What If? Writer Responds To Complaints About Too Many Iron Man Deaths

Marvel's What If...? writer A.C. Bradley responds to complaints of the show killing off Iron Man too much. Bradley is the head writer on the animated series, which envisions different events throughout the MCU timeline in an alternative light, changing one or more things that alter the trajectory in unexpected and sometimes shocking ways. The nine-episode anthology series has thus far featured alternate timelines for characters like Iron Man, Thor, Captain Marvel, Loki, Black Panther, Star-Lord, Hulk, Captain America and most every superhero that's been in the MCU to some degree or another.

Tony Stark/Iron Man has featured prominently in the show, but his fate has been rather disastrous in a few of the episodes. Stark was killed by Hank Pym in episode two by way of poisoning and then killed again by Killmonger in episode six by way of stabbing. While Stark already died in the MCU live-action timeline in Avengers: Endgame, sacrificing himself by using the Infinity Stones to take out Thanos and his army, his return in What If...? has made some fans excited, only to have to relive the character's death in another light.

In an interview with EW, head writer A.C. Bradley says that she's noticed a lot of people upset about Stark's deaths, saying, "I noticed on Twitter we're getting a lot of crap for killing Tony a lot. He has become the Kenny of the What If…? universe by accident." However, Stark isn't the only character to face a dark fate in the series, as Doctor Strange took a decidedly dour turn in his character-focused episode and many others have suffered some shocking and nasty fates as a result of the multiverse timeline. Bradley goes on to say that these dark twists are part of the allure of the show, which is liberating for the writer in terms of drafting things that viewers would never see in the movies. Here's what she had to say about that:

"The most liberating part of What If…? has been writing things you'll never see in the movies, which includes killing off our heroes, ending the world, just going full out. I'm excited for people to see that we're not going in there clueless, that there was a bit of a bigger plan. I'm aware that many of the episodes end tragically, and there might be a reason. I'm hoping people have enjoyed the ride so far, and that the finale gives them everything we promised."

While many of the episodes may seem like they're random events that transpire as standalone timelines, Bradley says What If...? season 1 has been building toward a finale that ties it all together. One of the big teases is an alternate timeline where Ultron won and ultimately acquires the Infinity Stones, which should make for an interesting twist of events. In addition, Jeffrey Wright's Watcher is expected to be tested in a way that challenges his oath in not interfering with human affairs. "I'm excited for people to see that we're not going in there clueless, that there was a bit of a bigger plan. I'm aware that many of the episodes end tragically, and there might be a reason. I'm hoping people have enjoyed the ride so far, and that the finale gives them everything we promised," said Bradley.

The What If...? comic series has always played with the dark, interesting, and sometimes comical aspects of alternate timelines and the animated show seems to be tapping that vein as it pertains to the MCU quite well. While not every story features the same level of intensity, fans are able to experience the MCU in a way that they'd otherwise never see and, perhaps, get an outcome they may have preferred. With Stark/Iron Man meeting his demise over and over again, some fans may feel like he's become a punching bag, but his influence in the MCU definitely puts him in the cross hairs for a multitude of stories and they can't all end happily ever after.

Next: What If…? Episode 8 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning MCU Character

Source: EW