Marvel's handling of Spider-Gwen's multiverse integration draws criticism, with fears the MCU will repeat the error with the Fantastic Four.
Marvel’s decision to integrate Spider-Gwen into the main 616 universe has sparked backlash among fans who believe the move diminishes what made the character unique in the first place. There are now concerns that Marvel Studios could make a similar mistake with the Fantastic Four by folding their distinct cinematic world into the broader MCU through a multiversal reset. Critics argue that this approach risks misunderstanding the qualities that made both properties so beloved.
Spider-Gwen, introduced in Spider-Verse as Gwen Stacy of Earth-65, quickly became popular because of her radically different origin. In her universe, Gwen - not Peter Parker - was bitten by a radioactive spider. Her world also featured imaginative twists, including Matt Murdock as the Kingpin and Peter Parker transforming into the Lizard.
Much of the character’s appeal came from the unique world of Earth-65, which offered a fresh interpretation of Gwen Stacy that stood apart from her 616 counterpart. The setting created opportunities for stories that would not have been possible in the traditional Marvel universe, from Gwen’s band with Mary Jane to her gradual evolution as a hero. By moving her into the 616 universe, there is a fear that some of that individuality could be lost, reducing her from a distinctive character shaped by her own world to simply another hero within a crowded superhero universe.
A similar concern surrounds the Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four: First Steps established the team in a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired world filled with advanced technology, giving the characters a distinctive visual style, cultural identity, and sense of history. However, upcoming multiversal events such as Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars could potentially bring this alternate reality into the main MCU alongside other established universes, including the X-Men’s world.
While bringing these characters and realities together could create enormous crossover opportunities, it also risks stripping away the qualities that made each setting special. The Fantastic Four’s world works in part because it feels different from the standard MCU, just as Spider-Gwen’s appeal was closely tied to the originality of Earth-65.
Marvel has decades of multiversal storytelling to draw from, but alternate universes are often treated as temporary settings rather than fully developed worlds with their own histories and identities. The push to connect every character and universe can be exciting, but constantly consolidating them into one larger continuity may ultimately diminish the very differences that made them compelling in the first place.
