Multiple universes and timelines have been recently popularized by Rick & Morty, Community, Steins;Gate, and the entire DC Cinematic Extended Universe (DCEU). Though parallel universes and timelines have long been a well-trodden science fiction trope, I think mainstream folks more generally expect something like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Under the brilliant (genius?) direction of Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios since 2007, MCU’s Phase I-III comprised the first twenty-three films of Marvel’s single shared cinematic universe. This was an incredible ten-year run starting with Iron Man in 2008, culminating with Avengers: Endgame (April 2019) and ending with Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2019). One day, I’m sure historians will reflect on the unprecedented feat; it’s genuinely remarkable to me that Feige and his team pull of single, consistent, coherent world, the way they did. Truly, bravo.
It’s been fascinating to watch Marvel’s crosstown rivals, DC, make a similar attempt, fail spectacularly, and then reboot with more a “Multiverse Model.” Eg. I just read today that Batfleck will be returning to don the cowl once more in The Flash (Summer 2022). This will be happening despite the fact that Robert Pattinson is the new Batman in Matt Reeves’s separate The Batman movie.
Personally, I’m a fan of the Multiverse model. Obviously, I have no evidence to back up what I believe. Maybe the life we’re currently living is truly all there is. Maybe. But maybe not. Maybe there’s a billion, trillion Wobbles all walking around somewhere at this very moment. Some Wobbles became writers and others became lawyers or software programmers. Chances are, at least one Wobble became (or tried to become) an authoritarian dictator that oppressed hundreds of millions.
Across all of these timelines, I like to think all of the Wobbles share a common core, a single soul. Sometimes, when we dream while sleeping, we may catch glimpses of our parallel selves, all leading their own lives in their own timelines. Anyway, just my belief. 😊