Set Description:
Contact on IG: ottodidact
The What If series was the brainchild of Roy Thomas who had recently stepped down as Editor-in-Chief for Marvel Comics. He wanted to tell stories that were out of continuity to the main Marvel Universe at that time. He hoped to tell creative stories that did not require the collaboration that a Marvel series would normally demand.
The What If series was my favorite comic growing up. I vividly remember reading #31 "What If Wolverine Had Killed the Hulk?" The Hulk was my favorite character and seemingly all-powerful. Seeing him dead and defeated was just unthinkable to my mind. I loved to see other alternative possibilities in the series.
Over the years it became more possible to seriously collect the series. Here is my attempt to collect and preserve a high quality set!
Collecting "What If" comics from the original series comes with some challenges, which can be frustrating at times, but also fun! The low census numbers for 9.8 and 9.6 makes them somewhat difficult to find. Thank you to those who have helped contribute to this set and aided my search for these treasures.
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| Slot: |
What If? 1 |
| Item: |
What If? 1 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3903861002
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Owner Comments
Of course having Spider-Man in the premiere issue would add to its splash. The original story from Amazing Spider-Man #1 but in this alternate reality, Spidey decides to join up and we see the ramifications. The first few pages feature the Watcher discussing alternate realities and we can see the seeds of the current multiverse being planted in these pages.
Signed by Roy Thomas on September 10th 2021.
Cover by Ron Wilson and Joe Sinnott. What if Spider-Man Joined the Fantastic Four?, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Jim Craig, inks by Pablo Marcos; Spider-Man becomes a member of the FF; Cameos by Killraven, the Squadron Supreme, and Deathlok. Hostess Fruit Pie ad with the Hulk, pencils by Dave Cockrum. Ad for Richochet Racers with Spider-Man and Captain America. Roy Thomas discusses how the title came about. 48 pgs. Cover price $0.50. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 2 |
| Item: |
What If? 2 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0110942017
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Owner Comments
Another story by Roy Thomas in which he asks "What If The Hulk Had the Brain of Bruce Banner?" The Gargoyle makes an appearance here and rather than becoming a Rampaging Hulk, Banner instead befriends the villain. And Hulk encounters his long time nemesis, General Thunderbolt Ross, who also has quite a different reaction to the intelligent Hulk.
Cover pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Joe Sinnott. What if the Hulk had Always had Bruce Banner's Brain?, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Tom Sutton; Hulk retains his intelligence and teams up with Mr. Fantastic and Professor X against Galactus; cameos by the Avengers, Galactus, and the Avengers. Letter to the editor from comics writer Mark Gruenwald. 52 pgs. Cover price $0.50. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 3 |
| Item: |
What If? 3 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3916269018
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Owner Comments
Jim Shooter wrote this story. Roy Thomas stated he was surprised by Shooter being given issue #3 which hints at their tension in those days, since What If was Thomas's idea. In this story, The Avengers never formed and Ironman decides to try a New Avengers team-up, creating armor for Rick Jones, Janet Van Dyne and Hank Pym. This fails initially and Ironman decides to battle Sub Mariner and Hulk by himself! It turns out to be an ill fated decision...
Cover pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Joe Sinnott. What if...the Avengers Had Never Been? starring the Hulk, Iron Man, the Sub-Mariner, Giant-Man, the Wasp, and Thor, script by Jim Shooter (plot, script) and Gil Kane (plot), pencils by Gil Kane, inks by Klaus Janson; The Avengers break up after the Hulk leaves. Hostess Cupcakes ad with Captain America, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Frank Giacoia. 48 pgs. Cover price $0.50. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 5 |
| Item: |
What If? 5 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4118264001
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Owner Comments
Another plot by Editor Roy Thomas and the story by his friend, Don Glut.
Captain America and Bucky succeed in disarming the drone plane that would have otherwise ended their careers in the 40s. The Red Skull has Baron Zemo put into a twenty-year deep sleep for his failure. Cap and Bucky continue to fight crime and Communism into the 60s, with Barnes switching to calling himself "Buck" as he gets older. When SHIELD is formed, President Johnson offers the job of Director to Steve Rogers in lieu of Nick Fury, who was killed in the Korean War. Steve initially recommends Buck instead, but after a while Buck insists on trading places. Barnes becomes the new Captain America with Rick Jones as his sidekick and Sharon Carter as his lover, while the aging Rogers accepts his new role as head of SHIELD. (synopsis by marvel.fandom.com)
The finale involves a decisive strike SHIELD vs Hydra and the fatal ramifications...
1 out of 9 copies at 9.8 on CGC Census.
Cover pencils by Rick Hoberg, inks by Joe Sinnott. What if...Captain America and Bucky had Both Survived World War II?, script by Don Glut (plot, script) and Roy Thomas (plot), pencils by George Tuska, inks by Russ Jones; Bucky lives in this story based on Avengers #4. 52 pgs. Cover price $0.50. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 6 |
| Item: |
What If? 6 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4118265001
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Owner Comments
Story involves another reality where Ben Grimm grows wings, Johnny Storm turns to metal, Sue Storm gains elastic powers, and Reed Richards turns into a telepathic brain without a body! They adopt the names of Big Brain, Dragonfly, Ultra-Woman and Mandroid, however the team remains the Fantastic Four. The team ends up in epic battle with Dr Doom who meets an unpredictable fate! "The New Fantastic Four" is imagined in this story, possibly the first time we see this unique combination.
Cover art by Rick Hoberg. What if the Fantastic Four had Different Super Powers? starring Doctor Doom, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by Jim Craig (pages 1-11) and Rick Hoberg (pages 14-45), inks by Sam Grainger; The Fantastic Four get alternate powers and become Big-Brain (Reed), Ultra-Woman (Sue), Mandroid (Johnny), Dragonfly (Ben). Hostess Cup Cake ad with Spider-Man. 52 pgs. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 7 |
| Item: |
What If? 7 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0970388017
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Owner Comments
Special Double Cover! Both Graded at 9.8
In this story we see alternate universe scenarios or imagined situations where Peter's contemporaries get bit by the spider rather than him. Spider-Girl Betty Brant interesting costume here which occurs after the first appearance of Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) but before Spider-Girl (May "Mayday" Parker).
"What If Someone Else Had Become Spider-Man?" Script by Don Glut, pencils by Rick Hoberg, inks by Sam Grainger. Betty Brant, Flash Thompson, and Col. John Jameson each get bitten by a radioactive spider! On the letters page, editor Roy Thomas lists about 50 possible "What If" stories for the future and asks readers to pick three choices. See which ideas have been published since this 1978 issue. Gil Kane/Joe Sinnott cover. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 8 |
| Item: |
What If? 8 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1129022003
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Owner Comments
Signed by Stan Lee on August 10th 2012.
Main story with Daredevil and back up silly story got a lot of attention by readers at the time.
Daredevil and Spider-Man team-up against Elektro in "What If the World Knew Daredevil Was Blind?" Script by Don Glut, pencils by Alan Kupperberg, inks by Jim Mooney. Owl appearance. Man-Spider back-up story: "What If the Spider Had Been Bitten By a Radioactive Human?" Script and art by Scott Shaw (inking assist by Dave Stevens, Carol Lay, and others). Gil Kane/Klaus Janson cover. Cover price $0.60. (decription by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 9 |
| Item: |
What If? 9 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3914283015
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Owner Comments
Another story by the team of Roy Thomas and Don Glut.
This imagines a team-up of 1950's heroes such as 3D-Man, Marvel Boy, Gorilla-Man, Venus, Jimmy Woo and the Human Robot. They pickup the name "The Avengers" as the real Avengers watch on from an interdimensional screen. The team takes on Yellow Claw and his villain crew.
Cover pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott. What If... the Avengers Had Been Formed During the 1950's?, script by Don Glut and Roy Thomas (concept), pencils by Alan Kupperberg (breakdowns) and Bill Black (finishes), inks by Bill Black; Heroes of the 1950s form their own Avengers team. Comics ad for the Grit newspaper. Hostess Twinkies ad with Thor, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. 52 pgs. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 10 |
| Item: |
What If? 10 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
4097891001
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Owner Comments
Signed by Roy Thomas on August 26th 2022.
1st Jane Foster as Thor. Key issue for the Marvel Universe and one of the more valuable What If comics.
Donald Blake falls in love with Sif. The story recounts the tales of "Thordis" and Jane Foster's alternate fate if she had become Thor...
Cover art by John Buscema. What if Jane Foster had Found -- the Hammer of Thor?, script by Don Glut, pencils by Rick Hoberg, inks by Dave Hunt; Jane Foster finds the Hammer instead of Don Blake and becomes "Thordis." Hostess Fruit Pie ad with Spider-Man, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. 52 pgs. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 11 |
| Item: |
What If? 11 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3941031023
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Owner Comments
A story by Jack Kirby and also art and editing! Series editor was credited to Roy Thomas.
The Marvel Bullpen finds its way into the Marvel Universe in this offbeat story. Roy Thomas had originally considered himself for the Human Torch character but deferred to give Sol Brodsky the spot as that is who Jack Kirby was more familiar with. This was the 1st Fantastic Four story fully written and credited to Jack Kirby who was the original artist of the beloved FF.
"What If the Fantastic Four Were the Original Marvel Bullpen?" Script and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Mike Royer. Stan Lee becomes Mr. Fantastic, Sol Brodsky the Human Torch, Jack Kirby the Thing, and Flo Steinberg the Invisible Girl. Co-starring the Sub-Mariner. Kirby/Joe Sinnott cover. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 12 |
| Item: |
What If? 12 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0972826007
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Owner Comments
A popular and frequently requested story, the What If was written by Don Glut. Rick Jones turns into the gamma monster here and recounts early Hulk adventures with the Avengers and then Captain America and Captain Marvel. He ends up in the Negative Zone, battling Annihilus. Reed Richards and Bruce Banner still a scientist and free of the distractions of transforming into the Hulk are able to separate Rick Jones from the Hulk, leaving the monster behind...
Cover pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. What if Rick Jones had Become the Hulk?, script by Don Glut, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Bill Black; Rick Jones pushes Banner in the trench, and becomes the Hulk. Hostess Twinkees ad with Daredevil, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. 52 pgs. Cover price $0.60.
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| Slot: |
What If? 13 |
| Item: |
What If? 13 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3711430006
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Owner Comments
Roy Thomas writes this highly anticipated "What If." He had been a principle writer for the Conan series. And many readers wanted to see their favorite barbarian find his way into the modern day. In this story Conan is transported through space time onto the island of Manhattan in 1977. Conan has a confusing adventure through electrical grid blackouts and associated looting and crime. He finds an ally with a red-headed taxi driver named "Danette" who rescues Conan...
Fun fact: Roy Thomas fell in love with and married a woman named Danette who co-wrote with him on the Conan series and others. The character is based on her likeness and name.
Cover pencils by John Buscema, inks by Ernie Chan. What If Conan the Barbarian Walked the Earth Today?, script by Roy Thomas, pencils by John Buscema (breakdowns) and Ernie Chan (finished art), inks by Ernie Chan; Conan is transported to the 20th Century. Hostess Twinkee ad with Iron Man, pencils by Sal Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. 48 pgs. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 14 |
| Item: |
What If? 14 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
2095751015
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Owner Comments
Once again the writers at Marvel are able to safely test out some ideas in the pages of "What If?" Sgt Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos would normally occupy a grounded World War II story. In these pages The Watcher tells the reader that Sgt Fury could indeed also have space adventures in a different reality. Gary Friedrich who had succeeded Roy Thomas on writing the Sgt Fury and the Howling Commandos series returns to collaborate with an outer space adventure. In an alternate reality Nick Fury and friends occupy a space station named "Pearl" that falls under attack on December 7th 1941.
Cover pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Joe Sinnott. What if Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos had Fought World War II in Outer Space, script by Gary Friedrich (plot) and Don Glut (script), pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Pablo Marcos; In a reality where technology was move advanced, Fury and his men fight a space war in 1941. Hostess Twinkies ad with Spider-Man. 48 pgs. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 15 |
| Item: |
What If? 15 Universal |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0987316006
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Owner Comments
A story that explores alternate versions of Nova by Marv Wolfman. Richard Rider would normally become Nova bestowed by a dying centurion warrior passing by Earth. These are 4 different scenarios where another person would receive the power instead. Helen Taylor becomes a female Nova. She defeats Kingpin and is confronted by the Fantastic Four. A second story explores a reality where no superheroes exist on Earth but a homeless man finds the Nova power and encounters Skrulls. The third story involves Peter Parker getting a very large dose of radiation from the spider, causing him to get sick at first. The sight of her sick nephew is too much for Aunt May who passes away from the strain. The final story about a villain Nova who teams up with Red Skull and Dr Doom.
Cover pencils by Rich Buckler (as Validar), inks by Joe Sinnott. What if...Someone Else Had Become Nova? framing sequence, script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by John Buscema, inks by Joe Sinnott. Untitled Nova story with the Fantastic Four, script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Walt Simonson, inks by Bob Wiacek; A woman who wants vengeance gets the Nova power. Untitled story starring Nova, script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by Frank Springer; In a world without heroes, a homeless man gets the power and fends of an invasion. Untitled Nova story, script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by Ross Andru, inks by Frank Giacoia; Peter Parker is crippled by the spider bite until he gets the Nova power. Untitled story starring Nova, script by Marv Wolfman, pencils by George Perez, inks by Tom Palmer; villain gets the powers. Hostess Fruit Pie ad with the Thing. 52 pgs. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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| Slot: |
What If? 16 |
| Item: |
What If? 16 Modern |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
3946809014
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Owner Comments
A comic that can't be republished further by Marvel. The character "Fu Manchu" was originally created by Sax Rohmer in 1912. The British writer was somewhat controversial and had received some criticism from the Chinese community for his Asian portrayals and crime depictions in Chinese neighborhoods. Current rights to Fu Manchu are retained by the Rohmer estate.
Roy Thomas announces he is stepping down as Editor for the What If series.
"What If Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, Had Remained Loyal to Fu Manchu?" Script by Doug Moench, pencils by Rick Hoberg, inks by Bill Wray and Dave Stevens. Hoberg cover. Cover price $0.60. (description by mycomicshop.com)
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