Marvel’s multiverse tour continues with the newest episode of the animated series What If…?, which dropped on September 15. This week, viewers are taken to an alternate reality where Tony Stark is rescued by Erik Stevens, aka Killmonger, during the Ten Rings attack in Afghanistan. This means Stark was never kidnapped like in the main MCU timeline, and he never becomes the beloved Iron Man we know.
But this rescue isn’t just a lucky break. It’s actually part of Killmonger’s carefully crafted plan. As the main villain from Black Panther, he uses this to his advantage to return to Wakanda and become the next Black Panther warrior. He also stirs up conflict between Wakanda and the U.S. by combining Stark’s advanced tech with Vibranium.
Here are the coolest details and Easter eggs from episode 6 of What If…?
The opening scene perfectly recreates Tony Stark’s first moments in the MCU, down to the exact shots and dialogue. However, Robert Downey Jr. does not return to voice the character.
In Black Panther, Erik Stevens reveals he was a longtime U.S. Navy SEAL with experience in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Marvel uses this detail to make Killmonger’s rescue of Stark believable within the story’s context.
Before diving into the new reality, the episode revisits iconic Iron Man moments, including the snap that wiped out half the universe in Endgame.
Happy Hogan gets annoyed when Tony promotes Killmonger to Director of Security at Stark Industries, a role Happy held in Iron Man 3.
Christine Everhart, a familiar reporter from the Iron Man films, makes her usual appearances in news segments and brief MCU scenes.
Freshly promoted, Killmonger immediately exposes Obadiah Stane’s conspiracy, accusing him of working with the Ten Rings to attack and kidnap Tony in Afghanistan. Happy quickly takes down Obadiah, stopping the Iron Monger armor plot from Iron Man 1.
After Tony’s attack, Stark Industries begins researching the Ten Rings organization. Following the release of Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings, this group’s importance to the MCU’s future has only grown.
Happy is often remembered as Spider-Man’s babysitter, but don’t forget he’s a professional bodyguard. In Iron Man and episode 5 of What If…?, he shows off some serious boxing skills.
After ousting Happy as Director of Security, Killmonger also takes over Pepper Potts’ COO position, becoming Tony Stark’s right-hand man.
War Machine Rhodey’s design is based on actor Don Cheadle, who joined the MCU in Iron Man 2. Terrence Howard originally played the role in Iron Man 1.
Tony Stark’s favorite car, the Ford Flathead Roadster (the last car in the photo), also makes an appearance in this episode.
Repulsor tech, used in Tony’s hand-mounted weapons, is a key part of Iron Man’s armor. In this new reality, even without becoming Iron Man, Stark still invests a lot of brainpower into this technology.
Robot Dum-E returns to stop Killmonger from tampering with the hand weapon turret. Dum-E is one of Stark’s inventions designed to assist in his home workshop.
Killmonger reveals his PhD thesis was about building advanced autonomous combat devices. If you forgot, in the MCU he’s also a genius who graduated from MIT.
His combat device design resembles Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, but the final product looks a lot like the robot Ivan Vanko built in Iron Man 2.
When Stark questions the Gundam-inspired design, Killmonger says it’s because he loves anime. In fact, Michael B. Jordan has mentioned he’s a fan of Naruto, Attack on Titan, and other popular anime. Killmonger’s armor also draws inspiration from Vegeta’s outfit in Dragon Ball.
Paul Bettany, who plays Vision, returns to voice the J.A.R.V.I.S. AI system.
Tony originally invents the arc reactor to stop shrapnel from reaching his heart and to power his Iron Man suit. In this new timeline, these details are removed, but Stark still considers the arc reactor concept when building Killmonger’s robot, even calling it a “stupid” idea.
Killmonger’s vibranium ring is actually a royal Wakandan heirloom left by his father, N’Jobu.
The scene where Stark studies vibranium’s atomic structure mirrors when he discovers a palladium alternative in Iron Man 2.
The sonic weapon once used by Obadiah Stane to torture Stark is upgraded by Killmonger, becoming deadly enough to take down Black Panther with a single hit.
J.A.R.V.I.S. records Killmonger killing Rhodey and T’Challa, a feature first seen in Iron Man 3.
Stark’s Iron Man armor controller bracelet is now the Liberator controller for Killmonger’s combat robot.
In just six episodes of What If…?, Stark has died three times: once from poisoning (episode 3), once from a zombie virus (episode 5), and now from a vibranium spear through the chest.
Killmonger kills vibranium smuggler Ulysses Klaue and turns him over to Wakanda, just like in the main timeline.
After drinking the Heart-Shaped Herb to become Black Panther, Killmonger visits the spirit world and meets T’Challa, who wears a white suit just like in the main timeline. This shows how much Marvel pays attention to even the smallest details.
Killmonger officially becomes the Black Panther, wearing the black and gold suit seen in the blockbuster film.
Most What If…? episodes end on an open note, and this one is no different. Tony Stark once vowed to avenge the world if he couldn’t protect it. Now, it’s up to his friends to get revenge after Killmonger kills him.
According to ScreenRant
