Marvel’s What if…Episode 2
Welcome back, as I (Ethan Stranger) will continue my review of Marvel’s Animated series, “What if”, so let's begin by looking into Episode 2, where we’re introduced to “Star-Lord T’Challa (Picture: Bottom Left Corner)”, while it’s an interesting concept spin on the superhero “The Black Panther”, seeing T’Challa becoming a galactic mercenary, while also doing some good throughout the cosmos and even has a variant version of Nebula (Picture: Bottom Right Center), who resemble some kind of “Galactic Marilyn Monroe, being Star-Lord T’Challa’s love interest. Within this universe, Star-Lord T’Challa convinces Thanos to abandon his plans of eliminating half of all life in the universe, thus The Collector becomes a ruthless intergalactic kingpin, taking over the power vacuum left by Thanos when he reformed and even had the Black Order (The Children of Thanos) work as his security bodyguards. Towards the end of the episode, Star-Lord T’Challa returns to his true home of Wakanda.
As I mentioned in my review for episode 1 of What if…, I just felt like everything was rushed, it felt like a shorter version of the 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy film (with a lot of twists and turns and of course, Star-Lord T’Challa), to be honest, I was hoping to see some flashbacks of “T’Challa”, having been taken by the Ravagers, grow up in space and managed to talk some sense into Thanos (Picture: Bottom Left Corner) abandon his plans on eliminating half of all life in the universe (because I’m pretty sure that was no easy matter). I was also surprised to see Drax (Picture: Bottom Center) wanting a picture with Star-Lord T’Challa (mainly because he saved his family, I just thought it was weird seeing Drax a bit out of character from his main MCU timeline counterpart). While we don’t either Rocket Raccoon, Groot, or even Mantis, we do learn of what became of Peter Quill (Picture: Bottom Left Corner), where he grew up on Earth and is working at Diary Queen until Ego shows up, here’s the clip:
Kinda wish we saw a little flashback of Peter Quill’s life on Earth, wondering if “he was supposed to go somewhere”?
Plus, I’ll never forget how the trailer had me fooled into thinking that “Gamora (Picture: Bottom Left Corner)” was gonna be like the big baddie in the Star-Lord T’Challa universe (as she’s donning Thanos’s golden battle armor and even wielded his Double-Bladed sword, never thought she had the strength to wield it or lift it), but apparently, she’s from an alternate universe (working alongside a variant version of Iron Man, donning a hulkbuster armor made from scraps on Sakaar, click here for the clip):
Another thing that the trailer had had me fooled for was the “Tony Stark/Erik Killmonger Friendship” that was forming, for I thought was too was gonna take place in the Star-Lord T’Challa universe (especially with T’Challa not around, It would’ve been easier for Killmonger to take over Wakanda and assume the identity of Black Panther), but apparently, that friendship happened in another universe. I was quite surprised at how T’Chaka was able to keep Wakanda afloat with no problems from the outside world (which makes me wonder about other things), like (with T’Challa gone), why didn’t Shuri take on the mantle of Black Panther and with T’Chaka busy searching the cosmos for T’Challa, does that mean he never confronted his brother (N’Jobu) in the states about the stolen Vibranium because he was busy searching for his son (which of course, is far more important, the Vibranium problem could’ve waited).
It was announced that a Star-Lord T’Challa was in developed, but is now in limbo following the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, which is truly sad, as I’m sure Chadwick enjoyed playing a variant different of Black Panther (as Star-Lord T’Challa was more freelance and funny, as his main MCU counterpart was king of an entire nation and didn’t have much time for jokes, but the 2 were willing to help others). In my opinion, a spin-off series featuring Star-Lord T’Challa would’ve had some “Cowboy Bebop/Space Sweepers theme styled vibes” (both series are on Netflix, Highly recommend checking them out), as well as an exploration of what became of the “Gamora, Rocket Racoon, Groot, Mantis and even Killmonger” within the Star-Lord T’Challa Universe (and Quill joining as T’Challa’s partner), I do hope the Star-Lord T’Challa gets made in the future (to Honor Chadwick)
Within this episode, there’s a lesson within the episode, about how an outsider made a major impact within an environment he never expected to find himself in, that’s something I can relate to, as I’ve traveled around the world, attempting to make a difference, mostly with little to no luck, as the countries I end up in, really don’t wanna make the effort to change or listen to the advice that outsiders have to say like I’ll forget when I was volunteering at the KAT Centre in Nepal, I tried to have the center form a partnership with people from my Dad’s work, as they couldn’t get involved with donations, despite the good working partnership I’ve established, but that didn’t last long and it really upset me (Read more about that in my “How to treat the World III: Day of the Dogs post”). The point being, within this, what if…epsiode, it shows that even an outsider from outside his homeworld can make the biggest impact on the entire galaxy and I believe everybody who travels around the world, should try to do the same, for Star-Lord T’Challa.
What if (Wakanda/Peter Quill) Scenario-based Stories: The part of the blog where I talk about various other Multiversal possibilities concepts within the animated series (who knows, maybe these tales could either be made into actual comics or episodes for the animated series) and remember…anything is possible in a multiverse (thus allows us to get creative in a twisted way).
What if…Black Panther became a living weapon for SHIELD: This alternate MCU universe takes more inspiration from Marvel Comics' “Ultimate Universe”, where T’Challa Udaku gets severely injured by a Black Panther, thus T’Chaka seeks aid from Nick Fury and SHIELD to help save his son (in exchange to offer Shield access to Vibranium weapons). T’Challa (now the Black Panther) is saved, but now has the ability of retractable claws and can’t speak (due to injuries on his throat), on top of that, Fury places Black Panther into the ranks of the “Ultimates (the Avengers in the Ultimate Marvel universe)”, which causes T’Chaka to ignite War against SHIELD when Nick Fury doesn't return T’Challa back to Wakanda and ends up cutting ties with him, thus this puts the Ultimates (even T’Challa) in the middle of the SHIELD and Wakanda War (this will be a perfect What if…episode story to adapt, as we’ll Fury be more villainous)
What if…Black Panther became an enemy to the Avengers: Set in an Alternate MCU timeline, where Black Panther joined the Avengers in their 1st battle against Loki and his Chitaturi forces (but this is all because of having several War Dogs masquerade as SHIELD agents during the Avengers 1st assembling), it’s revealed that Black Panther’s true motive in joining the Avengers was “to spy on them and to assess their threat level, with plans to act against them if necessary”, this information as overheard by mercenaries that work for Klaw (masquerading as SHIELD agents), thus Klaw soon leaks this out to the public which has the entire World (even the Avengers) see Black Panther as a threat, which later gives Klaw an advantage, as he soon becomes the “Murderous Master of Sound (like his comics counterpart)” and attacks the Avengers, will Black Panther be Earth’s Mightiest Heroes only hope (despite be wanted by The Avengers)?
(click here to learn more on why Black Panther “really joined the Avengers” in the comics)
What if…Valkyrie became a member of Dora Milaje: In this Alternate MCU universe, imagine what would’ve happened if “Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) exiled herself to Earth (Instead of Sakaar)”, following the battle between the Valkyries and Hela. Upon arriving on Earth, she crash-lands outside the borders of Wakanda, where she’s taken in by the Wakandas (but suffers amnesia) and soon trains to be a member of the Dora Milaje. This Alternate MCU universe could also explore “What if…Thor got banished to Wakanda and What if…Valkyrie wasn’t the only Valkyrie who survived Hela’s Attack”, thus introducing the Valkyrie, Runa (Picture: Bottom Right Corner), who also (alongside several Valkyries) head to Wakanda to help Brunnhilde regain her memories and meet-up with the banished Asgardian prince, all of this could result in Hela being released from her prison much earlier (perhaps because Odin’s in Odin sleep), which could result in Hela unleashes her Forces on Asgard, with both Wakandan (alongside Black Panther) and Valkyrie (alongside Thor) battling Hela. At the End (after defeating Hela), Thor takes Ruan and the other Valkyries back to Asgard, with Valkyrie (Brunnhilde) staying to stay behind in Wakanda, as she becomes the new leader of the Dora Milaje (following Okoye’s sacrifice) and in a relationship with Ayo
What if…Killmonger became a Star-Lord: We all saw what happened if T’Challa became a Star-Lord, but imagine what would’ve happened “if Killmonger became a Star-Lord”, in my opinion, I believe he would have ripped a page from “Darth Maul’s Books (Picture: Bottom Center), believing that “only the strongest shall rule all of the cosmos” If that were the case, then Killmonger (have been raised by the Ravagers throughout his childhood and learned about the harshness of space) would’ve aided Taserface in starting a mutiny against Yondu and would later recruit various alien races or individuals to join his cause.
All of this would soon lead to Killmonger challenging Thanos on who shall be the strongest in ruling the galaxy. In the end, Killmonger succeeds in killing Thanos and over his entire empire and earns the respect out of the Children of Thanos (minus Gamora and Nebula who escape), Loki also serves Killmonger as his “humble personage”, with Thanos dead, the events of the 2012s The Avengers will be different, in which we’ll explore “What if…The Avengers battled Killmonger”, and that 1st battle happens in Wakanda (instead of New York City), thus pulling inspiration from “Ta Nehisi Coates big Black Panther cosmic battle finale (picture: Bottom Right Corner)”, in which Wakanda (even Gamora and Nebula) aid the Avengers
What if…Peter Quill was a Star-Lord of the Future: This Alternate MCU timeline could explore what Peter Quill (Picture: Bottom Center) looked like when he 1st debuted in Marvel Comics (as he was a complete character that we all came to love as of today). As well as introduce his real father from the comics (J'son of Spartax, Picture: Bottom left corner), who’s from the future and sent his son back in time to protect him from the alien race known as “The Badoon”, swore enemies of “The (Original) Guardians of the Galaxy (from Earth-691 in the comics)” (Picture: Bottom Right Corner), who later come to the past in search of Peter Quill, who then takes on the Star-Lord mantle and heads with the Guardians of the galaxy to the future where they battle the Badoon, plus other Guardian of the Galaxy-related characters from the MCU could appear in this Universe (but resembling more of there comic-accurate looks when they 1st debut in comics)
(Click here to see what the GOTG characters really look like in the comics)
What if…Peter Quill became an Agent of SHIELD: In this Alternate MCU universe, imagine what would’ve happened if The Ravages decided “not to pick up Peter Quill from Earth”, thus Peter Quill would grow up on Earth until 1995 (during the events of Captain Marvel), Ego, The Living Planet decided to take matters into his own hands, which leads to “What if…Ego came into conflict with the Kree-Skrull War on Earth and What if…Captain Marvel battled Ego, The Living Planet”, eventually Captain Marvel and the Skrull managed to defeat Ego (and have Mantis live among SHIELD), plus Peter Quill is adopted by the Rambeau Family but has enlisted into SHIELD as a rookie (Quill even looks to Nick Fury as a Father Figure). Following the events of the Avengers, Nick Fury has Peter Quill, Mantis, and Monica Rambeau establish a new agency branch for SHIELD (Dubbed: SWORD) to help protect Earth from Cosmic threats (perhaps we’ll see this version of Peter Quill (who isn’t a Star-Lord) encounter Ronan the Accuser).
What if…The Galaxy never knew its Guardians: This Alternate MCU concept could’ve waited until I did a review on Episode 3 of the What if…Series, but I thought I just explain it anyways, so imagine what would’ve happened “if the (Original) Guardians of the Galaxy (from the 2014 Movie)” never formed, this was all due to some “unfortunate events”, where The Ravagers (in this universe) are “cannibals” and (literally) ate young Peter Quill at the moment they’ve abducted him, The Kree Empire was at war with Thanos and his forces, despite Thanos winning, his favorite daughter (Gamora) was killed in battle, Both Rocket Raccoon and Groot are kept as prisoners in the Collectors collection (where they’re also tortured and dissected) and Drax was killed during an attempted escape from the Kyln. Despite this, this Alternate MCU universe could explore “What if…The Avengers Battled Ego, the Living Planet” (Especially with no Guardians of the Galaxy around to stop him), thus in the aftermath of defeating Thanos, a new (secretive) Avengers division (Dubbed: Space Illuminati) is formed to better protect the Galaxy from various cosmic threats, also this Alternate MCU universe could also explore “What if…Mantis joined the Avengers” (something that she has done in the comics) if that does happen, then this Alternate MCU universe could adapt the "Celestial Madonna Saga” storyline (Picture: Bottom Right Corner) into that reality.
(Alternate) Avengers Members: Iron Man (leader), Thor, Black Panther, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Mantis/Celestial Madonna (new member), and Swordsman (Jacques “Jack” Duquesene)
(Space Illuminati Members): Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Leader), Captain America (Co-Leader), Black Bolt, Medusa, Shuri, (Professor) Hulk, Giant-Man (Hank Pym), Dr. Strange, War Machine, Namor and Talos the Skrull
So who else out there wants to share their own What if…Scenario-based Stories (based around either the concept of Wakanda or the Guardians of the Galaxy)
Until then…Ethan Stranger says Excelsior…and remember what Howard the Duck said:
With a saying like that, look where I ended up (Picture: Top Right Corner), but that’s another story…
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