In Stark’s absence, however, it remains to be seen how the MCU will change the Armor Wars story. As it is set to focus on Tony Stark’s memory, there is no doubt that Rhodey will take center stage in his attempts to ensure that his best friend’s tech is not stolen as prolifically as it has been in the past. In doing so, Rhodey and the audience will no doubt be consistently reminded of Stark and his technological legacy, but What If…? already foreshadowed how it should handle its main villain.

What If Season 2’s Justin Hammer Teases What Armor Wars Needs To Be

Iron Man 2 debuted Tony Stark’s longstanding business rival and weapons industrialist, Justin Hammer, who was impeccably portrayed by Sam Rockwell. While his character was a highlight of the movie, Hammer was played for laughs as a hapless hack incapable of producing functional equipment before his misguided and dangerous attempts to commandeer Stark’s tech landed him in Seagate Penitentiary. In What If…? season 2, episode 3, however, he reemerges as a changed man after spending his time in Seagate honing skills to one-up his arch-rival.

While Justin Hammer in What If…? maintains his humorous persona, he is able to hack into Stark’s remote security suits of armor swiftly and even go toe-to-toe with the Hulk blood-empowered Happy Hogan. Since Armor Wars will likely focus on Tony Stark’s tech being misappropriated in similar ways, this could be some significant foreshadowing for what’s to come given that Stark will be absent as he was in the What If...? episode. What’s more, it should be Justin Hammer, specifically, who returns as Armor Wars‘ main villain.

Why Justin Hammer Is The Perfect Villain For Armor Wars

Justin Hammer was a much larger threat to Tony Stark in the comics than he was in Iron Man 2. For example, in the comics Hammer was able to hack into Stark’s armor while he wore it – something that Whiplash achieved with War Machine in Iron Man 2. A more clued-up Hammer in What If…?, meanwhile, was able to do just that – setting up the main timeline’s Hammer to be capable of such feats. Not only is Justin Hammer overdue the more nefarious depiction he deserves, but his being rooted in Tony Stark’s past is precisely why he should reappear as the Armor Wars main villain.

As Rhodey navigates the legacy that Stark left behind, Hammer is the perfect villain to help represent Tony’s past without resorting to flashbacks. By starring two of the main characters in Iron Man’s MCU history, Armor Wars will tribute Iron Man while telling a new story, hopefully with a more threatening Hammer finally capable of taking control of Stark’s tech. Riri Williams’ role in Armor Wars, meanwhile, would be to take up the mantle as she continues to innovate rather than misappropriate.