Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Release date: May 6, 2022
What it’s about: After being introduced to a young woman who can traverse the multiverse, Dr. Strange must protect her from an evil that wants to steal her power. That evil just so happens to be Wanda, aka the Scarlet Witch, who is hoping to spend time with her semi-real children and will destroy the multiverse for it.
Major new characters introduced (but not killed): America Chavez, Clea.
Major new concepts introduced: Wanda as the villainous Scarlet Witch, multiversal incursions, Dr. Strange with a third eye, America Chavez learning mystical arts, THE FREAKING ILLUMINATI!!!
Analysis: Though the film uses (mostly) established characters, the way it uses the multiverse feels like a blueprint for what may be to come. Even the Illuminati scene is really just riffing off WandaVision (with Patrick Stewart’s X-Men cameo), No Way Home (with Anson Mount’s alternate Marvel cameo), and What If (with Captain Carter and Captain Marvel). Plus, the end-credit introduction of Clea needing help with incursions is a huge topic that is likely to come into play. There’s nothing definitive yet but we feel like this film may be the lynchpin that connects Phase Four with the future.
Running Total: Two, bringing it to 52.
