Loki’s invasion of Earth in What If…? may have been swift but it sets up a far bigger war than even Thanos’ fight with the Avengers in Endgame.
The MCU just set up an even bigger war than the battle for Infinity Stones and Thanos’ invasion of Earth, thanks to What If…? episode 3. The episode ends with Loki having conquered Earth in a last-gasp betrayal of Nick Fury, who he’d worked with to bring down the traumatized, nefarious Hank Pym AKA Yellowjacket. And while the episode ends only with the suggestion of a whole new Avengers team, there’s a lot more in that future timeline that deserves exploration.
So far, the MCU has been punctuated by huge events and an increasing number of crossovers. The Battle of New York was the first, then came the admittedly short Age of Ultron, before a Civil War, an Infinity War, and an Endgame. And that’s without considering the solo movie and TV show catastrophes and threats to the Earth (and multiverse) that were not deemed grand enough for multiple heroes to get involved. As the MCU expands into the future with more new properties on the big screen and on Disney+, the clamor for the next huge crossover event will get louder.
Secret Wars may be the next MCU crossover. Or perhaps the coming of Galactus. Or an X-Men vs Avengers crossover. Or The Dark Avenegrs. The possibilities are endless, but What If…? already teased one bigger than anything seen before, and served as a reminder of just how much had to go right for Thanos in order for his own invasion to come off in Infinity War. The episode’s end, which sees Loki crowned, sets up a far bigger war than the Infinity Saga, because Loki’s invasion would unite the heroes of the MCU with their villainous enemies, as well as several powerful factions who were taken out by the time Thanos’ Black Order landed in New York. Loki’s army – itself more powerful than Thanos’ invading force – would have faced a far greater opponent in battle than the Mad Titan ever did.
Having claimed the throne of Earth at the end of What If…? episode 3, Loki has essentially just made very powerful enemies by conquering Earth. He’ll have to fight Odin presumably (provided he’s outside of his regenerative nap schedule), who wouldn’t allow such an invasion of his favorite of the Nine Realms, even with Loki commanding Asgard’s army. That would bring Gungnir – the MCU’s most powerful weapon – back into play after the MCU basically forgot its existence. Then Loki has Thanos and his army to consider, given that he’d still be looking for the Infinity Stones. On top of that, there’s the new Avengers, led by Captain Marvel and Captain America – a smaller but potentially more powerful iteration than the Original Avengers – plus the possibility of every Marvel villain with their own agenda of conquest uniting with their enemies.
Beyond that, Loki would have to contend with Wakanda’s entire force, without Thanos having halved their population, plus arguably the most important factor in the entire War For Earth: The Ancient One and the Sorcerors. At this point in the timeline, they wouldn’t have been thinned out by Kaecilius and Mordo and the combined might of the Ancient One’s followers would make for an incredible battle. Yes, Loki’s Asgardian army in What If…? episode 3 is formidable and each individual is stronger than any “normal” human – and he could perhaps command the armies and creatures of the Nine Realms if Odin backed him after Thor’s death (or in the All-Father’s absence), but the combined potential of each of his enemy factions would lead to incredible scenes. It would have made Endgame look like a skirmish.