Storm will officially be joining theMCUinWhat If…?season 3, but this Mjolnir-wielding version will be taking inspiration from little-known Marvel Comics stories. Storm is one of the most notable members of the X-Men in Marvel Comics, and was always central to the team in Fox’sX-Menfranchise, played by Halle Berry and Alexandra Shipp. Alison Sealy-Smith voices the Mistress of the Elements inX-Men ‘97, reprising herAnimated Seriesrole from the 1990s, and she has now been confirmed to be returning asStorm inWhat If…?season 3.
What If…?season 3’s first official trailer confirmed Storm’s debut, and revealed that she would be teamed up with Captain Carter, Kahhori and a bird-like hero, anew character forWhat If…?season 3.Sealy-Smith’s iconic voice as Storm was instantly recognizable, but this version of the hero will be very different to herX-Men ‘97counterpart. Instead of manipulating all the elements, it seems thatWhat If…?season 3’s Stormwill harbor abilities similar to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, introducing herself as the Goddess of Thunder.
Storm Is The Goddess Of Thunder In What If…? Season 3
Storm Wields Mjolnir In What If…? Season 3’s Trailer
Storm refers to herself as the Goddess of Thunder inWhat If…?season 3’s trailer, which is not usually one of her titles or nicknames in Marvel Comics. It seems as though Storm has been altered forWhat If…?season 3, changing her from a member of the X-Men into a formidable Asgardian soldier, reflecting Thor’s own title as the God of Thunder.It seems as though Storm’sWhat If…?debut will see her join several other powerful female heroes, so she is the perfect candidate to take on the Goddess of Thunder role.
While usually known as the Mistress of the Elements or the Weather Witch in Marvel Comics,there is precedent for Storm to become the Goddess of Thunder. This means her turn as the Asgardian warrior inWhat If…?season 3 isn’t too much of a shock, and could actually be the perfect way to bringStorm one step closer to joining the live-action MCU. It’s also possible that Storm’s new Goddess of Thunder title could be based on the multiversal Goddesses of Thunder from Marvel Comics, expanding Thor and Storm’s stories simultaneously.
Storm Used An Asgardian Weapon In Marvel Comics
The closest the mainline Earth-616 version of Storm got to becoming an Asgardian hero in Marvel Comics was when she wielded an Asgardian weapon in 1985’sX-Men Annual #9.Stormcaster was created by Loki and gifted to Storm, gifting the mutant godly powers similar to those of Thor, but her use of the hammer was brief as she soon realized Loki was manipulating her. Storm wielded Stormcaster again years later, fighting Thor and other beings in 2011, but the hammer was ultimately destroyed. InWhat If…?, Storm seems to be wielding Mjolnir, not Stormcaster.
Halle Berry’s Storm Is Only X-Men Return I Still Need To See After Deadpool & Wolverine
After Deadpool & Wolverine caught up with some of the X-Men from Fox’s franchise, I am desperate to see more return, specifically Halle Berry’s Storm.
Storm became the Goddess of Thunder again in 1990’sWhat If…? (Vol. 2) #12in Marvel Comics, in a story titled “What If… The X-Men Had Stayed In Asgard?” This means thatit makes even more sense for Storm to appear inWhat If…?season 3 as the Goddess of Thunder, as this could be taken straight from the pages of Marvel Comics. However, there is more inspiration in Marvel Comics that could inform Storm’s evolution into the Goddess of Thunder, and this could dramatically change Storm and Thor’s connection.
Marvel Comics’ Goddesses Of Thunder Explained
Storm Isn’t The First Goddess Of Thunder
While Storm’s Goddess of Thunder moniker could be taken from her time wielding Stormcaster or in 1990’sWhat If…?story,it’s possible that this could also be inspired by the Goddesses of Thunder from 2013’sThor: God of Thunderstoryline. These powerful female Asgardian warriors helmed from the alternate reality of Earth-14412, and were introduced as Thor’s own granddaughters who had traveled from the future. The Goddesses of Thunder teamed up with their grandfather to battle Gorr the God Butcher and a version of theplanet-eater Galactus.
The Goddesses of Thunder in Marvel Comics consisted of Frigg, Atli and Ellisiv.
Following Thor’s sacrifice in 2019’sKing Thorevent, the Goddesses of Thunder became part of anew team of Avengers. This gave them a pivotal role in the Marvel Universe, and would be a fantastic evolution for Storm inWhat If…?season 3.Coming into contact with the likes of Captain Carter, Kahhori and the rumored Byrdie, Storm, as the Goddess of Thunder, could easily become an Avenger. This inspiration may also establish an interesting familial connection between Storm and Thor that has never before been explored in live-action.
Storm & Thor Could Even Be Related In The MCU
Storm As The Goddess Of Thunder Could Connect Her To Thor
Introducing Storm as the Goddess of Thunder inWhat If…?season 3 could debut a version of the mutant who is indeed related to Thor. Marvel Studios’What If…?is well-known for putting interesting tweaks on the backstories of some of the MCU’s most notable heroes, so it’s very possible that Storm could be seen to be a secret sibling toThor, Loki and Hela. This would introduce an exciting new dynamic toWhat If…?that could even prevail in the MCU, thoughit seems more likely that Storm’s live-action backstory will be closer to her Marvel Comics counterpart.
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In Marvel Comics, Storm was born to a Kenyan princess and an American photojournalist, and was the descendant of an ancient line of African priestesses who had white hair, blue eyes and the potential to wield magic. She was raised in New York and Cairo, and formed a bond with T’Challa, the future Black Panther and her husband, as a child.This origin story was never explored in Fox’sX-Menfranchise, and whileWhat If…?season 3 might alter this story for now, Marvel Studios will likely bring Storm’s more-faithful backstory into theMCU’s upcomingX-Menstories.
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.
