Storm, one of the most recognizable and powerful members of the X-Men, was mishandled in an earlyMarvelmovie, but it’s safe to say that 2024 has redeemed the character with two major Marvel releases, includingWhatIf…?. Storm, real name Ororo Munroe, is one of theX-Men’s most formidable membersas an omega-level mutant with the power to control every facet of the weather. Marvel Comics typically writes the personality to match this powerful presence, presenting her as an authoritative and regal character who has even taken leadership of the team.
Storm has appeared in sixlive-action X-Men movies. The original ofFox’s somewhat convoluted X-Men timelinessees Halle Berry embody the role of an older Ororo, while Alexandra Shipp portrays a younger version in the altered timeline. Unfortunately, Storm hardly receives the gravitas she deserves in these appearances, and while she plays a relatively substantial supporting role inX2andX-Men: The Last Stand, her cinematic career arguably got off to a pretty bad start with 2000’sX-Men. Thankfully, two animated Marvel offerings have just allowed Storm to flaunt her true potential.
What If…? Season 3 Gives 2024 A Second Opportunity To Redeem Storm’s On-Screen History
Storm’s Rocky Live-Action Start Has Been Redeemed Twice In One Year
Storm returned to Marvel media in 2024 inX-Men ‘97. Thankfully, Storm receives an entire arc dedicated to exploring her character after having her powers sapped, unsurprisingly bringing her to the brink due to their immense nature. Upon reacquiring them with the help of Forge, Storm unleashes a mind-blowing demonstration of what she is capable of in a sequence replete with stunning visuals and a heartwarming illustration of the joy they give her. Her empyrean presence is on full display through her dialogue and actions, demonstrating howX-Men ‘97knew how to faithfully characterize the X-Men.
X-Men ‘97season 2 is in development but has yet to receive a concrete release date.
X-Men ‘97marked a stark departure from Storm’s notoriously awkward “Do you know what happens to a toad” linefromX-Men.What If…?season 3managed to continue this trend, cementing the notion that Marvel’s acquisition of the X-Men and its key players means great things for some of its fan-favorite members. During the final days of 2024,What If…?introduced Storm as the Mjolnir-wielding Goddess of Thunder and a core member of the ultra-powerful Guardians of the Multiverse, further pushing her towards her fullest potential in the MCU.
What If…? Season 3 Is A Perfect Example Of Storm’s Underused Potential
The What If…? Season 3 Finale Shows Storm At Her Most Powerful
Even withX-Men ‘97showing Storm to be one of the most powerful members of the titular team, it arguably just scratches the surface ofwhat Storm can truly achieve.Storm’s ascension to godhood is not unprecedented, with Ororo adopting the mantle multiple times in Marvel Comics in lieu of Thor. Storm is introduced as such inWhat If…?season 3, episode 7, where she, Byrdie, Kahhori, and Captain Carter make quick work of an eldritch tentacled creature giving the Nova Corps cause for concern.
Marvel’s What If…? Season 3 Ending Explained
What If…? Season 3’s finale has The Watcher answering for all the times he’s broken his oath. Here’s our full breakdown (with ALL the MCU variants).
What If…?then takes Storm and her team’s abilities even further by affording them the powers of the Watchers, ostensibly turning them into near-omnipotent gods. In this form, Storm is seen taking on two out of three of the Watchers on her own with a gargantuan cosmic tornado, announcing herself to be the embodiment of nature itself. By doing so,What If…?comprises an awesome re-entry into the franchise for the omega-level mutant, and helps to draw a line beneath the relatively nerfed version thus far depicted in live-action.
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.
X-Men ‘97
X-Men ‘97 is the direct continuation of the popular 1990s animated series X-Men: The Animated Series. Taking up where the third season left off, Marvel’s revival brings back famous mutants such as Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, and Nightcrawler, who fight villains like Mr. Sinister, the Sentinels, and the Hellfire Club.
