What If…? Episode 6: 7 Big Questions About Killmonger And Iron Man

Warning: Contains spoilers for Marvel’s What If…? episode 6.

Marvel’s What If…? episode 6 brings Erik Killmonger back to the MCU, shows a version of Tony Stark who never becomes Iron Man, and poses a number of interesting questions along the way. Killmonger has been hailed as one of the best villains in the entire franchise since he first appeared in Black Panther, and Michael B. Jordan’s return to the role has been highly anticipated by fans. What If…? episode 6 delivers on that promise while also exploring some of Tony Stark’s less admirable qualities.

The beginning of What If…? episode 6 is largely the same as the beginning of the first Iron Man. Stark is shown being escorted by U.S. Army soldiers in Afghanistan before their convoy is attacked. Tony runs for cover and comes face to face with one of his own bombs, but this time the familiar face of Erik Killmonger shows up to toss the explosive away. Tony brings Killmonger onto his personal security and helps him develop a dangerous new adamantium drone prototype, only to discover too late that the soldier is just using him to get back to Wakanda and seize power.

Without the traumatic experience of being kidnapped, Stark doesn’t go through the big changes that turn him into a hero. And with the aid of Stark’s resources, Killmonger ends up successfully climbing to the top of Wakanda’s political hierarchy. These curious twists open up a number of interesting queries and theories for fans to ponder. Here are the biggest unanswered questions from Marvel’s What If…? episode 6.

How Powerful Is Killmonger?

In his first appearance in What If…? episode 6, Killmonger grabs a military warhead and throws it through the air like it’s nothing, revealing strength beyond even that shown in Black Panther. The character doesn’t have any superpowers before becoming the Black Panther, but he’s clearly about as strong as an ordinary human could possibly be. What If…? also shows more of Killmonger’s other power – his scheming. With the resources of Stark Industries at his disposal, he quickly and effectively devises a plan to seize power in Wakanda, executing it perfectly. Killmonger was a formidable foe in Black Panther, but What If…? episode 6 suggests he’s even more dangerous. As the perfect soldier, a brilliant tactician, and eventually the possessor of the Black Panther armor, Killmonger is truly a force to be reckoned with, and one whose limits the MCU has yet to truly show.

What If Iron Man Had A Vibranium Suit?

Tony Stark is a genius, and throughout the first three phases of the MCU he applies his mind to creating all sorts of advanced technology. What If…? episode 6 adds an additional wrinkle to Tony’s story by giving him access to a vast supply of vibranium. With that, he helps Killmonger design a deadly army of robots – even stronger than the main MCU timeline’s Iron Legion. Iron Man always seemed to do just fine with the tech available to him, but What If…? teases how much more powerful he could have been with access to vibranium. The combination of the Iron Man design and the near limitless potential of the Wakandan metal would have truly been something to see.

How Strong Is Black Panther’s Armor?

Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa makes a cameo appearance in What If…? episode 6, where he’s ultimately murdered by Killmonger in a surprise attack. Killmonger uses a Stark Industries soundwave weapon to do the deed – something that pierces right through Black Panther’s suit and debilitates him instantly. It’s the greatest weakness the vibranium suit has ever been shown to have, and it begs the question of whether Black Panther might have other weaknesses waiting to be exploited. Obviously, the kind of weapon used by Killmonger in What If…? episode 6 isn’t common, but with all the advanced tech at Wakanda’s disposal, it still seems like a pretty glaring weakness.

Did Tony Stark Have To Die?

The Infinity Saga ends with Iron Man sacrificing himself to save the universe. In What If…? episode 6, he dies in a much less heroic way, betrayed by Killmonger and left to die before ever becoming a superhero. Obviously, Killmonger’s treachery is a very specific cause of death, but What If…? suggests that without Iron Man, Tony Stark’s lifestyle may have inevitably led him to a premature end. All the good he does in the main MCU, including his ultimate sacrifice, is meant as atonement for all the violence committed with his resources and under his name. And because of his guilt, he never would have stopped before giving everything he had. So, if not becoming Iron Man leads Tony into inescapable danger, and becoming Iron Man necessitates an eventual sacrifice, was he always fated to die before his time?

How Does Black Panther’s Astral Plane Work?

First introduced in Doctor Strange, the Astral Plane has become central to the overriding lore of the MCU. Black Panther introduced some additional mysteries to the alternate dimension, and those mysteries persist in What If…? episode 6. In the movie, Killmonger was able to speak with his father’s spirit after ingesting the Heart-Shaped Herb, but in the show, he travels to the Black Panther Tree, where he’s confronted by T’Challa. It’s well known that the Heart-Shaped Herb is tied to the vibranium-enriched soil of Wakanda, and that it grants superhuman abilities, but its exact ties to the Astral Plane and the Black Panther line remain unclear. And because those parts of the story are intentionally and satisfyingly supernatural, it’s likely – and probably for the best – that no real explanation will ever come.

Is Wakanda Undefeatable?

Wakanda has always been pitched as the most advanced nation on Earth, and What If…? episode 6 continues to support that theory. Though the battle against the Liberator drones is staged by Killmonger, it’s still very much a real fight, and the Wakandans make short work of the robots with few casualties. In Avengers: Infinity War, Wakanda was pushed to its limits by Thanos and his army, but it never truly broke. At the end of What If…? episode 6, Wakanda is faced with a new problem – the encroaching wrath of the entire U.S. military-industrial complex. But would even that be enough to actually break Wakanda? Surely not.

Will Shuri Become The New Black Panther?

What If…? episode 6 ends with Shuri confronting Pepper Potts, with the two then hatching a scheme to defeat Killmonger and save Wakanda from his rule. While she doesn’t ingest any of the Heart-Shaped Herb or don the Black Panther armor, Shuri is clearly positioned as T’Challa’s successor, carrying his legacy into the future. With Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever arriving in theaters in 2022, the MCU is faced with the difficult challenge of continuing the franchise while also paying proper tribute to Chadwick Boseman. It remains to be seen if Shuri will actually become the Black Panther in that film, but What If…? episode 6 seems to at least cement her as a key part of Wakanda’s future and a natural extension of her brother’s impact into the future.

Marvel’s What If…? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

About The Author

Rick Stevenson
(1221 Articles Published)

Rick Stevenson is a writer, editor and performer based in Brooklyn, NY. He’s written on TV, film and games for over six years, in addition to assorted stints in bookselling, carpentry, and TV production. Rick studied writing at the College of William & Mary and Oxford University, and can report with some authority that they are both old. He lives and dies for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

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