The concept of What If…? did not originate with the MCU. Its roots lie deep in the annals of Marvel Comics history. The original What If…? comic book series, sometimes subtitled “Classic,” first premiered in February 1977. The series was created by legendary Marvel writer Roy Thomas and artist Jim Craig, though the initial concept was brainstormed by Thomas and then-editor-in-chief Stan Lee. The idea was elegantly simple: to take a single, critical moment in the history of the Marvel Universe and twist it, exploring the dramatic and often tragic consequences. The series was hosted by Uatu the Watcher, a member of an ancient, cosmic race sworn to observe all of reality without ever interfering. Each issue would begin with Uatu introducing the reader to a familiar event—such as Spider-Man's origin—and then posing the titular question. For example, the very first issue asked, “What If… Spider-Man had Joined the Fantastic Four?” This format allowed creators to tell self-contained stories free from the constraints of ongoing continuity, leading to some of Marvel's most imaginative and sometimes darkest tales. The series ran for 47 issues until 1984 and has been revived in various volumes and one-shots over the subsequent decades, cementing its status as a beloved Marvel institution. The development of the animated series for Disney+ was officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 as part of the MCU's Phase Four slate. Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, confirmed it would be an animated anthology series directly tied to the MCU's “Infinity Saga” and beyond. A.C. Bradley was appointed as head writer, with veteran director Bryan Andrews helming the episodes. A key selling point was the return of the vast majority of the original MCU actors to voice their animated counterparts, lending the project a unique authenticity and continuity with the live-action films. The series' distinctive cel-shaded animation style was developed to evoke the feeling of a “comic book come to life,” paying homage to its source material while establishing a unique visual identity within the MCU.
The “origin” of What If…? is not that of a character, but of a perspective—a glimpse into the infinite possibilities of the multiverse as seen through the eyes of its designated observer.
In the prime Marvel comics continuity, Earth-616, the premise of What If…? is framed by the existence of Uatu, the Watcher assigned to Earth's sector of the universe. The Watchers are among the oldest beings in existence. Billions of years ago, they offered their knowledge to a primitive species, only for that species to use the technology to destroy itself in a nuclear war. Traumatized by this outcome, the Watchers took a sacred, absolute vow of non-interference. They would observe and record the entirety of creation, but never, ever intervene. Uatu, stationed on the Blue Area of Earth's Moon, became fascinated by humanity and the super-powered beings of Earth-616. His frequent appearances often heralded events of cosmic significance, but he was bound by his oath. The What If…? comics represent Uatu's personal chronicles, his exploration of divergent realities that could have been. He acts as a cosmic narrator, showing the reader what would happen if Gwen Stacy had lived, if Captain America was never frozen in ice, or if Conan the Barbarian was stranded in the 20th century. In this context, these stories are explicitly outside the main Earth-616 continuity—they are glimpses into alternate, often non-existent, quantum realities. While Uatu has occasionally broken his vow in the main comics when the threat was dire enough (most famously during the arrival of galactus), his role in the What If…? stories is purely that of a storyteller and archivist.
The MCU's What If…? series establishes its premise in a similar fashion but with crucial differences tied to the ongoing Multiverse Saga. The series is narrated by The Watcher (voiced by Jeffrey Wright), an entity who describes himself as our guide through “a new reality, vast and unknown.” He exists in a nexus outside of space and time, from which he can observe every timeline that has ever existed or could exist. The series posits that the multiverse is a “prism of endless possibility,” where a single choice can branch off from the established “Sacred Timeline” (as policed by the TVA in the `Loki` series) and create an entirely new universe. The events of What If…? are not mere hypotheticals; they are presented as real, fully-formed universes within the MCU's multiverse. For instance, the reality where Peggy Carter takes the Super Soldier Serum is not just a story, but a tangible universe from which captain_carter originates. The MCU's Watcher shares his comic counterpart's oath of non-interference. He repeatedly states, “I am the Watcher. I am your guide through these vast new realities. I observe all that transpires here, but I do not, cannot, will not interfere.” However, the series' primary narrative arc, particularly in Season 1, revolves around the severe testing of this vow. When a variant of Ultron, empowered by all six Infinity Stones, becomes aware of the Watcher and the multiverse, he becomes a threat to all realities. This forces the Watcher to break his oath and assemble a team of heroes from across the different universes he has observed, the Guardians of the Multiverse, to fight back. This active, if reluctant, participation marks a significant departure from the typically passive role of his comic book inspiration.
The series is built upon several key narrative and cosmological concepts that define its function within the wider MCU.
The MCU's Watcher is the central pillar of the series. Voiced with gravitas by Jeffrey Wright, he is initially presented as an omniscient, dispassionate observer. He is ancient, powerful, and seemingly emotionless, chronicling stories of triumph and tragedy with equal detachment. His opening and closing narrations in each episode frame the story, providing context and a moral or philosophical takeaway. However, as the series progresses, his character deepens. We see his frustration and sorrow when observing tragedies he is forbidden to prevent, most notably the destruction of Doctor Strange's universe. He displays genuine admiration for heroes like Captain Carter and T'Challa Star-Lord. His defining arc comes from his confrontation with Infinity Ultron. When Ultron's power grows to a level where he can perceive and attack the Watcher directly, the conflict becomes personal. His decision to intervene is monumental, transforming him from a simple narrator into a reluctant protector of the multiverse itself. In Season 2, he is shown to be even more personally invested, referring to Captain Carter as his “friend” and admitting that some stories have become more important to him than others.
What If…? serves as the MCU's most direct and accessible illustration of the multiverse. It visually and narratively reinforces the concepts introduced in films like `doctor_strange` and `_endgame`, and explored deeply in the `loki_(tv_series)` series. Each episode is predicated on a Nexus Event: a moment in time where a character makes a different choice than their counterpart in the Sacred Timeline, causing a new timeline to branch off.
The series shows that these branches are not insignificant. They can lead to radically different outcomes, creating heroes more noble, villains more powerful, and futures both utopian and apocalyptic. This directly sets the stage for the core conflict of the Multiverse Saga, where the collision and interaction of these infinite universes become the central threat.
One of the most significant contributions of What If…? to MCU lore is the concept of an Absolute Point. This was introduced in Season 1, Episode 4, “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?”. In this universe, Doctor Strange's defining tragedy is not the loss of his surgical skill, but the death of his love, Dr. Christine Palmer, in their car crash. An Absolute Point is an event that is so crucial to the fabric of a universe's timeline that it must happen. It is an unchangeable, fixed point. No matter how many times Strange Supreme uses the Time Stone to go back and save Christine, she always dies in some other way. The Ancient One explains that her death is what sets him on the path to becoming the Sorcerer Supreme and saving his world from Dormammu. To undo her death would be to create a time paradox that would unravel reality itself. Strange's refusal to accept this leads him to absorb countless demonic beings, becoming monstrously powerful but ultimately causing the complete collapse of his universe, leaving him as its sole, imprisoned survivor. This concept adds a layer of cosmic determinism and tragedy to the MCU's rules of time and space, suggesting that not everything can be changed, even with infinite power.
The show's visual style is a deliberate and celebrated choice. Eschewing photorealism, Marvel Studios opted for a stylized, cel-shaded look that strongly resembles the art of classic American comic illustrators like J.C. Leyendecker, with a modern, dynamic flair. The character designs are modeled directly on the likenesses of their live-action actors, creating a seamless bridge between the two mediums. The animation allows for a scope and scale that would be prohibitively expensive in live-action, enabling cosmic battles, massive zombie hordes, and planet-shattering explosions to be realized with stunning visual clarity. The style serves a dual purpose: it pays homage to the show's comic book origins while firmly establishing it as a unique and artistically distinct pillar of the MCU.
While an anthology, What If…? introduced several major variant characters who have had a significant impact both within the series and on the wider MCU.
Perhaps the show's breakout star, Captain Carter is a variant from a universe where Peggy Carter, not Steve Rogers, received the Super Soldier Serum. Voiced by Hayley Atwell, she is every bit as courageous and capable as her 616 counterpart, but now possessing superhuman strength, speed, and durability. She wields a vibranium shield emblazoned with the Union Jack. Her story mirrors Steve's in some ways—fighting HYDRA, battling the Red Skull, and being lost to time (in her case, through a portal rather than ice). When she emerges in the modern day, she joins S.H.I.E.L.D. and becomes a foundational hero. Her defining characteristic is her unwavering resolve and leadership, which makes her the natural choice for the Watcher to recruit to lead the Guardians of the Multiverse. Her story continues in Season 2, exploring her bond with her universe's Steve Rogers (who becomes the “HYDRA Stomper” armor) and her fish-out-of-water status in the modern world.
The tragic hero of the series, this Doctor Strange variant is defined by his grief and hubris. After losing Christine Palmer, he becomes obsessed with reversing her death, an Absolute Point in his timeline. This obsession leads him down a dark path, studying forbidden magic from the Lost Library of Cagliostro and absorbing countless mystical and demonic creatures to gain enough power to break a fixed point in time. In doing so, he becomes arguably one of the most powerful beings in the multiverse, but at the cost of his own universe and his soul. He is a walking paradox: a Sorcerer Supreme who destroyed the very reality he was sworn to protect. The Watcher initially refuses to help him, but later recruits him for the Guardians of the Multiverse, where his immense power is crucial in defeating Infinity Ultron. In Season 2, he takes a more villainous turn, capturing heroes and villains from other universes in an attempt to resurrect his own, forcing Captain Carter to confront him.
This ad-hoc team was assembled by the Watcher in the Season 1 finale as a last-ditch effort to stop Infinity Ultron from destroying the entire multiverse. The roster represents a collection of the most powerful or notable heroes from the season's various episodes. The team consists of:
They are later joined by Black Widow from a post-apocalyptic Earth where Ultron won. Their combined efforts, using a plan devised by T'Challa and empowered by Strange, were able to separate Ultron from the Infinity Stones and trap him in a pocket dimension, forever watched over by Strange Supreme.
The primary antagonist of Season 1's finale, Infinity Ultron comes from a universe where the sentient AI successfully uploaded his consciousness into a new vibranium body created for Vision. In this reality, he swiftly kills Thanos, seizes all six Infinity Stones, and proceeds to wipe out all life in his universe. His power becomes so immense that he achieves cosmic awareness, sensing the Watcher's presence and realizing the existence of other universes. He shatters the boundaries of his reality and sets out to impose his twisted version of “peace” upon the entire multiverse. He is one of the most powerful villains in MCU history, capable of fighting the Watcher to a standstill and eating entire galaxies. His defeat required the combined might of the multiverse's greatest champions.
A standout character from Season 2, Kahhori is a completely original creation for the MCU, not based on any pre-existing comic character. She is a young Mohawk woman from pre-colonial America whose village is attacked by Spanish conquistadors searching for the Fountain of Youth. The “fountain” is actually a lake infused with the energy of the Tesseract (the Space Stone) which fell to Earth centuries earlier. After being shot and falling into the lake, Kahhori is transported to another dimension, the “Sky World,” and granted immense power over kinetic energy and cosmic force. She becomes a protector of her people, leading them to overthrow the conquistadors and establish a new, sovereign society. Her introduction was praised for its cultural authenticity and for showcasing the potential of What If…? to introduce brand new heroes and mythologies into the MCU.
The series is structured around standalone episodes that culminate in a connected, serialized finale arc, particularly in Season 1.
Season 1 primarily explores divergences from the Infinity Saga, establishing the core premise and introducing the key players for the eventual multiversal team-up.
| Ep. # | Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “What If… Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?” | Peggy Carter takes the Super Soldier Serum, becoming Captain Carter and changing the course of WWII. |
| 2 | “What If… T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?” | The Ravagers abduct a young T'Challa instead of Peter Quill, leading to a universe with a reformed, heroic Star-Lord. |
| 3 | “What If… the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?” | The original candidates for the Avengers Initiative are mysteriously assassinated one by one, leading Loki to invade a defenseless Earth. |
| 4 | “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” | A grief-stricken Doctor Strange goes to horrifying lengths to reverse the death of Christine Palmer, resulting in the destruction of his universe. |
| 5 | “What If… Zombies?!” | A quantum virus turns the world's heroes and villains into intelligent zombies, leaving a small band of survivors to search for a cure. |
| 6 | “What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?” | Erik “Killmonger” Stevens prevents Tony Stark's kidnapping in Afghanistan, manipulating events to ignite a war between the U.S. and Wakanda. |
| 7 | “What If… Thor Were an Only Child?” | Without Loki as his brother, Thor grows into an irresponsible “Party Prince” whose antics threaten to destroy the Earth. |
| 8 | “What If… Ultron Won?” | Ultron successfully obtains the Vision's body and the Infinity Stones, leading to the extinction of his universe and his subsequent discovery of the multiverse. |
| 9 | “What If… the Watcher Broke His Oath?” | The Watcher assembles the Guardians of the Multiverse from the season's previous realities to combat the existential threat of Infinity Ultron. |
Season 1's narrative structure is a masterclass in bait-and-switch. For eight episodes, it presents itself as a classic anthology. However, the finale retroactively reframes every preceding story as an “audition” for the Guardians of the Multiverse. The overarching theme is the Watcher's journey from passive observer to active participant, forced by a threat so great that his sacred oath becomes an untenable position.
Released daily during the holiday season of 2023, Season 2 broadens its scope, exploring more emotional and character-driven stories while continuing the Watcher's evolution.
| Ep. # | Title | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” | In a noir-themed story, Nova Corps officer Nebula investigates the murder of Yondu in a sealed Xandar. |
| 2 | “What If… Peter Quill Attacked Earth's Mightiest Heroes?” | A young Peter Quill is delivered to his celestial father, Ego, and is sent to conquer Earth in the 1980s, facing off against an early team of Avengers. |
| 3 | “What If… Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?” | In a `Die Hard` homage, Happy Hogan must save the Avengers Tower from Justin Hammer and his goons during a holiday party. |
| 4 | “What If… Iron Man Crashed into the Grandmaster?” | Tony Stark is stranded on Sakaar after the battle of New York and must compete in the Grandmaster's contests. |
| 5 | “What If… Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?” | Captain Carter and Black Widow discover that Steve Rogers survived as the brainwashed HYDRA Stomper, forcing Peggy into a difficult confrontation. |
| 6 | “What If… Kahhori Reshaped the World?” | A young Mohawk woman gains cosmic powers from the Tesseract and liberates her people from Spanish conquistadors. |
| 7 | “What If… Hela Found the Ten Rings?” | Odin banishes Hela to Earth, where she is stripped of her power and must find a new path to strength by confronting Wenwu and the Ten Rings. |
| 8 | “What If… the Avengers Assembled in 1602?” | A time-displaced Captain Carter arrives in an Elizabethan-era universe to solve a temporal anomaly that threatens to erase its existence. Based on the `Marvel 1602` comic. |
| 9 | “What If… Strange Supreme Intervened?” | Strange Supreme's attempts to restore his lost universe by feeding a “Universe Forge” with captured beings forces Captain Carter to rally heroes and villains to stop him. |
Season 2 focuses more on themes of redemption, found family, and second chances. The stories are generally less apocalyptic than Season 1's, allowing for deeper character dives. The finale once again brings characters together, but this time it is Captain Carter, not the Watcher, who takes the lead in assembling the team. The season ends with the Watcher and Captain Carter gazing out at the multiverse, their relationship now a true partnership, solidifying her as the “guardian” of the multiverse alongside him.
Unlike its comic book predecessor, which was explicitly non-canon, the animated What If…? is an integral part of the MCU's multiverse. Its characters and concepts have already begun to influence the live-action narrative.
The most direct and significant crossover to date was the appearance of a Captain Carter variant in `doctor_strange_in_the_multiverse_of_madness` (2022). This version was a member of the Illuminati on Earth-838. Portrayed by Hayley Atwell, she appeared in a comics-accurate costume and wielded her signature shield. This fulfilled the promise that the series was more than just a hypothetical exercise. However, this variant was shown to be slightly different from the animated version (notably possessing a jetpack) and was brutally killed by the Scarlet Witch, demonstrating the high stakes of the Multiverse Saga and proving that no variant is truly safe.
The series acts as a crucial primer for the entire concept of the Multiverse Saga. It familiarizes the general audience with the idea of variants—alternate versions of beloved characters with different histories and powers. It visualizes the cosmic scale of the multiverse and establishes that threats can emerge that endanger all of reality, not just a single timeline. Concepts explored in the show, such as incursions (the collision and destruction of universes, as seen with Strange Supreme) and the gathering of multiversal heroes, are expected to be central themes in upcoming films like `_the_kang_dynasty` and `_secret_wars`.
Marvel Studios has confirmed that a spin-off series, Marvel Zombies, based on the fan-favorite episode from Season 1, is in development. This indicates a willingness to build out entire narratives from the seeds planted in What If…?. Furthermore, the immense popularity of characters like Strange Supreme and the introduction of powerful new heroes like Kahhori have led to widespread fan speculation about their potential live-action debuts. As the MCU builds towards a climactic multiversal event like Secret Wars—a story famous for mashing together heroes from dozens of alternate realities—it is highly probable that key characters and plot points from What If…? will play a significant role.