Warning: This article includes spoilers for the first episode of What If…? Season 3, titled “What If… the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?”
While showcasing a potential MCU adaptation of the iconic World War Hulk storyline, the animated series What If…? could inadvertently have precluded its realization within the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The latest season introduces a variety of striking new realities, featuring extraordinary variants that include the Celestial Agatha Harkness, the intriguing human/duck hybrid Byrdie, and the formidable Mech Avengers, led by Sam Wilson’s version of Captain America. Through this exploration, the series sheds light on one of the most eagerly anticipated narratives for the franchise.
Fans have awaited the live-action transition of the 2007 World War Hulk saga for several years, which narrates the tale of an enraged Hulk returning to Earth to take vengeance on the heroes responsible for his exile on Sakaar, following the death of his wife. The groundwork for this storyline has been laid in various MCU productions, notably in Thor: Ragnarok, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. The latest season of What If…? appears to be pivotal in narrating the next phase of this narrative arc.
What If…? Season 3: The Closest Look at World War Hulk
Major Hulk Characters Introduced in Season 3
In its premiere episode, “What If… the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?”, the series provides an unprecedented glimpse into what the World War Hulk saga might resemble within the MCU. The narrative centers on the Gamma War, sparked by Bruce Banner’s ill-fated attempt to rid himself of the Hulk through increased gamma radiation exposure. This action inadvertently creates a powerful entity named the “Apex,”who subsequently assembles an army of Hulk-like creatures. Although the Avengers fight valiantly against the Apex and his hordes, it is Bruce Banner who ultimately seals the victory.
Expanding his exposure to gamma radiation through an eruption of a gamma bomb, Bruce Banner transforms into the Mega-Hulk, defeating the Apex and seizing control of his army. After establishing potential connections to the World War Hulk narrative via prior explorations of Sakaar, the appearance of the Illuminati, and the introduction of Skaar, Hulk’s son, What If…? illustrates the compelling possibilities for this storyline within the MCU. However, significant obstacles loom for Earth’s mightiest heroes.
The Avengers’ Triumph Against the Evil Hulk Relies on Iron Man
Iron Man’s Innovations: Key to Battling the Apex and His Army
The Avengers in What If…? faced insurmountable odds against the Apex and his monstrous army, a struggle made easier by the creative genius of Tony Stark. At the onset of the Gamma War, Stark ingeniously modified his Hulkbuster armor into large-scale mech suits designed for each Avengers member, allowing them to confront the colossal threats. However, given that Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark is deceased in the MCU, the live-action heroes find themselves lacking the resources necessary to combat a formidable adversary like the Apex effectively.
Currently, the MCU does not feature heroes with the same innovative foresight as Tony Stark. As a result, it seems improbable that anyone would spontaneously consider retrofitting Hulkbuster suits for battle. Moreover, while Bruce Banner initiated the Mighty Avenger protocol, enabling the suits to coalesce into one formidable force, his potential absence might render such a tactic impracticable. Though other intelligent figures like Riri Williams, Shuri, and Peter Parker may have the ingenuity to devise alternative strategies, What If…? suggests that the World War Hulk storyline may simply not align with the future of the MCU.
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