Champion of HYDRA

The Champion of HYDRA was an otherwordly gigantic octopus like creature that Red Skull tried to bring to Earth using the Tesseract. According to Captain Carter, it's an interdimensional universe eater.

Biography[]

What If...?[]

"What If... Captain Carter Were The First Avenger"[]

To be added

"What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?"[]

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"What If... Captain Carter Fought the HYDRA Stomper?"[]

"And we once fought a giant space squid."

―Captain Carter^[src]

To be added

"What If... The Watcher Disappeared?"[]

"Set course for Xandar-625. I have eyes on the HYDRA Champion."
"What did you just call me?"
"Please. I know this is strange, but your world will be consumed by an interdimensional universe eater unless you trust us."

―Peggy Carter and Nebula^[src]

The Champion of HYDRA later resurfaced in another universe where it attacked Xandar and intended to devour the whole universe. The Nova Corps proved to be no match for the creature, nearly forcing an evacuation of the planet. However, now the leader of the Exiles, Peggy Carter arrived with her teammates to face her old foe once again. Together, Peggy, Kahhori, Byrdie the Duck and Storm finally slew the beast and saved Xandar with Carter flying into one of the Champion's eyes, through its brain, and out its other eye with the help of a boost from Storm and Kahhori. Afterwards, Carter noted that the rough landing was worth it because she had a bone to pick with the creature.

Character traits[]

To be added

Relationships[]

Red Skull - Enemy and victim; deceased.
Peggy Carter/Captain Carter - Enemy and killer.
Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange Supreme - Enemy; deceased.

Appearances[]

Marvel Cinematic Universe (1 series)
- What If...?
  - "What If... Captain Carter Were The First Avenger" (First appearance)
  - "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?"
  - "What If... The Watcher Disappeared?"

Behind the scenes[]

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Trivia[]

The Champion of HYDRA bears many resemblances to Hive, both in physical appearance, and their story role. Hive is a tentacled being indirectly responsible for the formation of HYDRA, who sought to return Hive to Earth after he was banished to Maveth. Hive was successfully brought through a portal by HYDRA in the third season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
In an interview, character designer Ryan Meinerding said director Bryan Andrews was inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu and asked for a similar character to appear in What If...?.^[1]
The subtitles for What If... The Watcher Disappeared? identify the creature as Cosmic Squid Monster. However, Captain Carter confirms that it's the Champion of HYDRA in dialogue.