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Summary
The Multiverse has been an integral part ofMarvelstorytelling since the seventies – and while that has provided an endless man-made lake of storytelling potentiality by allowing the company to introduce any and every variant of their iconic characters , Marvel should n’t neglect the weirder , Samuel Wilder possibilities its fictitious universe has to offer , display by pre - Multiverse portraying of alternative dimensions .
unusual Tales#103 – written by Larry Lieber and Stan Lee , with art by Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby – is a perfect example of this . Pre - dating the prescribed introduction of Marvel ’s Multiverse by almost a tenner , " Prisoner Of The Fifth Dimension ! " is a Human Torch solo narration , which finds the hero face up an invasion of Earth by exotic beings ; rather than existence from infinite , however , the aliens come from a dimension that survive alongside his own .
Multiverse stories are a great way to explore characters in ways the main Marvel persistence ca n’t – whereasexploring other dimensions is an chance for fibre to interact with strange , unique new entity .
The Human Torch’s Forgotten Early ’60s Interdimensional Tale
Parallel dimensions exist at the same coordinates in time and space , but are part of the same Universe ; alternative continuity are their own discrete Universes .
" Prisoner Of The 5th Dimension , " as tell inStrange Tales#103 , boast the Human Torch investigate a enigma at a grammatical construction web site , where freshly built houses are sink into the ground at dark . A local man ascribe this to " swamp demons , " but it is rapidly bring out that the perpetrators are extraterrestrial - take care beings – with the local turning out to be one of these aliens in disguise . Rather than overrun Earth from space , these existence come from a dimension that is link to the Human Torch ’s by a strong-arm portal , which is located in the footing at the construction web site , remind the " 5th proportion " aliens to protect the gateway between universe by sabotaging human construction efforts .
consume prisoner and transported to the aliens ' proportion , the Human Torch ultimately helps to instigate a gyration against the " Prime Minister " of the fifth - dimension , Zemu . The story is notable for depicting a dimension operating in parallel to the one occupied by Marvel ’s version of Earth in a fashion that is distinct from how the company would come to impersonate its Multiverse . While the latter has make out to dominate Marvel storytelling – especially as it has becomecentral to future Phases of the MCU – parallel property fib are an under - utilized fashion of introducing fresh newfangled elements into Marvel story .
Marvel Storytelling Isn’t Lacking Dimensions, But It Could Use More
Of course , Marvel has n’t forgotten about parallel dimensions exclusively – Asgard , habitation of Marvel ’s original gods , is its own dimension , or " kingdom " ; most notably , the hell dimension Limbo has provide nightmarish antagonists forX - Mentitles , and more recently , Spider - Man’sDark Webcrossover , in what is perhaps the companionship ’s most enduring , and exhaustively - explore , parallel dimension . However , with Marvel recently adding to its roster of cosmic graphic symbol , with series likeJonathan Hickman’sG.O.D.S.,Alyssa Wong’sCaptain Marvel , andAl Ewing’sImmortal Thor , the company has proved its willingness to get weirder and wilder , to explore every new boulevard of dynamic storytelling useable .
With this in mind , Marvel ’s roll of Omega - tier creative natural endowment should look to Greco-Roman report , like the Human Torch ’s escapade inStrange Tales#103 , to inspire unexampled storytelling opening move that go beyond even the Multiverse . Notably , the " fifth proportion " from the issuing was revisit over a decennium by and by , in aFantastic Fourarc from 1975 – one which , as it plow out , was one of the early , plastic Multiverse stories , slimly pre - dating the conception ’s official introduction to lore in 1976’sWhat If … ?#1 . Having both narrative option on the table affordsMarvelthe fortune for a active interplay that will continue to help them bear as a funny book powerhouse .
