Marvel’s upcoming animated series, What If…?, will explore the endless possibilities of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newly established multiverse. The show will dive deep into altered versions of iconic MCU moments and pay tribute to the films and television shows that have come before it. As such, What If…? also has the potential to explore unresolved plot threads from previous MCU material, including the fate of one of the Hulk’s deadliest villains.
One of the MCU’s most intriguing lingering questions is the fate of Samuel Sterns. In 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, Sterns, also known as Mr. Blue, is a college professor working with Bruce Banner to find a cure for his transformations into the Hulk. He is confronted by Emil Blonsky and responsible for his mutation into the Abomination. Abomination then wrecks Sterns’ lab and leaves him behind. However, some of Banner’s blood infects a cut on the professor’s head, causing his brain to grow.
Considering that Sterns is a super-smart supervillain called the Leader in the comic book source material, it seemed that Marvel was setting up Mr. Blue’s villainous transformation. Since then, the character has never appeared in an MCU film or television show but made a one-off appearance in a 2012 tie-in comic entitled The Avengers Prelude: Fury’s Big Week. The comic showcases Nick Fury’s life during the week of the events of Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and Thor and reveals Sterns’ fate in the MCU.
Late into Fury’s Big Week, Black Widow meets Samuel Sterns while investigating the aftermath of Emil Blonsky’s transformation. With his brain heavily mutated, Sterns has seemingly gone insane and attempts to manipulate Black Widow. The super-spy is having none of it and shoots Sterns in the leg, incapacitating him. Sterns is then taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and the comic’s epilogue reveals that he has been put into suspended animation to be studied by scientists under the name “Project: Mr. Blue.”
In an interview with Total Film, What If…? head writer A. C. Bradley revealed that Season 1 will include an Agatha Christie-themed episode set “in this obscure point of detail that only hardcore fans know called Fury’s Big Week.” This is a surprising shoutout, as the comic hasn’t been acknowledged since its release, and its canonicity is debatable. However, Bradley’s comment seems to confirm that the comic is indeed canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that its events will be revisited during Season 1 of What If…?. If that is the case, then it stands to reason that Samuel Sterns may make a surprise appearance in the series.
An appearance by a now-villainous Samuel Sterns in the aftermath of his transformation would finally give a solid answer to the lingering questions about his fate and potentially set up a return for him as the Leader in the future. The character is one of the Hulk’s greatest enemies in the comic book source material, so it would be a shame if they never interacted in the MCU again. Sterns’ actor Tim Blake Nelson even commented that he had signed a three-picture contract with Marvel to appear as the character. Even if Marvel has no plans to reintroduce the character, What If…? could at least tie up his storyline with a quick explanation about him being in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
Created by A. C. Bradley, What If…? premieres Aug. 11 on Disney+. New episodes will air Wednesdays.
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