After receiving critical acclaim from Loki and prior to that, Wandavision, and Falcon and the Winter Soldier. it seems like Disney, hasn't slowed down their Marvel momentum. Based on the 70s Comicbook, "What if" is an animated Anthology series "Hosted " by The Watcher, an ominous sentient being unraveling events from alternate realities from the Marvel Universe where the outcomes range from triumph to very tragic. "What if Peggy Carter became The First Avenger?"
In Captain America: The First Avenger, we were introduced to
SRS Agent Margaret "Peggy" Carter who played an integral part of
Cap's debut within the MCU. Peggy was more than some potential romantic interest,
she was fierce, witty, honorable, and feisty so with all these traits, why not
make her a substitute for Steve Rogers?
In this reimagining of The First Avenger, our tale begins
with Steve is ready to receive Dr. Erskine's Super Soldier serum, when entering
the chamber. A saboteur under Hydra's command, detonates the chamber's
surrounding area, killing Erskine and injuring Rogers, prior to Agent Carter
gunning him down of course. With Steve too injured to reenter the chamber, and
time running out, Peggy assumes authority, and is injected with the serum. The
rest is "history".
The first episode is a solid entry thanks to dialogue which contains
clever self-referential jokes, callbacks and of course, topical references i.e.,
identity politics. The animation resembles classic Disneyesque aesthetics, but
dialed up to 11, while the ambitious action sequences can easily be compared to
one of Marvel's best films.
The voiceover acting is also on par with Marvel's live
action counterparts. While Hayley Atwell once again lends her talents as Ms.
Carter, the supporting cast from The First Avenger also returns for this
spiritual reunion. Well, most that is
since Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving are notably absent.
If there was one critique, it would be Steve using some Iron
Man Mark 1 style armor called the Hydra Stomper, that took me out of the story
for the moment since I was content on Peggy hogging the spotlight for the mist
part. The two of them together reminded me of DC's Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. was
this some coincidence, a homage or Marvel just blowing smoke at DC?