There were always two aspects of the What If…? Series in the comics that always made it attractive to fans. One was the appeal of that little peek at something that wasn’t supposed to be. It was intriguing to see how things might have turned out differently, but it was also safe, as the stories in those issues happened in a time and place outside the normal flow of the “official” events. If the different ending wasn’t what you liked, then no harm, no foul.

Secondly, it scratched that itch that fans always have. One thing you can always count on fanboys and fangirls to do, is to speculate. Is Hulk strong enough to break Cap’s shield? Is Shuri really really smarter than Tony? Who else is worthy of lifting Mjolnir? Would Loki actually make a good king? In other words, the question, “What if?” Is at the core of fandom. Every fan has that sense of making something up with their favorite characters. We all made our own comics as kids, or played with our action figures and did what we wanted, continuity be damned.

And this vibe of childhood exploration is exactly why the comic book, and now the Disney Plus streaming series, are so much fun to watch.

Season 2 brings back the sense of wonder and endless possibility that permeated the first set of episodes back in 2021. There are an infinite number of worlds after all, and in theory, an infinite number of alternate histories.

There’s something for everyone amidst the variety of episodes. If you’re wondering what an Avengers-like team might be made of if they formed a decade or so earlier, then you’ll surely enjoy, “What if Peter Quill Attacked Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?” Feeling like something more light and festive, then the Die Hard-esque episode, “What if Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?” is right up your alley. Ever wonder how Tony Stark would fare on Sakaar? Then buckle up because “What if Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?” answers exactly that question.

What makes the episodes even more notable is the fact that a fairly large number of the originators of the roles returned to voice their characters in the show. It adds an air of authenticity to have the actors reprise their roles, and helps form a connection between the large and small screen. Hayley Atwell makes a welcome return as Captain Carter, having appearances in several episodes, much to audiences delight, surely. Also lending their voices again are Jon Favreau, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sebastian Stan, Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd just to name a few.

Their performances make it obvious that they relished being back in the Marvel saddle. Episode Director Bryan Andrews, for example, praised Taika Waititi and Jeff Goldblum as amazing, with many of their final lines in the episode born out of improv onsite.

This isn’t to say that the new voices are any less compelling. Returning as Uatu the Watcher is Jeffery Wright (The Hunger Games – Mockingjay), our guide into the wonders of the vast array of realities. Mick Wingert, whose voice you may have heard on Arcane, does a spot-on Tony Stark/Iron Man.

What if…? is all about the journey of imagination, of flexing the mind with a sense of wonder and play, and being excited about where it might take you. You can tell the cast and crew nurtured that sense of creativity, to absolutely MARVEL-ous results. What if…? is now streaming on Disney Plus.