Warning! This article contains spoilers for What If…? season 3, episode 7.
What If…?brings Storm to the front lines of a Multiversal war in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and it builds anticipation for the inevitable arrival of the X-Men team in the live-action films. Before the MCU debuted in 2008 with Iron Man, comic book superhero movies already had a lengthy history. DC managed to create several successful franchises around their heroes in the latter half of the 20th Century, but for Marvel, most of their big success came at the turn of the millenium.
Bryan Singer’sX-Mentrilogykicked off in 2000, and Sam Raimi’sSpider-Manarrived shortly after in 2002. However, while Spider-Man has since made the jump into the MCU with Tom Holland’s version of the character starring in his own trilogy and joining the Avengers on other outings, theX-Men remain distinctly absent from the Sacred Timeline. But, Marvel Studios has started to hint at these heroes, and even had Deadpool and Wolverine break into the MCU, but now it needs the rest of the X-Men.
2024 Has Been A Huge Year For X-Men
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There is no doubt that 2024 has been the biggest year for theX-Menfranchise sinceDeadpooldebuted in 2016.Deadpool & Wolverinesmashed the fourth wall and records as the new highest-earning R-rated film of all time. It also saw Deadpool travel to the Sacred Timeline, and hinted at further adventures for the titular heroes. Then,X-Men ‘97brought back a fan-favorite animated series from the 1990s to critical acclaim. As if these two releases weren’t enough tobuild excitement for the X-Men in the MCU,What If…?also weighed in with Storm’s debut in season 3.
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All of these moments are steadily bringing the iconic heroes into the regular lineup in the MCU, but they have yet to properly insert them into the Sacred Timeline. However, with the heroes growing in popularity, and their familiarity with new and younger audiences thanks to their inclusion here, it feels as though theMCU is building towards something big.The Multiverse Saga is nearing its end, and it feels like the perfect time to introduce these heroes, especially after seeing how great they could be in the MCU.
Storm’s MCU Debut Was A Reminder Of How Great The Character Is
Storm Is Often A Central Figure In The X-Men Lineup
The version of Storm that is shown in Marvel’sWhat If…?has some key differences from her comic book counterpart. For one, this is aStorm who also happens to be the God of Thunder, and a Daughter of Asgard. Typically, Storm is not a Thor variant, but it’s a clever way to deliver a character who literally controls the skies, and causes thunder and lightning to strike. And her role as one of the core team saving the Multiverse makes her even more interesting.
While this variant is essentially a Thor variant, itdoes not diminish how powerful and interesting the original character is.What If…?season 3, episode 7 shows this Storm praying to the All Fathers and All Mothers for help, but aside from this distinction, the powers she wields, and the way she engages with her peers is nearly identical to classic versions of the hero. She is intelligent, powerful, inspiring, and a natural leader. And all of this builds excitement for the hero and the other X-Men to finally join the MCU.
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Kevin Feige has made it clear that with the X-Men rights back under the control of Marvel Studios, theywant to get these characters in place as soon as possible. Within a short time, they were able to build an animated show around these heroes to build on the legacy of the original 1990s animated show, and they have now included the character in a pivotal way inWhat If…?season 3’s storyline. On top of that, Marvel Studios finally did what was only a dream before, and put Deadpool and Wolverine together on the big screen.
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The MCU is still in its infancy when compared to the comics that inspired it, but that hasn’t stopped it from reshaping the characters and stories.
But as wonderful as all of these projects have been, it’s just whetting the appetite for fans who can’t wait to see the X-Men interact with the Avengers. To watch how the MCU unfolds with the introduction of mutants, and how these important characters change that world. Mutants have always been an important part of Marvel Comics, and a way to address inequality, and a lack of understanding and acceptance, and this is something that the MCU has a chance to handle in poignant, powerful ways. Storm’s debut inWhat If..?is a step in the right direction, but there is so much more yet to be seen from the X-Men in the MCU.
What If…?
Cast
What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which 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. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
