Thoughts on Marvel's What If? comics?
Like, on them in general? I like them a lot in concept. Why have a multiverse if you can’t have a bunch of weird little short spin-off comics examining what would happen if you nudged one thing to the side. I think in execution they have a fair amount of misses and only so many hits, but you have to cram your canon divergent story into one issue, so it’s a tough job. I have kind of a preference for the grimmer ones -- I like alternate universes that can explore roads the main canon story can’t go down for whatever reason. Character deaths, villain AUs, etc. It’s fun!
A couple favorites, though these are all Spider-Man and Fantastic Four focused because I am who I am:
What If? (1977) #1: Spider-Man Joined the Fantastic Four: Really starting off the whole series in way particularly targeted to me. Does what it says on the tin, imagining an alternate take of ASM #1 where when Peter tries to join the Fantastic Four they don’t laugh him out of the building. I think this is really rocky in general -- I don’t like the idea that Peter joining would drive Sue straight into Namor’s arms. But it’s on the list for Fantastic Five content anyway.
What If? (1977) #24: Spider-Man Had Rescued Gwen Stacy: What it says on the label. Follows through on the pretty heavy current in ASM before Gwen’s death that Peter and Gwen were planning on getting married, with good Flash and Harry character moments too.
What If? #42: The Invisible Girl Had Died: Who wants to cry? Assumes a version of canon where Sue died in labor with Franklin. Johnny, Ben, and Reed mourn.
What If? (1989) #18: The Fantastic Four Battled Doctor Doom Before They Got Their Powers: Cute little canon divergent story where the Fantastic Four’s first confrontation with Doom happens before they get their powers, when Reed is still living at Sue and Johnny’s aunt’s boarding house. It does use Byrne’s version of the origin story, so unfortunately Sue is depicted as much younger than Reed and Ben.
What If? (1989) #35: The Fantastic Five Fought Doctor Doom and Annihilus: Another Fantastic Five issue! And not the one where Reed like, blows up Atlantis. That one’s weird. This one is another take on Franklin’s birth, in a version of canon where Peter is a member of the team. It’s cute.
What If? (1989) #89: Deadly Inheritance: An alternate take on the Fantastic Four’s origin where the FF are captured after the rocket crash by a mysterious and sinister organization.
What If? #105: Who Is She?: The first appearance of May “Spider-Girl” Parker! The issue that would spin off into the MC2 continuity. Assumes a canon that diverges from 616 after the birth of Peter and Mary Jane’s daughter, in a universe where the baby lived and was recovered.
What If? Spider-Man vs Wolverine: I think this one’s just kind of fun. A What If? of Spider-Man vs Wolverine where they team up to rescue Charlemagne’s sister and end up a little assassin family.
What If? No More Powers: I have to confess, I think this one’s sort of painfully average as far as What Ifs go, but there’s a moment in it I’m absolutely obsessed with as a piece of commentary on Peter Parker, where, rendered powerless, he flat out says it’s not about the powers.
What If? Back in Black: A Spider-Man What If? focused on the end of Civil War where Mary Jane is shot and killed instead of May and Peter goes on the hunt for the Kingpin.
What If? Grim Hunt: A take on Grim Hunt where Peter rejects Julia Carpenter’s prophecy and kills Kraven, breaking the web and sending him down a murderous path. It’s fun! It’s got great art. I think the ending is kind of a let down but otherwise I highly recommend it.
What If? Peter Parker Became the Punisher: An alternate origin story that does what it says on the tin. Good modern PeterGwen content.
