The Origin of the Multiverse

[Barry]

 Comics were introduced in 1935 and Superman, in 1938, led the way for a tidal wave of super-heroes from many companies. By the early 1950ssuper-heroes and their many companies were gone. Superman survived and Batman and Wonder Woman were just hanging on.
 
In 1956, DC decided to bring back new versions of their old heroes…Flash, Green Lantern, Hawkman etc. They were new characters with new identities and were very successful.
 
Much to DC surprise, because they thought only 12 years read comics and everything from the 1940s was forgotten, fans wrote in great numbers, “What happened to the originals?” So, in The Flash #123 (Sept. 1961) they published, “The Flash of Two Worlds” where the new Flash (Barry Allen) meets the old Flash (Jay Gerrick) when they learn there are two Earths, occupying the same space, but in different dimensions… a multiverse. It was so popular that in a Justice League comic they had the original Justice League from the 40s (Then called the Justice Society) meet the new one in “Crisis on Earth One” and then “Crisis on Earth Two.” It was so popular that every year there would be a meeting of various Earths.
 
Until 1986.
 
There were so many Earths, so many Supermen, that DC decided to start their entire line all over again. So began  a company wide, “Crisis on Infinite  Earths” where all the dimensions merged into one and all characters got new origin stories.
 
Marvel was known for their continuity and did not have a Multi-verse until “What If?” in 1976. Like the TV show on Disney Plus, Marvel presented alternate stories to famous plot lines, stating that they took place in another universe.
 
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW! And this is interesting:
DC and Marvel acknowledged that they each existed in an alternative universe.  And at one time the Universes merged. And DC and Marvel published the Amalgam Era of comics in 1996-1997 where they combined their characters. So Clark Kent becomes Captain America, Bruce Wayne joins SHIELD, the two magical heroes were merged into  Doctor StrangeFate  and so on!

[David Vaughn]

Imagine if there was a "merged" DC and Marvell film. With James Gunn being head of DC Comics for Warner and working in the Marvel universe with Guardians of the Galaxy...could it now happen? Given Disney's and Warner's cash flow issues, maybe this could happen to reinvigorate interest in the comic book genre, which has gotten a bit worn out over the past couple of years. 

[SRW1000]

Barry,

What are your thoughts on the Marvel Team-Up stories from 1974, where Spider-Man traveled to both the past and future.  Especially the ones where he teamed up with Deathlok and Killraven.  Those futures obviously don't match up with ours, and I think they eventually got classified as different Earths.

Scott

[Barry]

Scott, first have every Marvel Age comic from 1961-1977. I provide Marvel, and several other companies with scans all the time. So I do know what you’re talking about.

I have often contended that time, travel changes dimensions and should be included in the Multiverse. Everyone disagrees with me! And this includes several comic book writers.

[bmoney]

always an interestsing read.  thanks Barry

[SRW1000]

Scott, first have every Marvel Age comic from 1961-1977. I provide Marvel, and several other companies with scans all the time. So I do know what you’re talking about.

I have often contended that time, travel changes dimensions and should be included in the Multiverse. Everyone disagrees with me! And this includes several comic book writers.

OK, you and I are in complete agreement then.  I wonder why there's resistance to the idea, since those actions are clearly contradicted by actual future events.  (Or at least future comic book events.  )

I remember reading those Team Up issues as a 10-year-old kid and being legitimately worried that Spider-Man would never make it back to his present time.  Ah, the simple days. . . 

Scott