No Nitpicks for ‘What If…’ Episode 1

Disney+ has opened the multiverse again and is allowing us to ponder the question, “What if…?” This animated anthology follows different Marvel heroes as their stories change and diverge from the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline.

First up, we have “What If… Nebula joined the Nova Corps.” The episode follows one of Thanos’ deadly daughters, Nebula, as she is saved by Nova Prime and becomes a detective in the Nova Corps, which is the peacekeeping force on the planet of Xandar. Changing up the story, the Guardians of the Galaxy are nowhere to be found, as Gamora and Thanos were killed by Ronan the Accuser who soon attempted to invade Xandar. A shield was then put across the planet to prevent an invasion, which soon caused a forced isolation of the planet. Nebula must now save the planet from a force that wants to destroy it. 

Watching this was amazing with a grand Blade Runner/Cyberpunk aesthetic. It was dark, gritty and down-to-earth for an episode dealing with a massive conspiracy. The cast was also great with many voice actors returning such as Karen Gillan, Peter Serafinowitz, Taika Waititi and Seth Green. This show prides itself on being a top-tier animated show with the same cast and great animation. The raindrops falling on the flying car, and the dark and grimy shadows of the city all show perfectly as the animation shines through with high quality. 

There are no nitpicks here. This episode is one of the best that they have made and if a canon “Nova” film is created by Marvel Studios, we feel it should use this aesthetic. 

5 out of 5 *quacks.* “What If…?” Is streaming on Disney+. 

Guillermo Guzman (he/him/they) is a Texas-based nerd who loves talking about video games, autism, and entertainment. Follow him on Instagram: @boofy_booferson and X: @Dimpy_Tenders.

Zipporah Pruitt, (she/her) is an L.A. homegrown journalist, who covers entertainment and culture. Follow her on X and Instagram: @zippzapps.

Edited by Nykeya Woods