One of the main perks of comics is how nothing is set in stone. Even though there’s the main universe, one can always theorize about all the possible outcomes for any story. The Multiverse allows for those outcomes to become a reality, even if it’s in a different dimension. For example, the What If? comics are Marvel’s canon divergent stories.
45 years have passed since the first What If? was published. After more than four decades of stories outside the Marvel continuity, there are some What If? comics that beat the main universe. Whether it’s because they feature original compelling characters and better versions of already iconic superheroes or because their outcomes are way better than the original comics, these comics deserve a spot closer to the original timeline.
10 What If… The Fantastic Four Had Different Super-Powers?
Based on The Fantastic Four #1, this is the sixth What If? ever created. The issue follows the story of the Fantastic Four in a world where their powers are different. Ben Grimm grows dragon wings, Sue Storm develops flexible skin, Johnny Storm becomes a half-robot, and Reed Richards, always the smartest, becomes a brain called Big Brain.
Although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the main Fantastic Four alineation, What If? #6 explores the way these heroes’ powers determine their group dynamic. The story features a disfigured Reed inside Doom’s body as a blend of the two characters, which offers a deeper take on Reed Richard (who pretty much has a perfect life in Earth-616). Unfortunately, this darker Mr. Fantastic wasn’t further explored.
9 What If… Jane Foster Had Found The Hammer Of Thor?
After being intercepted by aliens during a failed excursion to the mountains, Jane Foster gets a hold of an old cane in a cave, which is really the Mjolnir in disguise. Before understanding what’s happening, she becomes Thordis, the Goddess of Thunder. Instead of acting as Thor’s damsel in distress, in this comic Jane saves Donald Blake — who’s only a regular Earthly doctor.
Jane Foster as the Goddess of Thunder is such a compelling idea it actually became canon. In The Mighty Thor by Jason Aaron and Russel Dauterman, Jane claimed the Mjolnir after Odinson became unworthy of the hammer. This arc will be also explored in MCU’s Thor: Love and Thunder with Natalie Portman as Jane.
8 What If… Gwen Stacy Had Rescued Gwen Stacy?
Thanks to Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, everyone knows Spider-Man failed to save Gwen Stacy from a deadly fall. But how would things have gone if this had never happened? In What If? #24, Spider-Man jumps to catch Gwen instead of just throwing a webline at her, fixing his mistake in The Amazing Spider-Man #121.
Without taking into consideration the endless ramifications of Gwen’s death in Peter’s life, of course, fans would love for her to be alive. Her death is an iconic moment in Marvel history but the guilt that follows Spider-Man after the event sees Peter in a very dark place.
7 What If… Rogue Possessed The Power Of Thor?
During a battle against the Avengers, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants’ member Rogue absorbed Thor’s abilities and left Odinson to die. Although she uses her new abilities for evil, the deceased Thor meets her on the astral plane and convinces her to take the Goddess of Thunder mantle as a hero, which she does.
Granted, nobody wants Thor Odinson to die. However, mixing Rogue’s power level with the God of Thunder’s force is an experiment too good to just forget. Although Rogue is already incredibly powerful in the main universe, this combination turns the alternate Rogue into one of the mightiest characters in the Marvel Universe. Sadly, Marvel left her in 1994.
6 What If…Scarlet Witch Ended The ‘House of M’ By Saying, “No More Power?”
What If? House of M #1 follows Earth-9021, a world where Scarlet Witch didn’t just decimate mutants, but all kinds of superpowered heroes. This results in a universe very similar to JLA: Act of God, where some of the most iconic Marvel superheroes deal with the consequences of losing their abilities while others celebrate it, all while Red Skull takes advantage of the situation.
What If…Scarlet Witch Ended the ‘House of M’ By Saying, ‘No More Power?’ features a realistic universe, where the strongest beings in the world find themselves facing new-found weaknesses, such as Wolverine, whose adamantium skeleton is now too heavy for him. However, it also showcases a hopeful time, where heroes don’t give up even if they’re no longer virtually invincible. Instead, they build new technology to battle against Red Skull, showing the true nature of a hero.
5 What If Daredevil Lived In Feudal Japan?
In Earth-717, Masahiro is the Devil Who Dares, a blind samurai in feudal Japan whose father died at the hands of the Giant Shogun — an obvious reinterpretation of the Kingpin. Raised by Stick to be a warrior, Masahiro fights this crimelord alongside Elektra, the daughter of a murdered Greek ambassador.
Rick Veitch and Tommy Lee Edwards treated Daredevil fans to a well-crafted reformulation of the Daredevil mythos told by Matt Murdock II, a descendant of Earth-717’s Matt Murdock himself. What If Daredevil Lived in Feudal Japan? is barely the origin story of the Devil Who Dares, but surely this character gives Earth-717 a beautiful connection to Japanese lore that Earth-616 lacks.
4 What If… Storm Had The Power Of Phoenix?
What if… Storm had the power of Phoenix? follows Storm as she’s replaced by the Phoenix instead of Jean Grey in Uncanny X-Men #100. Although Storm-Phoenix’s intentions are good — she wants to protect nature all around the world —her means become villainous as humans refuse to follow her rules, so the X-Men have to stop her.
Considering new hosts for the Phoenix Force is always an interesting thought exercise. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with Jean Grey’s run as the Phoenix. However, Storm is often underestimated. In this comic, the X-Men defeat Storm easily, but true fans know this is just to make sure the story is a short one. Surely she’d be one of the most powerful Phoenix hosts ever? It’s a shame fans don’t get to see her in Earth-616.
3 What If… Starring Secret Wars: 25 Years Later… Comes A New Generation Of Heroes!
Set in a universe 25 years after Marvel’s most iconic heroes ended up trapped on Battleworld, this comic shows what would’ve happened if no one had left. Instead of returning to their Earth, all these characters settle down in Battleworld, marry and even have kids.
What If? #114 showcases several original characters whose abilities are a mix of their parents. For example, Clinton Barton Jr. is Hawkeye and She-Hulk’s son, so he’s a great archer with sheer force. Kendall Logan can control the weather like her mother, Storm, but she also heals faster, like her father, Wolverine. These are only two examples of a dozen interesting characters missing in Earth-616.
2 What If… Magik Became The Sorcerer Supreme?
What If? With Great Power introduces Illyana Rasputin aka Magik as she goes from a quasi-feral kid recently freed from Limbo to Doctor Strange’s protégé. Although she’s suspicious of Strange at the beginning, Magik learns to trust him as he trains her to become his predecessor.
One of Marvel’s best sorcerers, it isn’t strange to imagine Magik as the Sorcerer Supreme. After all, the mutant actually trained with Doctor Strange in Earth-616, but only until she was an adult. What If? Magik introduces a universe where Illyana lives up to the full potential of her magical abilities.
1 What If… Iron Man Lost The Civil War?
One of What If? Civil War stories include an alternate universe where Iron Man and Captain America talk it out instead of fighting each other regarding the Superhuman Registration Act. In this issue, Tony and Steve meet each other halfway. They decide to have Steve oversee the Act so the government doesn’t have the only say on it.
A peaceful conversation doesn’t seem like a thrilling ending, especially considering Civil War is one of Marvel’s biggest crossovers. However, it saved Steve from dying in prison, rendering the events in The Death of Captain America impossible. This devastates Tony, who weeps in front of Uatu as he realizes what could’ve been in the last pages of What If? Civil War.
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