Marvel Animated Universe

The **Marvel Animated Universe (MAU)** is a name given to the shared universe existing between the Marvel Comics based animated series *Ultimate Spider-Man*, *Avengers Assemble (Season 1-4)*, *Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.*, and *Guardians of the Galaxy (Season 1-2)* happens. This universe is also known as **Earth-12041** as part of the Marvel Reality Designation. This universe began with the episode, "*Great Power*" in *Ultimate Spider-Man* and ended with the episode, "*All Things Must End*" in *Avengers Assemble.*

## In-Continuity with the MAU

While there have been several animated series based upon Marvel characters over the decades, what is commonly accepted as the "Marvel Animated Universe" refers to the stable of shows and films that spin off from *Ultimate Spider-Man*, the original show in this universe. Older shows such as *Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes* and newer shows such as *Marvel Rising* are not part of this continuity.

### **TV Series**

The Marvel Animated Universe primarily consists of these animated series (and their related films; see below):

* *Ultimate Spider-Man* (2012-2017)
* *Avengers Assemble* (Seasons 1-4: 2013-2018)
* *Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.* (2013-2015)
* *Guardians of the Galaxy* (Seasons 1-2: 2015-2017)

### **Films**

The following animated movies are also part of the continuity:

* *Marvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight!* (2015; direct-to-video)
* *Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell* (2016: direct-to-video)

### **Shorts**

Two canonical shorts were released in online as web series to show the prelude or origin of the main characters of the shows. These shorts were also telecasted in TV during commercial breaks. Later these shorts were gathered into a episode and aired as main episodes of the series.

* *Guardians of the Galaxy (Shorts)* (2015-2017)
* *Avengers: Secret Wars (Shorts)* (2017)

### **Comics**

There were many comics that are released for these shows and they're canon in this universe. However, some of the earlier comics had new stories while others were just adaptions of the episodes of all the shows.

* *Marvel Universe: Ultimate Spider-Man*
* *Ultimate Spider-Man Infinite Comic*
* *Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors*
* *Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors - Spider-Verse*
* *Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man: Contest of Champions*
* *Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man vs The Sinister 6*
* *Marvel Universe: Avengers Assemble*
* *Avengers Vs.*
* *Avengers vs. Infinity*
* *Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble Season 2*
* *Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble: Civil War*
* *Marvel Universe Avengers Infinite Comic*
* *Marvel Universe Avengers: Ultron Revolution*
* *Avengers Solo Act*
* *Marvel Universe: Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.*
* *Marvel Universe Guardians of the Galaxy*
* *Marvel Universe Guardians of the Galaxy*
* *Marvel Universe Guardians of the Galaxy Infinite Comic*
* *Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Infinite Comic*

## Cancelled Projects

### ***Iron Man animated series***

When Gary Marsh asked about Marvel being a part of Disney in an interview, he said there was an Iron Man animated series was in talks. This unnamed Iron Man animated series was created as replacement of the *Iron Man: Armored Adventures* that was aired on Nicktoons and was made before the Disney's acquisition of Marvel. It was meant to be made due to the popularity of the *Iron Man 3* 2013 movie and the Iron Man character itself. This series was meant to be happened in the Marvel Animated Universe. It's unknown if this series was went into production.

## Not In-Continuity with the MAU

These are the seasons and series that are not part of the Marvel Animated Universe and are part of the Eric Radomski Animated Universe. This universe is also known as **Earth-17628** as part of the Marvel Reality Designation.

### ***Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!***

The third season of *Guardians of the Galaxy* also known as *Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!* was originally believed to be in the Marvel Animated Universe until it started to crossover with Spider-Man from the *Marvel's Spider-Man* TV series and not from the *Ultimate Spider-Man* series and the events from that season was mentioned in the *Marvel's Spider-Man* TV series making that season of *Guardians of the Galaxy* not part of the Marvel Animated Universe as it has crossovered with the *Marvel's Spider-Man* TV series making that season part of the *Marvel's Spider-Man* universe and not having any link with the MAU shows. Although it doesn't have any link with the other MAU shows, it was stated that some events from the previous seasons of *Guardians of the Galaxy* could have happened in that universe but differently.

### ***Avengers: Black Panther's Quest***

Like the *Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!*, the fifth season of *Avengers Assemble* also known as *Avengers: Black Panther's Quest* was also originally believed to be in the Marvel Animated Universe until the fifth season featured Spider-Man, Kraven the Hunter and Vulture from the *Marvel's Spider-Man* TV series and also having the same art style as the *Marvel's Spider-Man* TV series making that season not part of the Marvel Animated Universe and not having any links with the MAU shows. Despite it not having any connections with the MAU shows, it was stated that some events from the previous seasons could have happened in this universe but differently.

### ***Marvel's Spider-Man***

The *Marvel's Spider-Man* TV series is clearly not part of the Marvel Animated Universe as it is a reboot and a replacement of the *Ultimate Spider-Man* series. The *Marvel's Spider-Man* TV series is the start of Eric Radomski Animated Universe and it took place with the *Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!* and *Avengers: Black Panther's Quest*.

## Trivia

* The reality number of this universe 12041 is a reference to the first appearance of this universe. This universe first appeared in the *Ultimate Spider-Man* episode "Great Power" which was aired April 1, 2012 (12/04/1).
* This universe combines elements from the mainstream Marvel Comics universe (Earth-616), the Ultimate Comics (Earth-1610), and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999).
* This is the first time that Marvel has created and succeeded in creating a larger animated universe.
	+ In 1990s, Marvel tied up with Fox to create a larger animated universe with *X-Men: The Animated Series (1992), Iron Man: The Animated Series (1994), Fantastic Four (1994), Spider-Man: The Animated Series (1994)* and *The Incredible Hulk* *(1996)* but failed miserably and ended up being in different realities due to having many continuity errors and production company reasons despite having the same art style and shares almost the same cast.
* It's been confirmed that all mutants from the comics exist in this universe but they won't be appearing or mentioned other than some mutants due to the rights problem.
	+ There had been a rumor about making a new X-Men animated series that happens in the Marvel Animated Universe but Marvel Animation denied that rumor.

## References

1. ↑ Confirmation of shows in the Marvel Animated Universe by Patrick Duke
2. ↑ Information about the cancelled Iron Man animated series