Reader beware: This post will discuss easter eggs throughout Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness and explain them. If you haven’t watched the film yet, you might want to bookmark this post and come back later.
Last week saw the launch of one of Marvel’s most anticipated movies: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While the movie has been highly hyped in the months leading to its release, there were still countless surprises, reveals, and easter eggs for fans to discover.
The basic premise of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness is pretty simple. America Chavez (known in the comics as Miss America) is a young girl who can travel through the multiverses. She finds herself on the run from something, or someone, trying to kidnap her for her Multiversal travel abilities, and she seeks out one person for help: Doctor Steven Strange.
Now, without yammering on about the film’s plot, let’s dive into the reason you’re here: easter eggs.
All The Easter Eggs From Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Professor Charles Xavier
After months of very public speculation by fans, Patrick Stewart’s return to the screen as Professor Charles Xavier came as little shock. Ever since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and gained complete control of the X-Men franchise, fans have been waiting for the inevitable introduction of the X-Men into the MCU.
Introducing Professor Charles Xavier as a member of the Illumiti was the perfect way to bring the two franchises together, even if his role in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was short-lived.
Still, even with the limited screen time, there were two significant easter eggs brought to the table by Charles Xavier. The first comes in the form of his costume and hover-chair. Anyone who grew up on the animated X-Men TV Show will be sure to recognise it. The other easter egg was the theme song that played when Charles Xavier showed on screen. It’s the theme song to the X-Men. The theme could just be playing now because it’s the first time any mutants have joined the MCU, or it could be a teaser for the upcoming X-Men ’97 tv show on Disney+.
Welcome back, Black Bolt
Anyone who still remembers the short-lived Marvel TV show called The Inhumans will likely recognise Black Bolt as the same actor from the TV show portrayed the character once more.
Black Bolt doesn’t talk as the merest whisper from him can flatten a mountain and is seen, however briefly, in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness donning a comics-accurate costume, including his tuning forked-cowl and glider wings.
Variant: Mr. Fantastic
While not offering much in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the inclusion of John Krasinski as Mr. Fantastic is something many have been waiting for. Fans have long been asking for John to play Mr. Fantastic in a Fantastic Four film, and for some, this coming to life in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a wish come true.
Variant: Captain Carter
Taking Namor’s seat on the Illuminati in this universe is none other than Captain Carter. Fans might recognise her from What If…?
Captain Carter is a variant of Peggy Carter, Captain America’s long time love interest. In the universe where Peggy becomes Captain Carter, she is the founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. and ends up taking the super-soldier serum herself.
Variant: Captain Marvel
Also a member of the Illuminati is Captain Marvel, but not the same one you’ve seen on-screen before. This time around, the Captain Marvel mantle is held by Maria Rambeau – who many might remember from the Captain Marvel movie.
Maria Rambeau is the best friend of Earth 616 (our Earth) Carol Danvers and is also the founder of S.W.O.R.D. However, she is not to be confused with Monica Rambeau, who was the S.W.O.R.D. agent that infiltrated Westview during Wanda’s takeover and gained energy powers. Maria Rambeau is Monica Rambeau’s mother.
Both mother and daughter will soon be appearing alongside Carol Danvers in the upcoming Marvels movie. Another cool easter egg about Maria Rambeau’s version of Captain Marvel is the suit she is seen wearing.
Maria’s white and green armour is a shoutout to the armour worn by the original Captain Marvel in 1967 when the character was still called “Mar-Vell” due to rights issues with DC.
Same But Different
During the opening of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the very first version of Doctor Strange that we see is a variant known as Defender Strange. This version of Strange not only has a ponytail but is also seen wearing his Defenders costume from the comic books. This version is also his universes Sorcerer Supreme.
Brainzzzz
Okay, so this isn’t actually a Strange variant, nor does it have anything to do with the What… If? series, but it’s still an incredible moment worth mentioning.
During the movie, our Earth’s version of Strange ends stuck in another universe. The only way back to his own universe is to dreamwalk, but the only body present is the corpse of Defender Strange.
We then see Strange dreamwalk as the dead Defender Strange, thus for a moment becoming Zombie Strange and being a nice little shoutout to Marvel’s Zombies.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness didn’t hold back when showing off multiple versions of Doctor Strange. However, one of the coolest versions, we only get to glimpse briefly. When Strange arrives on Earth-838 (a version of Earth that only exists within the MCU and not the comics), he stands an admires a statue of himself.
Strange soon learns that he died in this version of Earth while fighting Thanos. Sacrificing himself to save the universe. Upon closer inspection of the Strange statue, one can see that this version of Strange strongly resembles Doctor Strange’s classic comic book style, complete with fancy globes and cloak collar.
“Eye” See You
There are multiple versions of Doctor Strange showcased throughout Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with Sinister Strange being one of them. During the movie, viewers see a corrupted version of Doctor Strange on a version of Earth that has already suffered an Incursion. This version of Strange has been completely taken over by The Darkhold and is sporting a third eye on his forehead.
This third eye has always been a part of the Strange comics and is often shown in the comics and even in the MCU as the Eye of Agamotto, a pendant worn around Strange’s neck. The same pendant that previously housed the Time Stone.
However, by the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it becomes apparent that our Earth’s version of Doctor Strange has now unlocked his third eye, just like his Sinister variant. In the comics, this eye has many powers and allows Strange to replay events, see the truth, and read minds.
An Old Face
A vaguely familiar face pops up early in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Nicodemus West can be seen sitting next to Strange during the wedding scene. Fans might recognise Nicodemus from his small role in the first Doctor Strange film, where he performs surgery on Strange’s hands.
Nicodemus has only had one comic appearance, and that was in the limited series by Brian K. Vaughn. During the comic, Nicodemus steals an elixir which ends with a battle between Nicodemus and Strange, where Nicodemus meets his ends.
During his brief appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it’s apparent that Nicodemus has no love lost for Strange. After explaining to Strange that he lost his brother and several pet cats during the five years of The Blip, he asks Strange if the detrimental way Strange and the Avengers defeated Thanos was the only way they could’ve done it.
Hello, Old Friend
After watching Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, one of the first questions my friends asked me was who or what was the weird green Minotaur? Known as Rintrah, the green Minotaur was first introduced to comic book readers in Doctor Strange #80, published in 1986. Rintrah is an extradimensional minotaur who saved Strange’s life and became his apprentice, even aiding Doctor Strange during the Infinity War.
Rintrah becomes one of Strange’s closest friends in the comics and even starts living with him. While Rintrah didn’t have a significant role in the movie, including him was a nice nod to all comic fans.
Please Welcome… Miss AMERICA!
Perhaps the most significant new addition to the Strange universe and the MCU is the on-screen introduction to America. Having had her own comic run for over a decade, Miss America finally made her way to the big screen with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. For the most part, her character is pretty accurate to the source material.
America Chavez, or Miss America as she is known, can travel through the multiverse and, in the comics, is a part of the Ultimates and A-Force and the Young Avengers.
Maybe You Should Judge Some Books By Their Covers
A big part of WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness goes about the Darkhold.
The Darkhold, AKA the Book of the Damned or the Book of Sins, is ancient and evil. It contains powerful dark magic spells and is considered the most potent record of dark magic. It’s said that anyone who reads it will lose their mind…or their soul.
However, everything has its counter, and The Book of Vishanti is its opposite. The Book of Vishanti is a book of white magic. It is a crucial element of Doctor Strange mythos since the character’s origins have first made its appearance in Strange Tales #116.
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The Book of Vishanti is explained to give the users whatever they need to defeat what plagues them. However, the book gets destroyed before Strange can read it. One can argue, though, that the book being destroyed is what Strange needed to be able to defeat what plagues him, thus meaning the book did work after all.
“Eye” Spy With My Little Eye Something Beginning With…
… S. Very early on in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a wild creation seeming straight from the pages of Dungeons and Dragons is seen. This giant, one-eyed, tentacled creature is known as Shuma-Gorath and is an Old One. The Old Ones are elder gods that feed on screaming souls and represent chaos.
The first time Shuma-Gorath appeared in the comics was in 1973, during which it fought Doctor Strange for the soul of the Ancient One. However, the character itself predates its Marvel debut, created by Robert E. Howard, for his Kull the Conqueror short story.
A Thankless Job
You had to time your blinks correctly to have spotted this easter egg. We see Doctor Strange and America fall through the multiverse during a fast-paced scene in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
While falling, viewers can catch the briefest glimpse of someone they might recognize from the Loki TV Show – The Living Tribunal.
The Living Tribunal first appeared in Strange Tales #157 and is a giant three-faced cosmic entity that protects the multiverse from mystical forces. The three faces represent equity, necessity, and revenge, and it’s up to The Living Tribunal to make sure that no one universe ever becomes more powerful than another.
Welcome Home
When we meet Doctor Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we find out she is from Earth-838 and is employed by the Baxter Foundation. Baxter is a name any Fantastic Four fan is sure to recognise.
In 2015’s Fantastic Four movie, the Baxter Foundation was introduced as a think tank for young geniuses, and in the comics, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm all reside in the Baxter Building. While this might not have been the most significant easter egg, it hints towards more inclusion of the Fantastic Four into the current MCU.
What If… Two Earths Collided
During Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Doctor Strange comes face to face with the Illuminati, and they tell him they were scared their universes Stephen Strange would end up causing an Incursion, something which Reed Richards stressed the catastrophic danger of.
As explained briefly during Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Incursions happen when two versions of Earth from different universes collide. Incursions happen over roughly eight hours. During this time, one of two things will happen: first, if one version of Earth is destroyed during the collision, then its entire universe also dies, but the other universe survives. Second, if neither Earth is destroyed during the collision, both universes are wiped out.
Then during the post-credits scene, Clea tells Strange he’s responsible for an Incursion… Proving the Iliminati’s fear of all versions of Strange to be true.
I Now Present To You, Mrs. Steven Strange
During the post-credit scenes of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, an exciting new character was revealed. During the scene, we see Doctor Strange walking through the streets of New York. Suddenly, a strange woman (played by none other than Charlize Theron) donning all purple armour with icy white hair emerges in front of Strange. The woman informs Strange that he has caused some severe problems, like causing an Incursion into her universe, and he needs to come with her and fix the mess he has made.
If the character’s signature look didn’t already give it away, this mysterious woman is none other than Clea. Doctor Strange’s wife from the comics. In the comics, Clea is not only a powerful sorcerer, but she is the Sorcerer Supreme of the Dark Dimension, daughter to Umar and the niece of Dormammu.
Something Isn’t Right Here
This easter egg is a pretty cool piece of a long-forgotten history. During one scene, set in one of the multiple realities, Wanda’s two boys watch a cartoon on TV. Upon closer inspection, viewers can see that the cartoon is called “Oswald the Lucky Rabbit”.
Now here comes the cool part, in our real world, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was one of Walt Disney’s first creations that, because of rights issues, had to be replaced with none other than Mickey Mouse. More than just a call back to a short moment in history, it also shows that in this reality with Wanda’s boys, the rights issue never happened. As such, Oswald is Disney’s crowning jewel instead of Mickey.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a film of epic proportions that brought together a lot of aspects from across many of Marvel’s TV Shows, comics and movies. Love it or hate it, no one can deny the impact this movie will have over the entire future of the MCU, and we couldn’t be more excited for everything to come.
If you enjoyed this article and want to know more about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, read our “Ending Explained” post here. You can also read our deep-dive into the two “Post-Credit” scenes” here.
As always, if this post inspired you to pick up a Doctor Strange comic for yourself, remember to head over to Critters and Comics. If you don’t know which comics to start with, read our guide here.