WARNING: The following contains spoilers for What If...? Season 1, Episode 7, "What If... Thor Were An Only Child?," streaming now on Disney+.
The previous three episodes of Marvel Studios' What If...? has featured some somber content that included Doctor Strange destroying his reality and zombies taking over. That being said, its most recent episode tales a light-hearted approach as a younger God of Thunder throws planetary parties. However, while things are drastically different from what transpired in the prime timeline, Thor's love of Jane Foster still exists. Through that love, audiences are also treated to the revelation that the Marvel Cinematic Universe does, in fact, have unicorns.
After Thor's planet-wide party reaches its end, he expresses a romantic interest in Jane and asks to take her on a date. His first suggestion is a planet comprised entirely of unicorns. However, rather than graze, these unicorns also wait on tables. Not only does this confirm that the mythical creatures exist, but that they're more advanced than anyone realized.
After further speculation, it's possible that if these creatures were as advanced as Thor claims, they could have also evolved into something more humanoid. In myth, unicorns are horses known for their purity and healing powers, as well as the horn that protrudes from their head. What If...? isn't the first time the MCU has had their own version of mythical creatures since films like Thor: Ragnarok and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings have also portrayed dragons. That being said, while it seems strange that the MCU has unicorns, the mythical creatures have also been present in the Marvel comics.
The books portray them in the traditional sense, debuting in U.S.A. Comics #3. They've since appeared in both Asgard and Alfheim. However, Asgardians all but made them extinct due to hunting them for their fur to make coats. They've also been seen on Alfheim living peacefully with the Light Elves until the villainous Dark Elves massacred them. Ultimately, the Marvel universe shows that unicorns are often in short supply since more advanced species frequently slaughter them.
While any potential unicorn abilities have never been shown in the comics, Howard the Duck claims that only virgins can see them. However, because they were only mentioned in passing in the MCU, that trait, along with any others, hasn't been confirmed. Their lack of natural abilities could be because even the Gods of Asgard are considered alien in the MCU. Since most aliens in the universe don't have natural gifts, these horses could be an extension of that, rather than actual magical creatures.
Nevertheless, unicorns existing in the MCU prove that there is still much to be discovered in the multiverse. Of course, it isn't confirmed if they will appear again, but their mentioning does more than enough for the expansive universe. In the past, the MCU spoon-fed the more peculiar corners of Marvel's history to fans. But with unicorns being mentioned, it signals that the audience is ready for the multiverse to get even stranger.
To see What If...?'s unicorns, new episodes air Wednesdays on Disney+.
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