Picking up where The Infinity Saga left off, The Multiverse Saga is an even more expansive storyline. Following its introduction in “Loki”, essentially every story Marvel has ever told is equally valid, and exists in various realities, but not every reality collides with the Earth-616 / Earth-199999 of the Infinity Saga.
Marvel Studios: Legends
S01E07 Loki (on Disney+ HERE)
S01E08 The Tesseract (on Disney+ HERE)
These installments review the relevant material from The Infinity Saga in preparation for the Loki series, even if you just finished watching the previous saga, it had a lot of moving parts and this review is a handy reminder of the important elements leading into this new era.
Loki (June 9, 2021 – November 9, 2023)
This 2 season, 12 episode series spins directly out of Avengers: Endgame and introduces the multiverse. The two 6 episode seasons we have to date tell a complete story. The Multiverse was previously referenced, most notably in Eyes of Wakanda, Doctor Strange and Avengers: Endgame – but this series explains why there hasn’t truly been a multiverse up to this point and why those adventures weren’t an issue. After this point, the multiverse becomes massive, essentially making all previous Marvel stories from various studios canon – with the different continuities taking place in similar but different realities. The series also explains variants, which are different versions of the same characters, originating from different universes; sometimes variants look exactly the same but other versions may look very different.
S01E01 Glorious Purpose
S01E02 The Variant
S01E03 Lamentis
S01E04 The Nexus Event*
S01E05 Journey into Mystery
S01E06 For All Time. Always.
S02E01 Ouroboros*
S02E02 Breaking Brad
S02E03 1893
S02E04 Heart of the TVA
S02E05 Science/Fiction
S02E06 Glorious Purpose
*Episodes 1×04 (“The Nexus Event”) & 2×01 (“Ouroboros”) contain credit scenes.
This series ties directly into “Deadpool & Wolverine”, “Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania”, “What If…?” / “Marvel Zombies” & “Avengers: Doomsday”.
After this point, thanks to the introduction of the multiverse and its sprawling ability to encompass previously uncounted narratives, everything that Marvel has ever made is now basically part of the larger tapestry that Marvel has created, extending far beyond the relatively limited confines of The Infinity Saga. Still, some installments are more heavily tied into the central ongoing storylines than others. Below are the pieces that make up the multiverse with links to the various realities in which they take place.
Links highlighted Luminous Vivid Amber feature elements of importance to the ongoing central stories of The Multiverse Saga.
Links highlighted in Luminous Vivid Orange have minor connections to the ongoing central stories of The Multiverse Saga.
Links highlighted in Cyan Bluish Gray have no major connections, beyond being Marvel stories that feature variants of the stories in question.
Links highlighted in Vivid Purple have no major connections but are still highly recommended.
Infinity Saga projects are included to demonstrate how and when these multiversal stories weave into what has already been viewed – or how to watch them again if you so choose.
Earth-616 / Earth-199999: The Infinity Saga
Eyes of Wakanda
S01E01 Into the Lion’s Den (1260 BC)
S01E02 Legends and Lies (1194-1184 BC)
S01E03 Lost and Found (1400)
Earth-92131: <- click
1888: X-Men 01 S05E09 Descent
Earth-616 / Earth-199999: The Infinity Saga
Eyes of Wakanda
S01E04 The Last Panther (1896 / 2396 alt)
Earth-Unknown: Spider-Noir <- click
Captain America: First Vengeance (May 4 – June 29, 2011)
This four issue comic series tie-in to “Captain America: The First Avenger” covers events from 1924-1944. The titles are very close to being completely in-line with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it actually was totally in line when the original film was released, but the first issue features a 2 page spread showing the first meeting between Cap & Bucky, which was later contradicted in “The Winter Soldier”. The rest of the story still fits with established continuity and serves as a beautiful multiversal prequel to the “Captain America: The First Avenger” film.
The comics / graphic novel can be purchased via Marvel.Com or Amazon. I should note that there are usually 2 digital comic issues per every printed comic issue, so digitally, the series is made up of 8 issues, while there were only 4 printed – but it’s the same amount of story.
Earth-616 / Earth-199999: The Infinity Saga
Captain America: The First Avenger (1942-1945, 2011)
Earth-600001: Captain America <- Click
Marvel 75 Years: From Pulp to Pop! (November 4, 2014)
This behind the scenes documentary can be viewed on Disney+ and can be found HERE.
In addition to providing a brief history of Marvel Comics, the special features behind the scenes footage from “Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Ant-Man”, as well as footage from the then upcoming “Agent Carter” television series which this special helped to promote. The doc also touches on other multiversal Marvel series like “Daredevil”, “Jessica Jones”, “Luke Cage”, “Iron Fist” and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”.
Earth-17516: “Agent Carter” <- click
Earth-10005: X-Men: First Class <- click
Set in 1944 & 1962.
Earth-600026: The Marvel Super Heroes <-
Earth-67 / Earth-3015: Spider-Man <- click
Earth-700089: The Fantastic Four <- click
Earth-730911: The Amazing Spider-Man (1977-1979)
Earth-10005: X-Men Origins: Wolverine <- click
Mainly in 1979, the film also features sequences set in 1845, 1861-1865, 1917-1918, 1944-1945, 1969-1971 & 1973.
Earth-8107: Spider-Man / & His Amazing Friends / The Incredible Hulk
Earth-17040: Legion <- Click
The Incredible Hulk Returns (May 22, 1988)
The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (May 7, 1989)
These 2 television film follow-ups to the series feature guest appearances by other Marvel heroes Thor & Daredevil. Another film which aired the following year and wraps up the series.
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men [September 1, 1989]
Set on Earth-652975. This is the only story set on this Earth.
Earth-58627: The Punisher <-click
The Death of the Incredible Hulk (February 18, 1990)
This was originally intended to lead to another film in which the Hulk was resurrected but series star Bill Bixby died a little over 3 years later, of complications from prostate cancer; he was 59 years old; he had been diagnosed in early 1991.
The film stands as an emotional, appropriate series finale and a tribute to Bixby.
Captain America (July 22, 1992)
Set on Earth-697064. The film opens in 1936, jumps ahead to 1943, and then again to 1992.
Earth-92131: X-Men: The Animated Series S01E01 “Night of the Sentinels” – S02E13 “Reunion – Part Two” (1992-1993).
Earth-10005: X-Men <- click
Set in early 1994 (before March 28): Almost 15 years after the 1979 events in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. The film opens with a flashback to 50 years before in 1944, which were previously explored in “X-Men: First Class”.
Earth-10005: X2: X-Men United <- click
Set in 1994 (after March 28).
Earth-92131: X-Men: The Animated Series Season 3 (1994), Spider-Man: The Animated Series Season 1 (1994).
Earth-10005: X-Men: The Last Stand <- click
Set in 1995.
Earth-616 / Earth-199999: The Infinity Saga
Captain Marvel (1989 / 1995 / 2018)
Mainly set in 1995, there are flashbacks to 1995 & a credit scene set in 2018.
Earth-92131: 1995-1997
X-Men: The Animated Series – All Remaining Episodes.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series – Seasons 2 – 5)
X-Men ’97 (Seasons 1-4)
Blade (August 21, 1998)
Set on Earth-26320 in 1998. Several sequels to this film are also set in this reality – and these realities collide in “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024).
Blade II (March 22, 2002)
Set on Earth-26320 in 2000.
Spider-Man (May 3, 2002)
Set on Earth-96283 in 2002. Two sequel films are also set in this reality, which collides with the Marvel Cinematic Universe in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” & “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”.
Daredevil (February 14, 2003)
Set on Earth-701306 in 2003. A spin-off / sequel is also set in this reality which collides with the Marvel Cinematic Universe in “Deadpool & Wolverine”. Variants of these characters are featured in several streaming series before officially arriving in the 616 universe in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, “Hawkeye”, “Echo”, “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” & “Daredevil: Born Again”.
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (July 11 – September 12, 2003)
Set shortly after the events of the 2002 film, Peter Parker, and his friends Mary Jane Watson, and Harry Osborn start attending Empire State University together. Peter and Mary Jane try to establish a relationship without much success. Peter’s superhero duties, and later his involvement with Indira Daimonji, interfere with his romance with Mary Jane, while Harry continuously blames Spider-Man for the death of his father Norman Osborn. Peter faces an assortment of other villains including the Lizard, Kraven the Hunter and Electro while trying to maintain a job and his studies. Initially connected to the Sam Raimi Spider-Man film series, the series’ events were contradicted by “Spider-Man 2”, rendering it a separate universe.
Cast / Characters Include:
Neil Patrick Harris as Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Lisa Loeb as Mary Jane Watson
Ian Ziering as Harry Osborn
Keith Carradine as J. Jonah Jamison
Rob Zombie as Curt Connors
Michael Dorn as Kraven the Hunter
Virginia Madsen as Silver Sable
Ethan Embry as Max Dillon / Electro
Devon Sawa as Flash Thompson
Returning Characters Include:
Michael Clark Duncan as Kingpin (from Daredevil)
Stan Lee as Frank Elson / Watcher’s Informant
S01E01 Heroes and Villains
S01E02 Royal Scam
S01E03 Law of the Jungle
S01E04 The Sword of Shikata
S01E05 Keeping Secrets
S01E06 Tight Squeeze
S01E07 Head Over Heels
S01E08 The Party
S01E09 Flash Memory
S01E10 Spider-Man: Dis-Sabled
S01E11 When Sparks Fly
S01E12 Mind Games, Part One
S01E13 Mind Games, Part Two
Madame Web (February 14, 2024)
Set on Earth-688 in 1973 & 2003. Technically, this entry has yet to collide with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and due to poor box office it’s unlikely to do so now. I like it though and there are multiversal variant reasons that it could be included – so I have.
Spider-Man 2 (June 30, 2004)
Set on Earth-96283 in 2004.
The Punisher (April 16, 2004)
Set on Earth-58627 in 2004. Another version of Frank Castle / The Punisher. This iteration is seemingly referenced in “Deadpool & Wolverine”, though all one needs to know to understand that reference, is that multiple versions of The Punisher have been introduced in various universes.
Spider-Man 3 (May 4, 2007)
Set on Earth-96283 in early 2005.
Fantastic Four (July 8, 2005)
Set on Earth-121698 in 2005. A sequel is set in this same reality, which collides with the 616 universe in “Deadpool & Wolverine”. Several variants of these characters are also very important as the saga continues.
Elektra (January 14, 2005)
Set on Earth-701306 in December of 2005. This sequel / spin-off of “Daredevil” continues the story of Elektra Natchios, again played by Jennifer Garner. Variants of several characters introduced here return to various other multiverse projects, including Stick and Typhoid Mary. Jennifer Garner later returns as Elektra in the multiversal crossover film “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024).
Blade: Trinity (December 8, 2004)
Set on Earth-26320 (“Blade” / “Blade II”) in 2006. This iteration of the character later returns in “Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024).
Blade: The Series (June 28 – Sep 13, 2006)
Intended to be set on Earth-26320 in 2006, this was meant to be the same iteration of Blade as depicted in the films, but none of the actors returned for the series and it is not necessary to view this to understand the multiversal crossovers in later films. Indeed, some might even argue that this isn’t actually the same iteration. But for those that just want more of the character, this series might satisfy that craving.
Returning Characters Include:
Kirk “Stickyfingaz” Jones as Eric Brooks / Blade.
S01E01 Blade: House of Chthon, Part 1
S01E02 Blade: House of Chthon, Part 2
S01E03 Death Goes On
S01E04 Descent
S01E05 Bloodlines
S01E06 The Evil Within
S01E07 Delivery
S01E08 Sacrifice
S01E09 Turn of the Screw
S01E10 Angels and Demons
S01E11 Hunters
S01E12 Monsters
S01E13 Conclave
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (June 15, 2007)
Set on Earth-121698 in 2007. This reality collides with the 616 universe in “Deadpool & Wolverine”. Several variants of these characters, including the Silver Surfer, are also very important as the saga continues.
Punisher: War Zone (December 5, 2008)
A third iteration of Frank Castle / The Punisher in film; this variant movie is set in 2008, on Earth-47281.
Where Now?
The Multiverse Saga – Part 02 (2008 – 2023)
Iron Man – Endgame (Infinity Saga Rebooted)
or back to the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse viewing orders.