I am rewatching the entire MCU from Iron Man and finally got to Doctor Strange MoM.
Mr. Fantastics describes the incursions (quote from title) and also says that “From our experience, the greatest danger to the Multiverse, it turns out, is Doctor Strange”. Christine, in this universe, also consistently tells Strange, “you have to be the one holding the knife”.
To go with the basic definition of an incursion:
“a sudden, brief, or unwanted entry into a place, territory, or situation”
This led me to ask two questions:
- How many incursions have occurred during the Multiverse Saga?
- What is Strange’s angle if he does align with Dr Doom?
For Question 1, here all the events I think have caused incursions that led us to Doomsday:
- Endgame*: Steve stays with alt-universe Peggy
- Endgame + Loki (TV Show): new Loki staying alive and becoming the one who holds the multiverse together
- Spider-Man No Way Home: All Sony Spider-Man and Villains showing up in the MCU
- Doctor Strange Multiverse of Madness: Dr Strange and Wanda’s actions in Earth-838
- The Marvels: Monica stays in a different universe
- Deadpool & Wolverine: Deadpool going across the universes for Wolverine
- Thunderbolts: F4 arriving in Earth 616
- Fantastic Four: First Steps** - Dr Doom entering Earth 828 for Franklin
*Endgame - I know some people will say the Avengers time traveling would be an “incursion” but per the TVA, this was always intended to happen and it shouldn’t have caused many issues. Who knows if this will be changed. I don’t know.
** First Steps: This is my own theory but I think the Dr Doom that shows up in Doomsday is not 828 Dr Doom (the ones that F4 know). I think the reason why he was missing at the press conference held by Sue was because Doom (RDJ) killed him.
***Guardians Vol 3: I know some may argue that Gamora is causing an incursion but both Gamora’s are Earth-616 Gamora’s. If past Gamora would’ve went to another Earth, then yeah. But they’re are both the same Gamora just at different times, not different universes / earths.
For Question 2, if Strange does appear, whether in Doomsday and/or Secret Wars (I hope he appears in both), I hope they show Strange’s intentions of using Doom for his own personal mission. Doom is a means to an end and, unfortunately, only Doom can set the multiverse in order until Strange betrays him and takes control / the knife.
My hope is that Strange’s 3rd film grapples with the repercussions of his actions and burden of thinking that he always has to make the “right” but difficult choices.