Warning! Spoilers for Marvel's TVA comic series ahead!
The appearance of proven capable of defeating the Devourer of Worlds.
TVA #4 – written by Katharyn Blair, with art by Pere Pérez – continues to tease the miniseries' direct links to the MCU, making the introduction of Nightmare, as some fans believe is coming in this issue, a big deal if it turns out to be the case.
Nightmare is one of the most powerful forces in Marvel Comics, and has a long history in the publisher's canon, but isn't exactly on more general fans' radar, even compared to Galactus; this could change if the character were incorporated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as his powers would make him a dynamic, thrilling cinematic villain.
Marvel's "Loki" Tie-In Comic "TVA" Opens The Door To Nightmare's Appearance In The MCU
TVA #4 – Written By Katharyn Blair; Art By Pere Pérez; Color By Guru-eFX; Lettering By Joe Sabino
Nightmare has been on the minds of many Marvel fans, as he sits near the top of the list of suspects for TVA's looming antagonist; signs throughout the TVA comic have suggested that he could be the threat the series has been building toward. Given that TVA is inherently more intertwined with the Marvel Cinematic Universe than the publisher's mainline continuity, it has been the source of quite a bit of speculation among the fandom, and the opportunity for the comic to introduce the MCU incarnation of a powerful villain seems too good to up.
Nightmare is best known as a foe of Doctor Strange, but his long history has featured encounters with many of Marvel's top heroes – a number of whom are already in the MCU, or are expected to be.
Nightmare is best known as a foe of Doctor Strange, but his long history has featured encounters with many of Marvel's top heroes – a number of whom are already in the MCU, or are expected to be in the near future. The villain's powers give him the potential to be a potent on-screen antagonist, one who could certainly function as the main baddie in a future Doctor Strange film, or an enemy of the Young Avengers.
For MCU Fans, "TVA" Is More Than Just Source Material For The MCU – It Is Canon
Ushering In An Era Of Greater Synergy Between Mediums
In the case of characters like Deadpool & Wolverine's Gambit, and Loki's Sylvie and Miss Minutes, there has been some uncertainty regarding whether the characters in TVA are the actual MCU variants, or simply very closely related variants of those variants. In other words, even if TVA doesn't strictly take place in the same universe as the MCU, it is as MCU-adjacent as any Marvel Comics series – making it a valuable piece of the puzzle for anyone who closely follows Marvel's film canon, especially if it lays the foundation for future movie plotlines.
Marvel Is Quietly Paving the Way For a MCU Plot Twist With Help From the Scarlet Witch
Though the comics and MCU typically stay separate from one another, this new comic revelation may set up the Scarlet Witch’s MCU return.
The introduction of Nightmare – or really, any formidable villain that manages to make the jump from the pages of TVA to the screen in the future – would be a significant milestone in the interrelation of Marvel's film and comic book continuities. While all Marvel Comics are potential source material for future MCU stories, and the occasional film adaptation or tie-in comic extends the world of the cinematic universe, a true dynamic exchange between the two mediums is something many fans want. Now, a Galactus-level threat could be the next step in doing exactly this for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
TVA #4 will be available March 19, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
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