Ranking the 10 Biggest Marvel and DC Multiverse Events

Both Marvel and DC Comics have embraced Multiverse narrative, exploring countless alternate realities where familiar heroes and villains take on unforeseen roles and face unimaginable challenges. In this article we will be Ranking the 10 Biggest Marvel and DC Multiverse Events. Whether you’re a lifelong comic book enthusiast or a newcomer seeking to dive into the rich storyline of Marvel and DC, this ranking will serve as a guide through the labyrinthine multiverses.

Crisis on Infinite Earths

Ground-breaking DC Comics event “Crisis on Infinite Earths” was published in 1985-1986. It was written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by George Pérez. The storyline revolves around the Anti-Monitor, an immensely powerful being that seeks to destroy the multiverse. The heroes and villains from different Earths come together to save reality from annihilation. This event resulted in the consolidation of DC’s multiple parallel universes into a single continuity, creating a new and streamlined DC Universe.

Secret Wars

“Secret Wars” is a Marvel Comics event that took place in 1984-1985. Written by Jim Shooter and illustrated by Mike Zeck, the story revolves around a cosmic entity known as the Beyonder who abducts various Marvel superheroes and supervillains and places them on Battleworld, a planet created from chunks of different planets and timelines. The characters are forced to battle each other while also facing off against the powerful Beyonder. The event had significant ramifications on the Marvel Universe, including the introduction of the black symbiote suit that later becomes Venom.

Infinite Crisis

In 2005-2006, DC Comics published a major event called “Infinite Crisis”. Written by Geoff Johns and featuring artwork by Phil Jimenez, this highly anticipated sequel to the 1985 “Crisis on Infinite Earths” revitalized the concept of the multiverse. The story revolved around a diverse group of heroes from different Earths who joined forces to confront a grave threat emerging from an alternate Earth, specifically Earth-3.

“Infinite Crisis” holds significant importance within the DC Universe canon as it effectively rebooted the multiverse and introduced multiple variations of well-known DC heroes. While Crisis on Infinite Earths had previously revamped the timeline several decades prior, “Infinite Crisis” took a more comprehensive approach, redefining the DC Universe in a captivating and thought-provoking manner.

Spider-Verse

“Spider-Verse” is a crossover event that took place in 2014-2015 (Marvel comics). Written by Dan Slott and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, the storyline explores the concept of the “Spider-Verse”, a convergence of different versions of Spider-Man from various dimensions. The event introduces countless Spider-Man variants, including Spider-Punk and Ghost-Spider, who come together to fight against the villainous Morlun and his family. The Inheritors, as they are known, aim to hunt down and consume the life force of every Spider-Man in existence.

This epic event not only showcases the diversity of Spider-Man iterations but also establishes the superhero’s connection to the Great Web of Life and Destiny. The impact of “Spider-Verse” extends beyond the comics, as it has inspired major films like “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and the animated “Spider-Verse” franchise.

Flashpoint

The story of “Flashpoint” (Published in 2011) follows Barry Allen, also known as the Flash, who travels back in time to prevent his mother’s murder. However, this action leads to the creation of an alternate reality where the DC Universe is drastically different. Barry must navigate this new world and ultimately find a way to restore the original timeline. The repercussions of “Flashpoint” result in a reboot of the DC Universe, known as “The New 52,” which introduced a refreshed continuity for the comics. The event has been adapted into various mediums, including the animated film “The Flashpoint Paradox,” the third season premiere of the TV show “The Flash,” and the upcoming DCU film, “The Flash.”

Infinity Gauntlet

“The Infinity Gauntlet” is an iconic Marvel Comics event that took place in 1991. It was written by Jim Starlin, with artwork by George Pérez and Ron Lim. This storyline introduced readers to the mad titan Thanos, who became one of Marvel’s most formidable and complex villains.

In “The Infinity Gauntlet,” Thanos acquires the six powerful Infinity Gems: Time, Space, Mind, Soul, Reality, and Power. Combining them into a gauntlet, he becomes virtually unstoppable and attains godlike power. With a snap of his fingers, he eradicates half of all life in the universe, seeking to impress his love interest, the embodiment of Death itself.

The catastrophic consequences of Thanos’ actions send shockwaves throughout the Marvel Universe. Heroes and cosmic entities must unite, setting aside their differences and personal conflicts, to challenge the seemingly invincible Thanos.

Final Crisis

An epic event that serves as the concluding chapter of the Crisis trilogy in DC Comics. Following the ground-breaking events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and “Infinite Crisis,” 2008 storyline of “Final Crisis” weaves a complex narrative crafted by the talented creative team of Grant Morrison, J.G. Jones, Marco Rudy, and many other accomplished artists.

At its core, “Final Crisis” revolves around the villainous Darkseid, who seeks to unravel reality itself by manipulating and corrupting various DC heroes to his cause. Darkseid’s malevolent intentions pose an existential threat to the entire multiverse, and the heroes of DC must unite to confront this cataclysmic menace.

The crossover event presents readers with a must-read storyline that delves into the intricate nature of DC Comics and its vast multiverse. It offers memorable moments for beloved characters, with Batman emerging as a standout contributor in the face of the crisis. The series has earned its place among DC’s most renowned storylines, especially for its exploration of the complexities inherent in the multiverse.

House of M

“House of M” story revolves around the reality-altering mutant, Scarlet Witch, who suffers a mental breakdown and reshapes reality to create a world where mutants are the ruling class. This is a Marvel Comics event that took place in 2005, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel. Many Marvel heroes and villains find themselves living altered lives in this new reality and must confront the consequences of Scarlet Witch’s actions.

Age of Apocalypse

The storyline of “Age of Apocalypse” presents an alternate reality where Professor Xavier’s son, Legion, travels back in time to kill Magneto but accidentally kills Xavier instead, leading to a dystopian future ruled by Apocalypse. Various X-Men characters are thrust into this altered reality and must fight against Apocalypse’s tyranny. “Age of Apocalypse” is a 1995 Marvel Comics crossover, created by writer Scott Lobdell and various artists.

DC Rebirth

“DC Rebirth” was an exciting relaunch by DC Comics in 2016, aiming to refresh their entire line of comics. This remarkable event featured contributions from numerous creative teams, each delving into the adventures of beloved characters like the Bat Family, Superman Family, and the Justice League. Universes collided, blending elements from both past and present comics, resulting in a brand new status quo.

“Rebirth” garnered widespread acclaim and surpassed the reception of its predecessor, the New 52. It successfully weaved together elements from various eras of DC Comics, offering fans a fresh and cohesive reality for their favorite heroes and villains. While “Rebirth” wasn’t limited to a single storyline, it undoubtedly stands as one of DC’s greatest and most captivating multiversal sagas of all time.

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