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What If (comics)
Encyclopedia
What If, sometimes rendered as What If...?, is the title of several comic book
series published by Marvel Comics
, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters. Events in the series are considered separate from mainstream continuity in the Marvel Universe
.
as narrator
. The observer of events transpiring on Earth
from his base on the Moon
, Uatu, a member of an immortal race of Watchers, is also able to observe what transpires in alternate realities
. Thus, What If stories usually began with Uatu briefly recapping a notable event in the mainstream Marvel Universe, then indicating a particular point of divergence
in that event. He would then demonstrate, by way of looking into a parallel reality, what could have happened if events had taken a different course from that point.
The second What If series — which ran from 1989–1998 — adopted the format of its predecessor, with Uatu serving as series narrator and providing the historical context. However, due to events in the Fantastic Four
comic book in which Uatu was punished for destroying another Watcher
, he was phased out. The stories themselves began to take center stage, with no need for a framing device; Uatu's last appearance in this role was in issue #76.
With future series of What If, whether or not the Watcher appeared was decided upon by the writer, and many elected to have alternative narrators or none at all. Brian Michael Bendis
chose to use a version of himself in the 2005 What If issues of Daredevil
and Jessica Jones
; and in the early 2006 series, a hacker whose online alias is "The Watcher" opens all six issues.
Had Joined the Fantastic Four
?", presented an alternate version of events seen in The Amazing Spider-Man
#1 (1963).
Some storylines involved individual characters choosing to take (or not to take) a particular action, when in "reality" they had made precisely the opposite decision. For example, a Captain America
storyline published in 1980 saw the hero being offered the opportunity to run for President of the United States
as a third-party candidate. In the end, he declined the invitation. Nevertheless, issue #26 of What If ("What If Captain America Became President?") showed him accepting the nomination, and ultimately winning the 1980 Presidential Election
.
Due to their nature, stories presented in the What If format were allowed to break the rules of the characters' respective series that kept the status quo
intact; major characters could be (and often were) killed off in the alternate realities, and some stories were based on the premise of a particular Marvel superhero, upon gaining/discovering his or her special abilities, choosing a life of crime instead. One issue used what had been the original plot for the conclusion of "The Dark Phoenix Saga" in the X-Men
series, where instead of committing suicide, Jean Grey
submits to a lobotomy that removes her powers. In the What If version, though, Jean Grey eventually regains her powers and kills all of the X-Men
, including Scott Summers
, the resulting shock causing Dark Phoenix to create a galactic cataclysm. Another story focused on the events of the Avengers
/Korvac
saga where Korvac (Michael)'s mate Corina (the daughter of the Elder known as the Collector) showed him an expression of unqualified support (instead of the wavering doubt from the original story) which prompted him to kill the Avengers. Subsequently, he revives some of them to become his own corps and decides to take over the universe, the result of which causes that particular universe (shown as Eternity
at the end of the story) to be annihilated. However, not all What If stories were quite so serious in nature. Issue #11, for instance, offered a tongue-in-cheek view of what might have happened if members of the original Marvel Bullpen — specifically Stan Lee
, Jack Kirby
, Flo Steinberg
, and Sol Brodsky
— had been given the powers and abilities of the Fantastic Four.
The series occasionally ran a backup feature, "Untold Tales From the Marvel Universe", depicting the development of some of Marvel's superhuman races such as the Eternals
and the Inhumans
, and of characters like Tigra
. Later issues contained one-page or one-panel throwaway gags as backups. The title's letter page
was dubbed "Why Not?", with the words used by an exasperated Uatu, already up to his eyes in letters, receiving another bag-full of mail from the postman. In later issues, the letters page was titled "What Now?"
Following the cancellation of the series, Marvel published a one-shot What If? Special (June 1988) with the story "What If Iron Man
Had Been a Traitor?"
What If was revived for a 114-issue monthly series running from July 1989 to November 1998. The second series became notable for revisiting and revising ideas seen in earlier issues, often updating them for the times in the process. Additionally, stories could now span multiple issues (whereas before each What If story had been self-contained), and sometimes multiple takes on the concept could be seen in the same issue, with at least one issue offering three possible endings to its story ("What If War Machine
Had Not Destroyed the Living Laser
?") and allowing the reader to decide for himself or herself which one "should" have happened.
The humorous aspect of the original series was retained early on, culminating in the all humor issue #34, titled "What If No One Was Watching the Watcher?" This issue mostly consisted of single page gags, with a few longer stories.
There was also a subtle crossover with the "Acts of Vengeance
" storyline. In the pages of Quasar
, the hero pursued the Living Laser into the Watcher's lair on the moon, who then fled through Uatu's portal into other universes. The Laser had a brief appearance in that month's What If as a streak of light. (This storyline would later be followed up by one in which Uatu directs Quasar to track down the Living Laser through several What If universes, eventually ending up in the New Universe
, where Quasar receives the Star Brand
.)
By issue #87, the by-then-well-known convention of stating the actual point of divergence in the issue's title was dropped. Instead, each issue's cover was made to more closely resemble an issue from the actual series being featured, with only a What If... logo denoting its "alternate universe" status.
In one of the last issues of this run (#105), What If introduced the character of Spider-Girl
. She proved popular enough to be spun off into her own series, which in turn spawned the MC2 line.
. Although several followed the traditional style of narration by the Watcher, two titles written by Brian Michael Bendis
— "What If Karen Page
Had Lived?" and "What If Jessica Jones
Had Joined the Avengers?" — replaced the Watcher as host with a representation of himself. Also, another story showed a conversation between a comic shop customer and worker, where the customer posed the question, "What if Aunt May
had died instead of Uncle Ben?" This idea had been visited previously in the original What If...? series, though, under the title "What If Uncle Ben Had Lived?" It follows an altogether different course of events in the 2005 incarnation.
A parody by Marvel, What, Huh?!? was published in August 2005.
equivalent, Elseworlds
. While traditionally What If...? posed a specific question and told a story based on a divergence from regular continuity via a different outcome of a specific event, Elseworlds stories are usually simply new continuities that tell stories which are alternative versions of established characters based around the different time period or location the story is set in (for example, Superman: Red Son
, in which Superman was raised in the Soviet Union
instead of the United States
).
All but one of these new What If...? one-shots followed this approach, focusing on different time periods within the shared universe of Earth-717
which first diverged during the feudal Japan
era with the emergence of a Daredevil
hero known as "The Devil Who Dares". The stories go through other historical eras and heroes, including Captain America
battling the "White Skull
" during the American Civil War
; Wolverine
taking the role of the Punisher
and fighting mobsters in 1920s Chicago; Sub-Mariner being raised by his father on the surface during World War II
; Thor
becoming a herald of Galactus
; and a Russian version of the Fantastic Four
, known as the Ultimate Federalist Freedom Fighters, being a part of the Cold War
.
All of these stories are portrayed as historical documents from an alternate dimension discovered by an entity known as the Watcher.
", "Avengers Disassembled
", "Spider-Man: The Other
", "Wolverine: Enemy of the State
", and "X-Men: Deadly Genesis
". They were later gathered in a trade paperback entitled What If: Event Horizon.
. December saw two more What If? specials for "Civil War
" and "X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar
Empire". January 2008 saw the release of What If: Spider-Man
vs. Wolverine
. These issues were later collected into a trade paperback titled What If...? Civil War.
What If: This Was the Fantastic Four
, featuring Spider-Man
, Wolverine
, Ghost Rider
, and Hulk
, was intended to be released in November, but was cut short due to the passing of Mike Wieringo
. It was eventually released as a tribute to the late author in June 2008 as a 48-page special, with all proceeds going to support the Hero Initiative
.
", "House of M
", "Spider-Man: Back in Black
", "Secret Wars
", and "Infinity Gauntlet"; and the new Fantastic Four consisting of Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Wolverine. In addition, a storyline featuring the Runaways
as the Young Avengers
ran throughout all five comics.
mini series, World War Hulk, and Secret Invasion, plus one for the Astonishing X-Men ongoing series and a classic What If? centered round Daredevil and Elektra
. With the exception of the last one, each comic featured two alternatives for the event as opposed to one.
" event, asking what might have happened if the Sentry
had not lost control and Norman Osborn
had conquered Asgard
; and the classic 1960s
three-part Fantastic Four
story "The Coming of Galactus
", the latter of which is being written by Stan Lee
, the writer of the original story, and shows what may have transpired if the Watcher
had elected to kill Galactus
in order to stop him from consuming the Earth. The second issue announced features a What If? for "Dark Reign
" and is sub-titled The Osborn Assassination, asking what may have occurred had Clint Barton
succeeded in his mission to kill Norman Osborn. The third What If? revealed features Spider-Man during the recent "Grim Hunt" storyline, similarly asking what might have happened if Peter had elected to kill Kraven the Hunter
rather than letting him live. The fourth revealed is called Wolverine: Father and focuses on Wolverine
and his turbulent relationship with his long-lost and wayward son, Daken
, asking what would have happened if Logan had known about his existence and raised him from birth rather than losing him. The final What If? is called "Demon in an Armor" and focuses on the armored characters Iron Man and Doctor Doom
, asking what might have happened if the young Tony Stark had become involved in a body switching incident and found himself in the body of Victor Von Doom, whilst Doom takes his body to control Stark Industries. There is also a back-up story running through the four non-numbered What If? issues that shows what would have happened if the Venom symbiote
had possessed Deadpool.
, differentiating them from the main Marvel Universe
of Earth-616
.
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, exploring "the road not traveled" by its various characters. Events in the series are considered separate from mainstream continuity in the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
.
Uatu the Watcher
The stories in the initial 1977–1984 series featured the alien Uatu the WatcherUatu
Uatu, often simply known as The Watcher, is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and designed by artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The Fantastic Four #13 ....
as narrator
Narrator
A narrator is, within any story , the fictional or non-fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for...
. The observer of events transpiring on Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
from his base on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, Uatu, a member of an immortal race of Watchers, is also able to observe what transpires in alternate realities
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
. Thus, What If stories usually began with Uatu briefly recapping a notable event in the mainstream Marvel Universe, then indicating a particular point of divergence
Point of divergence
In discussion of counterfactual history, a divergence point , also referred to as a departure point or point of divergence , is a historical event with two possible postulated outcomes...
in that event. He would then demonstrate, by way of looking into a parallel reality, what could have happened if events had taken a different course from that point.
The second What If series — which ran from 1989–1998 — adopted the format of its predecessor, with Uatu serving as series narrator and providing the historical context. However, due to events in the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
comic book in which Uatu was punished for destroying another Watcher
Watcher (comics)
The Watchers are a fictional race of extraterrestrials that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the first Watcher - named Uatu - appears in Fantastic Four #13 .-Fictional history:...
, he was phased out. The stories themselves began to take center stage, with no need for a framing device; Uatu's last appearance in this role was in issue #76.
With future series of What If, whether or not the Watcher appeared was decided upon by the writer, and many elected to have alternative narrators or none at all. Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
chose to use a version of himself in the 2005 What If issues of Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
and Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones
Jessica Campbell Jones Cage is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. Jones debuted in the series Alias as an embittered former superheroine who had used the aliases Jewel, Knightress, and currently Power Woman...
; and in the early 2006 series, a hacker whose online alias is "The Watcher" opens all six issues.
Volume 1
The initial 47-issue series ran from February 1977 to October 1984. The first What If story, "What If Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
Had Joined the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
?", presented an alternate version of events seen in The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#1 (1963).
Some storylines involved individual characters choosing to take (or not to take) a particular action, when in "reality" they had made precisely the opposite decision. For example, a Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
storyline published in 1980 saw the hero being offered the opportunity to run for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
as a third-party candidate. In the end, he declined the invitation. Nevertheless, issue #26 of What If ("What If Captain America Became President?") showed him accepting the nomination, and ultimately winning the 1980 Presidential Election
United States presidential election, 1980
The United States presidential election of 1980 featured a contest between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan, as well as Republican Congressman John B. Anderson, who ran as an independent...
.
Due to their nature, stories presented in the What If format were allowed to break the rules of the characters' respective series that kept the status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
intact; major characters could be (and often were) killed off in the alternate realities, and some stories were based on the premise of a particular Marvel superhero, upon gaining/discovering his or her special abilities, choosing a life of crime instead. One issue used what had been the original plot for the conclusion of "The Dark Phoenix Saga" in the X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
series, where instead of committing suicide, Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
submits to a lobotomy that removes her powers. In the What If version, though, Jean Grey eventually regains her powers and kills all of the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
, including Scott Summers
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
, the resulting shock causing Dark Phoenix to create a galactic cataclysm. Another story focused on the events of the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
/Korvac
Korvac
Michael Korvac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Giant-Size Defenders #3 Michael Korvac (often called Korvac or The Enemy) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character...
saga where Korvac (Michael)'s mate Corina (the daughter of the Elder known as the Collector) showed him an expression of unqualified support (instead of the wavering doubt from the original story) which prompted him to kill the Avengers. Subsequently, he revives some of them to become his own corps and decides to take over the universe, the result of which causes that particular universe (shown as Eternity
Eternity
While in the popular mind, eternity often simply means existence for a limitless amount of time, many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether outside time. By contrast, infinite temporal existence is then called sempiternity. Something eternal exists outside time; by contrast,...
at the end of the story) to be annihilated. However, not all What If stories were quite so serious in nature. Issue #11, for instance, offered a tongue-in-cheek view of what might have happened if members of the original Marvel Bullpen — specifically Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
, Flo Steinberg
Flo Steinberg
Florence "Flo" Steinberg is an American publisher of one of the first independent comic books, the underground/alternative comics hybrid Big Apple Comix, in 1975...
, and Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky
Sol Brodsky was an American comic book artist who, as Marvel Comics' Silver Age production manager, was one of the key architects of the small company's expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate. He later rose to vice president, operations and vice president, special projects...
— had been given the powers and abilities of the Fantastic Four.
The series occasionally ran a backup feature, "Untold Tales From the Marvel Universe", depicting the development of some of Marvel's superhuman races such as the Eternals
Eternals (comics)
The Eternals are a fictional race of superhumans in the Marvel Comics universe. They are described as an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth. The original instigators of this process, the alien Celestials, intended the Eternals to be the defenders of Earth which...
and the Inhumans
Inhumans
The Inhumans are a fictional race of superhumans, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This race appears in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics and exists in that company's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe....
, and of characters like Tigra
Tigra
Tigra is a fictional American comic book superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. Introduced as the non-superpowered crime fighter The Cat in Claws of the Cat #1 , she was co-created by writer-editor Roy Thomas, writer Linda Fite, and penciller Marie Severin...
. Later issues contained one-page or one-panel throwaway gags as backups. The title's letter page
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
was dubbed "Why Not?", with the words used by an exasperated Uatu, already up to his eyes in letters, receiving another bag-full of mail from the postman. In later issues, the letters page was titled "What Now?"
Following the cancellation of the series, Marvel published a one-shot What If? Special (June 1988) with the story "What If Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
Had Been a Traitor?"
Volume 2
War Machine
War Machine is a fictional character, a comic book superhero appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics universe. The character of James Rhodes first appeared in Iron Man #118 by David Michelinie, John Byrne and Bob Layton...
Had Not Destroyed the Living Laser
Living Laser
The Living Laser is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Avengers #34 and was created by Stan Lee, Artie Simek and Don Heck.-Publication history:...
?") and allowing the reader to decide for himself or herself which one "should" have happened.
The humorous aspect of the original series was retained early on, culminating in the all humor issue #34, titled "What If No One Was Watching the Watcher?" This issue mostly consisted of single page gags, with a few longer stories.
There was also a subtle crossover with the "Acts of Vengeance
Acts of Vengeance
"Acts of Vengeance" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through several titles published by Marvel Comics from December 1989 to February 1990.-Publication history:...
" storyline. In the pages of Quasar
Quasar
A quasi-stellar radio source is a very energetic and distant active galactic nucleus. Quasars are extremely luminous and were first identified as being high redshift sources of electromagnetic energy, including radio waves and visible light, that were point-like, similar to stars, rather than...
, the hero pursued the Living Laser into the Watcher's lair on the moon, who then fled through Uatu's portal into other universes. The Laser had a brief appearance in that month's What If as a streak of light. (This storyline would later be followed up by one in which Uatu directs Quasar to track down the Living Laser through several What If universes, eventually ending up in the New Universe
New Universe
The New Universe is a comic book imprint from Marvel Comics that was published in its original incarnation from 1986 to 1989. It was created by Jim Shooter, Archie Goodwin, Eliot R. Brown, John Morelli, Mark Gruenwald, Tom DeFalco and edited by Michael Higgins.In 1986, in honor of Marvel Comics'...
, where Quasar receives the Star Brand
Star Brand
The Star Brand is the name of a number of similar fictional comic book objects of power all of which exist in the multiverse created by the shared universes of Marvel Comics...
.)
By issue #87, the by-then-well-known convention of stating the actual point of divergence in the issue's title was dropped. Instead, each issue's cover was made to more closely resemble an issue from the actual series being featured, with only a What If... logo denoting its "alternate universe" status.
In one of the last issues of this run (#105), What If introduced the character of Spider-Girl
Spider-Girl
Spider-Girl is a superheroine in Marvel Comics' MC2 universe. The character was created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz as the teenage daughter of Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson, and first appeared in What If #105...
. She proved popular enough to be spun off into her own series, which in turn spawned the MC2 line.
Volume 3
What If was revived again for six one-shot comics (cover-dated February 2005) based, according to What If? editor Justin Gabrie, on a suggestion by C. B. CebulskiC. B. Cebulski
C.B. Cebulski is an American writer and editor for Marvel Comics, known for his work on titles such as Marvel Fairy Tales. As of 2011, he holds the position of Senior Vice President of Creative & Creator Development.-Career:...
. Although several followed the traditional style of narration by the Watcher, two titles written by Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
— "What If Karen Page
Karen Page
Karen Page is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' Daredevil series created by writer Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett. She first appeared in Daredevil #1 .-Character overview:...
Had Lived?" and "What If Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones
Jessica Campbell Jones Cage is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe, created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Michael Gaydos. Jones debuted in the series Alias as an embittered former superheroine who had used the aliases Jewel, Knightress, and currently Power Woman...
Had Joined the Avengers?" — replaced the Watcher as host with a representation of himself. Also, another story showed a conversation between a comic shop customer and worker, where the customer posed the question, "What if Aunt May
Aunt May
May Reilly Parker-Jameson, commonly known as Aunt May, is a supporting character in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man series. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, she first appeared as May Parker in Amazing Fantasy #15...
had died instead of Uncle Ben?" This idea had been visited previously in the original What If...? series, though, under the title "What If Uncle Ben Had Lived?" It follows an altogether different course of events in the 2005 incarnation.
A parody by Marvel, What, Huh?!? was published in August 2005.
Volume 4
Another series of six one-shots was released (cover-dated February 2006), but these more closely resembled their DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
equivalent, Elseworlds
Elseworlds
Elseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
. While traditionally What If...? posed a specific question and told a story based on a divergence from regular continuity via a different outcome of a specific event, Elseworlds stories are usually simply new continuities that tell stories which are alternative versions of established characters based around the different time period or location the story is set in (for example, Superman: Red Son
Superman: Red Son
Superman: Red Son is a three-issue prestige format comic book mini-series published by DC Comics that was released under their Elseworlds imprint in April 2003...
, in which Superman was raised in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
instead of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
).
All but one of these new What If...? one-shots followed this approach, focusing on different time periods within the shared universe of Earth-717
Earth-717
Earth-717 or Earth 717 is a designation used to identify a continuity in which most of early 2006's What If one-shot titles take place in the fictional Marvel Comics Multiverse.-Origin of Earth-717:...
which first diverged during the feudal Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
era with the emergence of a Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
hero known as "The Devil Who Dares". The stories go through other historical eras and heroes, including Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
battling the "White Skull
Bucky
Bucky is the name of several fictional characters, masked superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. The original, James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby as a sidekick character in Captain America Comics #1 , published by Marvel's 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics...
" during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
; Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
taking the role of the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
and fighting mobsters in 1920s Chicago; Sub-Mariner being raised by his father on the surface during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
becoming a herald of Galactus
Galactus
Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue story later known as "The Galactus...
; and a Russian version of the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, known as the Ultimate Federalist Freedom Fighters, being a part of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
All of these stories are portrayed as historical documents from an alternate dimension discovered by an entity known as the Watcher.
Volume 5
At the end of 2006, Marvel released five new one-shot comics, this series focusing on alternate outcomes of major storylines, such as "Age of ApocalypseAge of Apocalypse
"Age of Apocalypse" is a 1995 - 1996 comic book crossover storyline published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. The Age of Apocalypse briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616, although it was later retconned as having occurred in the alternate universe of Earth-295, it had...
", "Avengers Disassembled
Avengers Disassembled
"Avengers Disassembled", referred to in some participating series as "Disassembled", is a crossover event between several Marvel Comics series. The general idea is that the major heroes are assaulted, not just physically, but emotionally...
", "Spider-Man: The Other
Spider-Man: The Other
"The Other" is a comic book crossover story arc published by Marvel Comics from October 2005 to January 2006. It was the first Spider-Man crossover since 2001, and was published in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #1-4, Marvel Knights Spider-Man #19-22, The Amazing Spider-Man #525-528.-Publication...
", "Wolverine: Enemy of the State
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
", and "X-Men: Deadly Genesis
X-Men: Deadly Genesis
X-Men: Deadly Genesis is a comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in late 2005 and early 2006. The series was written by Ed Brubaker with interior art by Trevor Hairsine and covers by Marc Silvestri. Starring the X-Men, this series celebrates the 30th anniversary of Giant-Size X-Men #1...
". They were later gathered in a trade paperback entitled What If: Event Horizon.
Volume 6
What If?: Planet Hulk was the first announced title for 2007 and was released in October. It was followed in November by What If?: AnnihilationAnnihilation (comics)
"Annihilation" was a 2006 crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics, highlighting several outer space-related characters in the Marvel Universe. The central miniseries was written by Keith Giffen, with editor Andy Schmidt.-Publication History:...
. December saw two more What If? specials for "Civil War
Civil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
" and "X-Men: Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar
Shi'ar
The Shi'ar are a fictional species of aliens in the Marvel Comics universe. The Shi'ar Empire also called the Aerie, is a vast collection of alien species, cultures and worlds situated close to the Skrull and Kree Empires, and alongside them, is one of the three main alien empires...
Empire". January 2008 saw the release of What If: Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
vs. Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
. These issues were later collected into a trade paperback titled What If...? Civil War.
What If: This Was the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, featuring Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
, Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (comics)
Ghost Rider is the name of several fictional supernatural antiheroes appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Night Rider and subsequently to Phantom Rider.The first supernatural Ghost Rider is...
, and Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
, was intended to be released in November, but was cut short due to the passing of Mike Wieringo
Mike Wieringo
Michael Lance "Mike" Wieringo , who sometimes signed his work under the name Ringo, was an American comic book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' The Flash and Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four....
. It was eventually released as a tribute to the late author in June 2008 as a 48-page special, with all proceeds going to support the Hero Initiative
The Hero Initiative
The Hero Initiative, formerly known as A Commitment to Our Roots, or ACTOR, is the first federally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators, writers and artists in need...
.
Volume 7
Starting weekly in December 2008, five more What If specials were released, continuing the theme of alternatives for recent events coupled with classic ones. The ones announced were for "Fallen Son: The Death of Captain AmericaFallen Son: The Death of Captain America
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America is a comic book limited series dealing with various superheroes' reactions to death of Captain America in the Marvel comics universe after the Civil War....
", "House of M
House of M
House of M is an eight-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in 2005. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, its first issue debuted in June 2005 as a follow-up to the events of the Planet X and Avengers Disassembled...
", "Spider-Man: Back in Black
Spider-Man: Back in Black
"Spider-Man: Back in Black" is a five-part 2007 Marvel Comics storyline written by J. Michael Straczynski and illustrated by Ron Garney , Bill Reinhold , Matt Milla and VC's Cory Petit . All parts were published in the comic book series The Amazing Spider-Man #539-543...
", "Secret Wars
Secret Wars
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars is a twelve-issue comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton...
", and "Infinity Gauntlet"; and the new Fantastic Four consisting of Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Wolverine. In addition, a storyline featuring the Runaways
Runaways (comics)
Runaways is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series features a group of teenagers who discover that their parents are part of an evil crime group called the Pride. Created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, the series debuted in April of 2003 as part of Marvel Comics'...
as the Young Avengers
Young Avengers
Young Avengers is an American comic book series written by Allan Heinberg and published by Marvel Comics. It follows a group of young superheroes, each of whom patterns themselves after a member of the long-established Marvel superhero team the Avengers....
ran throughout all five comics.
Volume 8
In December 2009, a new volume was released, again focusing on three recent events in the Marvel Universe — in this case, the Spider-Man: House of MSpider-Man: House of M
Spider-Man: House of M is a five-issue comic book limited series that ran concurrently with Marvel Comics' House of M crossover event in 2005. In the House of M universe, mutants rule the world and humans are an oppressed minority...
mini series, World War Hulk, and Secret Invasion, plus one for the Astonishing X-Men ongoing series and a classic What If? centered round Daredevil and Elektra
Elektra (comics)
Elektra Natchios, usually referred to only by her first name Elektra, is a fictional character in publications from Marvel Comics.Elektra is a kunoichi – female ninja assassin – of Greek descent. She wields a pair of bladed sai as her trademark weapon. She is a love interest of the superhero...
. With the exception of the last one, each comic featured two alternatives for the event as opposed to one.
Volume 9
In September 2010, Marvel announced details on further What If? one-shots due out in December 2010 as part of a ninth series of What If?. What If? #200 is extra-sized and features two stories, with an alternative possibility for the recent "SiegeSiege (comics)
Siege is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics, who exists in the Marvel Universe.-Creative origins:John Kelly was initially created by Dwayne McDuffie and Gregory Wright as a pseudo-preview of their then-upcoming relaunch of Deathlok as well as to provide existing in-continuity backstory...
" event, asking what might have happened if the Sentry
Sentry (comics)
Sentry is the codename of several unrelated fictional characters of the Marvel Universe. Currently, the most prominent Sentry is Robert Reynolds, appearing in Marvel's New Avengers and Mighty Avengers titles, and the subject of two limited series....
had not lost control and Norman Osborn
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
had conquered Asgard
Asgard (comics)
Asgard is a fictional realm within the Marvel Comics universe based on the Asgard of Norse mythology and is home to the Asgardians and other beings of Norse mythology...
; and the classic 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
three-part Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
story "The Coming of Galactus
The Galactus Trilogy
"The Galactus Trilogy" is a three-issue story arc in the Marvel Comics comic-book series Fantastic Four, by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby...
", the latter of which is being written by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
, the writer of the original story, and shows what may have transpired if the Watcher
Watcher (comics)
The Watchers are a fictional race of extraterrestrials that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the first Watcher - named Uatu - appears in Fantastic Four #13 .-Fictional history:...
had elected to kill Galactus
Galactus
Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue story later known as "The Galactus...
in order to stop him from consuming the Earth. The second issue announced features a What If? for "Dark Reign
Dark Reign (comics)
"Dark Reign" is a 2008–2009 crossover comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics. It deals with the aftermath of the "Secret Invasion" storyline, which led to a shift of power in the Marvel Universe toward Norman Osborn. The title "Dark Reign" refers to Osborn's rise to national power and the...
" and is sub-titled The Osborn Assassination, asking what may have occurred had Clint Barton
Hawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
succeeded in his mission to kill Norman Osborn. The third What If? revealed features Spider-Man during the recent "Grim Hunt" storyline, similarly asking what might have happened if Peter had elected to kill Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter
Kraven the Hunter is a fictional character, a supervillain and enemy of Spider-Man appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Kraven's name is Sergei Kravinoff. He also appears as Xraven, with white-grey skin and red eyes, possessing the powers of X-Men. He is the half-brother of Dmitri...
rather than letting him live. The fourth revealed is called Wolverine: Father and focuses on Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
and his turbulent relationship with his long-lost and wayward son, Daken
Daken
Akihiro, also codename as Daken is a fictional comic book supervillain appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. Daken is the mutant son of Wolverine and his deceased wife Itsu...
, asking what would have happened if Logan had known about his existence and raised him from birth rather than losing him. The final What If? is called "Demon in an Armor" and focuses on the armored characters Iron Man and Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
, asking what might have happened if the young Tony Stark had become involved in a body switching incident and found himself in the body of Victor Von Doom, whilst Doom takes his body to control Stark Industries. There is also a back-up story running through the four non-numbered What If? issues that shows what would have happened if the Venom symbiote
Venom (comics)
Eddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
had possessed Deadpool.
Alternate Earths
Marvel has given several What If? stories official numerical designations as continuities within the Marvel Comics MultiverseMultiverse (Marvel Comics)
Within Marvel Comics, most tales take place within the fictional Marvel Universe, which in turn is part of a larger multiverse. Starting with issues of Captain Britain, the main continuity in which most Marvel storylines take place was designated Earth-616, and the multiverse was established as...
, differentiating them from the main Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
of Earth-616
Earth-616
In the fictional Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 or Earth 616 is the name used to identify the primary continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place.-Origin of Earth-616:...
.
Collected editions
A number of the stories have been collected into trade paperbacksTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
.
- What If? Classic:
- Volume 1 (collects What If #1-6), January 2005, ISBN 0-7851-1702-4
- Volume 2 (collects What If #7-12), January 2006, ISBN 0-7851-1843-8
- Volume 3 (collects What If #14-15, 17-20), January 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2081-5
- Volume 4 (collects What If #21-26), December 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2738-0
- Volume 5 (collects What If #27-32), January 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3086-1
- Volume 6 (collects What If #33-38), December 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3753-X
- Volume 7 (collects What If #40-42,43 (backup only), 44-47), February 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5311-X
- X-Men: Alterniverse Visions (collects What If vol. 2, #40, 59, 62, 66, 69), August 1996, ISBN 0-7851-0194-2 (Boxtree, May 1996, ISBN 0752203428)
- What If?: Why Not? (collects What If vol. 3), March 2005, ISBN 0-7851-1593-5
- What If?: Mirror Mirror (collects What If vol. 4), May 2006, ISBN 0-7851-1902-7
- What If?: Event Horizon (collects What If vol. 5), July 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2183-8
- What If?: Civil War (collects What If vol. 6), April 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3036-5
- What If?: Secret Wars (collects What If vol. 7), April 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3341-0
- What If?: Secret Invasion (collects What If? vol. 8), May 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4109-X
- What If?: Dark Avengers (collects What If? vol. 9), April 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5278-4
See also
- Canon (fiction)Canon (fiction)In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
- ElseworldsElseworldsElseworlds is the publication imprint for a group of comic books produced by DC Comics that take place outside the company's canon. According to its tagline: "In Elseworlds, heroes are taken from their usual settings and put into strange times and places — some that have existed, and others...
- Multiverse (Marvel Comics)Multiverse (Marvel Comics)Within Marvel Comics, most tales take place within the fictional Marvel Universe, which in turn is part of a larger multiverse. Starting with issues of Captain Britain, the main continuity in which most Marvel storylines take place was designated Earth-616, and the multiverse was established as...
- What The--?!What The--?!What The--?! was a Marvel Comics comic book series parodying the Marvel Universe, similar in vein to the 1960s series Not Brand Echh. It was billed as, "The Marvel mag of mirth and mayhem!" The series ran for 26 issues from August 1988 through Winter 1993, with issue #26 being a "Fall Special"...
- Wha...Huh?