The answer to the question of What If…? “Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark,” is, like most of these episodes, lots of bad things happen. The whole series is beginning to feel a bit nihilistic and one-note. Often, the comic series also devolved into “they all died” too but I’d hoped for more imagination than shown thus far in the animated version, save for the excellent “What If…? T’Challa Became Starlord.”
This episode also ends in a frustrating place. Let’s delve into it.
1. Killmonger remains a magnetic character.
The Wakandan characters have been the highlight of the series thus far, from T’Challa to Okoye, and, especially, Killmonger in this episode. Michael B. Jordan gives a terrific voice acting performance, fully as charismatic as the live-action one in Black Panther. It’s hard to define cool but Jordan has it, even when he’s betraying everyone and murdering the beloved T’Challa. I also liked that this episode delved into his background at MIT, adding another layer of his talent that’s not used in the movie. “I like anime,” he says, without apology. Unfortunately, the writing lets him down, as his actions become murkier than in the movie.
As for T’Challa, he finally does die, after cheating death in the Zombies episode. But he makes a short appearance on the plane of the Black Panthers to chide Killmonger about his lust for power. Boseman gave it all for this series.
2. The Plot Lets Down the Performances
This episode is so infuriating because the writing is almost there and yet veers off course at all the wrong moments. Killmonger’s appearance to save Tony Stark absolutely works, as does Tony’s appointment of the charismatic Navy SEAL as his head of security. But unlike Black Panther, this story never gives us enough about Killmonger’s goals and motivations.
We assume that Killmonger wants revenge upon King T’Chaka and to obtain the power of the Black Panther. Then why does he not immediately challenge for the throne when he arrives? Why is T’Chaka alive at the end of the story? For that matter, why has T’Challa not yet been replaced as the Black Panther? There has to have been time. Stark Industries can’t manufacture all those drones in a couple of weeks, and Wakanda is under threat of war. They’d need their Black Panther.
Killmonger proves his loyalty to Wakanda by telling King T’Chaka how to stop Stark’s drone army. Why does he then need to reactivate the drones to fight the Wakandans? I assume the story wants me to believe so he has additional credibility with the Wakandans. But he already has the credibility. And if the drones had lived he could “reprogram” them to attack the U.S. Military massing against Wakanda.
I also don’t understand how Killmonger sees the plane of the Panthers when he couldn’t access it in the original movie. He’s still the same character, he’s still lost, so why would he have entry to this place?
Another frustrating development: once Tony uncovers the fact that Killmonger murdered Rhodey, why does he keep this information to himself? I understand why he confronts Killmonger himself but why wouldn’t he have a backup plan where others know this information as well?
As for the ending, it’s not an ending at all. It promises a better story than one we’ve seen and cuts off right there.
3. Are Heroes Really Born in Darkness?
The Watcher says this line solemnly as if it’s self-evident. But, as we’ve seen, that’s not even true in the MCU. Steve Rogers wasn’t born out of darkness and tragedy but out of a need to help. Scott Lang is a curious, chaotic soul who needs to help his friends and take care of his daughter. Carol Danvers was a hero long before she absorbed the energy that made her Captain Marvel. All she needed was to regain herself from those who’d stolen that essential part of her.
This trope of “something bad must happen to the hero” aka Batman Syndrome, is one that’s ingrained in many comic superhero properties. But there are also plenty of counterexamples. It’s frustrating to see it stated like this in this story. But it might explain why the series has delved in fridging female characters far more than necessary.
Continued below4. Happy and Queen Ramonda Get Their Moments
One of the minor quibbles I had with Black Panther is that the great Angela Bassett wasn’t given nearly enough to do. Here, she is the General of the Wakandan army, a fierce fighter for her kingdom and for justice for her son. (I fear for Killmonger once she realizes what he’s done.)
Happy Hogan is the sad sack of the Iron Man films, injured, often incompetent, though always lovable. He’s replaced as head of Stark security officer by Killmonger but at least Happy gets to take down Obadiah Stane with one punch. Jon Favreau, who started it all with the first Iron Man film, is clearly having a fine time appearing in this series.
5. A Good Replacement for Robert Downey Jr.
As in previous episodes, Mick Wingert stands in for Downey as Tony Stark. The voice isn’t quite the same but the energy and the pattern of the words are so similar that I had to double-check the cast list to make certain it wasn’t Downey. When the MCU actors haven’t been available, the series has found excellent replacements. That includes Leslie Bibb as Pepper Potts and Ozioma Akagha as young Shuri as well. If only we could have focused more on the last two instead of teasing their team-up at the end.
As for the rest of the MCU actors, Andy Serkis sounds like he’s having a ball, and I’ve already mentioned Boseman and Bassett. They all work well as their animated selves.
Next up: will we get an answer other than death, doom, and destruction in these other timelines? My Magic 8-Ball says “reply hazy, try again.
