeky button to the film.
Importantly, this isn’t Campbell’s first Marvel movie. He had several cameos throughout Raimi’s Spider-Man 4. Obviously, that never came to fruition, but it led to theories that he could do so here.
Savage Land
Each of the universes that Doctor Strange and America fall through was a little treat for the audience, especially the ones where they became animated and turned to paint. One showed a dinosaur and might’ve seemed unassuming as it ed by quickly, but it references an important location in the comics: Savage Land.
Hawkeye's pilot episode, perhaps Savage Land will be featured again soon.
The Living Tribunal
Another universe briefly showed the giant visage of the Living Tribunal. This makes sense as in the comics, the Living Tribunal is responsible for safeguarding the Multiverse and maintaining its balance. He first appeared in Doctor Strange’s own comic in 1967’s Strange Tales #157 and met his end at the hands of the Beyonders.
He was first teased in a Loki with a statue of his head in the Void. As the MCU explores more and more of the multiverse, fans should expect to see the Living Tribunal take on an important role in the future.
X-Men: The Animated Series
As teased by the trailers, Patrick Stewart reprised a variation of his role from the X-Men franchise as Charles Xavier aka Professor X, the powerful telepath and leader of Earth-838’s Illuminati. Unfortunately, like his colleagues, he met his end at the hands of the Scarlet Witch, in a truly haunting moment.
Nevertheless, his ephemeral appearance was signaled by two exciting easter eggs referencing the classic X-Men animated series. First, was his costume and hover-chair, and second, was the theme song, which was used by Composer Danny Elfman. This is, obviously, the first introduction of mutants into the MCU, but also teases the X-Men ’97 tv show on Disney+.
Baxter Foundation
Along with Professor X and mutants, it seems that the Fantastic Four are officially in the MCU with John Krasinki’s exhilarating cameo as Reed Richards (aka Mister Fantastic). Dedicated comics fans expected this – as he is a prominent member of the Illuminati – especially after a simple reference from this universe’s Christine Palmer to the Baxter Foundation.
Here, the Foundation researches and tracks the known multiverse, but, in the comics, it funds the Fantastic Four, with Marvel’s first family living in Baxter Building. While Fantastic Four.
The Richards Family
Mister Fantastic marks the second Illuminati casualty by the Scarlet Witch. on her campaign for America Chavez. Before his death, he tells Wanda of his family, and knowing their mother still lives, she feels no remorse in ripping him apart and popping his head like a balloon. Though the moment was horrific, it did nicely tease several important characters.
Naturally, his wife would be fellow Fantastic Four member, Sue Storm (aka Invisible Woman). His children are both equally important – Valeria is a genius, while Franklin is extremely powerful, even capable of creating pocket dimensions. Many fans hope that when the Fantastic Four fully arrive in the MCU, their familial aspects will be well translated, including the Richards' children.
"I Can Do This All Day"
A lot of the dialogue in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is kitschy or witty one-liners, like Wanda asking “What mouth?” after removing Black Bolt’s mouth. Some of the moments land, stirring the audience. One such moment comes early when Strange Supreme begins to sacrifice America Chavez using the phrase, Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Another exciting line is one that fans have come to expect. Captain Carter claims, “I can do this all day” – first uttered by Steve Rogers pre-serum in Captain America: The First Avenger – but in the end, she only lasts for a minute longer before Scarlet Witch cuts her in half with her own shield.
Dreams, Nightmares, & Demons
In the film, through dreams, people witness their other lives across the multiverse, with Wanda experiencing a living nightmare, waking from pleasant dreams of her sons to emptiness and despair. These matters, and the consistent mention of demons, call to mind two very important mystical villains: Nightmare and Mephisto.
Nightmare rules the Dream Dimension – mentioned previously in Loki – and is one of Doctor Strange's strongest enemies. He was even theorized as the main antagonist for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness previously. Mephisto is an interdimensional demon and a prominent adversary to Spider-Man, Ghost-Rider, and the Avengers. Fans have been waiting fervently for both villains to appear in the MCU – especially Mephisto, who has popped up in theories and conversations about nearly every Phase Four project.
Mount Wundagore
After the Darkhold is destroyed, Wanda and Wong travel to an important location in the comics – though maybe not so much anymore in the MCU – Mount Wundagore. The fictional mountain in Eastern Europe is where the Darkhold was created, being transcribed from the spells written on the wall by Chthon as stated by Wong.
It obviously has an important connection to Wanda and the Scarlet Witch in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as it houses her throne. Interestingly, while it serves as her supposed resting place in the film – if she did indeed die, which seems unlikely – in the comics, Mount Wundagore is actually her and Pietro’s birthplace.
The Third Eye
The Eye of Agemmotto has been part of the MCU since Doctor Strange as the housing unit for the Time Stone. However, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he gains access to the real thing. Like his darker self who had been corrupted by the Darkhold in a different universe, Earth-616’s Doctor Strange gets a mystical third eye.
In the comics, this helps Stephen fight against dark force and even discerns Skrulls – very helpful for Secret Invasion consequences – yet here, since it comes from the Darkhold, it could come with a drastic cost. Either way, fans will likely have to wait a while to see.
Secret Wars Incoming?!
The film certainly ends with an exciting tease for the future. In a mid-credits scene, Charlize Theron appears as Clea and recruits Doctor Strange to fix an incursion – universes colliding from multiversal tampering. Importantly, Clea is a magical being from the Dimension and Dormammu’s niece. She eventually becomes Doctor Strange’s wife and currently serves as Sorcerer Supreme in the comics.
These incursions have incredibly important implications for the future of the MCU beyond Secret Wars storyline in which Earths across the multiverse combine into the Battleworld, Many avid comics fans are expecting this is where the MCU is headed – perhaps as its final installment – and it seems like they are seeding thoughts already.