Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-24245551-20161124025129

Just as a disclaimer. I am really new to the comics side of Marvel; I have only started reading quite recently.

Anyways I was wondering where the numbers for different universes come from (i.e Earth 616, and other such universes) come from. From what I know 616 is the "official" Marvel universe for lack of a better word.

Also I am curious to know if these different alternate realities are actually connected in any way, or if they are all independent of one another. 