After a long break from the MCU, it looks like the cinematic universe is catching a new breath. The last film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, premiered in summer 2019, but this year, MCU will release multiple TV shows about everyone's favorite (and sometimes less favorite) superheroes and villains. WandaVision is already out and several other shows are coming, including the heavily-anticipated What If? series.
Based on comic-book storylines of the same name, What If? shows different, often seemingly impossible stories. Well-known Marvel heroes become someone else in them. The series has run for decades so there are plenty of great stories that would fit well in the MCU.
What If Flash Thompson Became Spider-Man?
Compared to his MCU, Flash Thompson is quite different in the comics books. However, one thing that remains the same is that he is not the nicest person out there. He bullies Peter constantly and is often seen calling him ugly names.
If Flash got bitten by the radioactive spider instead of Peter, his life would be much different. In the comics, when he becomes Spider-Man, he goes to fight crime and fails horribly. Although multiple characters have stepped into the web-slingers boots, Flash probably isn't the best candidate.
What If Vision Took Over The World?
Vision is a good person. He protects others and wants to do the best thing. But these wishes could possibly lead him astray, as one What If? scenario proved.
In the story, Vision was determined to make all the injustices in the world right. As a result, he started controlling the planet. While he did protect people, he also took away their freedom. It's a fascinating story with many moral implications, and it shows that sometimes the road to Hell is indeed paved with good intentions.
What If Spider-Man Never Fought Crime?
Spider-Man is one of the most popular Marvel superheroes, and there are many aspects of his life the What If? comics focused on. One interesting scenario was when Peter decided to become famous instead of fighting crime.
After all, someone with his powers could easily amass fans and become well-known. He would never struggle with being poor again but he also wouldn't be saving lives. In the MCU, Peter is 14 years old when he starts his superhero journey. At this age, it might be tempting to use his powers to become an internet sensation.
What If Captain America And Bucky Stayed In Their Original Timeline?
Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes both ended up in the 21st century. However, things could have been much different had they stayed living in the 20th century. This What-If scenario shows how would their lives looked if they continued living in their original timeline.
Maybe they would settle down like Steve did when he came back in time. Maybe they would continue fighting crime, but either way, the MCU would be much different without them.
What If The Avengers Never Got Together?
Nick Fury puts the Avengers together in the 2012 film Avengers. As a team, the Avengers take on Loki and his Chitauri army. But if the Avengers never formed a team, as they did in this alternate story, someone else would have to protect New York.
It's a question of whether they would manage it or whether New York and the rest of the world would fall. Luckily, there's an abundance of heroes in the MCU and not all of them are members of the Avengers.
What If Bruce Banner And Hulk Switched Roles?
Bruce finally managed to combine his strength and intelligence in the form of Professor Hulk. But before that happened, Bruce Banner was intelligent and Hulk fierce and strong.
Things would be very different if the roles were reversed and Hulk was the one intelligent and kind one while Bruce Banner would be constantly violent. In this version, the Avengers would probably prefer dealing with the gentle green giant than the eternally angry Banner.
What If Thanos Became A Part Of The Avengers?
Thanos and the Avengers don't exactly get along in the MCU - to put it mildly. After all, Thanos kills multiple Avengers, with some of them being permanent (such as Vision). And the superheroes weren't even able to defeat him at first. However, in a different situation, Thanos had joined the Avengers and they fought side by side.
Having the Mad Titan as an ally would not only be dangerous but would also give the Avengers an edge on a battlefield. Thanos possesses incredible strength and, even without the Infinity Gauntlet, he's a force to be reckoned with.
What If Loki Had Gotten Mjolnir?
Loki has had some heroic moments in the MCU and it looks like he will now get another chance in his upcoming TV show. But in the past, he mostly did what he wanted and enjoyed wreaking havoc. In one story, Loki actually gets his hands on Mjolnir and is able to use it.
There are many ways how this story could go in the MCU. For example, Loki could use his newfound powers to actually fight alongside the Avengers, not against them. He could have even tried to smash the hammer against Thanos's head - although fans aren't too disappointed by this since Captain America got to wield the hammer in Avengers: Endgame (2019), which was just as epic.
What If Captain America Became A President?
Before he became a wanted fugitive in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Steve Rogers personified American values. He could take this one step further and become an actual American president, like one What If? scenario showed.
Whether or not Steve would be a good leader of the entire nation, is a whole different question. He would no doubt have good intentions, but as shown above, even those might not always be enough.
What If Jessica Jones Joined The Avengers?
Jessica Jones mostly preferred flying solo in the comics and her TV show. Her life would have been much different if she joined the Avengers. Jessica would prove a valuable member of the team, would grow closer to Captain America and they would eventually get married.
Jessica Jones is a fascinating character and doing this What If? in the upcoming show would be a good way how to finally bridge the gap between the MCU and the canceled Netflix superhero Marvel shows.