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Between 1977 and 1998, Marvel Comics produced a series that looked into alternate histories of its famous heroes and villains. Titled What If, it was hosted by Utau the Watcher. The seemingly omnipotent alien recorded all of history, be it Earth-616 or beyond, but never interfered in progress.
Most of the covers of What If posed a question. For instance, what if people found out Daredevil was blind? Or what if Captain America became President of the United States? Many of these alternate histories never came to fruition on Earth-616. However, there are a few that did come true years or decades after the release of a certain issue.
10 Spider-Man Did Join The Fantastic Four … Twice
In the premiere issue of the first volume of What If the cover asked what would have happened if Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four? It took place early in the heroic lives of the Wall-Crawler and Marvel’s First Family. After some reluctance to be part of the team, Spidey adjusts. Unfortunately, it’s at the sacrifice of Sue Storm who ends up marrying Namor.
Spider-Man joined Earth-616’s Fantastic Four twice after this issue. In 1991, he was part of a new lineup that featured Grey Hulk, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider and lasted for three issues. In 2011, he joined the Richards and Ben Grimm in FF #1 as a replacement for Johnny Storm, who had allegedly died in battle.
9 An Avengers Team Did Exist In The 1950s
The ninth issue of the series asked what if an Avengers team existed in the 1950s? Gathering the current lineup of the mid-1970s team, Iron Man looks at an alternate future in his dimensional viewer. One where the FBI’s Jimmy Woo recruits a group of heroes from the 1950s to form the Avengers. They include 3-D Man, Gorilla Man, Human Robot M-11, Marvel Boy, and the goddess Venus.
Though this isn’t the group Nick Fury eventually gathered on Earth-616, an Avengers team did exist in the late 50s. Described in the Avengers 1959 series from 2012, the Avengers Initiative included Sabretooth, Dominic Fortune, Namora, and her boyfriend Kraven the Hunter. They were joined by Blood Stone, Silver Sable, and Blonde Phantom. Among their assignments was finding and defeating a Red Skull imposter that created his own version of Captain America.
8 Jane Foster Eventually Became Thor
What If #10 posed an interesting question that had some feasibility. What would have happened if Jane Foster was the original recipient of Thor’s hammer? In this story, it wasn’t Dr. Don Blake that grabbed the club that transformed him. Instead, Jane slid down the mountainside and grabbed the disguised Mlojnir. In turn, she defeated the aliens from Saturn.
Many decades later, while battling breast cancer, Jane gave into the hammer’s call when the original Thor lost the ability to wield it. Finding it on the moon, she picked up Mjolnir and gained Thor’s powers. She even became a member of a new Avengers lineup. Similar to the ending of her What If storyline, Jane was given a chance at godhood when she returned the hammer to the original Thor. Eventually, she was transformed into a Valkyrie.
7 The Hulk Had Bruce Banner’s Brain Several Times
In the second issue of What If, readers were asked what would happen if Hulk retained Bruce Banner’s brain at the start? Instead of being hunted, this smart version of the Big Guy helped others. In reality, the only problem he had was turning into the Green Behemoth after sundown.
Yet, Bruce Banner retained control of the Hulk several times in the last few decades. Before the first Secret Wars series, the doctor could switch to his monstrous side at will. During Peter David’s long run on The Incredible Hulk, Banner retained control of all his personalities in his Hulk form.
6 Rick Jones Became A Hulk
On the other end of the coin, What If? #12 revealed an alternate universe where Rick Jones received the full blast of the Gamma Bomb after saving Dr. Banner. The result was he became the Hulk. However, his version was more hip. For instance, he used terms like squares to represent scientists. Eventually, with the help of Reed Richards, Banner split Rick from his mutated persona.
Meanwhile, on Earth-616, the former partner to several heroes has become a Hulk a few times. In the early 1980s, Rick fell into a nutrient bath used to fuse Banner and his Hulk persona into one. As a result, he became a savage Hulk-like being. In 2008, Rick was again transformed into a gamma-based creature called A-Bomb.
5 Doctor Doom Was A Hero
It didn’t seem possible that the events in What If? #22 could come true. After all, Victor Von Doom is probably the most ruthless villain in the Marvel Universe. Yet, it actually happened in the 21st century.
It started in 2011 when Victor joined the Future Foundation so Reed Richards could help him regain lost intelligence. Later, during the events of AXIS, Doom became a kind and benevolent leader. After Civil War II, when Tony Stark was devastated by the death of Jim Rhodes, Victor took over his role as the Infamous Iron Man.
4 Spider-Man’s Clone Took Over Peter Parker’s Life
What If #30 introduced a concept that stemmed from issues 148-150 of Amazing Spider-Man. It was an alternate telling of Peter’s discovery that he had a clone. In this version, the original Parker was put into suspended animation while the clone tried to start taking over a life he didn’t understand.
However, the clone actually never died on Earth-616. Instead, he went into hiding for years, changed his name to Ben Reilly, and returned as the Scarlet Spider. In a classic and confusing storyline, it was revealed Ben was the true Peter. So, the “clone” and Mary Jane left New York while the other took over. Turns out it was all a ruse. Peter returned and Ben died then came back to life.
3 Elektra Actually Survived
When What If? #35 came out no one realized what the future history of Elektra would be. Fact is, she had recently met her demise in the pages of Daredevil. The alternate version presented in the comic shows her and Matt Murdock leaving New York for a new life when the Kingpin puts a hit out on her.
Matt needn’t have mourned her death at the start of this What If tale. Not long after her death, the assassin was resurrected in a mystical ceremony. Since then, she has become a freelance agent for S.H.I.E.L.D and was recruited into the Heroes for Hire organization.
2 Conan The Barbarian Has Come To The Present
There are a few What If stories related to Conan the Barbarian based on a scenario where he is stuck in the 20th century. In issue 13, he appears in a lightning bolt from the past that helps spur the 1977 New York City blackout. In issue 43, the barbarian appears on the cover in a battle helmet while holding a pistol.
These realities actually came true. In Avengers No Road Home, Conan follows the team who came to his time to battle the villainous Nyx. He decides to join them in the 21st century to complete the battle. Though he spends most of the time in the Savage Land, he’s eventually convinced to join other heroes like Punisher, Wolverine, and Elektra.
1 Peter Parker Did Not Wed Mary Jane
In issue #20 of the second volume of What If the cover asked what if Spider-Man had not married Mary Jane? Instead, he decides to leave his fiance at the altar and work for Silver Sable. Along the way, he rekindles a romance with the Black Cat.
Though this didn’t go the same way on Earth-616, Peter and M.J. didn’t end up being married. It came about when the Wall-Crawler makes a deal with Mephisto to save his Aunt May. However, instead of Peter’s soul, the leader of the Netherworld wants his happiness. In other words, his marriage to M.J. is eliminated once the agreement is made.
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