The Illuminati, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has never shoveled more Easter eggs together into one of its films than in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Bringing the Illuminati—a bunch of the multiverse’s smartest, most powerful, and ultimately ineffectual heroes—was a brazenly naked ploy to get nerds excited that must have been lost on so much of the mainstream movie-going public. But nerds were so excited they even cheered the return of Anson Mount as Black Bolt from the truly wretched Inhumans miniseries. Of course, Patrick Stewart’s guest appearance as Professor X got tongues wagging until the Scarlet Witch showed up and crushed everyone like they were eggs. Xavier. Black Bolt. Captain Carter. Captain Marvel (a different one). Mister Fantastic. Baron Mordo. Wanda cuts them all down (often literally) with relative ease, making it the movie’s most memorably murderous scene.
