Is it just me, or has it been way too long since we got a proper Kaiju fight in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Sure, we witnessed that amazing Khonshu vs Ammit battle in the finale of Moon Knight and a brief Gargantos chase in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but those projects were released two years ago. Since then, there's been little opportunity to see giant beings going against each other considering Galactus has yet to make his big-screen debut and the Celestials haven't had a chance to join the battlefield. Fortunately, Disney Plus' What If...? has got us covered.
The first episode of the third and last season of What If...? is finally here for everyone to enjoy. It's a shame to know such a promising series is coming to an end while it could easily run indefinitely — but we still have one more ride to go. And what better way to kick things off than with that long-awaited Kaiju fight?
What If...? goes full Pacific Rim
The first episode of What If...? Season 3 kicks things off with an old-school animation style akin to that of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983). This vintage introduction tells us the Hulk unleashed horrible and giant monsters all over the city with the sole purpose of destroying everything in their path, and that Iron Man created giant Mech suits to put up a fight. We then discover this sequence was the opening of an animated series taking place within What If...?, which is also an animated series (cue the Inception theme). And why is all of this important? Well, it gives us a pretty good idea of all the events that will happen during the episode.
Turns out there was a big "Gamma War" — a cataclysmic event that started with Sam Wilson befriending Bruce Banner. As usual, Bruce struggles with knowing he can turn into a green, giant monster without notice capable of destroying complete cities. Sam tries to help his new friend with group therapy sessions and even takes him fishing in his family boat. Unfortunately, a storm takes place while the two are in the middle of the ocean, and something even worse gets unleashed. The Hulk enters the picture after Bruce gets hurt, and proceeds to briefly crush the boat until he realizes Sam, his best friend, is horrified by his actions.
After the outrage, Bruce goes back to his lab and experiments with Gamma rays in an attempt to "take the monster out of him". Unfortunately, things went a bit too literal and the beast within Banner got separated into its own body. As if that wasn't enough, this new apex was able to create new monsters that unleashed chaos in the city. As was explained in the episode's introduction, the OG Avengers each got a Mech suit designed to stop the new threats. Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, and Hawkeye all launched to battle without a second thought, but they all fell. What seemed impossible finally happened: Earth's Mightiest Heroes met their match.
New heroes rise to the occasion
Other remaining supers such as Moon Knight, Shuri, Shang-Chi, Monica Rambeau, Bucky Barnes, and Sam Wilson finished the task that Tony and Steve set out to do before passing. They cleaned the cities from all the Gamma Monsters and peace was finally restored. However, while it seemed the creatures were gone for good, turns out they were just waiting for the perfect moment to strike again. Ten years after the Gamma War, Banner's creatures emerged from the bottom of the ocean to wreak havoc once more. Sam Wilson (who's now the new Captain America), and Monica Rambeau tried to stop them on the spot, but they soon realized they were outnumbered.
Monica is convinced that the only way to stop the upcoming invasion is to ask the man who started all this for help. Sam is reluctant at first, as his friendship with Bruce is seriously hurt. However, after Bucky discovers Bruce's whereabouts on an abandoned island, Cap goes to find him. The former best friends finally have the chance to catch up, and Banner explains he's been living inside a nuclear combat bomber containing an inactive nuke for all these years.
Sam wants to recruit the Hulk to fight the Apex and his legions, but Bruce refuses. Instead, the scientist hands Cap a USB containing a plug-in for the Mech suits that allows them to combine themselves to form one Mighty Avenger (just like how the Power Rangers used to create a Megazord out of all individual Zords). Sam leaves the island after the disappointment of learning his friend won't join the battle and will only "hide in fear". He quickly returns to an evacuated New York City where the new herd of Gamma Monsters is attacking, and the likes of Moon Knight, Bucky, Shuri, the Red Guardian, and Monica are trying to protect what remains in their Mech Suits.
Once Captain America joins the fight, all heroes activate the Mighty Avenger protocol and quite literally join forces to turn the tide in their favor. Things look promising for a second until the original Apex monster releases a big wave of Gamma energy that incapacitates all Mechas in a heartbeat. The Avengers are defeated once again, and just when everything seems lost a saving grace arrives from the heavens.
A new Hulk enters the scene
Remember that abandoned combat bomber in which Bruce Banner lived? Well, Sam sees it flying above New York City for a moment before it drops a Nuke that absorbs all Gamma energy in the city. Inside the core of the nuke, we see Bruce Banner determined to do what feels like the first good deed in his life. Thanks to all the absorbed energy, he turns himself into an even bigger version of the Hulk capable of going against the Apex (Hulkzilla, anyone?). The two monsters fight while the rest of the herd watches from the distance, waiting to see who comes out victorious and becomes their new king.
It's a fierce battle, one that Bruce almost loses. But with the help of Sam, the Hulk eventually comes out victorious and claims his spot as the new leader of the Gamma monsters. The rest of the Avengers are worried this new Hulk can be a threat to the world thanks to his newfound power, but Sam convinces them not to attack him after sharing a moment with the beast and discovering Bruce is still somewhere inside it.
Audiences later see how the new Apex returns to the abandoned island on which Bruce used to live, alongside its herd of followers. From there, they can still live a peaceful life without being a threat to the rest of the world. As for Sam? Well, he still considers Bruce a friend and we see him on his way to visit him before the episode ends.
While it isn't the most mind-blowing What If...? episode we've ever seen, it's a nice way to kick off Season 3 which, hopefully, will have many more wacky stories to come.
What If...? Season 3 is streaming now on Disney+ with new episodes releasing daily.