The multiverse serves as a central theme during phases 4, 5, and 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and has been explored in projects such as Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the series Loki. As of now, Marvel Studios has introduced numerous alternate realities, such as Earth-616 (the main timeline of the MCU) and Earth-838, alongside dimensions like the Soul World, Ta-Lo, Dark Dimension, and the Ancestral Plane in Black Panther.
With the ever-expanding reality, Marvel has also proposed various ways for superheroes to traverse these different locations. These methods can be based on magical abilities, superpowers, or even scientific principles.
Multiverse Theory and Time Travel (Avengers: Endgame)
The essence of multiverse theory is a dimension that is incredibly small, to the point where its existence is very difficult to confirm. In Avengers: Endgame, the superheroes discover that this dimension is the key to assisting them in recovering the Infinity Stones across various timelines within the main MCU timeline.
However, when traveling through time, any slight change can create a new reality. To avoid branching the timeline, the Avengers return the Infinity Stones to the exact moments they were taken. However, what they failed to account for was Loki’s 2012 version inadvertently escaping with the Tesseract, creating a completely new reality and ultimately leading to the establishment of the Time Variance Authority (TVA).
This event illustrates that time travel can indeed be a perfect tool for generating infinite alternate realities, and also serves as a means to navigate between these different realities. This concept is a central theme in the character Kang the Conqueror, who has appeared multiple times in the source material.
The Technology of the TVA (Loki)
The TVA, established by He Who Remains, aims to maintain the main timeline of the MCU and prevent branching timelines. This organization can travel to any point in time and into any reality, utilizing advanced technology like TempPads or other devices that merge magic with superpowers to facilitate time travel. The TVA exists outside of time and space and is unaffected by events occurring within the multiverse.
Additionally, the TVA connects with other dimensions such as The Void, where variants are imprisoned, and the Citadel at the End of Time, the headquarters of He Who Remains—who can travel freely between these places using advanced technology from the 31st century.
Nexus of All Realities – The Convergence Point of the Multiverse (What If…?)
Uatu the Watcher resides in a dimension known as the Nexus of All Realities, situated outside of the MCU, and serves as a vantage point for him to observe everything happening across various realities. Theoretically, this is a sacred place, and there is no way to travel there, as it is not a typical location but rather a connecting point for all timelines.
Because the Nexus of All Realities is the convergence point of all realities, the Watcher can utilize it to reach any reality he wishes to explore. This clearly illustrates how travel to different realities can be very advantageous and swift, but only those with immense power can perceive and utilize it, as seen with Ultron and the six Infinity Stones in the first season of the animated series What If…?
The Powers of America Chavez (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
America Chavez is a superhero who possesses the ability to travel between different timelines, while also opening portals that connect various realities. As of now, she is considered the fastest means of multiversal travel in the MCU. This is precisely why Scarlet Witch seeks to harness Chavez’s powers, instead of trying other methods to aid her in accessing different timelines.
Chavez’s powers are innate, and only manifest when she feels extreme emotional distress. However, in the latter parts of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, this superhero managed to control her energy source and utilize it flexibly to assist Stephen Strange in combating Scarlet Witch. Currently, Chavez is training under Wong and other sorcerers at Kamar-Taj.
The Soul Stone (Spider-Man: No Way Home)
From the very first part of the Doctor Strange film, Stephen demonstrated the importance of magic in relation to the multiverse within the MCU. Initially, the Ancient One introduced Stephen to how sorcerers can harness energy from different dimensions, and Strange himself later learned to project into the Mirror Dimension solely through his magical abilities. Secondly, Kaecilius, the main antagonist of this film, also frequently used magic to travel to the Dark Dimension.
This concept is reiterated in Spider-Man: No Way Home. With just one simple incantation, Strange accidentally caused a massive multiversal incident, pulling everyone who knew Spider-Man’s true identity into Earth-616. This incantation, when uncontrolled, can serve as a tool for traveling between different timelines.
The Ancestral Plane (Black Panther)
Similar to the multiverse theory or the Mirror Dimension, the Ancestral Plane is not a typical location. It is a place where the rules of time and space have been completely altered, serving as a resting place for the spirits of Black Panthers past, enabling them to communicate with their descendants.
The people of Wakanda have found a way to connect their inner souls to this realm through the consumption of the Heart-Shaped Herb, a mystical herb given by the gods to empower the Black Panther. While it is part of Wakandan culture, the Ancestral Plane is quite similar to the Astral Plane, where the Ancient One and Doctor Strange previously sent their souls after detaching from their physical bodies. The power of the Heart-Shaped Herb also allows the user to travel to this realm without needing to understand the magic.
The Infinity Stones (Avengers: Infinity War)
Anyone using all six Infinity Stones simultaneously will be transported to the Soul World—a dimension that exists outside of normal reality. This realm is an endless void, vast and only accessible to significant individuals in relation to those who have been taken there.
The Soul World is a mysterious place, yet its significance has been clarified in the MCU, as it directly connects to the souls of all living beings. It has been theorized that it serves as a resting place for souls after passing. However, the Soul World plays a larger role than that. Thanos was once transported there after executing the snap in Avengers: Infinity War, but he still retained consciousness and even managed to return to reality without facing any significant difficulties.
If all six Infinity Stones could transport a user to another dimension, it is highly likely that they could also unlock the barriers connecting different realities within the Marvel multiverse.
The Pathway to Ta-Lo (Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings)
The mystical land of Ta-Lo is one of the many dimensions of the MCU, home to various mythical creatures like the Dijiang and the Great Protector. The only way to access this realm is by passing through a bamboo forest on Qingming Festival annually. In other words, the bamboo maze is the way to travel to a different dimension in the MCU.
Ta-Lo also holds many secrets that have yet to be fully explored. One of its main locations directly connects to a dark dimension, where evil entities consume the souls of living beings, known as the Dweller-in-Darkness. As Shang-Chi is a key player in the MCU and only contributed to one film, many opportunities remain for him to revisit Ta-Lo in future Marvel Studios projects.
The Other Side of Reality (Moon Knight)
The series Moon Knight shows that even death can help a person travel to another dimension. After being murdered by Arthur Harrow, Marc Spector was taken to the other side in the form of a mentally unstable patient. This is known as Dual, a spiritual dimension in the afterlife of Egyptian mythology.
According to the goddess Taweret, the only way to escape this realm is to pass a test assessing the soul’s worth through the scales of the heart against a feather. If the heart is heavier, the individual’s soul will be trapped, while a lighter heart will grant them access to the peaceful afterlife in Aaru. However, Taweret can offer guidance or help the souls navigate through the realm, returning to the living world.
The Ring of Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel)
Kamala’s ring not only activates her latent superpowers but also opens a portal to another dimension known as Noor. This is where Kamala derives her energy and is the homeland of the Clan Destines.
While not explicitly explained in the series Ms. Marvel, this ring acts as a bridge between Earth-616 and Noor. Moreover, it may also serve as a key to unlock pathways connecting the multiverse to various realities.
The Darkhold (Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)
The Darkhold is a book of dark magic linked to chaos magic hidden within Scarlet Witch. However, the blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness reveals that it also harbors another capability: it allows the user to access alternate realities.
At a certain point, the Darkhold can be seen as a means of traversing the multiverse, at least as a gateway to other dimensions. However, it is a dark artifact that can corrupt and ultimately destroy those who wield it. Both Wanda Maximoff and Evil Strange are clear examples of this. Stephen Strange also faced dire consequences after using the Darkhold to access another reality, inadvertently activating a third eye on his forehead. However, the mid-credit scene of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness suggests that Stephen has managed to control the powers of the Darkhold and increase his abilities.
Source: Marvel Studios, ScreenRant
