What If…?: What’s hidden in plain sight in episode 6

Could Killmonger have pulled off this plan?

As always, this episode of What If…? relied on a change to the MCU timeline that causes a huge Butterfly Effect. We’re initially led to believe in “What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?” that it’s Killmonger preventing Tony from being wounded by the Stark Industries missile. But in truth, it’s actually Killmonger deciding to enact his plan to take over Wakanda sooner, of which manipulating Tony into building the Liberators became a part of it.

But could this have been possible? True, according to Killmonger’s backstory as presented in Black Panther, he did serve in Afghanistan, so it’s entirely possible he and Tony could’ve crossed paths. We also know he’s highly intelligent, as evidenced by his ability to make long-term, meticulous plans. However, this is a younger Killmonger, both because this episode takes place in 2009 and how he doesn’t have as many “one for each kill” scars. Since Erik looked around nine to ten years old when his father died in Black Panther, and T’Chaka killed N’Jobu in 1992, that should make Erik around 26 or 27 in this episode.

We also learn from Black Panther that, before joining the Navy SEALS, Killmonger was also graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Normally, it takes four years to earn your degree at Annapolis and another one to two years to earn your Master’s in MIT’s graduate program. Then, as part the SEALs enlistment, recruits undergo a mandatory seven to nine weeks long Boot Camp, followed by an additional year of basic training and another 18 months or more of pre-deployment training. Under normal circumstances, that would’ve meant Erik would’ve been done with all that education and training by the time he was 25, at best.

Yet according to this episode, Erik graduated from Annapolis when he was only 19, and then graduated from MIT “a year later.” That means he entered the SEAL program at 20 to 21 years of age. Presuming his training there lasted according to regulations, he became a full fledged SEAL when he was 22 or 23. That means by the time of “What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stak?”, Erik has been a SEAL for three or four years. That would probably give him enough time to have also recruited Klaue into his plan. It also seems he’s part of the CIA’s ghost recon squad, given that’s wearing the very uniform he wore in Black Panther and already earned his “Killmonger” codename.

So yes, it’s quite feasible that this version of Killmonger could’ve incorporated Tony into his plans when assigned to infiltrate the Ten Rings as part of a secret undercover operation. It’s also feasible he could’ve manipulated events to cause a war between the United States and Wakanda over the deaths of James Rhodes and Tony by blaming them on the Wakandans.

Only what about T’Chaka? Wouldn’t he be more than a little apprehensive that his long-lost nephew – whose father he killed, don’t forget – would suddenly show up now? And since Tony melted down N’Joubu’s vibranium ring to create the first Liberator, the only proof Killmonger has of his heritage is his War Dogs tattoo. Methinks Shura (voiced by Ozioma Akagha) shouldn’t have been the only one suspicious about her cousin’s true intentions.