But what of the Crossroads? Is this where a majority of Loki takes place? Loki’s glorious purpose revealed in the season 2 finale In fact, we have already seen the Nexus of all Realities, as this is where Uatu The Watcher resided as he observed the events of What If…?. This place acts very similarly to the Crossroads as it is a place where parallel worlds intersect. Here it serves as the nexus point for various alternate realities and dimensions within the multiverse.Īnd finally, the Nexus of all Realities. The Crossroads is an interdimensional location that exists outside the conventional time and space. The Fault is quite simply a massive rip in the fabric of the universe, as first seen in War of Kings #6 in 2009. Let’s look at what these three multiversal concepts are in the Marvel Comics. The Crossroads andThe Nexus of all Reality. Erik Selvig in Thor: The Dark World and chalkboard mentioning The Fault. But we don’t really want to draw your attention to these, instead, there are some concepts that should be observed. The convergence is a phenomenon that occurs when the Nine Realms align once every 5,000 years, creating portals for travel between them.Īlongside a drawing of the convergence showing Midgard at the center of the fractal gateways is a similar illustration of the Nine Realms’ structure to that of what Thor drew in Jane’s notebook. In one of his scenes, he describes the convergence in front of a chalkboard. Erik Selvig appears to be experiencing mental instability. As what seems to be the result of his exposure to Loki’s mind control, Dr. One more depiction of Yggdrasil to point out (before we move our discussion to that epic season 2 finale of Loki!) also comes from the 2013 Thor sequel. The tree shows the health and the status of the universe, so you can actually perceive Niflheim, and Svartalfheim, and Jotunheim, and Midgard, and Asgard–they’re all hung in the branches of this living tree. In The Art of Marvel Thor: The Dark World, Producer Craig Kyle talks about the living tree in the Hall of Science in more detail: “ There’s a living tree that’s connected to Yggdrasil, the cosmic tree–this beautiful cluster of wormholes that can allow people to move from one planet to the next, if they have the Bifrost. Yggdrasil in Thor: The Dark World (Marvel/Disney) A living tree resides in the Hall of Science on Asgard, the library that also contains The Book of Yggdrasil which Odin uses to explain the nature of the Aether and the history of the Dark Elves. The most prominent visualization of the tree is in Thor: The Dark World. We see depictions of the tree in many other places throughout the films, and now shows, such as the wooden carving of “T he Tree of Worlds ” in the medieval church in Tønsberg, Norway. The new 340+ page textbook The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline speaks to Earth in more context stating that it “is situated at the center of the tree-like Yggdrasil, earning it the name Midgard from the Asgardians as they venture between the higher and lower realms.” The means of travel between realms is performed by using a spectrum of energy the Asgardians call the Bifrost. Here, Thor highlights a notebook drawing of the cosmic structure and informs Jane Foster that her “ world is one of the Nine Realms of the cosmos, linked to each other by the branches of Yggdrasil, the World’s Tree.” Yggdrasil as represented in Marvel Comics.Īs for the MCU, Yggdrasil made its first MCU appearance in the film Thor in 2011.

As the Marvel Universe expanded, and interdimensional crossovers became more common, the World Tree’s role also evolved to become a symbol of the multiverse. In the early years, taking after its Nordic roots, Yggdrasil was depicted as a massive tree standing at the center of the Marvel Universe, connecting the realms of Asgard, Muspelheim, Nidavellir, and other realms. Yggdrasil’s first appearance in Marvel Comics way back in 1963, published in Journey into Mystery #97. It serves as a cosmic axis, binding the realms together and symbolizing the interconnectedness of all things. In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil is a large tree that connects the Nine Realms of existence. Yggdrasil as we know itīefore we dive into the history of Yggdrasil in Marvel, it’s essential to understand the roots of this mythological concept. One of the most intriguing elements from Norse mythology to make its way into Marvel’s rich storytelling is Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken audiences on an epic journey through the realms of superheroes, cosmic forces, and the multiverse, weaving intricate mythologies into its narrative tapestry. If you watched the Loki season 2 finale tonight you may have seen something familiar.

Thor comic cover wall art