Earth-A
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Earth-A | |
 If this infobox is not supposed to have an image, please add "|noimge=yes". |
|
| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| In story information | |
| Type | Dimension |
Earth-A is a universe in the Marvel Comics Multiverse. It first appeared in Fantastic Four #118. It was given the numerical designation of Earth-721 in the Marvel Encyclopedia Vol. 6: Fantastic Four.
On Earth-A, only two members of the famous Fantastic Four (Reed Richards and Ben Grimm) were aboard Richards' spaceship on the fateful day that the group was exposed to cosmic rays. Afterwards, in an inversion of their status in the primary Marvel continuity (Earth-616), Richards became the rocky, monstrous Thing while Grimm became the pliant Mister Fantastic. Johnny Storm (the Human Torch on Earth-616) was believed dead in the Vietnam War, and his sister Susan Storm (the Invisible Girl in Earth-616) married Grimm. The Thing of Earth-616 met this Thing when he was accidentally teleported to Earth-A by the Inhumans' dog Lockjaw.
Later, the extra-dimensional warlord Arkon became involved in a scheme to ignite nuclear war on three worlds (Earth-616, Earth-A, and the Fifth Dimension) so that he could use the energy released by the wave to power his own world. The Thing of Earth-A fought Arkon on Earth-616, confusing Alicia Masters, who was romantically involved with the Thing of Earth-616. Meanwhile, Arkon's ally in Earth-616's Roxxon Corporation used Reed Richards' time machine to unleash dinosaurs and other threats into Earth-A. The Fantastic Four learned the truth and, with the assistance of the Reed Richards of Earth-A, halted the war. The Thing of Earth-616 then traveled to the Nexus through which Arkon hads planned to absorb this energy and destroyed it after defeating its guardian, Gaard. Gaard was actually Earth-A's Johnny Storm, who had been saved from death and given superhuman power by Arkon's scientists. After he failed to stop Grimm, he departed into the multiverse.
Over the following years, Gaard's power would improve to the level that he could eliminate redundant timelines. He somehow physically transformed or gained a suit of armor, and renamed himself Vangaard. He attempted to destroy the extra-temporal realm of Elsewhen, but was opposed by the Elsewhen-raised superhero Huntara and her teammates in the Fantastic Four-allied team Fantastic Force. When Huntara learned who Vangaard really was, her teammate, Earth-616's Human Torch turned off his flame sheath. When Vangaard saw his own heroic counterpart, he had a change of heart, and decided to assist those wayward timelines instead of destroying them.
[edit] Earth A in She-Hulk
In She-Hulk #21, it is revealed that some recent continuity errors are a result of the non-powered Earth-A counterparts of heroes such as She-Hulk, Dr. Strange, Hulkling and Wiccan traveling to Earth-616 (which they call Earth-B) and acquiring the powers of their 616 counterparts.
Rhino: There appears to be at least 4 counterparts for him since he was apprehended 5 times the same week. One of them was defeated by his Earth's She Hulk
She-Hulk: This She-Hulk slept with Juggernaut, hence she appeared in the pages of Austen's Uncanny X-Men and possibly Claremont's New Excalibur. She almost took 616-She Hulk's place when the latter was depowered but when she was cured they both realised they were better off in their own worlds.
Wiccan and Hulkling: Registered in the Initiative, much to the dismay of their 616 counterparts.
Dazzler: Still blonde, went on a tour while the real one was busy being part of the New Excalibur.
All of them had been sent home by the end of She-Hulk vol. 2 #21
