The arrival of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Multiverse -- courtesy of What If…?, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man 3 --  makes one wonder about the existence of other Infinity Gauntlets. It stands to reason that there would be multiple versions, and fans might see how the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame could've gone differently in different universes in upcoming projects. And if that’s the case, then the danger they represent -- and the reappearance of Thanos or a similarly malevolent being capable of using the Infinity Stones-- hasn’t diminished at all.

However, a comic run from the '90s appears to put that issue to rest. 1996's DC vs. Marvel by Peter David, Ron Marz, Claudio Castellini, Dan Jurgens, Paul Neary, Josef Rubinstein, Bill Oakley and Gregory Wright pit Thanos and Darkseid against each other. At one point, Darkseid gains the Infinity Gauntlet, only to find that the power of the stones cannot cross between realities. If they do, they are rendered inert and useless in the new reality. The Living Tribunal, who holds ultimate sway over all universes, presumably enforces this rule, and his power is greater even than that of the Infinity Gauntlet.

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That idea, however, may be cast aside by the MCU, which operates according to its own rules and deviates from comic canon when and where it sees fit. The explanation exists for them to use if they wish, which would settle the issue and allow Phase 4 to proceed without having to contend with a thorny potential plot hole. But the MCU has a track record of leaning into such questions rather than avoiding them, and with the Multiverse shaping up to be a key part of Phase 4, the idea of multiple Infinity Gauntlets may be directly addressed.

Indeed, even if the Darkseid example holds, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the MCU’s residents know it. Multiple villains from any conceivable universe could presumably make a play for one, forcing heroes like Doctor Strange to stop them. In that way, the threat of the stones remains, even if the outcome is eventually revealed to match the “no crossovers” rule from the comics.

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And the Multiverse isn’t the only way to get a second Infinity Gauntlet. The time heist the Avengers pulled off in Endgame could easily be repeated simply by going back further in time, and fans are already speculating that a time-traveling villain like Kang might try exactly that. Other more esoteric forces like Loki’s variant let loose in the TVA could accomplish a similar thing without leaving the confines of the Prime universe.

Marvel Studios doesn’t look willing to rest on its laurels in Phase 4 and the acquisition of the X-Men and Fantastic Four provides copious storytelling material without having to revisit the Infinity Stones. But the MCU will need to address the possibility of another Gauntlet from an alternate universe in some manner, if for no other reason than to put speculation at ease. And if the past is any indication, it will use the opportunity to pull off something spectacular.

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