How the Multiverse Works: What to Know Before Doomsday
Last updated 2026-10-31
Doomsday is expected to involve heroes from different universes: the MCU's Earth, the Fantastic Four's Earth, and the classic X-Men's world. Here are the basics of the multiverse, title by title.
1. Why does the multiverse exist? Loki
Loki Season 1 reveals that time was kept on a single Sacred Timeline by the TVA (Time Variance Authority). In the finale, the one in charge falls, and the timeline begins to branch endlessly. This is where today's multiverse begins.
In Season 2, Loki himself becomes the one who holds the branching timelines together. That ending is essential for thinking about where Loki stands in Doomsday.
2. When universes collide: incursions
Multiverse of Madness explains incursions, where two universes collide and both are destroyed. In its mid-credits scene, Strange is told he caused one. In the comics, incursions are what start the Secret Wars story.
3. Heroes from other universes arrive
- No Way Home: Spider-Men and villains from other universes appear on the MCU's Earth.
- The Marvels: Monica is left in another universe and meets the classic X-Men's Beast.
- Deadpool & Wolverine: The Fox world and the TVA collide, and Fox's heroes become part of the MCU multiverse.
4. The Fantastic Four come from another Earth
The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place on an Earth separate from the MCU's (Earth-616). In the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts*, a spaceship from another dimension appears on the MCU's Earth. In the mid-credits scene of The Fantastic Four, a figure who appears to be Doctor Doom approaches Reed and Sue's son Franklin.
5. From Kang to Doom
Quantumania and Loki Season 2 set up Kang, with his countless variants, as the next big villain. Marvel later changed course, and Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom became the Avengers' next enemy. How the Kang story connects to Doomsday is not officially known.
Importance of the multiverse titles
- Importance 10: Loki Seasons 1 and 2, No Way Home, Multiverse of Madness, Deadpool & Wolverine, The Fantastic Four
- Importance 5-8: Shang-Chi (8), WandaVision (8), Doctor Strange (8), Love and Thunder (5), Quantumania (5)
- Importance 4: The Marvels (but its mid-credits scene with Beast is a must)