1. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we first meet America Chavez, a multiverse traveler. A star, which depicts the star-shaped portals she produces, and an LGBTQ+ pride pin, which is a reference to her moms and herself, who is a lesbian, can be found on America’s distinctive jean jacket if you observe closely. The term “Amor is Amor,” which means “Love is Love,” is among numerous phrases on her jacket.
Source: Marvel Studios / Jay Maidment / Walt Disney Studios / Everett Collection / Via youtu.be
2. You might not remember Dr. Nicodemus “Nic” West, who sits next to Strange at Christine’s wedding and talks about how he lost his two cats (and brother) during The Blip, if you haven’t watched Doctor Strange since it came out in 2016 — yeah, so much has happened in the MCU since then. After Stephen’s vehicle accident, Nic was the surgeon who saved his life. Nic is filled with remorse in the comics for failing to repair Strange’s hands after the accident, and he even follows him to Kamar-Taj.
Source: Marvel Studios / Jay Maidment / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Everett Collection
3. America Chavez is being hunted by a monstrous tentacle creature when she arrives in our universe. Shuma-Gorath, a fabled one-eyed, multiversal tentacle monster who frequently clashes with Doctor Strange, is the name of this creature in the comics. Prior to this, the monster appeared in a few episodes of What If…?
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4. Shuma-Gorath pulls up a bus with the number “6192” on the top during the fight with Strange and America. Since this is Marvel, numbers are usually essential, but the only two issues I could find that made any sense were Avengers Issue #61 and Avengers Issue #92, which feature Dr. Strange seeking out the Avengers for the first time and Scarlet Witch departing, respectively.
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5. You can see Multiverse of Madness screenwriter Michael Waldron standing next to Christine and her husband as one of their wedding guests when they step out onto the balcony to watch Strange and Wong fight the monster.
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6. America reveals to Doctor Strange and Wong that dreams are thought to be a window into our multiverse selves’ experiences, which makes this scene from Avengers: Infinity War even better. Tony informs Pepper in that film that he had a dream about their future daughter Morgan, implying that he was seeing a universe where the three of them were together and happy.
Source: Marvel
7. You can spot a green minotaur named Rintrah when Strange and Wong are at Kamar-Taj. Rintrah originally appeared in Marvel comics in Doctor Strange Vol. 2 Issue #80 in 1986. It even works at the Strange Academy, which in the comics was established by Doctor Strange.
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8. When Doctor Strange captures Wanda inside the Mirror Dimension and she escapes in an epic Pennywise-style, it’s a scene straight out of the comics, but it also demonstrates her power. People who employ Dark Dimension magic are more powerful in the Mirror Dimension, according to Mordo in Doctor Strange.
Source: Marvel
9. The Living Tribunal can be found in one of the universes where America and Strange travel. The Living Tribunal’s mission in the comics is to defend and maintain the multiverse’s balance. We first saw Living Tribunal in the MCU in Loki Episode 5, when Loki finds himself in the Void.
Source: Marvel / Disney+
10. In one of the realms where Doctor Strange and America travel to, there is a cab with a sign that says “Grindhouse Releasing,” a Hollywood distribution business best known for restoring and re-releasing Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was directed by Sam Raimi, of course.
Source: New Line Cinema / Everett Collection
11. The iconic Bruce Campbell, who is most famous for playing Ash in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead films, plays Pizza Poppa, with whom Strange and America fight on the street. Over the years, he’s made cameo appearances in a number of Sam Raimi films.
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12. When Doctor Strange and America see the Doctor Strange memorial statue outside of the Sanctum Sanctorum, you can, of course, see that the plaque calls Strange “Earth’s mightiest hero,” which is a nod to the Avengers throughout the Marvel comics.
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13. A store called “McLeod Books” can be seen across the street from the Sanctum in the new universe, which is likely a homage to Marvel comics artist Bob McLeod, who is best known for co-creating New Mutants with Chris Claremont.
Source: Marvel Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Everett Collection
14. You may see Billy and Tommy watching a cartoon with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as Scarlet Witch dreamswalks into another Wanda Maximoff for the first time. Walt Disney invented Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in 1927, but he famously lost ownership of the character, which led to the creation of Mickey Mouse.
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15. During a conversation with Tommy, Billy praises the 2003 Detroit Tigers, to which Tommy responds, “They sucked.” The 2003 Tigers had one of the worst records in MLB history, finishing the season with 119 losses. Sam Raimi was born and reared in the state of Michigan.
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16. After Scarlet Witch’s Darkhold duplicate is destroyed, Wong informs her of Mt. Wundagore, and the two of them head there. Chthon wrote the Darkhold on Wundagore Mountain in the comics, and the same is true in the MCU. In the comics, Chthon is subsequently imprisoned within Wundagore Mountain, and Wanda and Pietro are born the night he escapes, ready for combat. Wanda and Chthon have a long history in the comic books.
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17. When Wanda realizes that Wundagore isn’t a tomb, but a throne for the Scarlet Witch, the statue behind her recalls the drawing of the Scarlet Witch from the Darkhold that we saw while Agatha was reading from the book in WandaVision Episode 9.
Source: Marvel / Disney+
18. There are two children near the Scarlet Witch on the Scarlet Witch statue, which most likely symbolize Wiccan and Speed. Wanda even places her hand on Wiccan’s statue at one point. Billy and Tommy transform into Wiccan and Speed in the comics and battle alongside the Young Avengers, with Wiccan possessing comparable abilities to Wanda.
Source: Marvel Studios / Via youtu.be
19. When Doctor Strange and America meet Christine from another dimension, she informs them that Strange’s Earth is referred to as “Earth-616.” Earth-616, generally known as the Prime Universe in comic books, is the setting for all of the legendary stories involving the Avengers and other heroes. Christine in this rendition notes that they are currently on Earth-838, which is an MCU-exclusive Earth name.
Source: Marvel / Walt Disney Co. / Everett Collection
20. Christine tells Strange and America that she works at The Baxter Foundation and is the one who names universes. The Baxter Building was always the Fantastic Four’s headquarters in the comics, and was featured in the 2015 film Fantastic Four as an institution created by Franklin Storm, alias Sue Storm’s father.
Source: 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
21. You can see Ultron bots flanking Mordo as he approaches to collect Doctor Strange and take him to see the Illuminati – more on them in 10 seconds. So we get to see what the world might have looked like if Tony and Bruce’s Ultron program had been effective and not corrupted on this Earth. This also suggests that Vision is unlikely to exist in this universe.
Source: Marvel Studios / Via youtu.be
22. During Multiverse of Madness, we meet The Illuminati in a big way, and this is a hidden group straight out of the comic books. Doctor Strange is a member of the Illuminati, which includes himself, Professor Xavier, Reed Richards, Iron Man, Black Bolt, and Namor in the comics. Other superheroes have joined and departed the Illuminati over the years. Professor X, Reed Richards, and Black Bolt, all of the group’s initial members, appear in this film.
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23. Hayley Atwell, who previously appeared in What If…?, makes her first live-action appearance as Captain Carter when we meet the Illuminati. After being injected with the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, Peggy became Captain Carter. Captain America was a member of the Illuminati in the comics at one point.
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24. Lashana Lynch reprises her role as Captain Marvel, having previously appeared together with Brie Larson in Captain Marvel. Maria Rambeau died during The Blip in our universe, according to WandaVision, whereas Monica Rambeau was dusted. This version of Captain Marvel is, of course, what would have happened if Maria had Carol’s abilities instead.
Source: Walt Disney Co. / Everett Collection
25. Blackagar Boltagon, aka Black Bolt, a member of the Illuminati, is played by Anson Mount. Black Bolt frequently appears alongside the Fantastic Four in comic books. Anson formerly portrayed Black Bolt in the Marvel series Inhumans, but this time he wears a more comic-accurate suit.
Source: Marvel / ABC
26. And, of course, John Krasinski plays Reed Richards, or Mr. Fantastic, who in the Marvel comics was also a key member of the Illuminati. Fans have been fan casting John as Reed for years, so seeing it come to life in reality was incredible. Reed’s appearance also comes before the MCU reboots the Fantastic Four for the upcoming film, so who knows if John will reprise his role.
Source: Mike Coppola / Getty Images / 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
27. While explaining what happened to their Strange to Doctor Strange, Reed mentions that he sparked an incursion. In the comics, incursions have occurred on a few occasions; most memorably, Reed Richards was called in to help restore the multiverse after Earth-616 and Earth-1610 nearly collided.
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28. Patrick Stewart reprises his role as Charles Xavier, aka Professor X, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’s in a yellow wheelchair when he enters the conference with the Illuminati, which is a homage to Professor X’s appearance in the X-Men: The Animated series, which ran from 1992 to 1997.
Source: Fox
29. You can also hear the X-Men: The Animated Series TV theme playing in the background when Charles Xavier enters the chamber. I like this since they could have easily taken the X-Men films’ theme song, but instead chose this way.
Source: Fox
30. When Charles explains what happened to their Strange and how he died, you can see that their Earth’s war with Thanos took place on Titan, not on Earth, like in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. In this scene, you can also see that, like Wanda and Agatha, this version of Strange’s fingertips are black from using the Darkhold.
Source: Marvel
31. At the conclusion of their discussion, Charles expresses his belief that they may trust our Doctor Strange and that he may be unique. Charles says the same thing to his younger self in X-Men: Days of Future Past during this pep session.
Source: 20th Century Fox
32. Before annihilating Reed Richards, Wanda inquires whether he has any children, and she is relieved to learn that their mother can care for them after he’s gone. Sue Storm, Reed’s wife, and their two children, Franklin and Valeria, are referenced in the comics.
Source: 20th Century Fox / Everett Collection
33. During the titanic battle between Scarlet Witch, Captain Carter, and Captain Marvel, Peggy utters Steve Rogers’ iconic slogan, “I can do this all day,” which we’ve heard throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Source: Marvel
34. When Professor X accesses Scarlet Witch’s head, he does it through a door that appears similar to the Maximoffs’ mansion from WandaVision. Wanda is likewise trapped under rubble, which corresponds to where she and Pietro sheltered after the apartment was bombed.
Source: Marvel / Disney+
35. You can also see a small red TV airing the first two episodes of WandaVision while Charles tries to pull Wanda out from under the wreckage. WandaVision Episode 8 included this exact TV, which Agatha and Wanda used to journey around Wanda’s memories.
Source: Marvel / Disney+
36. When Doctor Strange, America, and Christine arrive at the location where the Book of Vishanti was hidden by the other Strange, Christine remarks that it is in the void between universes. This is akin to the comic book’s Nexus of All Realities. The Nexus is a cross-dimensional portal in comic books that offers access to all possible realms.
Source: Marvel Studios / Via youtu.be
37. When Christine and Doctor Strange arrive in the collapsed reality, you can see Sam Raimi’s iconic yellow Oldsmobile Delta 88, which he refers to as “The Classic,” floating around. The automobile has appeared in every one of Sam Raimi’s films, including The Evil Dead, all three Spider-Man flicks, Drag Me to Hell, and others.
Source: New Line Cinema / Sony / Universal Pictures
38. When our Doctor Strange meets up with his evil self, he mentions their deceased sister Donna. Stephen’s sister drowns and dies as they grow up in the comics. Stephen became interested in medicine after an injury Donna had a few years before she died. Donna was supposed to appear in Doctor Strange, but the plot was deleted.
Source: Marvel / Walt Disney Co. / Everett Collection
39. You’ll observe that evil Strange’s magic is purple, same like Agatha’s in WandaVision, when our Doctor Strange is fighting him.
Source: Marvel / Disney+
40. Christine used the Brazier of Bom’Galiath to literally ignite the souls of the damned on fire while fighting them off. Stephen tried to use this ancient relic to attack Kaecilius in Doctor Strange. Doctor Strange uses the Brazier of Bom’Galiath to hide from Mephisto in the comics. It’s hard to think it’s been a year since WandaVision and I’m still discussing Mephisto, but here we are.
Source: Marvel
41. You can see the boys watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when Scarlet Witch appears in front of Billy and Tommy and they assume she’s a monster.
Source: @_JulianHilliard / Marvel / Disney+ / Via Twitter: @_JulianHilliard
42. Billy and Tommy are dressed in red and green throughout the film, which is a reference to their superhero uniforms in the comics. However, in the end reality, when Scarlet Witch sees Billy and Tommy and they are terrified of her, Billy is truly wearing Wanda’s hoodie from WandaVision.
Source: Marvel / Disney+
43. When Wanda decides to demolish the temple at Mt. Wundagore and the Darkhold, she’s last spotted being buried beneath the rubble — I refuse to believe she’s dead; there’s no way — which parallels when her journey to gaining her powers began after she and Pietro were trapped in the rubble of her house in Sokovia.
Source: Marvel Studios / Via youtu.be
44. When our Doctor Strange, like evil Strange, gets a third eye after reading and using the Darkhold, it is most likely a physical manifestation of the Eye of Agamotto, which Strange utilized in Doctor Strange and Infinity War.
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45. Finally, we meet Charlize Theron as Clea in the first post-credits sequence, and oh my god, the way I shouted. Clea works closely with Doctor Strange in the comics, and the two eventually marry. At one point, she was the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth and the Dark Dimension.
Source: @charlizeafrica / Marvel Studios / Via instagram.com
