The MCU's newest release just explained an unusual mystery surrounding Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 seven years after the film's release. As a franchise that has been around for nearly two decades - and looks set to continue for even longer - some lingering mysteries appearing in the MCU timeline are perhaps inevitable. Not every release can be continued shortly after its premiere, and some mysteries are created entirely by accident, making them more difficult to solve.
However, that's not to say that the MCU hasn't addressed its fair share of these mysteries over the years, sometimes even explaining things that it seemed like they never would - with some upcoming Marvel movies like Captain America: Brave New World and Rays* teasing that they're about to do exactly the same in their stories. However, the franchise's most recent release managed another example of just that, with an interesting moment in one of its most recent chapters seeming to shed light on a question that never seemed to be answered until now.
And if? Season 3 Explains How Howard the Duck Escaped the Collector Base
And if...? Season 3 Episode 4 focuses on Howard The Duck and Darcy Lewis - who have appeared throughout the MCU in various ways - in an alternate universe where the two are in a relationship and have had a child together. Due to Howard's avian genes, the baby is born as an egg and - as the birth took place in the Convergence - is believed to have great powers, leading many characters in the MCU to try to take the egg for their own purposes. As such, Howard and Darcy spend the episode tracking down or defending their children, with varying levels of success.
One such case sees the pair breaking into the Collector's base to rescue his son, with Howard guiding them through the sewers of his lair. During this scene, Darcy reveals that Howard knows this route, as it was how he initially escaped the Collector's clutches. Guardians of the Galaxy to appear in Contraxia in the sequelstating: "I can't believe you escaped through the sewer tunnels, you don't even use a public bathroom.", to which he replies:"I'm not proud of it - I did what I had to do."
And if? Season 3 changes the look of Howard The Duck's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 return
Howard the Duck's brief cameo Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is played entirely for laughs in the film, with the character being shown on a date for a few seconds in the only scene that contains him in the film. Naturally, part of the joke is that Howard was last shown locked away as part of the Collector's prized possessions, making seeing him here out of nowhere all the more unexpected.
As such, learning some backstory on the actual series of events leading up to this point changes things, making this moment and Howard's next appearance in Avengers: Endgame more fun and a little less random looking. Although the explanation for Howard's escape is still presented facetiously, it is clear that this experience was not exactly a pleasant one for him, and this may explain why he tries to relax for some time afterwards - hence the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 scene.
Likewise, going through all of this only to witness the disappearance of half of all life better explains why Howard the Duck is present in End of the gameThe MCU's final fight, although the MCU has never previously suggested that he has fighting ability, nor that he would be inclined to join a dangerous fight. With that in mind, And if...? season three's sly reference to Howard's past makes his Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 better payoff and overall story in more ways than one.
-
- Release date
-
February 14, 2025
-
- Release date
-
July 25, 2025
-
- Release date
-
July 24, 2026