Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Marvel Edition

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

I think it's pretty obvious that DC's current title, Tales from the Dark Multiverse, is kind of like their version of What If? However, it does seem to be a version of What If? with a specific bent to it: the twist to the old story is intended to result in the worst possible outcome. In the Knightfall and Death of Superman one-shots, the only two released so far, Bruce and Lois basically become murderous psychopaths...in different ways, mind you, but still. And I guess it makes sense, since its supposed to be the Dark Multiverse.

It got me thinking, though: what would it look like if Marvel did something similar? What would be some story arcs that Marvel could revisit and introduce a plot divergence that would cause a "Dark Multiverse" style reality?

[XPac]

A lot of marvel stuff could easily go dark. Beloved characters like Spider-Man, Thing or Hulk could EASILY become anti-heroes or even villains given their origns. Spider-Man had his uncle killed while Hulk and Thing were monsters. And of course the Maker in the Ultimate Universe is basically a dark Reed Richards.

But as far as other examples go... Black Panther sort of snapping due to Doom taking him out in Dark Reign could be a cool story.

[your_name_here]

The Maker is pretty much a dark version of Reed Richards.
When written correctly, he’s terrifying.

[DigiCom]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruins_(comics)

[Digifiend]

What If? The Punisher from the last batch of one-shots wasn't about Frank Castle, but about Peter Parker. Events went differently and he became a killer.

[PCN24454]

Many of the What ifs that Marvel released honestly could qualify.

[SuperiorIronman]

Dark Multiverse has issues in characters, story pacing, and condensing of its setup plots. Seriously, you can't just jump 30 years ahead in Knightfall or just go with it in Death of Superman. How does Lois Lane go from reporter to the Super human equivalent of a school shooter in the time it took her to see Clark? What happened in the 30 years that put Azrael in this position and why aren't we seeing that? Why is Azrael not the big threat at the end and who looked at Knightfall and says, "yeah that totally would happen if Jean Paul won"?

If Marvel just did more What if? but in larger form like Dark Multiverse I wouldn't complain. For their price, it's a good deal. However Marvel just has better quality and should be over darkness for darkness's sake. Just bigger What if? stories and I'd be cool with it.

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

Okay, here are a few ideas. I'd think these would be pretty obvious:

What If...S#it Got Real? The Night Gwen Stacy Died:

- Revisiting ASM #121-122. When Peter tracks the Green Goblin down after Gwen's death, in the original story, Peter can't bring himself to kill the Goblin. Norman would of course cause his own death. In this universe, however, Peter does kill Norman before the glider impales him. Peter then becomes a Punisher-style vigilante, spending years ridding the streets of crime through the brutal murder of anyone he deems criminal.

What If...S#it Got Real? The Coming of Galactus:

- Revisiting Fantastic Four #48-50. What if the Silver Surfer hadn't defected and Galactus ended up devouring Earth after all. The story would then focus on a handful of survivors who managed to escape Earth before it was consumed, including some of the heroes like the FF (at least some of them). It would center on Johnny Storm's eventual descent into madness and his attempts to get revenge on the Silver Surfer and Galactus.

[H-E-D]

Many of the What ifs that Marvel released honestly could qualify.

Yeah, most What Ifs are like that.

[PCN24454]

Two themes that the Dark Multiverses had was that one, they were more or less an amalgamation of two superheroes and two, they were a dark reflection of a previously existing universe. Rather than just having things go wrong, let’s think of some combinations.

For example, Negative Earth 616 where Green Goblin gets revenge on Spider-Man for killing him by dousing him with Goblin serum. (Like this hasn't been done a million times before. Really I can do better than this.)

Negative 70105: Peter Parker, when watching a demonstration conducted by Bruce Banner, gets bitten by a gamma-irradiated spider. Reveling in his new power, he goes on rampage killing Banner when he tried to stop him.

Negative 199999: During Civil War, Peter Parker, who was in grief from the deaths of MJ and Aunt May, decides to take revenge on all those he felt were responsible for their deaths. Using a bug that he planted in Stark Industries, he takes control of the prisons and all of the prisoners. With Tony's technology at his fingertips, nothing can stop Vulcan Spider.

Negative 82802: Odin, disguised as a mortal, wants to reincarnate his favorite son, Thor, and chooses Peter as his candidate, but due to Loki's manipulations Peter uses Thor's powers to terrorize the city.

[krazijoe]

Two themes that the Dark Multiverses had was that one, they were more or less an amalgamation of two superheroes and two, they were a dark reflection of a previously existing universe. Rather than just having things go wrong, let’s think of some combinations.

For example, Negative Earth 616 where Green Goblin gets revenge on Spider-Man for killing him by dousing him with Goblin serum. (Like this hasn't been done a million times before. Really I can do better than this.)

Negative 70105: Peter Parker, when watching a demonstration conducted by Bruce Banner, gets bitten by a gamma-irradiated spider. Reveling in his new power, he goes on rampage killing Banner when he tried to stop him.

Negative 199999: During Civil War, Peter Parker, who was in grief from the deaths of MJ and Aunt May, decides to take revenge on all those he felt were responsible for their deaths. Using a bug that he planted in Stark Industries, he takes control of the prisons and all of the prisoners. With Tony's technology at his fingertips, nothing can stop Vulcan Spider.

Negative 82802: Odin, disguised as a mortal, wants to reincarnate his favorite son, Thor, and chooses Peter as his candidate, but due to Loki's manipulations Peter uses Thor's powers to terrorize the city.

Or Gwen-Pool!