7 Marvel Heroes Whose Origins Happen In Alternate Universes

7 Marvel Heroes Who Actually Come From Totally Different Universes

Gwen Stacy aka Ghost-Spider web-swings through New York carrying a backpack in Marvel Comics

By Nicolas Ayala Published 35 minutes ago Nicolas Ayala is a Senior Writer for the Comics team at ScreenRant, with over five years of experience writing about Superhero media, action movies, and TV shows. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Some Marvel characters have established themselves on Earth-616 so well that it's easy to forget they come from different universes. The multiverse has become central to Marvel lore, having played a key role in many major storylines and the origins of multiple characters. The existence of infinite parallel realities continues to be essential to Marvel Comics, even after the destruction and subsequent reset of the entire multiverse.

The Marvel multiverse enables characters to cross between realities and thus unlock endless narrative possibilities. Some travelers hail from dystopian futures, like Maestro and Old Man Logan, while others come from timeline divergences or entire alternate histories, such as Spider-Man 2099 and Spider-Man Noir. Meanwhile, other characters have experienced the best parts of their history after exiting their home realities.

Devil Dinosaur

Earth-78411

Devil Dinosaur roars in New York

Devil Dinosaur originates from Earth-78411, a prehistoric alternate timeline where dinosaurs never go extinct and coexist with primitive humanoid tribes. Although “Dinosaur World” is filled with volcanic landscapes, early civilizations already exist. Devil Dinosaur forms an unbreakable bond with Moon-Boy after the kid rescues him from a brutal ritual that enhances his already powerful body.

Devil Dinosaur crosses into Earth-616 through dimensional portals multiple times. However, after Moon-Boy is murdered, Devil Dinosaur stays on Earth-616 and forms a partnership with Lunella Lafayette, the super-genius known as Moon Girl. Since then, Devil Dinosaur has fought monsters and supervillains in Marvel's prime universe, often serving as Moon Girl’s muscle and loyal companion.

Gamora

Earth-7528

Gamora swings her sword on a yellow background in Marvel Comics

Gamora originates from the alternate future timeline of Earth-7528, where she grows up alongside her fellow Zen-Whoberis until the Universal Church of Truth exterminates her people. The fanatical religious empire set out to dominate the galaxy through forced conversion. Fortunately for Gamora, Thanos arrives to stop the Church's expansion and saves her.

Seeing potential in her protégé, Thanos removes Gamora from her doomed timeline and pulls her through time into Earth-616 at least twenty years before her people's destruction. On Earth-616, Thanos trains Gamora as the ultimate living weapon. But eventually, Gamora breaks free from Thanos' influence.

Hyperion

Earth-13034

Marve hero Hyperion winds up to throw a punch

All versions of Hyperion are, by design, alternate-universe beings. Marvel created Hyperion as a deliberate multiversal foil to Superman, leading the Squadron Supreme, the Marvel counterpart to the Justice League. The original Hyperion of Earth-712 serves with the Squadron, crosses paths with Earth-616's Avengers multiple times, and eventually dies when his reality collapsed.

Earth-13034's Hyperion, introduced during Secret Wars, pushes his multiversal nature even further. After his universe is destroyed, Hyperion is collected by the Beyonders along with other powerful survivors and later integrated into Earth-616 as a heroic outsider trying to understand a world not his own. This Hyperion struggles with survivor’s guilt and seeks meaning in heroism after losing his entire reality.

Miles Morales

Earth-1610

Miles Morales stands in front of Spider-Man, Doom, and other characters in Ultimate Invasion

Miles Morales is perhaps the most famous Marvel character to come from a universe different to Earth-616. After being bitten by a genetically altered spider from Oscorp, Miles gains powers similar to Peter Parker's on Earth-6160. When Ultimate Peter Parker dies protecting his city, Miles steps into the role of Spider-Man, becoming one of Earth-1610's beloved champions.

During 2015's Secret Wars, Miles Morales crosses into Earth-616 followed by the threat of incursions. Since then, Miles has thrived as an A-list Marvel superhero, both alongside prime-universe Peter Parker and as a solo hero. Miles' interdimensional relevance has only grown in recent years. Miles has basically become Earth-616's representative during his trip to Marvel's second Ultimate universe, Earth-6160.

Angela

Image Comics

Angela prepares to unsheathe her sword in the halls of Marvel's Heven

Angela is unique among Marvel's multiversal transplants because she didn't originate in any Marvel universe at all. Angela was born in Image Comics' Spawn franchise, set in a different comic multiverse altogether. In her original continuity, Angela was a celestial bounty hunter who specialized in killing Hellspawn.

Angela's transition into Marvel required a full reinvention, which makes her one of the few Marvel heroes whose origins belongs to a completely different company's cosmology. When Marvel acquired the rights to the character, Angela's backstory was rewritten so she had always existed within Earth-616 as Aldrif Odinsdottir, retroactively inserted into Marvel's Norse mythology. This retcon also introduced the Tenth Realm, Heven, separated from the other Nine Worlds after war with Asgard.

Ghost-Spider

Earth-65

Gwen Stacy aka Ghost-Spider adjusts her hood in Marvel Comics art by Jee Hyung Lee

Ghost-Spider a.k.a. Spider-Gwen comes from Earth-65, where it's Gwen Stacy who's bitten by the radioactive spider. Gwen's world diverges sharply from Earth-616, as Peter Parker instead becomes the Lizard and dies in Gwen’s arms. After multiple universe-spanning events, Gwen gains the ability to travel between worlds, eventually establishing Earth-616 as her second home.

Ghost-Spider has since become more recognizable worldwide than the original Gwen Stacy ever was, thanks to comics, animation, and especially the Spider-Verse animated movies. As a side note, Gwen-Pool deserves an honorable mention. Allegedly coming from the real world, Gwen-Pool has also continues to rise in popularity parallel to Spider-Gwen.

The Maker

Earth-1610

Earth-1610 Reed Richards aka the Maker smiles while levitating in front of a planet in Marvel Comics

The Maker begins life as Earth-1610’s Reed Richards, leader of the Fantastic Four. After surviving the destruction of his universe during Secret Wars, Reed embraces a cold, hyper-logical philosophy. The collapse of the world he tries to save leads Reed to the realization that his genius can't prevent tragedy, so he embraces destruction. As the Maker, Reed Richards has since traveled across multiple realities, wreaking havoc wherever he goes.

The Maker’s most dramatic achievement came with his influence on Earth-6160, Marvel’s second Ultimate Universe. After escaping containment, the Maker interferes with key historical moments to ensure that major heroes never emerged, or emerged fundamentally warped. Though ultimately opposed by the new Ultimates, the Maker’s influence defines the very foundations of Earth-6160.

Comics

Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread Sign in to your ScreenRant account

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

Your comment has not been saved

Send confirmation email

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.