The best of "What If?"...

[Norrin Radd]

I haven't read too many "What If?" issues. Of most I've read, they were from the second series in the 90s.

I remember that "What if the X-Men had Lost Inferno?" was fantastic and probably better than the Inferno series itself (not that it's hard to be better than that dreck).

Also, I read "What if Daredevil had Killed the Kingpin?". This was pretty good as it examines the consequences of when a good hero breaks down and turns into what he hates-but there's also redemption at the end.

"What if the Alien Costume had Possessed Spider-Man" basically posed a nightmare scenario. The symbiote was scarier here than an any other issue I've read in true continuity.

"What if the X-Men had Stayed in Asgard?" was weird but followed well the mythic tradition of Walt Simonson.

"What if the Vision had Destroyed the Avengers?" wasn't much different from what actually happened, but showed the Vision at his full, frightening capabilities-if he really cut loose.

Any others I'm missing?

[Mick Martin]

My personal favorite is "What If Rick Jones Had Become The Hulk?" It's the twelfth issue of the first series.

It's freakin' hilarious. They have Rick Jones/Hulk saying things like "Hulk Smash, Daddy-O!"

[agrich]

Any others I'm missing?

The really good ones from Volume I.

What If #3 - What if the Avengers had never been? Set back when the Hulk first left the Avengers, he teams up with the Submariner to attack the surface world - and the rest of the Avengers have quit. Iron Man has to find a way to meet their threat on his own. Written by a young Jim Shooter, drawn by Gil Kane.

What If #12 - What if Nova had been four different people - sort of a cool issue, with four different stories.

What If #27 - What If Phoenix Hadn't Died? Kind of fun. Needless to say it doesn't turn out well for everyone else. Back then it was a novelty seeing the X-Men killed, now it seems to happen every year or so.

What IF #36 (I think) - What If the FF hadn't gotten their powers? In which we learn that it's not the powers that make the heroes.

What If (I forget the number) - What If Spider-man's Clone had lived? Much better and shorter than the actual clone saga.

[THANOS/WOLVERINE]

What If: Wolverine became Lord of Vampires was great. A truely great Wolverine and Punisher issue.

What If: Hulk killed Wolverine. Shows how f'ed up the X-men would have been without Wolverine. Also shows a badass Rogue, Collosus and Freedom Force.

What If: Wolverine vs Conan. Good fun story.

What If: Wolverine vs Weapon X. Great Logan story. Not Wolverine, Logan.

What If: Captin America revived Today(#107). Captin America at his best.

What If: Carnage took over the Silver Surfer. Surfer's determination shows why he is one hell of a charecter.

What If: Can't remeber the title but Wolverine goes feral, lives out in the woods, Scott and Jean have Cable hunt him down and finally he cuts his own hand off. Good story. I think its #90 or something.

[Sean Walsh]

Man, I wish I hadn't sold my WHAT IF? comics so that I could contribute to this thread...........

[Expletive Deleted]

WHAT IF v2 #34. "What if no-one was watching the Watcher?"

Nothing profound, just good fun.

[kel25]

What If Aunt May became a Herald of Galactus

[Tragix]

"What if the Avengers had never been?" - ("What-If #3" Vol.1)

[Roquefort Raider]

What if Dr. Doom was a hero, from vol. 1, #17.

That one was a near-perfect what if..? issue, in that it respected the series' premise (it's not an all-imaginary story, just a speculation on what would have happened if one critical decision had been made instead of another) and that it showed us a lot about von Doom's character as a flawed hero.

The decison, in this case, was for Doom to listen to Reed's comments about his calculations being wrong when he built the machine that originally destroyed his face. Doom remains arrogant and aloof, but his destiny is dramatically changed.

[DDM]

What If #1...Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four?

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/95076770084.1.GIF

What If #9...The Avengers Fought Evil in the 1950's?

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/95076770084.9.GIF

What If #27...Phoenix had not Died?

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/95076770084.27.GIF

What If #40...Doctor Strange had not become Master of the Mystic Arts?

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/95076770084.40.GIF

[DDM]

Marvel Team-Up #137: Aunt May becomes the Herald of Galactus as Golden Oldie with Franklin Richards!

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/52019311922.137.GIF

[Citizen V]

A favorite of mine is "What If..The Hulk Went Beserk?" how Hulk had a telepathic connection to Rick Jones and experienced his death.It drove the Hulk insane,a pretty extreme story.

Another favorite was already mentioned,"What If..The X-Men Had Stayed In Asgard".

[90'sCartoonMan]

WHAT IF v2 #34. "What if no-one was watching the Watcher?"

Nothing profound, just good fun.

You're saying the return of Elvis isn't profound?! That was a great comic, though, I should've said that was my favorite cover.

I liked the Fantastic Four What Ifs? What If Reed and Sue's second child had lived (there were two stories, one where she was good, one where she was bad).

What If The Fantastic Four Had The Same Power? There were four stories that showed what if they were all stretchy, could turn to flame, could become invisible, or were all monsters. Some funny moments, but the Thing one was pretty sad.

What If #100 was weird. Sinister gave Gambit a cure for Rogue that didn't work. In the end, it revealed one of the great secrets of the Marvel Universe (I think that's why I bought it).

What If #105, of course, since it introduced Spider-Girl.

[Lawrence]

My personal favourite is

http://www.comicsvf.com/scans/vocanc/whatifv2/33.jpg

What If... Phoenix Rose Again?

It was a great read, though a bit confusing when I first read it. At that point, I don't think I had ever read anything to do with the Phoenix saga though..

It's about Phoenix and how she went away from the X-men after she saved Rachel from the Shadow King. She eventually comes back to save the X-men from destruction. It really captures the power of the Phoenix. It's sort of like Days of Future Past. I love it. It's very good.

[CMBMOOL]

My personal favourite is

http://www.comicsvf.com/scans/vocanc/whatifv2/33.jpg

What If... Phoenix Rose Again?

It was a great read, though a bit confusing when I first read it. At that point, I don't think I had ever read anything to do with the Phoenix saga though..

It's about Phoenix and how she went away from the X-men after she saved Rachel from the Shadow King. She eventually comes back to save the X-men from destruction. It really captures the power of the Phoenix. It's sort of like Days of Future Past. I love it. It's very good.

That somewhat connects to this issue from Uncannyx-men.net : http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1931

[Nefarius]

What If:Burglar kills Aunt May instead of Uncle Ben.

A great story.Peter was far better Spider-man with the guideness of Uncle Ben.Also,it has a good scene between Uncle Ben and JJJ where Ben defends Spidey while Jonah accuse him.

[Gargus]

What if dr doom became sorcer supreme was pretty damn good.

Its been so long since I read it but I seem to remember it being really good.

Most of the ones from volume 1 and 2 were pretty good. Just for the love of god dont buy any of the newer ones. No watcher, crappy charcter representations and worse plots. Wished I hadnt spent money on them.

[Leebenhouse]

What If:Burglar kills Aunt May instead of Uncle Ben.

A great story.Peter was far better Spider-man with the guideness of Uncle Ben.Also,it has a good scene between Uncle Ben and JJJ where Ben defends Spidey while Jonah accuse him.
Which Issue was that?

Also the "What if Daredevil Saved Nuke?", and "What if the Symbiote merged with the Punisher" were both pretty good. Just got those.

[Alan2099]

What if Ironman sold out?
In this one, Tony decided to give his technology to the world isntead of just keeping it as Ironman.

With Ironman technology being common, things get quite bad, and it shows a very effective Magneto. I would have liked to see a bit more of that worlds Dr. Doom though.

[Alan2099]

What if Alan2099 hadn't doubleposted by accident?

[Leebenhouse]

I think "What if?" has a lot of possibilities, but probably worked best in a bi-monthly format so there could be more events to "What if?"

Also I liked the Cosmonaut FF special.

[Weapon Ick]

I liked "Timequake" just because it was cool to actually see an arc in What If?

[kel25]

Ok I know this is off topic but does anyone think there might be a chance for the What If series to make a return? I say this because it always did seem like a more popular title and Marvel did do a few one shots a little while ago. Maybe they were testing the waters to see if it could work?

Anyone else think this or am I just hoping to much?

[Cavalry Tanker]

Two Favorites, they've already been mentioned...

What If Captain America had Lived

and

What if Tony Stark had Sold Out
--------------

Both great stories, chaotic and hopless in nature. It seemed like the world was coming apart in both. Two of my first comics as well, bought them at the Grocery Store.

[marshal99]

Ok I know this is off topic but does anyone think there might be a chance for the What If series to make a return? I say this because it always did seem like a more popular title and Marvel did do a few one shots a little while ago. Maybe they were testing the waters to see if it could work?

Anyone else think this or am I just hoping to much?

You already got your what if scenarios with the exile book.

[Drakenred]

"What if Peter and Mary Jane had raised their baby?",

Incidentaly we all know how that one turned out