DC and Marvel provide their own Multiverses with infinite alternate realities. Across the infinite Multiverse, there are countless unique and bold reimaginings of classic heroes. Some of these alternate universes feature classic heroes with all-new origins. Others imagine what would happen if different people took on some of the classic iconic superhero roles. With so many versions across the Multiverse, it’s not surprising that at least a few of these superhero variants outshine their original counterparts. Many boast more compelling stories or greater success as heroes, making their original versions pale in comparison. Not constrained by the status quo limitations of the primary DC and Marvel Universes, these characters have proven themselves to be some of the most remarkable heroes of the Multiverse.
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These alternate versions of classic DC and Marvel superheroes have greater power, more compelling motivations, and have saved more people than their mainline counterparts ever have.
1) Civil War Captain America
Having fought the Nazi’s during World War II, Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, has always been deeply ingrained in American history. However, Earth-717 envisions a world where the hero is even more deeply rooted in American history, with a greater impact on the country’s trajectory. Set during the American Civil War of the 1860s, Union soldier Stephen Rogers was shot by his superior for objecting to their looting and murdering of civilians. On the brink of death, Stephen is saved when he’s possessed and empowered by the Native American Eagle Spirit, We-pi-ahk. As Captain America, Stephen fought for the Union, helping to end the Civil War a year earlier than in our history. He saved Abraham Lincoln’s life, fought the KKK, and made sure the Indian Wars and the genocide of Native Americans never came to pass. Even after his death, Stephen inspired future generations, including his own grandson, to take up the star-spangled mantle and fight for equality and liberty for all.
2) Tangent Atom
In the main DC universe, the Atom is mostly just known for his shrinking powers. However, the Earth-9 version of the character, Adam Thompson, is his universe’s foremost superhero. Adam is a third-generation hero. His grandfather, Arthur Thompson, gained his superpowers after participating in a super soldier experiment during which he was exposed to high levels of radiation. Inheriting his grandfather’s abilities, Adam has the powers of super-strength, flight, energy projection, intangibility, and molecule manipulation. He has saved the Earth on numerous occasions, including uncovering nefarious conspiracies within the United States government. When his world’s version of Superman took over the Earth, Adam fought alongside the resistance movement. Ultimately, Adam played a crucial role in overthrowing Superman’s regime.
3) Ultimate Spider-Man
The current run of the Earth-6160 Ultimate Spider-Man is considered by many to be a fresh and compelling upgrade over the most recent mainline Amazing Spider-Man comic series. In this version, Peter’s life takes a very different path. He grows up to marry Mary Jane, has two kids, and his Uncle Ben remains alive. Moreover, in this universe, due to the interference of the villain, the Maker, Peter doesn’t get bitten by the radioactive spider as a teenager. Rather, to fight the Maker, a time-travelling Tony Stark acquired the radioactive spider and gave it to the adult Peter. In this scenario, Peter does not become Spider-Man because of a freak accident, but instead he chooses to become Spider-Man, out of a desire to find a greater purpose in life. Consequently, rather than being a burden, the Spider-Man mantle is an honor, giving him the chance to help others in the ways he’s always wanted to.
4) Absolute Wonder Woman
In DC’s Absolute Universe, Diana is raised not on the beautiful island of Themyscira, but rather in the pits of Hell. Despite this upbringing, Diana’s compassion and fortitude prove to be even greater than those of her main counterparts. The Absolute Universe version of Diana sees the beauty in all life, even that of terrifying monsters and demons. Her selflessness is also proven to be far greater than that of the original Wonder Woman, as she sacrifices her arm to create a blood ritual to allow the pilot Steve Trevor to escape the Underworld. She is also the adopted daughter of Circe in this universe. This connection to Circe gave Diana access to a plethora of magical spells that drastically increase her power and versatility. She is also the very first public hero in the Absolute Universe, making her a game-changing exemplar of selflessness in a world overrun with corruption. Although she is very early into her superhero career, Diana has already proven herself to be a champion of the downtrodden, willing to fight the corrupt Greek Gods of the Absolute Universe for the sake of humanity.
5) Age of Apocalypse Blink
Clarice Ferguson, aka Blink, is a mutant with the power to create portals using knives made of energy. In contrast to her minimal role in On Earth-616, where she is primarily a background character, her Earth-295 counterpart is a compelling hero with a long publication history. This version of Blink hails from an Earth where Professor X died before he could ever assemble the X-Men. With no X-Men, the villain Apocalypse took over the world. Blink joined the rebellion led by a heroic version of Magneto against the mad tyrant. After Apocalypse was beaten, Blink found herself teleported to a new universe alongside various other X-Men from across the Multiverse. The displaced heroes were gathered by the mysterious being known as the Timebroker, who asked them to become the guardians of the Multiverse, to be known as the Exiles. With Blink as their leader, the Exiles have saved countless universes from devastation.
6) Kingdom Come Flash
Wally West, aka the Flash, of Earth-22’s Kingdom Come storyline, has transcended to near godhood. After Superman retired because of his growing disillusionment with humanity, Wally began to work even faster and harder to protect Keystone City. Over time, Wally stopped holding back his true power. Wally is now in a permanent state of motion, on a moment’s notice racing across the city to thwart crimes and prevent disasters. Wally moves so fast that he practically becomes an omnipresent god, seemingly everywhere at once. Thanks to his efforts, Keystone City is regarded as a utopia, with every citizen thankful for their fast-moving guardian angel. Where other heroes in this universe either gave up or retired, Wally never stopped running and protecting the innocent.
7) Star-Lord T’Challa
Introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s animated series What If…?, Star-Lord T’Challa is a better version of both the original Star-Lord and Black Panther. On Earth-21818, a young prince T’Challa is abducted by Yondu and the Ravagers instead of Peter Quill, the Star-Lord of the main continuity. Admiring the Wakandan prince’s adventurous spirit, Yondu offered to show T’Challa the galaxy. Over the years, T’Challa’s wisdom and kindness influenced Yondu and the Ravagers, leading them to abandon their pirating ways and become liberators and freedom fighters. Assuming the name Star-Lord, T’Challa became revered across the galaxy for his countless heroic exploits. He saved Drax’s family from a Kree Invasion. T’Challa even managed to convince Thanos to give up his genocidal crusade, saving trillions of lives. Through his natural leadership skills and altruistic nature, T’Challa made the galaxy a better place for countless people across the cosmos.
8) Batman Beyond
On DC’s Earth-12, set in the near future, an aging Bruce Wayne has retired, leading to the high schooler, Terry McGinnis, taking over Bruce’s role as Gotham’s Dark Knight. After stumbling across the Batcave, Terry donned the Batman mantle to avenge his father’s murder. Terry’s Batsuit provides him with enhanced strength, reflexes, and powered flight capabilities through retractable wings and rocket boots. Trained by Bruce in the art of crime-fighting, Terry has more than exceeded his predecessor’s expectations. Despite also losing a family member, Terry is a far more mentally sound hero than Bruce ever was as the Caped Crusader. He’s kind, compassionate, and has a healthy work-life balance. He’s not driven by rage, but by a need to atone for his past as a petty criminal and delinquent. Learning from his mentor’s mistakes, Terry is a much more well-rounded hero who represents a more hopeful future for the Batman legacy.
9) King Thor
King Thor of Earth-14412 represents the ultimate evolution of the God of Thunder. During the “War of the Realms” story arc, Thor sacrificed one of his eyes for wisdom and victory, just like Odin had done before. In the far future, Thor takes his rightful place as the King of Asgard, inheriting the all-powerful Odin-Force (renaming it the Thor-Force). Tragically, out of spite, almost all life on Earth is wiped out by Loki. This tragedy turns Thor into a stern ruler just like his father. However, after suffering serious injuries from a fight with Galactus, Thor’s godly blood brings plant life back to Earth. With the help of his daughters, Frigg, Ellisiv, and Atli, he uses magic to repopulate the rejuvenated Earth with animals and humans. Considered by many to be the wisest and strongest Thor variant in the Multiverse, King Thor has truly earned his titles of the King of Asgard and the Protector of the Nine Realms.
10) All-Star Superman
There are few stories about the Man of Steel as influential as All-Star Superman. Set in a universe where Superman is exposed to a lethal dose of solar radiation, Superman’s abilities are tripled in raw power, but with the result that he will soon die and turn into pure energy. In his remaining time, after getting his affairs in order, the Man of Steel saves as many people as he can. This version of Superman also features one of the most well-known moments in the character’s history: where he convinces a suicidal girl not to take her own life. When the villain Solaris poisons the Sun, causing it to die slowly, Superman makes one final heroic sacrifice: he flies into the dying star’s center, releasing all the built-up energy to restart the Sun. Of course, to no one’s surprise, it turns out that the Man of Steel didn’t truly die, but instead became a being of pure energy that works tirelessly to keep the Sun running so that humanity will have a brighter tomorrow. All-Star Superman presents an alternate universe version of Superman that perfectly balances the god and human aspects of his character in ways that no other story has managed to do before or since.
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