What If…?  is the latest Marvel Studios project to arrive on our small screens on Disney +.

The animated anthology series, created by Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia writer A.C. Bradley and Marvel vet Bryan Andrews flips the script on the MCU as following the creation of the multiverse in Loki’s first season finale, What If…? reimagines famous events from the films in unexpected ways.

This weeks episode of Marvel’s What If…? truly changes key moments from the movie that started it all. Ever since Iron Man was released in 2008, Tony Stark has been a fan favourite for many, including myself. He’s gone from being a Playboy, billionaire, philanthropist to a hero who’s willing to sacrifice it all. Though my question is What If…?  you just stopped killing Tony Stark in nearly every episode. 

“Without Tony’s fateful capture in Afghanistan the Age of Iron Man would never come to pass. Though the man was saved, a hero was lost, and a villain was given a new chance

the watcher

What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?

Synopsis

An American soldier called Killmonger rescues Tony Stark when his Humvee is attacked in Afghanistan.

Review

This latest chapter lacked the emotional depth of the previous episodes and is probably one of the flattest out of the series so far. However it works by giving the viewers more of the charismatic Black Panther villain Killmonger. He’s a fascinating, eerily timed villain. What If…? used the character to tell a commentary on war, power, ambition and the extreme lengths he goes to in order to portray the hero. 

In this episode Tony (Mick Wingert) is never kidnapped, nor has his heart been pieced with shrapnel which was depicted in the first Iron Man film in 2008, Instead he’s saved and rescued by Killmonger in the desert. This unfortunate moment erases all that’s Iron Man as Stark never built his first Iron armoured suit in the cave and he unfortunately never learns his lesson as he continues to make weapons. Killmonger also reveals Obadiah Stane’s plan to have Tony assassinated, which earns Tony’s trust as a suspicious Pepper Potts watches from the sidelines. 

Stark promotes Killmonger to Stane’s old position and he invests in an idea of Killmongers to create vibranium mech-robots. This is where we start to see Killmongers true intentions as his kill count goes up. He’s essentially the puppet master who’s orchestrating an ambitious war between Wakanda and it’s real-world allies. 

The pacing during this episode was rather fast, in many ways it works for an exhilarating ride but when some of our favourite heroes die unfortunate deaths, we don’t get to catch a breath as it’s a race to the twisted ending. 

Episode 6 shows us how dangerous Erik Killmonger can be with his deceptive and mischievous ways. It’s dark and twisted with heavy consequences as little by little the villains starts to win.