The
Marvel Comics
anthology series
What If? tells
alternate reality stories outside the mainstream
Marvel Universe
continuity, which the company sets on what it calls
Earth-616. A number of these stories have been set on alternate Earths in the
Marvel Comics Multiverse (i.e., multiple universes) for which Marvel has given official numerical designations.
Volume 1 (1977–1984)
- What if
Spider-Man had joined the
Fantastic Four? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #1)
- Reprinted in The Best of What If? Followed by What If? #21. Alternate sequels appeared in What If? vol. 2, #35, and
Paradise X: Heralds. This world was designated Earth-772 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
-
Spider-Man did eventually join the team as a member of the "New Fantastic Four" and, more recently, as a member of the Future Foundation.
- What if the
Hulk had the brain of Bruce Banner? (based on
The Incredible Hulk #1)
- This world was designated Earth-774 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if the
Avengers had never been? (based on The Avengers #3)
- What if the
Invaders stayed together after
World War II? (considered part of
Earth-616, the mainstream Marvel continuity)
- What if
Captain America had not vanished during
World War II? (based on
Avengers #4)
- What if the
Fantastic Four had different super-powers? (based on The Fantastic Four #1)
- This version of the team reappeared in What If? (vol. 2) #39. This world was designated Earth-7712 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if someone else besides
Spider-Man had been bitten by the
radioactive spider? (based on
Amazing Fantasy #15)
- Three different stories look at what would have happened if either Peter's class bully
Flash Thompson, his would-have-been temporary girlfriend
Betty Brant, or publisher
J. Jonah Jameson's astronaut son
John, had been bitten by the radioactive spider instead. With the exception of Betty Brant (who quits her moniker like Peter did in "Spider-Man No More"), the protagonist dies in each story. A darker version of the Flash story is redone as What If? (vol. 2) #76.
- What if the world knew
Daredevil was blind? (based on Daredevil #2)
- This issue also contained the first humor-based What If? in the series asking, "What if the spider had been bitten by a radioactive human?"
- What if the
Avengers fought evil in the 1950s?
- Designated Earth-9904 in All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: A-Z Update #2 (2007). A version of this timeline was revisited in
Avengers Forever, and yet another version made a cameo in
Paradise X: Heralds.
- The
Agents of Atlas, a superhero team from the 1950s, was based on this concept.
- What if
Jane Foster had found the hammer of
Thor? (based on
Journey into Mystery #83)
- Jane Foster would eventually become the new Thor in Thor (vol. 4) #1.
- What if the original Marvel Bullpen had become the
Fantastic Four? (based on The Fantastic Four #1)
- This world made a brief tongue-in-cheek appearance in
Paradise X: Heralds. It was designated Earth-1228 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
- What if
Rick Jones had become the
Hulk? (based on The Incredible Hulk #1)
- What if
Conan the Barbarian walked the Earth today? (based on
The Savage Sword of Conan #7 "The Citadel at the Center of Time")
- An alternate ending to this story can be seen in What If? #43.
- What if
Sgt. Fury had fought
World War II in
outer space?
- This universe made a brief appearance in
Paradise X: Heralds.
- What if
Nova had been four other people? (based on Nova #1)
- Instead of the random decision for Richard Rider to become Nova, the powers of Nova are transferred to a vengeful wife whose husband had been murdered, a kind and homeless black man in a universe with no superheroes, Peter Parker in a world where the radioactive spider that bit him had crippled him, and an unknown character with a villainous personality.
- What if
Shang-Chi, Master of
Kung Fu, fought on the side of
Fu Manchu? (based on
Master of Kung Fu #15)
- What if the
Ghost Rider,
Spider-Woman and
Captain Marvel were villains? (based on Marvel Spotlight #5 and #32 and
Marvel Super Heroes #12)
- As with issue #7, this contained three short stories with the theme of Marvel characters who strayed close to becoming villains rather than heroes in the Earth-616 universe.
- What if
Dr. Strange were a disciple of
Dormammu? (based on
Strange Tales #110)
- What if
Spider-Man had never become a crimefighter? (based on
Amazing Fantasy #15)
- What if the
Avengers fought the
Kree-Skrull War without
Rick Jones? (based on Avengers #96)
- What if the
Invisible Girl of the
Fantastic Four had married the
Sub-Mariner?
- What if
Doctor Doom had become a hero? (based on
Fantastic Four #5)
- This world was designated Earth-808 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if the
Hulk had become a barbarian? (based on The Incredible Hulk #205)
- This issue also contains the back-up humor story, "What if Aunt May had been bitten by the radioactive spider?"
- What if
Gwen Stacy had lived? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #121)
- Reprinted in The Best of What If?
- What if
Thor and the
Avengers fought the gods? (based on
Thor #136)
- Also features the backup story "The First Uni-Mind", explaining the origins and concept of the
Uni-Mind and the origin story of
A'lars and
Zuras.
- What if
Captain America had been elected
president? (based on Captain America #250)
- This issue also contained the back-up story, "What if the
Man-Thing had regained Ted Sallis' brain?" (based on Man-Thing (vol. 2) #1)
- What if
Phoenix had not died? (based on
X-Men #137)
- Reprinted in The Best of What If? Redone in What If? (vol. 2) #32-33.
- What if
Daredevil became an agent of
S.H.I.E.L.D.? (based on Daredevil #1)
- Reprinted in The Best of What If?
- This also contained the back-up story, "What if the Ghost Rider had been separated from Johnny Blaze?"
- What if the
Avengers defeated everybody? (based on Avengers Special #2)
- This world was designated Earth-8110 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
- This also contained the backup story, "What if
Namor had never regained his memories?"
- What if
Spider-Man's
clone had lived? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #149)
- It was revealed years later that the clone had indeed lived, but had just been in hiding. He reappeared in the Spider-Man titles under the name
Ben Reilly.
- What if
Wolverine had killed the
Hulk? (based on The Incredible Hulk #181)
- The concept was reversed in What If? (vol. 2) #50 (although it followed a later rematch between the characters). This issue also includes "What if the
Fantastic Four had never been?" (based on The Fantastic Four #1). The latter world was designated Earth-8222 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if the
Avengers had become pawns of
Korvac? (based on Avengers #177)
- Reprinted in The Best of What If? Extended in #43. A version of this world was visited by
Quasar in Quasar #30.
- What if the
Dazzler had become the herald of
Galactus? (based on Dazzler #11) / What if
Iron Man was trapped in the time of
King Arthur? (based on Iron Man #150)
- What If Humor Issue
- Parts reprinted in The Best of What If?
- What if
Elektra had lived? (based on Daredevil #182)
- This issue also includes "What if
Yellowjacket had died?" (based on Avengers #212)
- What if the
Fantastic Four had not gained their super-powers? (based on The Fantastic Four #1)
- Reprinted in The Best of What If? This version of the team reappeared in What If? (vol. 2) #39. This world was designated Earth-8212 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four. This issue also includes "What if Richard Rider had not lost the power of
Nova?" (based on Nova #25)
- What if the
Thing and the
Beast continued to
mutate? (based on
Marvel Two-in-One #81 and
Amazing Adventures #11)
- The world featuring the Thing was designated Earth-8321 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four. This issue also includes "What if the
Silver Surfer had lost the
Power Cosmic?" (based on
Fantastic Four #50)
- What if... featuring
Daredevil (set in a possible future) and
Captain America (based on Captain America #237)
- What if
Thor battled
Conan the Barbarian?
- What if
Dr. Strange had not become Master of the Mystic Arts? (based on
Strange Tales #110)
- This timeline made a cameo appearance in
Paradise X: Heralds.
- What if the
Sub-Mariner had saved
Atlantis from its...
Destiny? (based on Sub-Mariner #1)
- What if the
Invisible Girl had died in childbirth? (based on
Fantastic Four Annual #6)
- This world was designated Earth-8312 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if
Conan the Barbarian was stranded in the 20th century?
- An alternate ending to What If? #13. Also includes an extended ending to What If? #32.
- What if
Captain America were revived today? (1983) (based on
Avengers #4)
- Redone in What If? (vol. 2) #67-68 and 103.
- What if the
Hulk went berserk? (based on The Incredible Hulk #1)
- What if
Spider-Man's
Uncle Ben had lived (and
Aunt May was murdered instead)? (based on
Amazing Fantasy #15)
- Redone in What If Spider-Man (2005)
- What if
Loki had found the hammer of
Thor? (based on
Journey into Mystery #83)
- Final issue of the original series.
Select stories (noted above) were collected in a trade paperback, The Best of What If, in 1991. The entire series was collected in a series of seven volumes titled What If Classic from 2004 to 2010, with the exception of issues #13 and 16 and the lead story of #43 because they featured licensed characters, namely
Conan the Barbarian and
Fu Manchu.
Special (1988)
Volume 2 (1989–1998)
- What if the
Avengers had lost the
Evolutionary War? (based on Avengers Annual #17)
- Visited by
Quasar in Quasar #30.
- What if
Daredevil had killed the
Kingpin? (based on Daredevil #228)
- What if Steve Rogers had refused to give up being
Captain America? (based on Captain America #332)
- What if the
alien costume had possessed
Spider-Man? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #258)
- Visited by
Quasar in Quasar #30.
- What if the
Vision had destroyed the
Avengers? (based on Avengers #9)
- What if the
X-Men lost
Inferno? (based on
The New Mutants #73)
- What if
Wolverine was an agent of
S.H.I.E.L.D.? (based on
The Incredible Hulk #181)
- What if
Iron Man lost the
Armor Wars? (based on Iron Man #225)
- What if the
X-Men died on their first mission? (based on Giant Size X-Men #1)
- This world was designated Earth-105709 in Quasar #30.
- What if the
Punisher's family had not been killed?
- What if the
Fantastic Four all had the same power? (based on Fantastic Four #1)
- The four worlds shown here were designated Earths 9031 through 9034 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if the
X-Men had stayed in
Asgard? (based on
The New Mutants Special Edition #1)
- What if
Professor X of the
X-Men had become the
Juggernaut? (based on Uncanny X-Men #12)
- What if
Captain Marvel had not died? (based on The Death of Captain Marvel)
- Visited by
Quasar in Quasar #30.
- What if the
Fantastic Four had lost the trial of
Galactus? (based on Fantastic Four #262)
- This world was designated Earth-907 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if
Wolverine battled
Conan the Barbarian? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #137)
- What if
Kraven the Hunter had killed
Spider-Man? (based on
Web of Spider-Man #31-32)
- What if the
Fantastic Four battled
Doctor Doom before they got their powers?
- This world was designated Earth-9011 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if the
Vision of the
Avengers conquered the world? (based on Avengers #254)
- Two takes, one of which (a
utopian world) was revisited in What If? (vol. 2) #36. The utopian world was designated Earth-90110 and the dystopian world Earth-90111 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
- What if
Spider-Man had not married
Mary Jane? (Part 1 of 2) (based on Amazing Spider-Man #292)
- What if
Spider-Man had married the
Black Cat? (Part 2 of 2) (based on Amazing Spider-Man #292)
- The first of several two-parters throughout the second series.
- What if the
Silver Surfer had not escaped Earth? (based on Silver Surfer (vol. 2) #1)
- This world was designated Earth-912 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if the all-new, all-different
X-Men had never existed? (based on Giant Size X-Men #1)
- What if
Wolverine was Lord of the Vampires? (based on Uncanny X-Men #159)
- Visited by
Quasar in Quasar #30. This world was designated Earth-9140 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005. An alternate version features in What If? (vol. 2) #37.
- What if the
Marvel Super Heroes had lost
Atlantis Attacks? (based on Iron Man Annual #10)
- Visited by
Quasar in Quasar #30.
- What if the
Punisher had killed
Daredevil? (based on Daredevil #183)
- The issue uses the original planned continuity order for Frank Miller's Daredevil run, as Daredevil #183-184 were originally planned to run in Daredevil #168-169, but held back for a year and a half due to issues with the story's plot involving drugs.
- What if
Namor had joined the
Fantastic Four? (based on Fantastic Four #4)
- This world was designated Earth-917 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if
Captain America had led an army of
supersoldiers in
World War II? (Part 1 of 2) (based on Captain America Comics #1)
- What if
Captain America had formed the
Avengers? (Part 2 of 2) (based on Captain America Comics #1 and Avengers #4)
- Recycles themes from What If? #44. Redone as What If? (vol. 2) #103.
- What if the
Fantastic Four's second child had lived? (based on Fantastic Four #267)
- Two takes; the worse world was designated Earth-91111 and the better world Earth-91112 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- This plot idea was subsequently picked up for the mainstream continuity with the introduction of
Valeria Richards.
- What if
Spider-Man had kept his cosmic powers? (based on Amazing Spider-Man #329)
- What if
Phoenix had not died? (Part 1 of 2) (based on Uncanny X-Men #137)
- What if
Phoenix rose again? (Part 2 of 2) (based on Uncanny X-Men #137)
- A two-part remake of What If? #27.
- Part One (#32) uses Chris Claremont's notes for the original plan for Uncanny X-Men #138-150 for its story.
- What if no one was watching the
Watcher? (humor issue)
- What if the
Fantastic Five fought
Doctor Doom &
Annihilus? (Timequake Part 1 of 5)
- An alternate outcome of What If? #1.
- What if the Cosmic Avengers battled the
Guardians of the Galaxy? (Timequake Part 2 of 5)
- A sequel to What If? (vol. 2) #19's "Utopia" story.
- What if
Wolverine had been Lord of the Vampires during
Inferno? (Timequake Part 3 of 5)
- An alternate version of What If? (vol. 2) #24. This world was designated Earth-9250 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
- What if
Thor was a thrall of
Seth? (Timequake Part 4 of 5) (based on
The Mighty Thor #400)
- This world was designated Earth-9260 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
- What if the
Watcher saved the universe? (Timequake Part 5 of 5)
- What if
Storm of the
X-Men had remained a thief? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #117)
- Reprinted in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions.
- What if the
Avengers had fought
Galactus? (based on
Fantastic Four #1 and Fantastic Four #48-50)
- This world was designated Earth-929 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if
Spider-Man had kept his six arms? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #100)
- What if
Wolverine had married
Mariko? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #173)
- What if
Venom had possessed the
Punisher? (based on
Web of Spider-Man #1)
- What if Barbara Ketch had become the
Ghost Rider? (based on Ghost Rider (vol. 3) #1)
- This world was designated Earth-11993 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
- What if
Cable had destroyed the
X-Men? (Part 1 of 2) (based on
Uncanny X-Men #269)
- What if
Magneto took over the U.S.A.? (Part 2 of 2) (based on
Uncanny X-Men #269)
- This world was designated Earth-21993 in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
- What if
Daredevil had saved
Nuke? (based on Daredevil #233)
- What if the
Silver Surfer possessed the
Infinity Gauntlet? (based on Infinity Gauntlet #4)
- Another take appears in What If? vol. 2 #104.
- What if the
Hulk had killed
Wolverine? (based on
The Incredible Hulk #340)
- A reversed sort-of remake of What If? #31.
- What if the
Punisher became
Captain America? (based on Captain America #212)
- What if
Doctor Doom became
Sorcerer Supreme? (based on Fantastic Four #5)
- This world was designated Earth-938 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if ...the Iron Man of 2020 had been stranded in the past? / ...Rick Jones and Bruce Banner had both remained as the Hulk? / ...Spider-Man had killed the Lizard?
- What if
Death's Head I had lived? (Based on
Death's Head II #1)
- The only
Marvel UK-themed issue. Written and pencilled by Death's Head I co-creators
Simon Furman and
Geoff Senior, Furman later claimed that this issue's high body count was a sort-of revenge for killing the character.
- What if the
Avengers lost
Operation: Galactic Storm? (Part 1 of 2) (based on Avengers #346)
- What if the
Avengers lost
Operation: Galactic Storm? (Part 2 of 2) (based on Avengers #346)
- What if the
Punisher became an agent of
S.H.I.E.L.D.?
- What if the
Punisher had killed
Spider-Man? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #129)
- What if
Wolverine led
Alpha Flight? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #121)
- Reprinted in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions.
- A What If?
X-Men Wedding Album
- Three different stories all related to the
Cyclops-
Jean Grey relationship, looking at what would have happened had Scott married Jean in the early days of the X-Men, if the pair had never gotten together, or if Jean had married Wolverine instead. (based on
Amazing Adventures #11,
Uncanny X-Men #1 and Uncanny X-Men #101)
- What if
Spider-Man's parents destroyed his family? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #387)
- What if
Wolverine battled
Weapon X? (based on
Marvel Comics Presents #72)
- Reprinted in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions.
- What if
War Machine had not destroyed the
Living Laser? (based on
Iron Man #289)
- The issue allows the reader to choose from three different endings.
- What if
Iron Man sold out? (based on
Tales of Suspense #39)
- What if
Archangel fell from grace? (based on
X-Factor #25)
- What if
Rogue possessed the power of
Thor? (based on Avengers Annual #10)
- Reprinted in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions.
- What if
Captain America was revived in 1994? (Part 1 of 2) (based on
Avengers #4)
- What if
Captain America was revived in 1994? (Part 2 of 2) (based on
Avengers #4)
- A remake of What If? #44.
- What if
Stryfe had killed the
X-Men? (based on
X-Force #18)
- Reprinted in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions.
- What if the
Silver Surfer had not betrayed
Galactus? (based on Fantastic Four #50)
- This world was designated Earth-952 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if the
gamma bomb had spawned a thousand
Hulks?
- What if
Spider-Man was a murderer? (based on Amazing Fantasy #15)
- What if the
Kingpin owned
Daredevil? (based on Daredevil #1)
- What if
Mr. Sinister had formed the
X-Men? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #1)
- What if
Blink from
Generation X had not died? (based on
X-Men #37)
- What if Peter Parker had to destroy
Spider-Man? (based on
Amazing Fantasy #15)
- The last issue to officially feature Uatu the
Watcher as the narrator (although he had been absent from several previous issues). This story is another take on one of the three from What If? #7.
- What if
Legion had killed
Magneto? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #320)
- What if the
New Fantastic Four had remained a team? (based on Fantastic Four #349)
- This world was designated Earth-9510 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if
Storm had the power of
Phoenix? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #100)
- What if the
Hulk had
evolved into the
Maestro? (based on
The Incredible Hulk #377)
- What if the
Age of Apocalypse had not ended? (based on
X-Men: Omega)
- What if
J. Jonah Jameson had adopted
Spider-Man? (based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #1)
- What if
Daredevil was the disciple of
Doctor Strange? (based on
Strange Tales #110 and Daredevil #1)
- What if
Shard had lived instead of
Bishop? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #282)
- What if
Magneto ruled all
mutants? (based on
Uncanny X-Men #304)
- What if the
Scarlet Spider had killed
Spider-Man? (based on
Web of Spider-Man #129)
- What if...starring
Sabretooth: Screams in the night! (What if Sabretooth was loose in the X-Mansion?)
- Starting with this issue, the covers no longer explicitly state what each story's "what if" is, making them more like
DC Comics'
Elseworlds.
- What if...starring
Spider-Man: Arachnamorphosis (What if Spider-Man had evolved into a Spider-Monster? - based on
Amazing Fantasy #15)
- What if...starring the
Fantastic Four: Deadly inheritance (What if the Fantastic Four's powers were out of control? - based on The Fantastic Four #1)
- This world was designated Earth-969 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if...starring
Cyclops and
Havok: Their early years, their darkest fears! (What if Cyclops and Havok were not orphaned?)
- What if...starring The Incredible Hulk: The man, the monster (What if Bruce Banner was savage and the Hulk intelligent? - based on
The Incredible Hulk #1)
- What if...starring
Cannonball's little brother,
Josh—and his pet
Sentinel! (What if Josh had discovered a Sentinel?)
- Fairly similar in plot to the recent
Sentinel series.
- What if...starring
Wolverine: A man no more (What if Wolverine became savage? - based on Wolverine (vol. 2) #100)
- What if...starring
Juggernaut: The kingdom of
Cain (What if the Juggernaut had killed Xavier and the X-Men? - based on Uncanny X-Men #12)
- What if...starring
Ghost Rider: Burn, baby, burn! (What if the Ghost Rider was different? - based on Ghost Rider #1)
- What if...starring
Quicksilver: The quick and the dead (What if Magneto had raised his children?)
- What if...starring
Black Knight:
Camelot reborn (What if Doctor Doom had conquered Camelot?)
- What if...starring
Rogue: Children in the attic (What if Mystique had raised Nightcrawler?)
- What if...starring
Spider-Man: The men behind the mask (What if the Black Cat was a celebrity?)
- What if...starring
Gambit: The greatest secrets of the
Marvel Universe revealed!
- What if Mr. Sinister learned the greatest secrets of the Marvel Universe?
- What if the Fantastic Four had crashed in the Land of Oz after gaining their powers?
- What if Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive sheep!?
- What if Wolverine was a wimp?
- What If Xavier was in charge of a sales executive company?
- What if Wolverine and Sabretooth were best friends?
- What if...starring
Archangel: Death and disobedience (What if Archangel had killed X-Factor and the Horsemen? - based on
X-Factor #25)
- Also includes... What If Gambit was a card hustler?
- What if...starring
Daredevil: The fight of his life...has ended! (What if Matt Murdock had become a boxer like his father? - based on Daredevil #1)
- What if...starring
Captain America: The unknown soldier (What if Captain America had awoken in a dystopian America? - based on
Avengers #4)
- A remake of What If? (vol. 2) #28-29
- What if...starring the
Silver Surfer (What if the
Impossible Man possessed the
Infinity Gauntlet? - based on
Infinity Gauntlet #4)
- A variation on What If? (vol. 2) #49.
- What if...starring
Spider-Girl (What if Spider-Man and Mary Jane's child had survived?)
- The first appearance of Spider-Girl. Later spun off into the
Marvel Comics 2 line. This world was designated Earth-982 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- Also includes...What if Bucky had survived and was Captain America's partner?
- Was reprinted in Spider-Girl #0 (the Bucky story was replaced with previews of two other MC2 titles).
- What if...starring
Gambit: Revenge! (What if Marrow had killed Gambit? - based on Uncanny X-Men #350)
- What if...starring
The Mighty Thor:...and who shall be king?! (What if Thor had assumed the throne of Asgard?)
- What if...starring the
Avengers (What if
Carnage had bonded permanently to the
Silver Surfer? - based on
The Amazing Spider-Man #431)
- What if...starring the
Fantastic Four: The
Thing...human again?! (What if Ben Grimm had stayed in Liddleville? - based on Fantastic Four #236)
- This world was designated Earth-989 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
- What if...starring
The Uncanny X-Men: With
Phoenix possessed...who will save
Professor X...from the fury of
Colossus? (What if Colossus had joined the U.S.S.R.'s Soviet Super-Soldiers? - based on Giant Size X-Men #1)
- Also includes... What if Doctor Doom had succeeded in conquering the world?
- What if...starring
Wolverine (What if Wolverine was a Horseman of War? - based on Wolverine #100)
- What if...starring
Ka-Zar:
New York...the new
Savage Land...no escape! (What if
Thanos turned
Manhattan into a Savage Land?)
- What if...starring
Iron Man: Alone against
Dormammu...
Tony Stark--
Sorcerer Supreme? (What if Tony Stark had become Sorcerer Supreme? - based on
Strange Tales #110 and
Tales of Suspense #39)
- What if...starring
Secret Wars: 25 years later...comes a new generation of heroes! (What if all the participants of Secret Wars had been trapped on Battleworld? - based on Secret Wars #12)
- Final issue. This world was designated Earth-9811 in Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four.
Issue #-1, What if...starring
Bishop (based on
Uncanny X-Men #282), was published as a part of the "Flashback" event, in which most of Marvel's series published issues numbered "-1" that were set in the past. This particular issue features an alternate backstory for Bishop, where he and
Fitzroy travel back in time to before the X-Men were formed.
Marvel Alterniverse
The Alterniverse was what Marvel briefly labeled their What If stories from 1995 to 1996. The stories told under the Alterniverse label are typically one-shots and limited series, such as
Ruins,
Punisher: A Man Named Frank,
Punisher Kills the Marvel Universe, and
The Last Avengers Story.
Volume 3 (2005)
A series of What If one-shot issues was released cover-dated February 2005.
The series, including the "Wha-Huh?" humor issue, was later collected into a trade paperback entitled What If: Why Not.
Volume 4 (early 2006)
The February 2006 one-shot issues took place in a single
fictional universe, dubbed Earth-717 in previews, with four of the six stories more like DC's Elseworlds with various heroes in historical periods.
[3]
The series was later collected into a trade paperback entitled What If: Mirror Mirror.
Volume 5 (late 2006)
The November 2006 one-shot issues were based on major storylines or crossovers:
The series was later collected into a trade paperback entitled What If: Event Horizon featuring the cover from the Spider-Man one-shot.
Volume 6 (2007)
The sixth series of What If? continued the theme of the previous series of examining possible alternatives for major storylines.
- What If:
Planet Hulk
- What if
Caiera the Oldstrong had survived the destruction on Sakaar instead of the Hulk?
- What if the Hulk had landed on the planet the
Illuminati had intended for him?
- What if the Hulk had reverted to Bruce Banner when he crashed on Sakaar?
- What If:
Annihilation
- What if the Annihilation Wave reached Earth?
- What If:
X-Men: Rise and Fall of the
Shi'ar Empire
- What If:
Civil War
- What if
Captain America led all the heroes against the Superhero Registration Act?
- What if
Iron Man lost the Civil War?
- What If:
Spider-Man vs.
Wolverine
- What if Spider-Man had remained in 1980s
Russia after an accidental death?
The series was also due to feature What If?: The New
Fantastic Four, which featured the "original" New Fantastic Four with
Spider-Man,
Wolverine, the
Ghost Rider, and the
Hulk teaming up, as seen in Fantastic Four #347-349 and #374. This story was halted due to the passing of artist
Mike Wieringo, and was released as a 48-Page Special as a tribute in June 2008. All the issues of this run, aside from the New Fantastic Four one, were later collected into a trade paperback simply entitled What If? Civil War. The version of the "New" Fantastic Four is also erroneous, as the Ghost Rider of that time period had been Danny Ketch, not Johnny Blaze, who appears in the issue instead for unexplained reasons (in reality, Wieringo had drawn the wrong Ghost Rider in his initial pages by mistake and it was not noticed until after his death).
Volume 7 (2008)
This series continues the theme of alternatives for three recent Marvel events along with two around a classic event. The New Fantastic Four story was a sequel to the one-shot What If? released previously, seeing Iron Man replace Ghost Rider in an alternate take on the Infinity Gauntlet storyline. However, this series also features a storyline featuring the
Runaways that runs through all five comics. This series was released between December 2008 and January 2009.
- What If:
House of M - What if the Scarlet Witch had said 'No more powers' instead of 'No more mutants'?
- What If:
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America - What if Iron Man had been killed instead of Captain America?
- What If:
Newer Fantastic Four - What if the New Fantastic Four had battled Thanos?
- What If: Spider-Man: Back in Black - What if Mary Jane had been shot instead of Aunt May?
- What If:
Secret Wars - What if Doctor Doom had kept the Beyonder's power?
- What If: Runaways - What if the Runaways had become the
Young Avengers? (Runs through all five above issues)
The seventh series was later collected into a trade paperback entitled What If?: Secret Wars featuring the cover from the
Secret Wars one-shot.
Volume 8 (2009)
At Fan Expo Canada '09, it was revealed a new five-part What If series would be released, featuring five one-shot issues, each with two alternatives for the focused event, except for Daredevil vs. Elektra, which had only one story. As a back-up feature in the other four one-shot issues, there is a humorous Say What? short story.
- What If? Spider-Man: House of M
- What if Emma Frost had not mindwiped Gwen Stacy?
- What if the Scarlet Witch had let Gwen Stacy and her son cross to the default reality and survive?
- What If?
Secret Invasion
- What if Reed Richards had been killed before revealing the Skrull weakness and the
Skrulls won?
- What if the Skrulls had kept the invasion secret throughout all the campaign?
- What If?
World War Hulk
- What if Tony Stark had not hesitated to use the Red Satellite on the Hulk in the final battle?
- What if Thor had battled the Hulk instead of the Sentry?
- What If? Daredevil vs. Elektra
- What if Daredevil had been shot and resurrected by the Hand instead of Elektra?
- What If?
Astonishing X-Men
- What if Ord had resurrected Jean Grey instead of Colossus?
- What if Ultron became aware of Danger during her battle with the X-Men and planned to make her his bride?
The eighth series was later collected into a trade paperback entitled What If?: Secret Invasion featuring the cover from the Secret Invasion one-shot.
Volume 9 (2010)
In early September 2010, Marvel announced a series of new What If? issues, including the celebration of the 200th issue of What If?.
[4] It features a story regarding the Siege event, and a story by Stan Lee about the
Watcher and
Galactus. Further What If stories were released for Dark Reign, Spider-Man: Grim Hunt, a story focusing on Wolverine and his son Daken, and another on the pre-hero and villain lives of Iron Man and Doctor Doom. Those four issues also have a back-up story on Deadpool being controlled by the
Venom symbiote.
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8] The Venom/Deadpool backup chapters were subsequently released as a stand-alone one-shot.
[9]
- What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor
- What if Tony Stark became Dr. Doom?
- What if the Venom symbiote had managed to control Deadpool? (back-up story Part 1)
- What If? Wolverine: Father
- What if Wolverine had known about and raised Daken from birth?
- What if the Venom symbiote had managed to control Deadpool? (back-up story Part 2)
- What If? Spider-Man: Grim Hunt
- What if Spider-Man had decided to kill Kraven the Hunter instead of letting him live?
- What if the Venom symbiote had managed to control Deadpool? (back-up story Part 3)
- What If? Dark Reign - The Osborn Assassination
- What if Clint Barton had managed to kill Norman Osborn?
- What if the Venom symbiote had managed to control Deadpool? (back-up story Part 4)
- What If? #200
- What if Norman Osborn had won the Siege on Asgard?
- What if the Watcher had killed Galactus?
What If?: Avengers vs. X-Men (2013)
In July 2013, Marvel released a four-issue miniseries for What If based on the 2012 event
Avengers vs X-Men, telling the story of what might have happened if Magneto had been more influential in Hope's development for Phoenix.
What If: Age of Ultron (2014)
In April 2014, Marvel released a five-issue miniseries for the 2013 event
Age of Ultron, focusing on Wolverine and the Invisible Woman's trip back in time to kill Hank Pym in order to stop him from creating Ultron and showing the effects for the Marvel Universe if one of the other four founding Avengers had died, or if Hank had simply chosen not to create Ultron at all.
- What if the
Wasp had been killed instead of
Hank Pym?
- What if
Iron Man had been killed instead of Hank Pym?
- What if
Thor had been killed instead of Hank Pym?
- What if
Captain America had been killed instead of Hank Pym?
- What if Hank Pym had never created Ultron at all?
What If? Infinity (2015)
In October 2015, Marvel released a five-issue miniseries for the 2013 event
Infinity that depicted alternate outcomes for Thanos' invasion of Earth and the war with the Builders.
[10] The five scenarios are the following:
- What if Thanos had joined the Avengers?
[11]
- What if Black Bolt had betrayed Earth?
[12]
- What if the X-Men were the sole survivors of Infinity?
[13]
- What if the Guardians of the Galaxy tried to free Thanos?
[14]
- What if the Green Goblin stole the Infinity Gauntlet?
[15]
What If? With Great Power (2018)
Marvel released a new series of What If? one-shot issues in October 2018, which revived the concept of the publisher's classic series that examines alternate outcomes for major storylines and alternate versions of well-known characters such as Spider-Man, Magik, the Ghost Rider, Thor, the X-Men and the Punisher.
- What if Flash Thompson became Spider-Man?
[16]
- What if the X-Men were .EXE/Men?
[17]
- What if Peter Parker became the Punisher?
[18]
- What if Marvel Comics went Metal with the Ghost Rider?
[19]
- What if Thor was raised by Frost Giants?
[20]
- What if Magik became the Sorcerer Supreme?
[21]
The 13th series was later collected into a trade paperback entitled What If? With Great Power featuring the cover from the Punisher one-shot.
References