By now, the average denizen of Marvel Comics' version of Earth should be suicidal, psycho-chemically zombified, or both. They been thru Some Real Stuff. Atlantis Attacked. M Housed. Skrulls Secretly Invaded. Superheroes Civil Warred. Captain America Secret Empired.
That's a bit much for your average grocer or accountant. They need some way to normalize all this.
Now, as the last 1/2 decade has taught us, the way people handle unacceptable realities is by embracing conspiracy theories, however ludicrous.
So, what's the Marvel event, and what's the conspiracy theory that's used to make it more manageable?
Mine: Galactus is Hank Pym's victim.
We can't deal with the idea that there's a space god that's going to eat our planet. But there's this guy, who's kind of a jerk, that can grow big, and who invented a buncha wild stuff.
So, clearly, this "Galactus" guy is one of Pym's size-changing test subjects, who escaped with some of Pym's other inventions. The FF put him down and hid the facts because Mr. Fantastic was in on it. He was Pym's research partner, to whom the poor "Galactus" fled for help, only to get slapped down to protect the FF and Pym.
That's why Galactus never ate the planet (he can't) and why the Heroes keep letting him go (they can't let anyone hear his story).
Of course, that leaves the Silver Surfer dangling. Anybody want a go at that?
So what's your answer to how Marvel's citizens explain their world away?