Marvel Studios' first animated series, What If...?, released episode three today in what was undoubtedly the grimmest episode so far. Following the first two outings from the ambitious animation, the third episode sees the demise of several beloved heroes.
Episode 1 saw the events of Captain America: The First Avenger altered in a scenario where Peggy Carter takes the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers. Meanwhile, Episode 2 focuses on Wakanda and the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe by changing the course of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 & 2 in a scenario that sees T'challa become Star-Lord in place of Peter Quill.
Following the events of those two more light-hearted tales, Episode 3 is titled What If... The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes? The dark plot sees an unknown assassin on a quest to eradicate Fury's Avengers Initiative members during the events of "Fury's Big Week," which spans Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor, and what's worse is that the villain is successful.
We've broken down which characters die and exactly how below, but beware, if you haven't yet viewed the episode, there are massive spoilers included.
Iron Man is the first one on the list to go, and rightfully so, considering at the episode's start, he is the only hero revealed to the world. In Iron Man 2, Tony receives an injection to alleviate the symptoms of his palladium poisoning.
However, in this universe, the antidote is compromised and instead causes the Armored Avenger to fall on the ground dead. One down.
Thor may not be on Fury's Avengers Initiative list of candidates yet, but the villain foresees that Fury would recruit "Goldilocks."
Therefore, while Hawkeye chose not to "take the shot" in the events of Thor, in this universe, a villain commanders his arrow straight into the heart of the God of Thunder. Two down.
Hawkeye, meanwhile, is a much easier target. However, Barton may not have shot Thor, the overwhelming evidence that he did land him in maximum security at S.H.I.E.L.D.
Of course, the big bad of the episode can easily access the cell, and Barton, unfortunately, receives an off-screen death, leaving behind a widow and two children. Three down.
Hulk, by far, receives the most graphic demise out of all of the Avengers. The Harlem scene in The Incredible Hulk is heavily altered here, with Loki attacking Earth with an Asgardian army under "avenging" his lost brother.
While everything is happening, something gets inside Hulk and causes his heart to explode. Banner and Hulk blast into what looks like a cloud of gamma radiation, and that marks the end of the journey for the Jade Giant. Four down.
Black Widow, alongside Fury, is one-half of the lens through which the audience views the episode. Though once she catches up to the real threat, that comes to an end.
The dark image above shows the final moments of Natasha's life as she calls Fury desperately in an attempt to warn him. Her final words repeat multiple times as "It's all about Hope!" and then she too meets her reckoning. Five down.
This leaves Fury alive with Coulson as his only backup - except Loki, that is. But, once Fury hears Black Widow's final words, he puts the pieces together and realizes that it really is "all about Hope."
Hope Van-Dyne that is. More commonly known as The Wasp, this version of Hope died the same way her mother did, working for S.H.I.E.L.D. and seemingly going subatomic.
Of course, this leads to the reveal that Hope's father, Hank Pym, is the villainous murderer. In this universe, he turns into The Yellowjacket, much like the comics, and he targets all of Fury's candidates so he can take Fury and the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. Down.
Using Pym Particles, this version of Yellowjacket was small enough to kill Tony via syringe, release the arrow that killed Thor, break into Hawkeye's cell, and enlarge the heart of Hulk so much that he exploded.
With some help from Loki and his magic, Fury can take down evil Pym and ultimately search for a new team. These include Captain America, who he uncovers in the ice, Captain Marvel, who Fury beeped during the fight with Pym, and it is also implied that The Wasp could return, with the line about believing that Hope still exists.
What do you guys think about these deaths in What If...? No matter your take, make sure you sound off with your thoughts in the usual spot!
Enter the multiverse of unlimited possibilities. Marvel Studios' first animated series, What If...?, starts streaming August 11 with new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+. “What If… ?” features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist.
Marvel Studios' What If...? premieres new episodes each Wednesday, only on Disney+.