616?

[Eargosedown]

i see this talked of alot around here in reference to ultimate villians. i assume it means the original series, but where exactly did this number come from and why?

thanks in advance, excuse my lack of knowledge.

[Expletive Deleted]

It refers to an obscure CAPTAIN BRITAIN story, wherein the "main" Marvel Universe is designed Universe #616 by a multiversal organization.

[sm00nie]

Tom B's blog over at Marvel, sheds light on the 616 origins -

http://72.32.138.96/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/entry/718
The term originates in Alan Moore's CAPTAIN BRITAIN stories from close to thirty years ago, but has only really come into popular usage in the last couple of years, as handbook-minded writers have begun to use it on Wikipedia and in similar information-based sites about the Marvel characters. Alan's story postulated a multiverse in which our Captain Britain was one of hundreds of slightyly-different Captain Britains across a string of parallel universes, each one slightly different in the manner of the classic DC Earth 1/Earth 2 scenario. And in needing some designation for our Captain Britain, Alan decided upon Earth 616. Different people have speculated on the source of Alan's inspiration, but as far as I know, he's never confirmed any of them.
http://72.32.138.96/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/entry/719
Alan Davis sent me the following information concerning the origins of the 616 designation for the Marvel Universe:

616 is an alternate, and some say older, 'sign of the beast', 666. It has some basis in Greek numerology (ZAZ?) but I don't recall the details. Although credited to Alan Moore, like much of the other Captain Britain folklore it was in place before he joined the book. (In actual fact the only significant addition Alan and I co-created was the Fury.) Jim Jaspers, the Crazy Gang, Saturnyne, the Omniversal organisation (Avante Guarde) Captain UK, etc were all conceived by Paul Neary or Dave Thorpe. Most of the more classic elements were Paul's (he had worked on an Arthurian Black Knight strip for Marvel UK some years earlier that utilised Captain Britain and introduced Jackdaw). Dave Thorpe, who wasn't a fan of the modern superhero genre, was responsible for most of the more madcap or satirical elements--such as recording his opinion of the Marvel Universe with the designation 616.

[Eargosedown]

ah thank you very much! that explains alot.

[Reggie]

Marvel has got LOADS of alternate realities and they are all numbered. Theres a big list of em at the multiverse marvel wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse_(Marvel_Comics)

Its the way to keep continuity in check :P

[Nosgoth Phantom]

Marvel has got LOADS of alternate realities and they are all numbered. Theres a big list of em at the multiverse marvel wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse_(Marvel_Comics)

Its the way to keep continuity in check :P

I see one includes Ash from the "Evil Dead" movies lol

[Venom]

Marvel has got LOADS of alternate realities and they are all numbered. Theres a big list of em at the multiverse marvel wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse_(Marvel_Comics)

Its the way to keep continuity in check :P

My God that's a lot of alternate universes.

[Rix]

I think there has to also be a 616 A, B and C...

Our present Spidey can't possibly be the same guy that teamed up with The Not Ready for Prime Time Players from Saturday Night Live in an issue of Marvel Team-Up from the seventies!

[Spiffy]

Joey Q has stated that he HATES the 616 designation and doesn't want people using it.

Then again, as is often the case, Joey Q can go stick a sock in it. Its annoying to do what he wants and just use the phrase "The Marvel Universe" when there are so many of them.

[Venom]

I hate the 616 term as well. Is it that hard to call it the Marvel Universe or the Main Marvel Universe.

[Metronome35]

I really want to see two alternate realities going to war over their numbering, like taking offense at their 'neighbour' universe getting a lower/better number than them.