The Die Hard Parody
Marvel's What If...? season 2 episode 3 is a festive joy, paying homage to the classic Christmas movie Die Hard, and making Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) the hero. The animated episode perfectly matches up to the spirit of the season, delivering humor, heart, and a new type of Hulk for the Marvel timeline. 'What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?' is essentially a smartly observed Die Hard homage, with Justin Hammer playing the invading villain and the Avengers Tower standing in for the Nakatomi Plaza. Happy Hogan takes on the role of John McClane, while Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) serves as his Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson), adding a particularly meta moment to the episode.
What If Season 2 Happy Hogan as Santa
The 'What if...?' element of the episode is what if Justin Hammer took revenge on Iron Man by infiltrating the Avengers tower and taking over the defense systems, including the Iron Legion. The episode cleverly references major moments from Die Hard, while adding its own twists, such as Happy using Bruce Banner's blood to turn into a Hulk to save the day. Ultimately, 'What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?' is an affectionate and perfectly timed pastiche that offers a fresh take on the classic Die Hard story.
What If Season 2 Avengers at Christmas
The episode not only delivers a fun and entertaining story but also hints at a major event in Hulk's story after Avengers: Endgame's ending, and sets up future developments for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Die Hard parody works seamlessly within the Marvel universe, adding depth and humor to the overall narrative.
Justin Hammer wearing Hulkbuster armor in What If...? Season 2
Tony Stark’s Hulk Cure
As Happy hides from Hammer and the hijacked Iron Legion drones, it’s revealed that Stark was developing a Hulk cure. Interestingly, it seems Iron Man’s experiments sought to keep Banner’s ability to transform into the Hulk, but without the anger issues. This ties into the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe, as it aligns with Stark's earlier efforts to help Banner transform into Smart Hulk and suggests that Stark valued the Hulk's influence as one of Earth’s defenders. The episode provides insight into Stark's experiments and their implications for Hulk's transformation, setting the stage for future developments in the MCU.
Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner in science lab in Avengers Age of Ultron
The New Hulk and Justin Hammer’s Return
The major differences between Happy Hogan’s Hulk mutation and Banner’s are the color and the fact that he can speak. Happy Hulk is purple and bald, which raises questions about the nature of the mutation. The episode delves into the comics' lore to explore the significance of the purple color and its association with evil, providing a fascinating analysis of Happy Hogan's transformation. Additionally, the episode sets up Justin Hammer’s powerful return to the MCU, hinting at his improved skills and future role as a formidable villain. This opens up exciting possibilities for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and sets the stage for compelling storylines in future Marvel projects.
Happy Hogan and the Purple Hulk
