Oh hey, Marvel Rivals has canonised the Punch Dimension.
For those that don't know, Cyclops' eye beams aren't lasers, but instead beams of pure kinetic force.
In the original Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe from 1982, it was said that Cyclops' eyes actually open portals to a dimension made entirely of kinetic force. This, as it turns out, was not an explanation okayed by Marvel, and was changed in the next version of the Handbook.
(Instead, he generates the beams himself using sunlight he absorbs.)
But the Dimension of Pure Kinetic Force, nicknamed the Punch Dimension, has persisted among fans ever since. It snuck into another Official Handbook in 2004, and in 2017's Ultimates 2 Vol.2 #9 it finally made an official appearance.
America Chavez, who can make portals to other dimensions, defeated an enemy by opening a portal to a "Dimension of Pure Kinetic Force" which shot out a red beam.
It also got mentioned in Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver #1 from 2024 as the reason why a satellite is falling on their heads:
But Marvel Rivals has gone and made it the source for Cyclops' powers through multiple lines of dialogue referencing it, explicitly calling it the "Punch Dimension".
And with Marvel Rivals being as popular as it is, this has likely ended the Punch Dimension fight once and for all. Most people will now know the Punch Dimension as his power source. It's now an inevitability that it will come into the comics at some point.
And while such synergy is often derided, I've always liked the Punch Dimension, so I'm very cool with this.
Especially if they take it a step further and confirm the fan theory that the Punch Dimension is actually the Crimson Cosmos, the realm of Cyttorak, eldritch god of force, movement and inevitability. Tying Cyclops in to Juggernaut's patron is a fun idea.
