Warning! This article contains spoilers for What If…? season 3, episode 6.
What If…?is singlehandedly responsible for making some of the wildest cameos and variants in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and it just brought back one of the most interesting versions of Thor from the MCU.What If…?is one of my favorite shows from the MCU, with the series finding ways to engage with and expand the MCU beyond any normal realms of storytelling. While it also debuted alongside other Multiverse stories likeLokiwhich explored the TVA,What If…?goes far beyond the Sacred Timeline, and that means that it can do some unique things.
The animated series has seenMarvel heroes become zombies, some powerful heroes becoming villains, andforgotten characters given an opportunity to shinein a brand-new light. And with this more open format, the show lends itself well to creativity. The kind of creativity that only exists in the Void when it comes to the MCU, since the TVA tends to keep things in order within the bounds of the multiverse.
Frog Thor Just Reappeared In The MCU After 3 Years
Throg Makes A Comeback In What If…?
The Void was a concept that was first introduced inLokiseason 1, and in that new plane of existence, Loki met several variants of himself. From President Loki, to Kid Loki, to Classic Loki and even an alligator, Loki confronts a range of creative alternate gods of Mischief. And, in one brief scene, the show even shows aversion of Thor that is a frogtrapped in a jar. This brief scene does see the animated frog hopping around, but that was the end of his on-screen appearance in the MCU.
The MCU Just Introduced Its Strongest Ever Hulk & I’m Devastated So Many People Will Never See It
The Hulk got a major upgrade in this underrated MCU TV show, and it deserves to be widely seen and celebrated for its creativity alone.
Since then, Frog Thor, also known as Throg, has been completelyabsent from the Multiverse Saga. Even despite the fact thatDeadpool & Wolverinealso explores the Void and reveals several more variants of other heroes and villains from the history of Marvel movies. But now,What If…?has paid off that early reference with anotherbrief cameo appearance from Throg and Alligator Loki. But, the scene is a still image with narration from the Watcher, which appears to whet the appetite for the audience to see more of this unique variant.
Why Throg And Alligator Loki Were So Popular
Animals Have A Way Of Going Viral
Throg and Alligator Loki stole the show inLoki, and they both ended up becoming popular and iconic figures despite their relatively small roles. Toys and fan art of the characters circulated online, and discussions about the characters took place across the internet. In some ways, the characters became viral, and it brought attention to the Marvel comic series, which features familiar heroes as animals, including Throg and Alligator Loki.
It may be anunusual way to depict and deliver superheroes, but people love animals, and seeing iconic heroes reimagined tends to get audiences excited. For these reasons and many more, people engaged with and fell for these animalversions as seen inLoki. It’s also something that comic book fans who would have been familiar with the obscure variants would be excited to see play out in live-action, because it appears too ridiculous to actually adapt and include anywhere, but Marvel Studios found a way, and it paid off.
I Really Want To See What If…?’s Wildest Variants In Secret Wars
Avengers: Secret Wars Has The Chance To Bring A Lot Of Variants To The Big Screen
But, ifLokiproved anything, it is that these variants can make big impressions for fans. Now,What If…?continues to build on that legacy, and with a brief hint at these heroes again from the MCU, it makes me want to see so much more of the characters. Maybe they are a bad pick to lead a show, or include in a mainline MCU film for the most part, but theMultiverse Saga is setting itself up as a place where absolutely anything is possible. Including getting the animal versions of heroes involved in a major war likeSecret Wars.
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Avengers: Secret Warsis set to be an epic film which will feature the most cameos from the MCU to date. Just like whenAvengers: Endgamehad Doctor Strangearrive with countless other heroes through magic portals to battle Thanos and save the universe,Secret Warshas the opportunity to grab these heroes from across the Multiverse, and put them all on the battlefield next to the most popular and recognizable heroes from the MCU. And I hope that Marvel’sWhat If…?tease is exactly that, and it hints at something more to be seen of Throg in the upcoming MCU movies.
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.
