Spider-Man’s Multiverse Battle Paves Way for Fantastic Four’s MCU Connection

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Summary

  • Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man separates from the MCU with multiverse battles.
  • Multiverse events connect Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to the MCU indirectly.
  • Fantastic Four may use a Bridge to cross over to the main MCU.

The initial episode of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man made it clear right off the bat that this series stands apart from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a surprising turn of events, Doctor Strange and Venom appeared through a portal from another dimension, setting the stage for a battle that underscores the distinctiveness of the world portrayed in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, one unlike any we’ve seen before.

As a die-hard movie fan, let me clarify that just because this Spider-Man seems detached from the usual Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it doesn’t mean he’s entirely cut off. In fact, movies like “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Loki,” and even the anticipated “Deadpool & Wolverine” have firmly established the MCU within a multiverse. This intricate web of realities includes our mainline Earth-616 alongside numerous other versions. Interestingly, the upcoming “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will unfold in one of these alternate universes, at least until they find their way into our familiar MCU world.

What method might The Fantastic Four use to arrive on Earth-616 within the Marvel Cinematic Universe? A possibility is hinted at in the last episode of “Spider-Man: Friendly Neighborhood.

How Does the Multiverse Appear in Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man?

The TV show titled “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” predominantly unfolds in the bustling cityscape of New York. Our protagonist, Peter Parker, who is relatively new to the superhero world, encounters petty criminals, feuds among street gangs, and the personal struggles of his closest companions. However, the narrative commences and concludes with events that span across multiple universes.

Essentially, we’re dealing with the same cosmic incident, but viewed from distinct temporal angles. In the final episode of the season, Norman Osborn discloses his real purpose behind amassing brilliant minds at Oscorp. Besides his desire to mimic Spider-Man’s abilities for personal gain, Osborn constructs a doorway to other universes, granting him access to vast wisdom and (as far as Norman envisions) immense power.

Osborn’s strong determination overrides Doctor Strange’s warning to halt the operation, as Strange enters through the gate and insists it be shut down to prevent a terrible event. True to form, something dreadful transpires – Kraven the Hunter with a Venom symbiote emerges, as portrayed in the initial episode. In a twist worthy of Doctor Who, Strange is transported back in time to that same premiere, where the time portal allows a radioactive spider from Osborn’s lab (created using Peter’s blood samples) to bite Peter.

Yet, astute comic book aficionados might spot another recognizable aspect of the fight – the gate Norman Osborn devises bears a striking resemblance to a comparable invention from Marvel Comics, an invention originally conceived by no one else but Reed Richards.

How Does the Multiverse Work in Fantastic Four Comics?

In issue #570 of the “Fantastic Four,” published in 2009, written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Dale Eaglesham, Reed Richards embarks on an ambitious mission: solving every worldwide problem. However, being the smartest man in the cosmos, he acknowledges that no individual can accomplish such a feat. Consequently, he enlists aid from various sources, particularly from alternate versions of himself scattered across different dimensions.

How does Reed interact with these alternate versions? Through a device known as The Bridge. Originally created following the Marvel Comics event Secret Invasion, where Skrull shape-shifters infiltrated and disrupted Earth’s defenses, The Bridge enables Reed to observe other realities. It provides him with a broader viewpoint and assists him in discovering innovative solutions for the challenges on his Earth.

Through Reed’s encounters with his counterparts, a group known as the Interdimensional Council of Reeds, the Bridge transforms into a legitimate portal to various realms. Predictably, this development brings both advantages and challenges, with some unwelcome elements finding their way onto the main Marvel Universe. Among these intruders are the Mad Celestials, colossal beings who reach Earth via the Bridge, necessitating none other than Galactus to drive them away.

During the catastrophic occurrence dubbed the Secret Wars, The Bridge proves indispensable. This is when Marvel’s Multiverse starts disintegrating due to incidents called “Incursions.” Through The Bridge, Reed Richards and his comrades observe other attempts to handle the Incursions and devise a strategy.

How Will the Bridge Affect the MCU?

For many Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts, it’s common knowledge that Secret Wars is approaching. Following the release of Avengers: Doomsday next year, Phase 6 of the MCU will conclude with Avengers: Secret Wars. While Marvel Comics has several different stories titled Secret Wars, it seems plausible that Avengers: Secret Wars will follow the 2015 comic book series by Hickman and artist Esad Ribić, a narrative that commenced with the Fantastic Four series involving the Bridge.

In an alternate universe to the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is set in a 1960s world where the team is globally famous. However, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige has hinted that the Fantastic Four will make appearances in “Doomsday” and “Secret Wars,” suggesting they’ll travel from their reality. Since the Bridge is crucial to the “Secret Wars” storyline that serves as a basis for the upcoming “Avengers” film, it’s plausible that Reed Richards, played by Pedro Pascal, will construct a similar Bridge in “First Steps.

It seems clear that when Spider-Man, affectionately known as “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” employs the Bridge, it’s hinting at more than just Marvel’s Family arriving in the main MCU. Possibly, some of the show’s iterations of Spider-Man characters could be using Norman Osborn’s Bridge to enter the MCU. Considering that Tom Holland’s Peter Parker doesn’t have a Norman or Harry (his best friend) in his life since Willem Dafoe’s Osbron returned to his own universe at the end of “No Way Home,” it could make sense for these characters to be transported over.

What Will the Bridge Bring to the MCU?

Since the Infinity Saga concluded with “Spider-Man: Far From Home” marking the end of Phase 3, the Marvel franchise has ventured into the Multiverse Era. While some productions within this span have varied in quality, the Multiverse stories have presented tales that would have been unattainable if limited to a single universe.

In a fresh take on established characters, Spider-Man from Your Neighborhood, having embraced the multiverse concept, now has the liberty to create its unique versions of characters such as Tombstone, the Scorpion, and even Peter Parker himself. Similarly, The Fantastic Four: First Steps leverages the multiverse to develop their own renditions of the heroes, allowing them room to grow before they need to compete with other Marvel superheroes. As The Fantastic Four prepare for their entry into the main MCU, the bridge will be ready to welcome them. Needless to say, it will also serve as a platform for Norman Osborn to cause trouble once more in Peter Parker’s life.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is now streaming on Disney+.

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2025-02-21 23:25