CU
LT U R E
Whenever we see an “alternate version” of a character in film or TV, they're usually “the evil version”. But is that realistic? Is it time we reconsider who really is “the good guy” and who really is “the bad guy”? BY MARK HADLEY
I
WHICH
ARE YOU FROM?
54
SIGNSOFTHETIMES.ORG.AU • MAY 2022
JOEL-MUNIZ—UNSPLASH
MULTIVERSE
n 1886, when author Robert Louis Stevenson put pen to paper to create The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, he gave the world an enduring picture of both the good and the evil that exist in a human being. He also articulated a dream that human beings might choose to separate themselves from the darker side of their characters. That dream has been reworked for a new generation with the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In the wake of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) finds himself confronting a multiverse (an infinite collection of possible universes) on the verge of collapse. He enlists the help of the Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) to counter this disaster. Along the way, they recruit new Hispanic superhero, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), better known to comicbook fans as Miss America. Together, they traverse the mind-bending multiverse, seeking to undo the damage done in previous Marvel outings. However, Strange and his even stranger posse are opposed by a collection of villains including Baron Mordo (Chiwetel
Ejiofor), and an evil version of Cumberbatch’s own character. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (hereafter referred to as DSMM) is the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and a strong argument for viewers to do a little homework before they settle into their cinema. DSMM is a direct sequel to Doctor Strange and is also a nexus storyline for several threads left hanging in previous MCU productions. In the TV spinoff Wandavision, Maximoff re-wrote reality to bring her lover back to life. In Loki, Thor’s adopted brother fractured the “sacred timeline”. And in Spider Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker’s dilemmas led Strange to perform a spell that allowed alternate realities to emerge. Yes, there is a lot of band-aiding to do. And who better to do it than another Marvel favourite? DSMM was directed by Sam Raimi, the creator of the original Spider-Man trilogy. Raimi is such a fan of Strange as a character that he left easter eggs in those benchmark films pointing to the Master of the Mystic Arts. As the director of The Evil Dead, he is also a suitable choice MAY 2022 • SIGNS OF THE TIMES.ORG.AU
55
