Best of What If...?

Redtrax · Post by **Redtrax** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:22 am

Hey guys (and gals?),

I always liked the Marvel What If...? series, sure there were a couple, maybe even more than just a couple, of stinkers, but most of the issues were great reads.

What is everyone's favorite issue of the two series and the one-shots?

My personal favorite is #87, the issue with Sabretooth escaping and offing almost all the X-people one by one, the art was perfect for the story.

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 11:48 am

I think my favorite is WHAT IF v1 #3, where the Avengers never came to be; Iron Man creates armor for Giant-Man, Wasp, and Rick Jones; Iron Man takes on Hulk and Sub-Mariner... and it's by Jim Shooter, Gil Kane, and Klaus Janson.

Also liked the humor issue of the v1. There's some others I like but I can't remember them at the moment...

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:02 pm

I don't have many What If? issues. I do have the Wolverine vs. Conan issue and the second modern Conan issue (with excellent art by Bob Hall). I love them both

.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:38 pm

I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 12:50 pm

There are some unknown gems in the series: vol 1 # 35 with a DD/Elektra story with Miller story and art.

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:13 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.

Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:32 pm

Todd Luck wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.
Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).

I liked Howard Chaykin and Mike McKone's JLA: SECRET SOCIETY OF SUPERHEROES.

I'm trying to remember what other Elseworlds I liked... Um... the Batman vampire trilogy (RED RAIN, BLOODSTORM, CRIMSON MIST) was all right. I thought SUPERMAN: RED SON was pretty good. BATMAN: HAUNTED GOTHAM is sort of a guilty pleasure for me. JLA: THE NAIL was ok.

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:36 pm

Also: I liked BATMAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA and SUPERMAN/BATMAN: GENERATIONS (the first one), and they're under the Elseworlds banner.

jcdenton · Post by **jcdenton** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:19 pm

What if Wolverine was Lord of the Vampires (24) was excellent, probably my favorite issue. Next is the V2 humor issue (34) which actually had some laugh-out-loud moments. What if Spider Man Kept His Six Arms (42), What if the FF's 2nd Child Had Lived (30), and What if Venom Had Possessed the Punisher (44) were also pretty good. Although the Punisher/Venom combo shooting bullets out of his arms was one of the dumbest ideas ever. The above are all 2nd Series, BTW.

I'd say the #1 best "What If" style story ever was the first Star Wars Infinities (A New Hope). Basically "what if Luke's proton torpedoes had not detonated". It really captured the feel of the original Star Wars in terms of plot and dialogue and I consider it the best Star Wars book, comic, etc. that I've read. The other SW Infinities were good too but not nearly as good as the first.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:36 pm

Todd Luck wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.
Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).

I really liked most of what I read in the Elseworlds books. Although a lot of the stories are about Superman and Batman, so if you're not huge fan then you probably won't like much of it. Here is a cool site that has a list of them.

http://www.eskimo.com/~tegan/aqua/else/

Redtrax · Post by **Redtrax** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:52 pm

Todd Luck wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.
Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).

I don't know if it qualifies as a 'real' elseworlds, but I really enjoyed the Earth 2 HC by Quitely and Morrison.
Over at marvel, the Ruins and Last Avengers Story 2-issue pf format series were memorable. I'm still trying to find Last Avengers Story #2

(for a reasonable price that is)

Byrneout · Post by **Byrneout** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:04 pm

Todd Luck wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.
Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).

KINGDOM COME, BAY-BEE!

Shakespeare · Post by **Shakespeare** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:08 pm

Easy answer for me...Vol. 2, Number 2, What if Daredevil had killed the Kingpin. An excellent story about Frank Millers DD 'Born Again" from 227-233.

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:08 pm

The Spider wrote:Also: I liked BATMAN/CAPTAIN AMERICA and SUPERMAN/BATMAN: GENERATIONS (the first one), and they're under the Elseworlds banner.

I keep forgetting those were Elseworlds. It seems wierd to brand every single thing that's out of continuity, no matter how obvious it is. I mean was the Looney Tunes/JLA miniseries under the Elseworlds' label?

Oh and I forget the best selling one of all time...Kingdom Come.

whetteon · Post by **whetteon** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 4:14 pm

What if Spider-Man's clone had lived...wait a minute. Okay, how about What if elektra had lived...no wait. What if Wolverine had killed the Hulk? (lets see if this comes out in normal continuity next week!)

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:52 pm

Redtrax wrote:
Todd Luck wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.
Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).
I don't know if it qualifies as a 'real' elseworlds, but I really enjoyed the Earth 2 HC by Quitely and Morrison.

Actually, it isn't an Elseworlds. The Crime Syndicate introduced in there showed up in later comics, including the recent JLA arc by Kurt Busiek.

Over at marvel, the Ruins and Last Avengers Story 2-issue pf format series were memorable. I'm still trying to find Last Avengers Story #2
(for a reasonable price that is)

Oh yeah, RUINS was pretty good.

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 5:54 pm

Byrneout wrote:
Todd Luck wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.
Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).
KINGDOM COME, BAY-BEE!

Oh yeah, that too.

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 6:03 pm

Shakespeare wrote:Easy answer for me...Vol. 2, Number 2, What if Daredevil had killed the Kingpin. An excellent story about Frank Millers DD 'Born Again" from 227-233.

Ooh, I remember that now! I remember liking it, but wondered if it would still work since the real Hobgoblin wasn't Ned Leeds. Maybe I'll go find where I left mine and also get the HOBGOBLIN LIVES mini and compare.

Todd Luck wrote:
I keep forgetting those were Elseworlds. It seems wierd to brand every single thing that's out of continuity, no matter how obvious it is. I mean was the Looney Tunes/JLA miniseries under the Elseworlds' label?

I didn't see one, so it probably isn't. On the other hand, DARK KNIGHT RETURNS still doesn't have an Elseworlds label does it? And I don't think DARK KNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN does, either.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 7:48 pm

X-O HoboJoe wrote:There are some unknown gems in the series: vol 1 # 35 with a DD/Elektra story with Miller story and art.

Don't forget #28....which is also a DD story by Miller, with a backup story of Ghost Rider!

Lamest issue that was 'hot' would have to be #30. <gag> Spideyclone!

I wonder if anyone pays any money for that one?

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 7:52 pm

Redtrax wrote:
Todd Luck wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:I always liked the ‘What If’ books from Marvel and the ‘Elseworlds’ books from DC. It gave them an opportunity to do things with a character that they normally would be afraid of doing.
Are there any really good Elseworld's books? I really enjoyed Gotham by Gaslight (the precusor to the series) but the ones after that never looked very attractive to me other than The Golden Age (which was good).
I don't know if it qualifies as a 'real' elseworlds, but I really enjoyed the Earth 2 HC by Quitely and Morrison.
Over at marvel, the Ruins and Last Avengers Story 2-issue pf format series were memorable. I'm still trying to find Last Avengers Story #2
(for a reasonable price that is)

Ruins goes for something in the neighborhood of $10, last I checked. Ellis story!

One of the few 1995 books to do well aftermarket.

The Spider · Post by **The Spider** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 8:09 pm

I'm waiting for them to reprint the rest of the Elseworlds 80-Page Giant just to actually buy this:

http://blaklion.best.vwh.net/E80-KC.html

Rai-fan · Post by **Rai-fan** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 3:42 am

I'd have to give a shout-out to vol. 2, # 7--What if Wolverine were an agent of SHIELD. One of my first comic books, Liefeld art, cool story.

They kind of re-did the story 10-12 years later in the 64 page GN "A Man Called Logan," which I highly recommend...

Redtrax · Post by **Redtrax** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:39 am

Rai-fan wrote:I'd have to give a shout-out to vol. 2, # 7--What if Wolverine were an agent of SHIELD. One of my first comic books, Liefeld art, cool story.

They kind of re-did the story 10-12 years later in the 64 page GN "A Man Called Logan," which I highly recommend...

The cover was hilarious anyway

mattboh · Post by **mattboh** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:02 am

What If v1 were some of my favorite comics growing up. I always dug seeing alternate endings to stories I really liked. So many memorable ones to choose from. Some personal favs:

-What if the Avengers had fought the Kree-Skrull War without Rick Jones
-What if Phoenix had not died
-What if the Avengers had become pawns of Korvac
-What if Elektra had lived

Peter Parker · Post by **Peter Parker** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 9:52 am

Best What If?

Easy, #1

what if Spider-Man had joined the Fantastic Four...if for no other reason than nostalgia

Also, #25 I believe?

What if the Avengers had been pawns of Korvac....awesome