Marvel Studios delighted fans with a Christmas gift—the second season of “What If…?” released consecutively over nine days. This animated series explores alternate Marvel Cinematic Universe scenarios.
Episode six, “What If… Kahhori Reshaped the World?” introduced Kahhori as a new hero, sparking fans’ curiosity about her MCU role.
So, who is she?
Kahhori, voiced by Devery Jacobs, is a Marvel hero with no comic book origins. She was first introduced in “What If…?” season 2, episode 6. Part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy or Mohawk Nation, her life changes when she interacts with a Tesseract fragment. Under Atahraks’ guidance, she swiftly masters her powers of super-speed, force fields, telekinesis, etc., and returns to Earth as a formidable hero to stop the Conquistadors.
Explained: Kahhori’s Origin
In the enchanting world of Marvel’s “What If…?” season 2, a remarkable new character, Kahhori, emerges as a groundbreaking addition to the MCU.
Voiced by Canadian Mohawk actress Devery Jacobs, Kahhori represents the first entirely original Marvel hero with no comic book ties or pre-existing backstory.
Kahhori’s journey begins in pre-colonial America, within the Akwesasne region, now upstate New York.
As a member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, specifically the Mohawk Nation, she lives a peaceful life with her tribe, unaware of the cosmic forces at play.
Unbeknownst to Kahhori, a fragment of the Tesseract, a form of the Infinity Stone known as the Space Stone, has fallen into a nearby lake during a battle between Surtur and Odin. This event triggers a chain of extraordinary occurrences.
After a harrowing encounter with the Conquistadors, Kahhori is shot and plunges into the lake, only to emerge in Sky World—a mystical realm populated by people who have also entered the lake through various portals.
The leader of this new tribe, Atahraks, becomes Kahhori’s mentor in harnessing the power of the Tesseract.
Remarkably, Kahhori quickly masters these newfound abilities, and she returns to Earth with incredible powers.
She uses them to thwart the Conquistadors, visits Spain to shift the global balance of power, and heralds the end of the age of exploration and appropriation.
However, her actions do not go unnoticed. Strange Supreme, a much darker version of Doctor Strange, seeks her out.
He is part of the Guardians of the Multiverse, assembled by Uatu the Watcher. While Strange Supreme’s motives remain unclear, he aims to recruit Kahhori for an undisclosed mission.
This encounter marks a pivotal moment in the “What If…?” series, hinting at significant developments within the multiverse. The shocking events of episode 5, with Captain Carter being pulled into another reality, add to the intrigue.
The season finale, titled “What If…Strange Supreme Intervened?” teases an impending showdown with Strange recruiting Kahhori.
Her introduction as a completely original MCU hero underscores the importance of diversity and Indigenous representation within the Marvel universe.
Writer Ryan Little, who worked closely with a mentor with extensive experience in the Indigenous community of upstate New York, expressed his excitement in crafting Kahhori’s character to Marvel.com.
He said:
“I was excited to draw on that experience to build an entirely original corner of the MCU with storylines for new Indigenous heroes written from a place of respect for past generations and optimism for future ones. Kahhori, pronounced ‘KAH-HORTI,’ is a real, Wolf Clan name, meaning ‘she stirs the forest’ or is someone who motivates those around her.”
Little also stated:
“In her debut adventure, Kahhori will have to live up to her name to recruit powerful allies into the fight to save her people and change the course of history forever.”
She does all of that with the help of extraordinary powers that might put Captain Marvel’s to shame.
What Are Kahhori’s Powers and Abilities?
Kahhori’s extraordinary powers, derived from the Space Stone, revolve around space manipulation.
As one of the Mohawk warriors who traversed the lake portal, she acquired a remarkable array of abilities, setting her apart as one of the MCU’s most formidable heroes in the multiverse.
Her powers encompass super-speed, force field generation, telekinesis, heightened durability, augmented strength, and more, including immortality.
Notably, Kahhori’s power set differs from Captain Marvel’s despite being linked to the Tesseract, also known as the Space Stone.
While they share some common traits, such as energy projection, extended lifespan, and enhanced strength, Kahhori’s powers exhibit distinct visual characteristics.
This divergence can be attributed to the Tesseract’s state when encountered by each character.
Kahhori encountered the Tesseract when it was damaged at the lake’s bottom, resulting in her unique powers.
In contrast, Carol Danvers was exposed to the Tesseract’s energy during its use in Project Pegasus, leading to different powers and properties.
Kahhori’s potential appears boundless. Her actual limits, if any, remain shrouded in mystery for now. Thus adding an element of intrigue to her character’s development in the MCU.
However, any mystery will probably be solved in the last three episodes of season 2 of “What If…?.” Here are their airing dates:
- Episode 7- “What If… Hela Found The Ten Rings?” on Thursday, December 28, 2023.
- Episode 8- “What If… The Avengers Assembled In 1602?” on Friday, December 29, 2023.
- Episode 9, the finale- “What If… Strange Supreme Intervened?” on Saturday, December 30, 2023.
Marvel’s What If…? Season 2 is streaming now on Disney+.
What do you think is Kahhori’s purpose in season 2 of “What If…?” Why does Strange Supreme want her?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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