10 Insane Alternate Multiverse Stories Marvel Fans Must Read

Marvel Comics has long had varying universes away from the standard Earth-616, with some fantastic stories in them. They really let the writers explore the characters, while letting them be creative with impunity.

So far, the MCU has avoided anything like this, sticking with them all in the same continuity. Spider-Verse attacked multiverses head on, but they’re the exception, not the rule.

The closest the other movies have to come to anything even resembling a multiverse are the X-Men and the MCU existing on a separate level to each other. Even then, with the recent acquisition of 20th Century Fox that’s no longer even the case.

The Stewart/McEllen (or McAvoy/Fassbender for the younger versions) version of the X-Men is set to be consigned to the history books, with new versions of the characters to be introduced to the MCU in due time.

Or rather, so it would seem.

The recent trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home suggested that Mysterio might be from an alternate universe, opening the door to this becoming a staple of the MCU going forward.

Of course, with it being Mysterio he might just be lying, but that’s nowhere near as fun to think about. So, in honour of Far From Home's apparent multiverse-themed story, here are the best alternate reality comics Marvel have ever published.

Peter Parker kills Mary Jane with his radioactive semen, and that’s pretty much all you need to know about this one.

Set in Earth-70237, the story focuses on a Spider-Man much older than the Peter Parker we know and love on Earth-616. The New York he protects is a much darker place too, with Peter retired.

The type of criminals Spidey typically fights have gone, replaced by a brutal, authoritarian police regime known as the Reign. After a pep talk from J. Jonah Jameson of all people, Peter decides to become Spider-Man again. He’s consistently haunted by visions of Mary Jane throughout, which is just one of many pitch black elements to the story. Lots of readers feel this one tries too hard to be edgy, but no one can say it doesn’t commit to its ideas.

The mayor, who by the way is keeping a coma ridden Kingpin in his house for kicks, releases the supervillains to try and take Spider-Man down.

He ends up being tossed into Mary Jane’s coffin, where he overcomes his demons and recovers his classic red and blue suit, giving him the boost he needs to win.

It’s not a story likely to come to the MCU, but it’s definitely insane.