Editing Parallel universes in fiction (section)

== History ==

=== Early examples ===
One of the first science-fiction examples of a parallel universe is [[Murray Leinster]]'s short story ''[[Sidewise in Time]]'', published in 1934. Although Leinster's story was not the first example of parallel universes, it is credited with popularizing the concept.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOVA {{!}} Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives {{!}} Science Fiction and Fact (non-Flash) {{!}} PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/manyworlds/time-nf.html |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.pbs.org}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |last=Burt |first=Stephanie |date=31 October 2022 |title=Is the Multiverse Where Originality Goes to Die? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/11/07/is-the-multiverse-where-originality-goes-to-die |magazine=The New Yorker |via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wolfe |first=Gary |date=2007-07-04 |title=Surfing the multiverse |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/448025a |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=448 |issue=7149 |pages=25–26 |doi=10.1038/448025a |issn=1476-4687}}</ref>

The use of parallel universes as a device in [[superhero fiction]] was popularized with the publication of the 123rd issue of ''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'', [[Flash of Two Worlds]] in 1961.<ref name="esquire" />

=== Modern examples ===
The device has seen much usage in popular media in the late 2010s and early 2020s, particularly in [[superhero films]], such as the [[Multiverse (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Marvel Cinematic Universe]] and the animated ''[[Spider-Verse (franchise)|Spider-Verse]]'' franchise. The multiverse device has also seen usage in other works, including the 2022 film ''[[Everything Everywhere All at Once]]''.<ref>'{{Cite magazine |date=27 April 2022 |title=A Guide to All the Major Cinematic Multiverses |url=https://time.com/6169255/cinematic-multiverse-list/ |magazine=TIME}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Some filmmakers and critics, including ''Endgame'' co-director [[Joe Russo (director)|Joe Russo]], have expressed concern that film studios may be embracing multiverse-centric plotlines to capitalize on characters and intellectual property with pre-existing popularity, ultimately to the detriment of originality and creativity in filmmaking.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 February 2022 |title='Avengers: Endgame' co-director Joe Russo warns multiverse could be too much of a good thing |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/avengers-endgame-director-joe-russo-warns-of-multiverse-oversaturation}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kain |first=Erik |title=The Madness Of The Multiverse: How Infinite Universes Are Killing The Superhero Genre |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2023/11/14/we-truly-are-living-in-a-multiverse-of-madness-and-it-needs-to-stop/ |website=Forbes}}</ref>