| Slot: |
What If? 1 |
| Item: |
What If? 1 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0215714002
|
Owner Comments
Ronnylama very generously gave me this copy! While it is not a 9.8, it is currently the only graded copy I have and means the world to me since a friend gave it to me!
Published: 2/77
Roy Thomas story
Jim Craig & Pablo Marcos art
John Romita & Joe Sinnott cover
Brief origin of Spider-Man & the Fantastic Four.
|
| Slot: |
What If? 2 |
| Item: |
What If? 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0959336008
|
Owner Comments
A face only a Father-in-law could love!
Published: 4/77
Roy Thomas story
Herb Trimpe & Tom Sutton art
Herb Trimpe & Joe Sinnott cover
Bruce Banner, Reed Richards and Charles Xavier constructed an improved version of Cerebro called the Psychotron which merged their physical and mental beings into one being, X-Man. They were forced to use it (as it only worked once before blowing up), to defend the world from Galactus. They won the battle, at the expense of all of their super powers, and inadvertently turning Thing into a mindless monster, much like the Hulk.
|
| Slot: |
What If? 7 |
| Item: |
What If? 7 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0909738001
|
Owner Comments
Spider-Man looks like he's boogie-ing down!
Published: 2/78
In the prelude, Uatu recounts how Peter Parker became Spider-Man in preparation for the alternate versions of the story.
In the first version, Flash Thompson is bitten by the spider instead of Peter Parker. Peter, noticing the spider takes it with him to run some tests. Flash goes on to become a super hero and fights crime while Peter becomes his biggest fan. However, when Flash has his first fight with a super villain, the Vulture he is thrown away from his enemy in mid-flight. Flash, not being the science whiz that Parker is, never developed web fluid and is therefore unable to break his fall. He dies in an alley watched by Parker.
In the 2nd story, Betty Brant is present at the demonstration and is bitten by the spider. Once again, Parker discovers the spider and takes it into his possession. Betty confides in Parker that she has spider powers and Parker aids her in becoming a heroine, designing a costume and building her web shooters. Betty fights crime but refuses to use her spider strength in battle. However, when a criminal escapes from Betty she later finds that he killed Ben Parker she punches the criminal in rage. The blow proves to be fatal. Unable to cope with the fact that she took someone's life, Betty gives up on the life as a crime fighter and goes back to living an ordinary life.
In the last story, John Jameson is bitten by the radioactive spider. As was the case in the previous two stories, Parker obtains the spider. John's father Jonah Jameson learns of his son's new powers and immediately starts to endorse him in his paper and encourages him to become a crime fighter. John agrees and dons a costume and a jet pack. Like Flash Thompson he does not develop web shooters and when the runaway space capsule falls to Earth he relies solely on his jet pack to slow its decent. Unfortunately, the pack is not strong enough to slow the capsule's fall and he is crushed underneath it.
Very interesting. 2 of the 3 different storylines resulted in the death of the bitten person while the other results in the death of someone else at the hand of the bitten person.
That saying of "with great powers come great responsibility" was definitely presented as true in each of these scenarios.
Makes me wonder "What if I had been bitten by that ever-iconic radioactive spider"?
|
| Slot: |
What If? 8 |
| Item: |
What If? 8 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0167640002
|
Owner Comments
oooooh, one too many body shots.
Published: 4/78
Don Glut story
Al Kupperberg & Jim Mooney art
Gil Kane & Klaus Janson cover
Daredevil fought Electro alongside Spider-Man when Electro figured out he was blind after setting off an extremely bright flare in front of his face. Spidey didn't believe it, and asked Daredevil what color Electro's costume was, confirming the suspicion.
Electro outed the secret to the Daily Bugle, and Matt continued to fight crime as Daredevil at the protest of Karen. The Owl tried to use this known weakness against him, and almost succeeded, causing Matt to reconsider a radical experimental operation to regain his sight.
Matt and Karen travel to Lichenbad to have the operation, and encounter the tyrant monarch Duke Klaus Kruger along the way. After the operation, Daredevil is forced to save the doctor who performed it and is subjugated to a large radiation dose from shutting down a Nuclear Pile Reactor.
The Dose causes Matt to lose his heightened extra senses, but he regains his sight. Upon arriving back in the States, the Owl immediately abducts Matt and Karen to participate in his form of a courtroom trial against the Judge (Lewis) who put him away. Matt calls Daredevil to the stand and leaves to get his key witness. Daredevil defeats the Owl and saves Karen as well.
Later Matt outs his secret identity to the press and runs for District Attorney. He wins, and he and Karen get married, seemingly living a happy normal life from then on.
By Just looking at the cover, I figured there were all kinds of possibilities here. Each one of these What If issues could result in catastrophe or pure happiness or something in between.
This one ultimately has a happy ending. I want to say it's too bad it couldn't have been exactly this way for the real Matt, but then we wouldn't have had all of those awesome stories from then on, would we?
Love that black background cover, BTW!
|
| Slot: |
What If? 10 |
| Item: |
What If? 10 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0780949002
|
Owner Comments
Say hello to the GODESS of THUNDER!!
Published: 8/78
Don Glut story, John Buscema cover
Rick Hoberg & Dave Hunt art
Jane Foster found the hammer of Thor. After some events of her helping on Asgard against Loki and an alien invasion, she was promoted to goddess and the hammer was given to Donald Blake, as it was supposed to. Thor got involved with Sif and Jane Foster married Odin.
WOW! Jane Marries Odin? Talk about your age difference! I gotta admit though. Jane is one sexy mama in that Thor getup!
YOU GO GIRL!
|
| Slot: |
What If? 13 |
| Item: |
What If? 13 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0910325018
|
Owner Comments
That's not a sword. Now that's a sword.
And those are guns. Uh-oh.
Published: 2/79
This is one of the series more key issues. Conan has always been a popular guy!
Interesting premise at the time though the basic concept has since been incorporated into a few different movies.
|
| Slot: |
What If? 15 |
| Item: |
What If? 15 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0780950017
|
Owner Comments
C'mon! I'll take all of you on with one hand tied behind my back!
No ticklin' allowed Thing!
Published: 7/79
I'll be honest with you. This was one of the few issues in this series that I never had the privilige of owning before now. Since my first copy is a CGC graded copy that means I've never actually read it before.
So I can't really comment on what transpires in the story and whether it has made it's way into anything since. Probably not.
Oh well, can't always be perfect you know. :)
|
| Slot: |
What If? 16 |
| Item: |
What If? 16 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0152573014
|
Owner Comments
Let me show you my new rib-tickling kick! HAIYAHH!
Published: 8/79
I was always a fan of Shang-Chi but only had issues here and there from the regular series. I don't think he ever actually fought on the side of Fu Manchu in any way but don't quote me on that.
|
| Slot: |
What If? 17 |
| Item: |
What If? 17 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0977027006
|
Owner Comments
That would be a whole lot of villainous mayhem!
Published: 10/79
Steve Grant story, Jack Abel cover
Carmine Infantino & Chic Stone art
All I have to say about this issue is "Thankfully none of this ever came true!". We woulda been in all kinds of trouble! Sheeeeesh!
|
| Slot: |
What If? 18 |
| Item: |
What If? 18 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0977027005
|
Owner Comments
OUCH! All I said was that his ski mask looked like it was on fire!
Published: 12/79
Peter Gillis story
Tom Sutton & Bruce Patterson art
Gene Colan & Pablo Marcos cover
After the surgeon, Dr. Stephen Strange's hands are severely injured in a car accident, Mordo, directed by Dormammu, uses black magic to heal Strange's hands. Strange never learns to put aside his selfish ways, and when he returns to surgery, his skills (and arrogance) only increase.
Eventually he is convicted of malpractice and stripped of his license. Mordo approaches him in his anger and pride and promises to give Strange the power he really craves; he takes Strange on as his student and warps his innate magical potential towards evil.
Later Mordo introduces Strange to his "real master," Dormammu. Strange willingly vows his service, to the horror of the Ancient One, who is watching from afar but cannot intervene.
The Ancient One assembles other masters of the mystic arts, including the Aged Genghis, Dr. Druid, Agatha Harkness, plus Wong and Victoria Bentley, to stand against Dormammu, but the others do not see how they can succeed if both Mordo and Strange are on his side. The Ancient One presents the Eye of Agamotto, his most powerful artifact, which among its many properties is a gateway to Eternity himself.
When Dormammu tells Strange that he doesn't need two disciples, Strange quickly murders Mordo. This attracts the attention of Umar, who tricks him into freeing her from dimensional limbo. They become lovers, secretly plotting against one another. Meanwhile, Dr. Druid and the Aged Genghis have found a scroll which will permit them to use Eternity's power against Dormammu.
A cloud of demonic wraiths find the gathered mystics at the Ancient One's castle. They cast a spell of protection just as Strange arrives to defeat them. As he summons demonic attackers against them, Dr. Druid's resolve breaks and he begins to chant the Eternity spell. The Eye of Agamotto expands, drawing Strange into its portal. Eternity himself appears to Strange and judges him unworthy, casting him back into the real world. Strange is initially shaken, but he soon returns to call upon Dormammu, demanding the power to destroy Eternity in return for his defeat.
The Ancient One calls Hamir, Wong, and Victoria Bentley into his quarters, where he performs a ritual that allows them to become avatars of the three persons of the Vishanti. Though they will not fight the mystics' battle for them, they tell the Ancient One what he should do next.
The next morning, the Eye of Agamotto comes to Strange in the form of a golden dove. When Dormammu sees it in Strange's possession, he realizes the man could destroy him and agrees to help him defeat Eternity, provided he defeats the Ancient One first. Both are seeing the other as an obstacle now, while Umar hopes to goad them into destroying each other and then seize power for herself.
Doctor Strange, in the full costume of Sorcerer Supreme, attacks the Ancient One's circle of mystics with the Eye of Agamotto. But the light will not harm the old sorcerer and reflects back at Strange, forcing him to see the truth and goodness in his enemy. In retaliation he strikes them all down and flees through the portal to Eternity's realm.
Dormammu unexpectedly joins him and seals him inside a lens, which he uses to focus his power on Eternity. Eternity responds in kind, leaving Strange caught in the middle. He realizes he must decide who wins - good or evil, chaos or order. In a sudden moment of decision he chooses the good!
...and is thrown to the very feet of the Ancient One. Admitting his foolishness, he asks to become the aged sorcerer's disciple, who accepts him. The Ancient One tells him that he had to learn who and what Dormammu truly was, and who the Ancient One himself was, thus learning the lesson that the original Doctor Strange learned early in his career when he could not find the quick cure he sought.
Well, Strange eventually got there but what a mess to reach the point that would have resulted in much less death had he just done what he actually did in the regular series.
Oh well, I guess we can't all see as well as the Eye of Agamoto, huh?
|
| Slot: |
What If? 20 |
| Item: |
What If? 20 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0986724012
|
Owner Comments
for $10?..... ABSOLUTELY!!!
Published: 4/80
Again, this is one of the issues I never owned or read before getting this gorgeous CGC copy. As a result, no comment comin' from this neck of the woods!
Looks like he layed the hammer down on Rick though! OUCH!
|
| Slot: |
What If? 21 |
| Item: |
What If? 21 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0003364006
|
Owner Comments
But I don't need a blue scarf! That heat comin from Johnny is plenty warm for me!
Published: 6/80
You know, if the Invisible Girl had married Namor, she wouldn't be wearing a Fatastic Four uniform.
Just pointin' out the obvious here.
|
| Slot: |
What If? 22 |
| Item: |
What If? 22 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0780950010
|
Owner Comments
Pay no attention to that Bozo behind the cityscape! The great and powerful (and heroic) Doom has arrived!
Published: 8/80
We all know that Dr. Doom has always been a hero in his own twisted mind, but this issue tells a possible story of his becoming a real hero.
Apparently, Mephisto disagrees with the idea. Geez, there has to be a spoil sport in every issue.
|
| Slot: |
What If? 23 |
| Item: |
What If? 23 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0635485001
|
Owner Comments
Hulk the Barbarian!
Published: 10/80
The cover of this issue definitely makes you think of the modern age PLANET HULK storyline!! I wonder if this issue was an inspiration for exactly that?
hhmmmmmmm.....
|
| Slot: |
What If? 25 |
| Item: |
What If? 25 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0780950007
|
Owner Comments
All right you old fart! Where's that five bucks you owe me? PAY UP!
Published: 2/81
Issue #25 of any series is typically a milestone issue and this one doesn't disappoint. It has an epic, but thankfully unrealized, alternate story line.
Is a girl really worth going to all this trouble for? Apparently for Thor the answer was yes in this case!
|