‘What If…?’ Recap: ‘What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?’

Written by Shae Rufe

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘What If…?’
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I keep saying that each episode is getting darker, and I really wasn’t wrong. So, what happens if Killmonger saved Tony in Afghanistan? Well, for we never get Iron Man, for one… but also, we never get Ultron, which means we never have to put up with Hawkeye’s awkwardly forced plot device of a family… so I guess that’s probably the biggest win for me. Right now, a lot of you are like “Shae, why do you have an obsession with Hawkeye in the MCU?” Because I read the comics by Matt Fraction and Lucky the Pizza Dog is my life. Plus, and let’s all really be honest with this one, Clint having a family is weird and I stand by this with my life. What does that have to do with this episode of What If? Nothing, I just needed everyone to know how passionate I am about this.
 
Now, Killmonger is a wonderful villain and he’s probably the most realistic and relatable out of all the MCU villains. I said what I said. Does he go about things wrong? Yes. Should be kill half the people he does? No. Does he accomplish his goal? Sort of. In this universe, he takes a much different approach. By saving Tony Stark, he’s able to get close to the billionaire and we’re able to see him as the master manipulator we all knew he was. It’s actually Killmonger who has the idea of giant unmanned mechs. The Gundam reference did make my day, I’m not goi g to lie.

But what will they use to power the mechs? Tony suggests tiny arc reactors and Killmonger says Vibranium, and that brings us to Klaue. Of course, Tony is easily manipulated, but Pepper is quick to not trust Killmonger, and rightfully so. Especially since he betrays Rhodey. He also kills T’Challa when he comes after Klaue and then also kills Rhodey, which is the most uncool thing. Think we’re done? Not quite. Tony figures out what happens, and he confronts Killmonger about it. He even uses one of the robots he made to fight Killmonger. Bad news, though, it does not go the way Tony thinks it will. Not only does Killmonger destroy the mech, but he also kills Tony. Turns out they weren’t two orphans trying to do right by their dads together. It doesn’t stop there.
 
Killmonger blames Tony’s death on Wakanda and convinces general Ross to deploy the mechs made by Stark Industries and attack Wakanda with them. He then kills Klaue and uses him to get into Wakanda. There he reveals himself as the son of the late prince N’Jobu. Just like that, he’s welcomed into the family. King T’Chaka and Queen Ramonda are so blinded by their grief over losing T’Challa that they completely buy into whatever story Killmonger will tell them. He does warn them that the Americans are coming to start a war. It doesn’t stop them from making him the new Black Panther, however. Killmonger even fights alongside them in destroying the mechs he helped create. Turns out Queen Ramonda is a fighter too, and she kicks some serious ass.

With the mechs destroyed and Killmonger firmly implanted into the family, Ross’ mech army lost, and Iron Man still dead, what will the world do? Good news, Shuri doesn’t believe her cousin, so she goes to Pepper Potts with some damning information and an offer to help. And with each passing episode, the universes get bleaker and stranger. Also, the Watcher keeps getting closer and closer, literally. Like he’s just in the frame not even trying to be mysterious anymore. Makes you wonder how much closer he can get and what will happen next.

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