Summary
When one thinks of alternate universes inMarvel Comics, fans might think of the horrific mess that isMarvel Zombiesor even the dystopias of theAge of ApocalypseandDays of Future Past. However, as various stories in Marvel Comics eventually reveal, not all universes in the Marvel Multiverse have to be bleak or desolate for its denizens.
Much to the surprise of some fans, certain Marvel Universes can become ideal places to live in. While not all of them are total paradises, they certainly present rather favorable situations that make them more livable compared to other universes in the multiverse. However, among the popular universes in Marvel Comics, which ones are likely the safest for its citizens?
House of M(2005) and various tie-ins
Claim To Fame
A world where Magneto and mutants reign supreme over humans, and with everyone else’s dreams “realized” as per Professor X’s telepathy and Scarlet Witch’s reality manipulation
When superheroes decide that Wanda Maximoff needs to die before her growing mental instability poses a threat to humanity, the heroes wake up under the watchful control of theHouse of M. In this storyline, Magneto governs humans and extends substantial control over humanity’s affairs until Wolverine realizes his real past and helps start a revolution, prompting Wanda to think mutants are the problem - hence the infamous “No More Mutants.”
However, what makes House of M quite a potential “ideal” reality is the potential of its premise. Scarlet Witch and Professor X realized the dreams of the Avengers and the X-Men in House of M, alongside Magneto’s dream of mutant superiority. While this paved the way for racism against humans, the comics didn’t necessarily show humans being unnecessarily killed or mistreated, but instead simply ignored. Moreover, the evolutionary prevalence of mutants means humanity will likely get naturally wiped out in a few centuries as well. Even then, a potentially more benevolent alternative would beWanda doing “No More Mutants”within House of M and fulfilling the wishes of all humans, much like the Infinite Tsukuyomi scenarios near the end ofNaruto.
Secret Wars(2015) and various tie-ins
The patchwork reality created by Doctor Doom by combining remnants of destroyed realities after Incursions
When the Incursions from the Beyonders destroyed the present Multiverse,2015’sSecret Warsreveals Doctor Doom stealing the Beyonders’ powers to create his ownBattleworld. Constructed from the remnants of salvageable universes, God Emperor Doom assigned each reality segment as a barony, where barons and domains are free to do as they wish except for unnecessary transfer between borders. Doom may also interfere to reverse situations as he sees fit, as a true dictator would.
Granted, Battleworld only lasted for eight years before survivors of Earth-616 (Prime) and Earth-1610 (Ultimate) helped restore the Multiverse. However, on top of Battleworld being the safest refuge of a destroyed Multiverse at the time, Doom’s track record with his “oppressive but fair” rule of a rich Latveria in the Prime Reality does imply some measure of capacity as a political leader. With the real world having incompetent dictators as leaders, a prideful but capable Doom as a tyrant seems a desirable worst-case scenario.
A volta de um grande herói(1964)
The universe designation for sites of crossover events between Marvel and other IPs
When Brazil’s RGE obtained reprinting licenses for Marvel’s Human Torch and DC’s Captain Marvel, theAlmanaque do O Globo Juvenilpaved the way for the two to meet in a crossover. Since then, crossovers between Marvel, DC, and other IPs like theTransformershave occurred in a specialCrossover Earth, with Marvel calling it Earth-7642. At first glance, the idea of a Crossover Earth implies that the most powerful of villains across various IPs could wreak havoc and even pose a threat to Marvel’s heroes, making this quite the unideal reality to live in.
However, Crossover Earth does have one advantage overother Marvel universes: the most powerful superheroes of other IPs could also help Marvel’s protectors. The likes of Superman and Optimus Prime could aid Captain America and provide hope in desperate situations, while Batman and the Justice League could help the Avengers double down on crime in various locations.
X-Men Evolution(2000)
The main universe where the X-Men of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters are the major defending force of the planet
Despite story arcs inX-Men Evolutionbeing reinterpretations ofX-Menstorylines within a school setting, its characterization of the Xavier School’s mutant team remains one of the best the Marvel Multiverse has ever seen. As with the original premise of theX-Menfranchise, it’s through the tutelage of the wise Charles Xavier and teachers such as Logan and Ororo Munroe that young mutants become heroes in their own right.
Granted,the short three-season stint ofX-Men Evolutioncame with its fair share of disasters and deadly villains such as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and even Apocalypse. However, its school setting gaveEvolution’s worlda more peaceful slice-of-life flair that implied even dangerous evil-doers could be defeated with a good beating. Professor Xavier maintaining his status as a wise mentor and Cyclops evolving into a respectable leader added towards a more heroic X-Men, especially when compared to today’s comics that deal with more complex mutant affairs.
Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four#25 (June 2007)
The Fantastic Four discovered a world where they and Doctor Doom wage battle using music and songs
It’s unsurprising for a group like the Fantastic Four to explore new dimensions and even universes as part of their regular adventures. In turn, Marvel’s First Family always has to be on the lookout for potential dangers they can encounter while studying the properties of universes they end up in. This is whereEarth-200784surprises them, especially when Johnny Storm describes the world as possessing a “swelling” of orchestral music that emanates everywhere like it’s the soundtrack of the universe they just visited.
What’s more interesting is how the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom’s eventual fight in the universe would also take this property into account. As its only appearance inMarvel Adventures Fantastic Four#25 reveals, both parties eventually used song and dance to wage war with each other. Despite such a universe still having the ever-present threat of villains causing destruction, being in the moment where fights between heroes and villains are decided through the best song number will certainly become a sight to see.
Spider-Ham’s animal pun-filled universe
The oddity that isPeter Porker or the anthropomorphic pig Spider-Hamcould be attributed to his home, theLarval Universe, where an anthropomorphic field exists that allows its users to manifest animal-like properties. In the Larval Universe, it’s implied that heroes and villains exist not just as pun-based anthropomorphic beings but also capable of grouping themselves into equally-puntastic groups. For instance, Mooster Fantastic (a moose) is a member of both the Furtastic Four and the secret cabal known as the Unhumanati.
Despite its limited appearances in Marvel Comics, the Larval Universe seems a more peaceful take on a Marvel Universe compared to its other counterparts. The anthropomorphic animals engaging in seemingly more pun-focused affairs than outright fighting each other may pave the way for a quieter existence for its denizens.
Avengers, Vol. 3#18 (1999),Bullpen Bits(1999-2001)
A universe where Marvel characters become children and perform various antics
Created by Chris Giarrusso for the pages of Marvel’sBullpen Bulletinsthat regularly appeared at the end of comics issues,Mini Marvelswas a universe where kid characters share origins and adventures as with their original counterparts, but with funny twists. The only adults reining them in are Aunt May, Norman Osborn, J. Jonah Jameson, and Odin. An example of a funny event in Mini Marvels is Spider-Man unmasking in a newspaper during “Civil Wards,” but a new report says he “remasked” (quite literally puts his mask back) when he sides with Captain America.
Compared to other universes in Marvel Comics, the world of Mini Marvels is likely the most peaceful and docile. Should the kid appearances of Marvel characters extend to the rest of mankind, this would hopefully mean disputes are more easily resolved and others may have a more peaceful coexistence.
Cable & Deadpool#16 (June 2005)
Cable becomes Brother Nathan and achieves total world peace, enacting policies that remove world hunger, war, and even pollution
When a fictional world touts its vision of peace, it always eventually becomes a dystopia. This isn’t the case inBrother Cable’s Earth-58161, as this is a timeline where the mutant Cable achieves absolute world peace. Such is his success that Deadpool considered the world “disturbing” and “boring,” which may as well be praised coming fromthe Merc With A Mouth. In this universe, Cable became convinced that he was the world’s last hope of achieving total peace. Now known as Brother Nathan, Cable managed to enact policies that eliminated hunger, prejudice, war, and all forms of conflict.
Aside from boasting ancient architecture, floating crystals constantly monitor the planet and remove any signs of weapons without hurting users. Wildlife and vegetation thrive alongside humans, and people explore their minds for entertainment. If there’s anything that has gotten close to transforming Earth-58161 into a dystopia, it’s the fact that television doesn’t exist here anymore - something that disturbs Deadpool.
Iron Man(2008), and various films across various Phases
The closest Marvel fans have got to the equivalent of the real world receiving superheroes, resulting in more grounded stories
Beginning withthe success of 2008’sIron Manamid complicated license deals with different studios, the Avengers headlined a burgeoningMarvel Cinematic Universeuntil the crossover film received fan acclaim in its 2012 release. Since then, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has slowly integrated more stories and more heroes in its metaplot, eventually reforming deals that allowed them to use fan-favorite IPs such asSpider-Manin subsequent films and tease theFantastic FourandX-Menin future phases. However, perhaps what makes the Marvel Cinematic Universe so popular is its setting in the real world.
In the MCU’s Earth-19999 (self-designated -616), popular Marvel heroes and villains received familiar backstories under the backdrop of realism. As a result, powers, equipment, as well as magic fell under the purview of understandable laws of physics. Compared to other universes, the MCU is one of the most ideal to live in due to its similarities with the real world. In turn, the MCU is the closest anyone could get to literally seeing what life in a Marvel universe would truly be like courtesy of films and series.
The main Marvel Universe continuity that began with 1939’sMarvel Comics#1
Of all existing Marvel Universes to exist in the Marvel Universe, it’s perhaps thePrime Marvel Universethat remains the most ideal place to live in. Despite the constant appearance of supervillain threats and incidents that usually pinned one superhero group against the other, the existence of this continuity as the “Prime Universe” means it contains the most relevant events that dictate the most “ideal” happenings across the Multiverse.
This was the equivalent of theSacred Timeline inLokiof the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the template which all things are based upon.From a meta perspective, the Prime Marvel Universe being the “mainstay” of Marvel Publications means it’s statistically the one universe that is the unlikeliest to be threatened in a supremely major way. The most important basis of this argument is the ending of 2015’sSecret Wars, wherein Reed Richards and Franklin Richards prioritize recreating Earth-616 before other universes after reclaiming God Emperor Doom’s reality-warping powers.
