: Instead of the Iron Man suit, Tony and Erik develop a drone army called "Liberators," powered by Killmonger's vibranium ring.
: Because Tony is never captured, he never builds the Mark I armor or the miniaturized arc reactor in a cave. The "Age of Iron Man" never begins, leaving the world without its primary defender and the Avengers unformed. : Instead of the Iron Man suit, Tony
In the What If...? episode , the primary "nexus point" occurs when Erik Killmonger prevents the Ten Rings from abducting Tony Stark in Afghanistan. This single change ripples outward, preventing the birth of Iron Man and allowing Killmonger to manipulate global superpowers to seize the Wakandan throne. The Alternate Timeline: Key Deviations In the What If
: Killmonger murders James Rhodes and T’Challa, framing them for a "mutual kill" to spark a war between the U.S. and Wakanda. He later kills Tony Stark when Tony discovers his deception. The Climax and Aftermath The Alternate Timeline: Key Deviations : Killmonger murders
'What If…?' Recap: 'What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?'
: Killmonger uses his status as a war hero to become Tony's Chief Security Officer. He exposes Obadiah Stane's treachery early to gain Tony’s absolute trust.