• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

  • DC Guides
    • DC Events
    • DC New 52
    • DC Rebirth
    • Batman Guide
    • The Sandman Universe
  • Marvel Guides
    • Marvel Events
    • Captain America Guide
    • Iron Man Guide
    • Spider-Man Guide (1963-2018)
    • Spider-Man Guide (2018-Present)
    • Thor Guide
    • X-Men Reading Order
  • Indie & Licensed Comics
    • Spawn
    • Star Wars Guide
      • Expanded Universe Comics (2015 – present)
      • Legends Comics (1977 – 2014)
    • Valiant Guides
  • Drag
    • Canada’s Drag Race
    • Drag Race Belgique
    • Drag Race Down Under
    • Drag Race Sverige (Sweden)
    • Drag Race France
    • Drag Race Philippines
    • Dragula
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
  • Contact!
You are here: Home / Crushing Comics – Guide to Reading & Collecting Marvel Comics / What If? Collecting Guide & Reading Order

What If? Collecting Guide & Reading Order

Updated Mar 5, 2025! The definitive issue-by-issue comic book collecting guide and reading order for Marvel’s What If comic books in omnibus, hardcover, trade paperback, and digital. Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated March 2025 with titles scheduled for release through June 2025.

What If? is a question that is quintessential to the Marvel Multiverse!What If? (1977) #33 featuring Dazzler and Iron Man

Marvel launched their first What If? series in 1977. Each issue was narrated by The Watcher as he peered into other realities to see what would happen if a pivotal moment in Marvel history were to be slightly altered.

While the concept seems obvious to us in the modern day after years of comic stories about alternate realities, in 1977 it was an innovation for Marvel. DC Comics had already spent over 15 years focuses on the crossover between Earth One and Earth Two with their annual “Crisis” stories in Justice League of America.

While Marvel occasionally had its heroes explore alternate timelines on a one-off basis, they had no real concept of a multiverse of realities. When What If? launched in 1977 we were still four years away from “Days of Future Past” in Uncanny X-Men and six years from Alan Moore & Alan Davis codifying “Marvel-616” as the prime reality in their Marvel UK run on Captain Britain. You could argue that those stories would not exist without the enduring popularity of the original What If? series (especially with creators, both current and future).

What If? not only opened the door to Marvel’s multiverse. It also acted as the testing ground for taboo stories that violated seemingly immutable building blocks of the Marvel Universe, like the origins of the Fantastic Four, the death of Gwen Stacy and Pheonix, or the fate of Spider-Man’s erstwhile clone. As time pressed on, Marvel would go back to revise these previously set-in-stone stories in a way that drew inspiration from classic What Ifs, such as having Jane Foster become Thor, setting Nick Fury as an intergalactic guardian, or bringing Conan to the modern day.

Today, Marvel’s comics focus primarily on the ongoing stories in just a few main universes – typically 616, sometimes Ultimate, and then a few bespoke realities like Marvel Zombies. Without a line of comics comparable to DC’s Elseworlds or Black Label, What If remains the place to read one-shot stories that explore different possibilities for Marvel’s iconic heroes.

  • Where to Start Reading
  • What is What If? (and other FAQs)
  • What If? Reading Order
    • What If? (1977) #1-47
    • What If? Special (1988) #1
    • What If…? (1989) #1-114 & -1
    • What If? (2004) AKA What If… [various] (Feb 2005)
      • Aunt May Had Died Instead of Uncle Ben? (2005) #1 (Feb 2005)
      • Dr. Doom Had Become the Thing? (2005) #1 (Feb 2005)
      • General Ross Had Become the Hulk? (2005) #1 (Feb 2005)
      • Jessica Jones Had Joined the Avengers? (2005) #1 (Feb 2005)
      • Karen Page Had Lived? (2005) #1 (Feb 2005)
      • Magneto Had Formed the X-Men With Professor X? (2005) #1 (Feb 2005)
    • Wha…Huh? (2005) #1 (Aug 2005)
    • What If? (2005) AKA What If? Featuring (2005) [various] (Feb 2006)
      • Captain America (2006) #1 (Feb 2006)
      • Daredevil (2006) #1 (Feb 2006)
      • Fantastic Four (2006) #1 (Feb 2006)
      • Submariner (2006) #1 (Feb 2006)
      • Thor (2006) #1 (Feb 2006)
      • Wolverine (2006) #1 (Feb 2006)
    • What If? (2006) (Nov 2006 – Feb 2007)
      • Avengers Disassembled (2006) #1 (Nov 2006)
      • Spider-Man The Other (2007) #1 (Jan 2007)
      • Wolverine Enemy of the State (2007) #1 Jan 2007)
      • X-Men Age of Apocalypse (2007) #1 (Feb 2007)
      • X-Men Deadly Genesis (2007) #1 (Feb 2007)
    • What If? (2007) AKA 2007-2008 Event One-Shots
      • What If? Planet Hulk (2007) #1 (Dec 2007)
      • What If? Annihilation (2008) #1 (Jan 2008)
      • What If? Civil War (2008) #1 (Feb 2008)
      • What If? X-Men – Rise And Fall of the Shi’ar Empire (2008) #1 (Feb 2008)
      • What If? Spider-Man vs. Wolverine (2008) #1 (Mar 2008)
    • Hero Initiative: Mike Wieringo (2008) #1 (Aug 2008)
      AKA What If This Was the Fantastic Four?
    • What If? (2008) AKA 2008-2009 Event One-Shots
      • Fallen Son (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
      • House of M (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
      • Newer Fantastic Four (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
      • Secret Wars (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
      • Spider-Man Back in Black (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
    • What If? (2009) AKA 2009-2010 One-Shots
      • Spider-Man: House of M (2009) #1 (Jan 2010)
      • Astonishing X-Men (2009) #1 (Feb 2010)
      • Daredevil vs. Elektra (2009) #1 (Feb 2010)
      • Secret Invasion (2009) #1 (Feb 2010)
      • World War Hulk (2009) #1 (Feb 2010)
    • What If? (2010) AKA 2010-11 One-Shots
      • Dark Reign (2011) #1 (Feb 2011)
      • Iron Man: Demon in an Armor (2011) #1 (Feb 2011)
      • Spider-Man (2011) #1 (Feb 2011)
      • Wolverine: Father (2011) #1 (Feb 2011)
      • What If? 200 (2011) #1 (Feb 2011)
      • Venom / Deadpool: What If? (2011) #1 (Apr 2011) – A reprint of back-up stories
    • Marvel Now (2012 – 2015)
      • Marvel: Now What?! (2013) #1 (Dec 2013)
      • What If? Avengers vs. X-Men (2013) #1-4 (Sep 2013)
      • What If? Age of Ultron (2014) #1-5 (Jun 2014)
      • Secret Wars [various] (2015)
    • All-New All-Different Marvel (2016 – 2017)
      •  What If? Infinity [various] (2015)
        • Dark Reign (2015) #1 (Dec 2015)
        • Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) #1 (Dec 2015)
        • Inhumans (2015) #1 (Dec 2015)
        • Thanos (2015) #1 (Dec 2015)
        • X-Men (2015) #1 (Dec 2015)
    • Marvel Fresh Start
      • What If? (2018) One-Shots
        • Ghost Rider (2018) #1 (Oct 2018)
        • Magik (2018) #1 (Oct 2018)
        • The Punisher (2018) #1 (Oct 2018)
        • Spider-Man (2018) #1 (Oct 2018)
        • Thor (2018) #1 (Oct 2018)
        • X-Men (2018) #1 (Oct 2018)
      • 2017-2018 “True Believers” Reprints
      • Marvel’s Greatest Creators: What If? – Spider-Girl – Reprints What If…? (1989) #105
      • What If…? Miles Morales – See Guide to Spider-Man, Miles Morales
      • What If…? Dark [various] (2023)
        • Loki (2023) #1 (Jul 2023)
        • Spider-Gwen (2023) #1 (Jul 2023)
        • Moon Knight (2023) #1 (Aug 2023)
        • Venom (2023) #1 (Aug 2023)
        • Carnage (2023) #1 (Sep 2023)
        • Tomb of Dracula (2023) #1 (Nov 2023)
      • What If…? Venom (2024) #1-? (Feb – Jun 2024)
      • Aliens: What If? (2024) #1-5 (Mar – Jul 2024)
      • Marvel & Disney: What If…? [various] (Jul 2024 – TBA)
      • What If…? Galactus Transformed [various] (Jan 2025)

Where to Start Reading What If?

The great thing about Marvel’s What If is that every issue is a jumping-on point! That’s because there is no ongoing continuity to these stories (with very rare exceptions), which each tend to branch from a specific story or decision in main Marvel comic.

What If? is the definition of a series where you can start reading anywhere – if any “What If” question in this guide looks interesting to you, you should start there. That said, here are a few classic and modern What If stories that might be fun to sample first.

Click to expand a list of where to start with What If?

  • What If? (1977) [Marvel Unlimited]
    • #1 – What If Spider-Man Joined The Fantastic Four?
    • #3 – What If The Avengers Had Never Been?
    • #10 – What If Jane Foster Had Found the Hammer of Thor?
    • #19 – What If Spider-Man Had Stopped The Burglar Who Killed His Uncle?
    • #24 – What If Gwen Stacy Had Lived?
    • #27 – What If Phoenix Had Not Died?
    • #35 – What If Bullseye Had Not Killed Elektra? [Chosen by Marvel creators as their favorite issue]
  • What If (1989) [Marvel Unlimited]
    • #12 – What If The X-Men Had Stayed in Asgard? [Features Storm as Goddess of Thunder]
    • #17 – What If Kraven The Hunter Had Killed Spider-Man?
    • #49 – What if The Silver Surfer Possessed the Infinity Gauntlet?
    • #66 – What If Rogue Possessed The Power of Thor?
  • Modern What If?
    • What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor (2011) #1 [Marvel Unlimited]
    • What If? Magik (2018) #1 [Marvel Unlimited]

FAQ: What is What If? (and other Frequently Asked Questions)

Do you have questions about Marvel’s What If comics? I’ve got answers! If you don’t see your question answered below just leave me a comment below with your question and I’ll help you figure out the answer.

Click to expand a list of FAQs

What is What If?

What If? is Marvel’s signature title exploring how critical changes to their heroes and stories could lead to wildly different alternate realities. It launched with an ongoing series in 1977 that ran for 47 issues over seven years, and then returned with a 114-issue series that ran from 1989 to 1998. Marvel revived the series in 2005 as an ongoing series of one-shots, though they are generally released as loosely-grouped annual runs.

How many issues of What If? comics are there?

Marvel has published over 200 issues of What If?! In fact, there is an official issue #200 in 2011, even though there are no issues numbered #115-199! That’s because Marvel used “legacy numbering” to count all of the various one-shot issues on the way to celebrating issue #200. As of the end of 2024 we’re approaching 250 issues.

What is the story of What If? comic books?

The hook of What If? comics is that it’s a different story every time. However, when it launched all of those stories had the same framing concept: they were alternate realities glimpsed by The Watcher. Over time, the hook of The Watcher introducing or observing each issue has become less consistent.

Since the concept of the comic is making a key change to the history of a famous character or story, almost every issue takes place in its own distinct reality. Some of those realities have spun off future alternate universe stories due to their popularity. Others have been labeled as permanent multiverses and revisited. A few have even inspired stories in main Marvel continuity.

An example of a frequently-revisited story concept is “What if the radioactive spider had bitten someone other than Peter Parker?” We’ve seen stories about all sorts of characters being bitten instead, from Aunt May to Flash Thompson! And, of course, with each character who could be bitten, we get another version of reality.

Is What If? part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?Marvel What If? Season 1 promotional poster

Marvel launched an animated What If? series in 2021 featuring many of the same voice actors as their MCU movies. As with the original 1977 comic series narrated by The Watcher, the show explores different realities in the multiverse where a key change to one of Marvel’s heroes or events is the point of divergence from the main timeline. That means that What If? is a part of MCU canon, but almost none of it takes places in the main timeline.

Is the What If? TV show based on specific comics?

Yes and no. Since the MCU What If? series is exploring alterations to the MCU reality and not the comics reality, its plots are specific to the versions of the characters in the MCU. Here are the “What Ifs?” of the episodes:

Season 1, Aug-Oct 2021

  • Episode 1: Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?
  • Episode 2: T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?
  • Episode 3: The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?
  • Episode 4: Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?
  • Episode 5: Zombies?! – This introduces Marvel Zombies, which have their own line of comics.
  • Episode 6: Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?
  • Episode 7: Thor Were an Only Child?
  • Episode 8: Ultron Won? – This premise is similar to What If? Age of Ultron (2014)
  • Episode 9: The Watcher Broke His Oath? – This premise is similar to the comics (1989) #34 & 39

Season 2, Dec 2023

  • Episode 1: Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?
  • Episode 2: Peter Quill Attacked Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?
  • Episode 3: Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?
  • Episode 4: Iron Man Crashed into the Grandmaster?
  • Episode 5: Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?
  • Episode 6: Kahhori Reshaped the World?
  • Episode 7: Hela Found the Ten Rings?
  • Episode 8: The Avengers Assembled in 1602? – This is inspired by Neil Gaiman’s Marvel 1602 (2003) series.
  • Episode 9: Strange Supreme Intervened?

Season 3, Dec 2024

  • Episode 1: The Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?
  • Episode 2: Agatha Went to Hollywood?
  • Episode 3: The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?
  • Episode 4: Howard the Duck Got Hitched?
  • Episode 5: The Emergence Destroyed the Earth?
  • Episode 6: 1872? – This is inspired by the 1872 (2015) series during the Secret Wars (2015) event.
  • Episode 7: The Watcher Disappeared?
  • Episode 8: What If?

What If? Reading Order

What If? (1977) #1-47 (Feb 1977 – Oct 1984)

[Marvel Unlimited]

in omnibus oversize hardcover…What If? (1977) #1

What If? The Original Marvel Series Omnibus Vol. 1 (2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302929930 / digital)
Collects (1977) #1-2, 14-15, & 17-22. I have confirmed in the actual book that this omits issues #13 (due to Conan) and #16 (due to Fu Manchu).

What If? The Original Marvel Series Omnibus Vol. 2 (2022 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302931339 / digital)
Collects (1977) #23-38, 40-42, & 44-47. Contains 2nd story from issue #43, “Behold.” This omits issue #39 and the A-Story from #43 (both featuring Conan).

in a series of four “Complete Collection” paperbacks…

#1-12: What If? Classic: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302916114 / digital)

#14-15 & 17-23: What If? Classic: The Complete Collection Vol. 2 (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302920593 / digital)
This omits issues #13 (due to Conan) and #16 (due to Fu Manchu).

#24-35: What If? Classic: The Complete Collection Vol. 3 (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922740 / digital)

#36-38, 40-42, & 44-47: What If? Classic: The Complete Collection Vol. 4 (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922863 / digital)
Contains 2nd story from issue #43, “Behold.” This omits issue #39 and the A-Story from #43 (both featuring Conan).

in a series of seven slim “Classic” paperbacks…

#1-6: What If? Classic, vol. 1 (2004 paperback, ISBN 978-0785117025 / digital)

#7-12: What If? Classic, vol. 2 (2005 paperback, ISBN 978-0785118435 / digital)

#14-15 & 17-20: What If? Classic, vol. 3 (2006 paperback / digital)
This omits issues #13 (due to Conan) and #16 (due to Fu Manchu).

#21-26: What If? Classic, vol. 4 (2007 paperback, ISBN 978-0785127383 / digital)

#27-32: What If? Classic, vol. 5 (2009 paperback, ISBN 978-0785130864 / digital)

#33-38: What If? Classic, vol. 6 (2009?? paperback, ISBN 978-0785137535 / digital)

#40-42 & 44-47: What If? Classic, vol. 7 (2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785153115 / digital)
Only contains the 2nd story from issue #43. This omits issue #39 and the A-Story from #43 (both featuring Conan).

as collected by story or single issue…

#1, 8, 24, 27-28, 32, 36: Best of What If? (1991 paperback, ISBN 978-0871358578)

#23-30 (back-up stories): These stories tell the canonical history of The Eternals and are routinely collected with their material. See Guide to Eternals.

For other collections – plus, the titular “What If” question of each issue – check out the following list! Note that sometimes the headline title on the cover differs from the actual story title within the issue, and this list refers to the latter.

Click to expand a list of issues.

  • #1 – What If… Spider-Man Joined The Fantastic Four?
    • Collected in Marvel Firsts: The 1970s, Vol. 3 (2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785163824 / digital)
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #2 – What If… The Hulk Had The Brain of Bruce Banner?
    • Serialized in Hulk Comic (1979) #14-19
  • #3 – What If… The Avengers Had Never Been?
    • Collected in Marvel Visionaries: Gil Kane (2002 paperback, ISBN 978-0785108887 / digital)
  • #4 – What If… The Invaders Had Stayed Together After World War Two?
    • Routinely collected along with issues of the 1975 Invaders series; see Guide to Invaders (eventually)
    • Also collected in:
      • Captain America: Legacy of Captain America (2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785150923 / digital)
      • Captain America & Bucky: Old Wounds
        (2012 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785160830 / 2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785160847 / digital)
  • #5 – What If Captain America and Bucky Had Both Survived World War Two?
    • [AKA Hadn’t Vanished After World War Two?]
  • #6 – What If the Fantastic Four Had Different Super-Powers?
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #7 – What If Someone Else Had Become the Amazing Spider-Man?
    • [AKA Someone Else Besides Spider-Man Had Been Bitten By The Radioactive Spider?]
    • Contains three stories
      • What if Flash Thompson was bitten by the radioactive spider?
      • What if Betty Brant was bitten by the radioactive spider?
      • What if John Jameson was bitten by the radioactive spider?
    • Reprinted in single issue in Spider-Man 1979 Winter Special
  • #8 – What If… The World Knew Daredevil Was Blind?
    • [AKA The World Knew That Daredevil Was Blind?]
    • 2nd story: What If The Spider Had Been Bitten By A Radioactive Human?
  • #9 – What If… The Avengers Had Been Formed During The 1950’s?
    • [AKA Avengers had fought evil during the 1950’s?]
    • This is effectively an Agents of Atlas pilot story, and has been collected along with their material; see Guide to Agents of Atlas (eventually)
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #10 – What If…Jane Foster Had Found the Hammer of Thor?
    • Also collected in Thor Vol. 2: Who Holds The Hammer
      (2015 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785197843 / 2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785197850 / digital)
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #11 – What If The Fantastic Four Were the Original Marvel Bullpen?
    • [AKA The Original Marvel Bullpen Had Become the Fantastic Four?]
    • Also collected in Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby Vol. 1
      (2004 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785115748 / 2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302919696 / digital)
    • reprinted in single issue in Marvel Celebrates Stan Lee #1
  • #12 – What If… Rick Jones Had Become the Hulk?
    • Reprinted in single issue in Hulk Comic (1979) #20
  • #13 – What If… Conan The Barbarian Walked The Earth Today?
    • Reprinted in Conan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 4 – see Guide to Conan
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #14 – What If… Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Had Fought World War Two In Outer Space?
    • [AKA Sgt. Fury Had Fought World War Two In Outer Space?]
  • #15 – What If… Someone Else Had Become Nova?
    • [AKA Nova Had Been Four Other People?]
    • Contains four stories:
      • What If Helen Taylor Became Nova?
      • What If Peter Parker Became Nova?
      • What If Jesse Became Nova?
      • What If A Criminal Became Nova?
  • #16 – What If… Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, Had Remained Loyal to Fu Manchu?
    • [AKA Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, Had Fought on the Side of Fu Manchu?]
    • Because this includes the Sax Rohmer character “Fu Manchu,” it cannot be recollected by Marvel outside of specifically licensed collections of Shang-Chi material. See Guide to Shang-Chi for collection options.
  • #17 – What If… Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, and Captain Marvel Were Villains?
  • #18 – What If Dr. Strange Had Been A Disciple of Dormammu?
    • [AKA Dr. Strange Were A Disciple of Dormammu?]
    • Collected along with Dr. Strange Marvel Masterworks – see Guide to Doctor Strange
  • #19 – What If Spider-Man Had Stopped The Burglar Who Killed His Uncle?
    • [AKA Spider-Man Had Never Become a Crime Fighter?]
  • #20 – What If?…The Avengers Had Fought the Kree-Skrull War Without Rick Jones?
    • [AKA The Avengers Fought the Kree-Skrull War Without Rick Jones?]
  • #21 – What If… Sub-Mariner Had Married the Invisible Girl?
    • [Invisible Girl of the Fantastic Four Had Married The Sub-Mariner?]
  • #22 – What If… Doctor Doom Had Become A Hero?
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #23 – What If… The Hulk’s Girlfriend Jarella Had Not Died?
    •  [AKA The Hulk Had Become a Barbarian?]
    • 2nd Story: Untold Tales Of The Marvel Universe: The First Celestial Host! – see Guide to Eternals
    • 3rd story: What If Aunt May Instead of Her Nephew Peter Had Been Bitten By That Radioactive Spider?
    • Also collected in Hulk: Heart of the Atom
      (2008 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785130871 / 2009 paperback, ISBN 978-0785162124 / digital)
  • #24 – What If Gwen Stacy Had Lived?
    • [AKA What If Spider-Man Had Rescued Gwen Stacy?]
      • Collected in Marvel Visionaries: Gil Kane (2002 paperback, ISBN 978-0785108887 / digital)
      • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
    • 2nd Story: Untold Tales of The Marvel Universe: The First Eternals – see Guide to Eternals
  • #25 – What If Thor Fought Odin Over Jane Foster?
    • [AKA What If Thor And The Avengers Battled The Gods?]
    • 2nd Story: Untold Tales Of The Marvel Universe: The First Uni-Mind – see Guide to Eternals
  • #26 – What If Captain America Were Elected President?
    • [AKA What If Captain America Had Been Elected President]
    • 2nd Story: What If The Man-Thing Had Regained Ted Sallis’ Brain?
    • 3rd Story: Untold Tales of the Marvel Universe: Outpost on Uranus – see Guide to Eternals
  • #27 – What If Phoenix Had Not Died?
    • 2nd Story: Untold Tales Of The Marvel Universe: Kree Encounter! – see Guide to Eternals
    • The first story is routinely collected alongside Dark Phoenix Saga. See Guide Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #28 – What If Daredevil Became an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
    • [AKA “Matt Murdock, Agent of…S.H.I.E.L.D.”]
    • 2nd Story: What If Ghost Rider Were Separated from Johnny Blaze?
    • 3rd Story: Untold Tales of the Marvel Universe: New Life – see Guide to Eternals
    • The Daredevil story is routinely collected alongside Frank Miller Daredevil material. See Guide to Daredevil
  • #29 – What If…The Avengers Were the Last Superheroes on Earth?
    • [AKA What If The Avengers Defeated Everybody?]
    • 2nd Story: Untold Tales Of The Marvel Universe: The Search For The Great Refuge!
      • Routinely collected alongside both Eternals and Inhumans material. See Guide to Eternals and Guide to Inhumans
    • 3rd Story: What If… The Sub-Mariner Never Regained His Memory?
  • #30 – What If… Spider-Man’s Clone Lived?
    • [AKA What If Spider-Man’s Clone Had Survived?]
    • 2nd Story: Untold Tales Of The Marvel Universe: Moving Day!
    • The back-up story is routinely collected alongside both Eternals and Inhumans material. See Guide to Eternals and Guide to Inhumans
  • #31 – What If Wolverine Had Killed The Hulk?
    • 2nd Story: What If The Fantastic Four Had Never Been? AKA What If There Was No Fantastic Four?
  • #32 – What If… The Avengers Had Become the Pawns of Korvac?
  • #33 – What If…
    … Dazzler Had Become the Herald of Galactus? /
    … Iron Man Had Been Trapped in King Arthur’s Time?

    • [AKA “Was Trapped”]
    • The first story is routinely collected alongside Dazzler material. See Guide to Dazzler.
  • #34 What If…The Watcher Were a Stand-Up Comedian?
    • Contains several brief stories and sequences
    • Material from this issue is collected in Spider-Man By Roger Stern Omnibus – see Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018)
  • #35 – What If…Bullseye Had Not Killed Elektra?
    • [AKA What if Elektra Had Lived?]
      • The Daredevil story is routinely collected alongside Frank Miller Daredevil material. See Guide to Daredevil
      • Material from this issue is recollected in single issue in What If…? #200
    • 2nd Story: And Thus are Born the Cat People!
    • 3rd Story: What If: Yellowjacket Had Died?
  • #36 – What If…The Fantastic Four Had Not Gained Their Powers?
    • [AKA “Their Super-Powers”]
    • 2nd story: What If Nova Had Not Given Up His Powers?
    • The 1st story is routinely collected alongside John Byrne’s Fantastic Four run; see Guide to Fantastic Four
    • The 2nd story is routinely collected with Nova material; see Guide to Nova
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #37 – What If…The Beast and The Thing Continued To Mutate?
    • What If…The Thing Had Continued To Mutate?
    • What If…The Beast Had Truly Become A Beast?
    • What If…Galactus Had Turned The Silver Surfer Back Into Norrin Radd?
  • #38 – What If…Featuring Daredevil and Captain America
    • The Leaving
    • What If Sharon Carter Had Not Died?
    • Daredevil: 2013!
  • #39 – What If… Thor of Asgard Had Met Conan the Barbarian?
    • [AKA Thor battled Conan the Barbarian?]
    • Conan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 5 – see Guide to Conan
  • #40 – What If…Dr. Strange Had Never Become Master of the Mystic Arts?
    • [AKA “Had Not Become”]
  • #41 – What If…Destiny Had Not Destroyed Atlantis?
    • [AKA What If… Sub-Mariner Had Saved Atlantis From Its Destiny?]
  • #42 – What if…Susan Richards Died in Childbirth?
    • [AKA “The Invisible Girl Had Died?]
  • #43 – What if… Conan the Barbarian Were Stranded in the 20th Century?
    • 2nd Story: “Behold” continues the plot from issue #32
    • Conan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 6 – see Guide to Conan
  • #44 – What If…Captain America Were Not Revived Until Today?
    • [AKA “Were Revived Today”]
  • #45 – What If…the Hulk Went Berserk?!
  • #46 – What If Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben Had Lived?
  • #47 – What If Loki Found Thor’s Hammer First?
    • [AKA “What If Loki Had Found The Hammer of Thor?]

What If? Special (1988) #1 AKA What If Iron Man Had Been a Traitor? (Jun 1988)

This issue was used as a pilot to test interest in relaunching What If, which Marvel did a year later.

#1: In the “Into the Multiverse, Vol. 1” omnibus, below.

What If…? (1989) #1-114 & -1 (Jul 1989 – Nov 1998)

[Marvel Unlimited]

in omnibus…What If (1989) #4

What If?: Into the Multiverse Omnibus, Vol. 1
(2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302946456 / digital)
Collects What If? (1988) #1, What If? (1989) #1-39, and Quasar (1989) #30 (plus material from Quasar (1989) #6). This book does include the Wolverine/Conan story from issue #16, as confirmed in a digital copy.

What If?: Into the Multiverse Omnibus, Vol. 2
(2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302953881 / digital)
Collects (1989) #40-75.

What If?: Into the Multiverse Omnibus, Vol. 3
This is not yet announced, but when Marvel releases it it will contain (1989) #76-114

as collected by story or single issue…

For other collections – plus, the titular “What If” question of each issue – check out the following list! Note that sometimes the headline title on the cover differs from the actual story title within the issue, and this list refers to the latter.

Click to expand a list of issues.

  • #1 – What If the Avengers Lost The Evolutionary War?
    • AKA “Had Lost” on the interior
  • #2 – What If Daredevil Killed the Kingpin?
    • AKA “Had Killed” on the interior
  • #3 – What If Steve Rogers Had Refused To Give Up Being Captain America?
    • This story branches from Captain America (1968) #332, where Cap was asked to work for the government or give up his title.
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If Ben Parker’s Nephew Was Galactus? (2 pages)
      • What if Franklin Richards Had Found the Hammer of Thor? (1/2 page)
      • What if Wolverine Got a Real Job? (1/2 page)
  • #4 – What If the Alien Costume Had Possessed Spider-Man?
    • This issue is sometimes collected alongside the original Secret Wars. See Marvel Universe Events – Secret Wars
  • #5 – What If the Vision Had Destroyed the Avengers? / What If Wonder Man Hadn’t Died?
  • #6 – What If The X-Men Lost Inferno?
    • AKA “Had Lost” on the interior
  • #7 – What If Wolverine was an Agent of SHIELD?
    • Interior title “Wolverine, Agent of SHIELD”
    • Also collected in Marvel Universe by Rob Liefeld Omnibus (2019 hardcover, ISBN 978-1302920029)
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If Aunt May Was a Mutant With Claws? (1 page)
      • What If Captain America Hadn’t Been Thawed Out? (1 page)
      • What If The Punisher Didn’t Use Guns? (1 page)
  • #8 – What If Iron Man Lost The Armor Wars?
  • #9 – What If The X-Men Died On Their First Mission?
    • Interior title: “What If… The New X-Men Died On Their Very First Mission?”
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If Black Bolt Talked in His Sleep? (1 page)
      • What If The Thing’s Body Kept Mutating? (1 page)
  • #10 – What If The Punisher’s Family Hadn’t Been Killed?
    • Interior title: “What If… The Punisher’s Family Had Not Been Killed in Central Park?”
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If… The Living Recorder Had To Find Work On Earth! (1 page)
      • What If… The Thing Were an Elvis Presley Impersonator? (1 page)
      • What If… Hawkeye Used Golf Clubs Instead of a Bow and Arrow? (1 page)
  • #11 – What If The Fantastic Four All Had the Same Power?
    • Actually four short stories exploring each of the F4’s powers being held by the entire team.
  • #12 – What If the X-Men Had Stayed in Asgard?
  • #13 – What If Professor X Had Become the Juggernaut?
  • #14 – What If Captain Marvel Had Not Died?
  • #15 – What If The Fantastic Four Had Lost the Trial of Galactus?
    • Interior title: “What If… The Trial of Galactus Had Ended in Reed Richards’ Execution?”
  • #16 – What If Wolverine Battled Conan The Barbarian?”
    • Interior title: “What If Wolverine Had Lived During the Age of Conan the Barbarian?”
    • One of the very few modern day Conan stories prior to his brief return to Marvel Comics in the late 2010s.
    • Reprinted in Conan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 9 – see Guide to Conan
  • #17 – What If Kraven the Hunter Had Killed Spider-Man?
    • Sometimes collected alongside Kraven’s Last Hunt; see Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018)
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If the Living Recorder Had to Work on Earth? – Part 2 [continued from #10]
      • What If Daredevil Had a Dishonest Tailor?
  • #18 – What If The Fantastic Four Battled Dr. Doom Before They Got Their Powers?
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If The Puppet Master Used Real Puppets? (1 page)
      • What If The Punisher Got Funky? (1 page)
  • #19 – What If Vision of The Avengers Had Conquered The World?
  • #20 – What If The Amazing Spider-Man Had Not Married Mary Jane?
    • Sometimes collected alongside the Peter/MJ wedding issue; see Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018)
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If Spider-Man Had a Son? (1 page)
      • What If Ghost Rider Hit a Puddle? (1 page)
      • What If Daredevil Was a Policeman? (1 page)
      • What If The Sub-Mariner Had to Work for a Living? (1 page)
  • #21 – What If The Amazing Spider-Man Had Married The Black Cat?
    • Sometimes collected alongside the Peter/MJ wedding issue; see Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018)
  • #22 – What If The Silver Surfer Had Not Escaped Earth?
  • #23 – What If The All-New All-Different X-Men Had Never Existed?
    • Also collected in Giant Size X-Men 40th Anniversary HC
  • #24 – What If Wolverine Had Become the Lord of Vampires?
    • Interior title: “What If Wolverine Was Lord of the Vampires?”
  • #25 – What If the Marvel Super-Heroes Had Lost Atlantis Attacks?
    • Interior title: “What If Set Had Come to Earth?”
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If The Punisher Was a Herald of Galactus? (1 page)
      • What If The Human Torch and Iceman Were Partners? (1 page)
  • #26 – What If the Punisher Had Killed Daredevil?
  • #27 – What If the Namor Had Joined the Fantastic Four?
    • Interior title uses “Sub-Mariner” in place of “Namor”
  • #28 – What If Captain America Had Led an Army of Super-Soldiers in World War II?
    • Interior title: “What If Captain America Were Not the Only Super Soldier in World War II?”
  • #29 – What If Captain America Had Formed The Avengers?
  • #30 – What If the Fantastic Four’s Second Child Had Lived?
    • Interior title: “What If the Invisible Girl Had Her Second Child?”
  • #31 – What If Spider-Man Had Kept His Cosmic Powers?
    • Interior title: “What If Spider-Man Had Not Lost His Cosmic Powers?”
  • #32 – What If Phoenix Had Not Died?
    • Interior title: “What If Phoenix Had Lived?”
  • #33 – What If Phoenix Rose Again?
  • #34 – What If No One Was Watching The Watcher?
    • Billed as “All-Star Humor Special” with many brief stories
  • #35 – What If the Fantastic Five Fought Dr. Doom & Annihilus? [Timequake, Part 1]
    • Interior title: “What If the Fantastic Five Had Invaded the Negative Zone?
    • Back-Up Story: What If Lady Deathstrike Got a Hangnail? (1 page)
  • #36 – What If the Cosmic Avengers Battled the Guardians of the Galaxy? [Timequake, Part 2]
  • #37 – What If Wolverine Had Been Lord of the Vampires During Inferno? [Timequake, Part 3]
    • Interior title: “What If Wolverine and His X-Vampires Conquered the World?”
  • #38 – What If Thor was a Thrall of Seth? [Timequake, Part 4]
    • Interior title uses the proper conditional tense of “Had Become” rather than “was”
  • #39 – What If the Watcher Saved the Universe? [Timequake, Part 5]
    • Interior title uses “multiverse” in place of Universe
    • Back-Up Story: What If Magneto Was Stuck In An Elevator With Colossus, Iron Man and Doctor Doom?
  • #40 – What If Storm of the X-Men Had Remained a Thief?
    • Interior title: “What If Storm Stayed A Thief?”
    • Also collected in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-0785101949)
  • #41 – What If The Avengers Had Fought Galactus?
    • Back-Up Stories
      • What If The Fantastic Four Were Led by Keith Richards Instead of Reed Richards? (2 pages)
      • What If Wolverine Was the Worst There Is at What He Does? (1 page)
  • #42 – What If Spider-Man Had Kept His Six Arms?
    • Interior title: “What If Spider-Man Never Lost His Four Extra Arms?”
  • #43 – What If Wolverine Had Married Mariko?
  • #44 – What If Venom Had Possessed The Punisher?
  • #45 – What If Barbara Ketch Had Become Ghost Rider?
    • Interior title uses “Became”
  • #46 – What If Cable Had Destroyed the X-Men? [Part 1 of 2]
  • #47 – What If Magneto Took Over the USA? [Part 2 of 2]
  • #48 – What If Daredevil Had Saved Nuke?
    • Interior title omits “Had”
  • #49 – What if The Silver Surfer Possessed the Infinity Gauntlet?
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #50 – What If The Hulk Had Killed Wolverine?
    • Interior title: What If Hulk Killed Wolverine?
  • #51 – What If the Punisher Became Captain America?
    • Interior title uses “had become”
  • #52 – What If Dr. Doom Became Sorcerer Supreme?
  • #53 – What If…
    • First story: The Iron Man of 2020 Had been Stranded in the past?
      • This is sometimes collected with Iron Man 2020 stories; see Guide to Iron Man, Tony Stark
    • Second story: What If Rick Jones Remained the Hulk?
    • Third story: What If Spider-Man Killed the Lizard?
  • #54 – What If Death’s Head I Had Lived?
    • Interior title: What If Minion Had Not Killed Death’s Head?
    • This is routinely collected with issues of the original Death’s Head, since it is written by his original author Simon Furman. See Guide to Death’s Head (eventually).
  • #55 – What If The Avengers Lost Operation Galactic Storm?
    • This is sometimes collected alongside Galactic Storm; see Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
  • #56 – What If The Avengers Lost Operation Galactic Storm?
    • Interior title: Part Two
    • This is sometimes collected alongside Galactic Storm; see Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
  • #57 – What If The Punisher Became An Agent of Shield?
  • #58 – What If The Punisher Had Killed Spider-Man?
    • Interior title: The Day I Killed Spider-Man?
  • #59 – What If Wolverine Led Alpha Flight?
    • Interior title: What If Wolverine Had Remained a Captive of Alpha Flight?
    • Also collected in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-0785101949)
  • #60 – A What If X-Men Wedding Album
    • This issue is routinely collected alongside X-Men (1991) #30; see Guide to X-Men, Vol. 2 (1991-2001)
    • Three Stories:
      • What If Scott Summers and Jean Grey Had Married Earlier?
      • What If Scott Summers and Jean Grey Had Never Fallen in Love at All?
      • What If Phoenix Had Fallen for Wolverine?
  • #61 – What If Spider-Man’s Parents Destroyed His Family?
  • #62 – What If Wolverine Battled Weapon X?
    • Interior title replaces “Wolverine” with “Logan”
    • Also collected in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-0785101949)
  • #63 – What If War Machine Had Not Destroyed the Living Laser?
  • #64 – What If Iron Man Sold Out?
    • Interior title: What If Iron Man Went Public?
  • #65 – What If Archangel Fell From Grace?
    • Interior title: …A Fallen Angel?
  • #66 – What If Rogue Possessed The Power of Thor?
    • Also collected in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-0785101949)
  • #67 – What If Captain America Were Revived Today?
    • Interior title: Part 1: A Fighting Chance
  • #68 – What If Captain America Were Revived Today?
    • Interior title: Part 2: Liberty’s Sword
  • #69 – What If Stryfe Killed the X-Men?
    • Also collected in X-Men: Alterniverse Visions (1996 paperback, ISBN 978-0785101949)
  • #70 – What If the Silver Surfer Had Not Betrayed Galactus?
  • #71 – What If The Gamma Bomb Spawned A Thousand Hulks?
  • #72 – What If Spider-Man Became A Murderer?
  • #73 – What If The Kingpin Owned Daredevil?
  • #74 – What If Mr. Sinister Formed the X-Men?
  • #75 – What If Blink of Generation X Had Not Died?
  • #76 – What If Peter Parker Had to Destroy Spider-Man?
  • #77 – What If Legion Had Killed Magneto?
    • Routinely collected alongside Age of Apocalypse companion material; see Marvel Universe Events – Age of Apocalypse
    • Reprinted in as a “True Believers” single issue, below.
  • #78 – What If The New Fantastic Four Had Remained a Team?
    • Interior title: 4 Against the Darkness
  • #79 – What If Storm Had The Power of the Phoenix?
    • Interior title: Covenants Broken
  • #80 – What If The Hulk Had Evolved Into Maestro?
    • Interior title: What If the Hulk Got Himself Cured?
  • #81 – What If The Age of Apocalypse Had Not Ended? Can a World Shattered By Apocalypse Survive The Coming Of… Galactus?!?
    • Interior title begins with “United We Stand:”
    • Routinely collected alongside Age of Apocalypse companion material; see Marvel Universe Events – Age of Apocalypse
  • #82 – What If J. Jonah Jameson Adopted Spider-Man?
  • #83 – What If Daredevil Was The Disciple of Doctor Strange – For The Love, Honor, and The Soul of Elektra
    • Interior title: The Disciple’s Devil
  • #84 – What If Shard Had Lived Instead of Bishop?
    • Interior title: To the Finish!
  • #85 – What If Magneto Ruled All Mutants?
    • Interior title begins “Genesis Revoked:”
  • #86 – What If the Scarlet Spider Had Killed Spider-Man? The Ultimate Clone Saga Climax!
    • Interior title begins “The Answer to the Question:”
  • #87 – Starring Sabretooth: Screams In The Night
    • Interior Title: Cat and Mouse
  • #88 – Starring Spider-Man: Arachnamorphosis
  • #89 – Starring The Fantastic Four: Deadly Inheritance
    • Interior title: The Fantastic Farce
  • #90 – Starring Cyclops and Havok: Their Early Years, Their Darkest Fears!
    • Interior title: In the Shadows
  • #91 – Starring The Incredible Hulk: The Man, The Monster
  • #92 – Starring Cannoball’s Little Brother Josh — And His Pet Sentinel
    • Interior Title “…I’ll Be Your Best Friend!”
  • #93 – Starring Wolverine: A Man No More
    • Interior title: Ferus
  • #94 – Starring The Juggernaut: The Kingdom of Cain
  • #95 – Starring Ghost Rider: Burn, Baby, Burn!
    • Interior title: Broken Soul
  • #96 – Starring Silver Surfer: The Quick and The Dead
    • Interior title: They Grow Up So Quickly
  • #97 – Starring Black Knight (featuring Dr. Doom): Camelot Reborn
    • Interior title: Last Light
  • #98 – Starring Rogue (featuring Nightcrawler): Children In The Attic
  • #-1 – Starring Bishop: The Man From The Future (July 1997)
    • Interior title: The Traitor
  • #99 – Starring Spider-Man: The Men Behind The Mask
  • #100 – Starring Gambit: The Greatest Secret of The Marvel Universe Revealed
  • #101 – Starring Archangel – Death and Disobedience
    • Interior title: Angel of Death
  • #102 – Daredevil, The Man Without Fear… The Fight of His Life… Has Ended!
    • Interior title: Shadow Boxing
  • #103 – Starring Captain America: The Unknown Soldier
  • #104 – Starring Silver Surfer [and Galactus and Impossible Man]
    • Interior title: Finders Keepers
  • #105 – Starring Spider-Man? Who Is She? The Next Generation of Spidey Excitement Starts Here!!!
    • The debut of Spider-Girl, who spun off into her own series.
    • Routinely collected alongside her material; see Guide to Spider-Girl (eventually)
    • Also collected in #1 & 20: Spider-Man: Spider-Verse – Spider-Women (2020 digest-size paperback, ISBN 978-1302925222 / digital)
  • #106 – Starring Gambit – Revenge! [this features Angel getting revenge for Mutant Massacre]
    • Interior title: Retribution
  • #107 – Starring The Mighty Thor… And Who Shall Be King?
    • Interior title: If This Age Be Golden… !
  • #108 – Starring The Avengers [this focuses on Carnage]
    • Interior title: The Greatest Sacrifice!
    • Sometimes collected alongside Carnage material from this period; see Guide to Carnage (eventually)
  • #109 – Starring Fantastic Four – The Thing, Human Again?
  • #110 – Starring The Uncanny X-Men
    • Full Cover Title: With Phoenix Possessed Who Will Save Professor X From The Fury of Colossus?
  • #111 – Starring Wolverine: Horseman of War
  • #112 – Starring Ka-Zar: New York… The New Savage Land… No Escape!
  • #113 – Starring Iron Man Alone Against Dormammu… Tony Stark Sorcerer Supreme?
    • Interior title: Anthony Stark, Master of the Mystic Arts!
  • #114 – Starring Secret Wars 25 Years Later
    • Interior title: Brave New World
    • Sometimes collected alongside the original Secret Wars; see Marvel Universe Events – Secret Wars

What If? (2004) AKA What If… [various] (Feb 2005)

Marvel’s own taxonomy of this series is slightly confused – some of the issues are treated as part of a single 2004-2005 volume, while others are treated as one-shots. Notably, the X-Men one-shot was penned by Chris Claremont!

What If…?: Why Not? [Vol. 1] (2005 paperback, ISBN 978-0785115939 / digital)
Collects six “What If” one-shots:

  • What If… Aunt May Had Died Instead of Uncle Ben? (2004) #1 (Feb 2005) [MU]
  • What If… Dr. Doom Had Become the Thing? (2004) #1 (Feb 2005) [MU]
  • What If… General Ross Had Become the Hulk? (2004) #1 (Feb 2005) [MU]
  • What If… Jessica Jones Had Joined the Avengers? (2004) #1 (Feb 2005) [MU]
  • What If… Karen Page Had Lived? (2004) #1 (Feb 2005) [MU]
  • What If… Magneto and Professor X Had Formed the X-Men? (2004) #1 (Feb 2005) [MU]

The Jessica Jones one-shot written by Brian Bendis is also sometimes collected alongside his Alias (2001) series – see Guide to Jessica Jones. The Karen Page one-shot written by Brian Bendis is also routinely collected alongside his run on Daredevil (1998) – see Guide to Daredevil.

Wha…Huh? (2005) #1 (Aug 2005)

Not a true “If” series, this actually revisits Stan Lee’s classic work in a humorous vein. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1: Secret Wars Too (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1302902117 / digital)
Collects Captain America: Who Won’t Wield the Shield? (2010) #1, Marvel: Now What?! (2013) #1, , Secret Wars Too (2016) #1, Shame Itself (2012) #1, Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham (2007) #1, Wha…Huh? (2005) #1, and material from Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration (2014) #1, Original Sins (2014) #5, World War Hulk: Front Line (2007) #2-5

What If? (2005) AKA What If? Featuring (2005) [various] (Feb 2006)

While these six one-shots each had an individual title and a unique indicia, in Marvel’s current taxonomy they are all considered to be a part of a single 2005 series. [Marvel Unlimited]

What If?: Mirror Mirror [Vol. 2] (2006 paperback, ISBN 978-0785119029 / digital)
Collects the following “What If, Featuring” issues released in February 2006:

  • What If? Featuring Captain America (2005) #1 (Feb 2006)
    AKA What If… Captain America Fought in the Civil War?
  • What If? Featuring Daredevil (2005) #1 (Feb 2006)
  • What If? Featuring Fantastic Four (2005) #1 (Feb 2006)
    AKA What If the Fantastic Four Were Cosmonauts?
  • What If? Featuring Submariner (2005) #1 (Feb 2006)
    AKA What If Prince Namor of Atlantis Grew Up on Land?
  • What If? Featuring Thor (2005) #1 (Feb 2006)
    AKA What If Thor was the Herald of Galactus?
  • What If? Featuring Wolverine (2005) #1 (Feb 2006)

The Wolverine one-shot written by Daniel Way is sometimes collected alongside his runs across Wolverine (2003) and Wolverine: Origins (2006) – see Guide to Wolverine, Logan.

What If? (2006) (Nov 2006 – Feb 2007)

Marvel continued their new annual tradition into a series of five one-shots, all focused on new spins on fresh stories told within the previous few years, except for Age of Apocalypse – which was already past its 10th anniversary.

What If?: Event Horizon [Vol. 3] (2007 paperback, IBSN 978-0785121831 / digital)

  • What If? Avengers Disassembled (2006) #1 (Nov 2006) [MU]
    AKA What if the Scarlet Witch Hadn’t Acted Alone?
  • What If? Spider-Man The Other (2006) #1 (Jan 2006) [MU]
    AKA What If Spider-Man Had Rejected the Spider?
  • What If? Wolverine Enemy of the State (2006) #1 (Jan 2007) [MU]
    AKA What If Wolverine Was Never Deprogrammed?
  • What If? X-Men Age of Apocalypse (2006) #1 (Feb 2007) [MU]
    AKA What If Legion Had Killed Xavier and Magneto?
  • What If? X-Men Deadly Genesis (2006) #1 (Feb 2007) [MU]
    AKA What If Xavier’s Second Team Had Survived?

The Age of Apocalypse one-shot is routinely collected with Age of Apocalypse material – see Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Age of Apocalypse.

What If? (2007) AKA 2007-2008 Event One-Shots

Marvel continues its new annual tradition into a series of five one-shots – four focused on events, and one on the classic Spider-Man vs. Wolverine Cold-War-era one-shot.

What If? Civil War [Vol. 4] (2008 paperback, ISBN 978-0785130369 / digital [single issues])

  • What If? Planet Hulk (2007) #1 (Dec 2007) [MU]
    Notably written by actual Planet Hulk scribe, Greg Pak.
  • What If? Annihilation (2007) #1 (Jan 2008) [MU]
  • What If? Civil War (2007) #1 (Feb 2008) [MU]
  • What If? Spider-Man vs. Wolverine (2008) #1 (Mar 2008) [MU]
  • What If? X-Men – Rise And Fall of the Shi’ar Empire (2008) #1 (Feb 2008) [MU]
    AKA What If Vulcan Gained the Power of the Phoenix?

The Planet Hulk one-shot written by Greg Pak is routinely collected with Planet Hulk material – see Guide to Hulk, Bruce Banner.

Hero Initiative: Mike Wieringo (2008) #1 (Aug 2008)
AKA What If This Was the Fantastic Four?

This charity issue has not been collected.

Artist Mike Wieringo had completed a handful of pages for a story with the “New” Fantastic Four before he passed away. This issue presents the full story, with art from Arthur Adams, Paul Renaud, Stuart Immonen, Cully Hamner, Alan Davis, David Williams, Sanford Greene, Humberto Ramos, Skottie Young, Mike Allred, and Barry Kitson.

What If? (2008) AKA 2008-2009 Event One-Shots: “What If?” [various]

While these one-shots each had an individual title and a unique indicia, in Marvel’s current taxonomy they are all considered to be a part of a single 2008 series. [Marvel Unlimited]

What If? Secret Wars [Vol. 5] (2009 paperback, ISBN 978-0785133414 / digital [single issues])

  • What If? Fallen Son (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
  • What If?House of M (2009) #1 (Feb 2009)
  • What If? Newer Fantastic Four (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
  • What If? Secret Wars (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)
  • What If? Spider-Man Back in Black (2008) #1 (Feb 2009)

The collection does not include the Mini-Marvels story from Newer Fantastic Four. These issues each include a chapter of a serialized back-up story, “What If the Runaways Became the Young Avengers?” That back-up is routinely collected alongside Runaways material – see Guide to Runaways.

What If? (2009) AKA 2009-2010 One-Shots

This series of one-shots ran in the final months of 2009, with early 2010 cover dates. They focused on a trio of major Marvel events, plus two famous runs that dealt with the death (and return) of popular characters.

What If? Secret Invasion [Vol. 6] (2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785141099 / digital)

  • What If? Spider-Man: House of M (2009) #1 (Jan 2010) [MU]
    Features a pair of a stories branching from the already-alternate-reality of House of M.
  • What If? Astonishing X-Men (2009) #1 (Feb 2010) [MU]
    Features a pair of stories with Joss Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men team, one focused on Jean Grey and the other on Danger.
  • What If? Daredevil vs. Elektra (2009) #1 (Feb 2010) [MU]
    Story title: “What if Daredevil had died instead of Elektra and was then resurrected by The Hand?”
  • What If? Secret Invasion (2009) #1 (Feb 2010) [MU]
    Story: What if the Skrulls won during the Secret Invasion?
    Story: What if the Secret Invasion stayed secret?
  • What If? World War Hulk (2009) #1 (Feb 2010) [MU]
    Story: What if the heroes lost World War Hulk?
    Story: What if Thor participated in World War Hulk?

What If? (2010) AKA 2010-11 One-Shots

This series of one-shots did not feature “What If?” in the logo treatments on their cover. Instead, they all featured the question in the corner box, and then ran the main well-known logo of their character or series. That leaves them in a curious place when it comes to Marvel’s official taxonomy – as in every case their issue indicia doesn’t line up with their cover treatments.

The first four of these issues included a back-up story, “What If: The Venom Symbiote Possessed Deadpool?”

What If? Dark Avengers [Vol. 7] (2011 paperback, ISBN 978-0785152781 / digital)
Collects the following “What If?” issues released in February 2011.

  • What If? Dark Reign (2010) #1 (Feb 2011) [MU]
    There is no main story title. Also includes a back-up,
  • Iron Man: Demon in an Armor (2010) #1 (Feb 2011) [MU]
    Story Title: “What If Tony Stark Had Become Dr. Doom?”
  • What If? Spider-Man (2010) #1 (Feb 2011) AKA What If? Spider-Man: Grim Hunt (2010) #1 [MU]
    Story Title: “What If Spider-Man Killed Kraven the Hunter?”
  • What If? Wolverine: Father (2010) #1 (Feb 2011) [MU]
  • What If? 200 (2010) #1 AKA What If? (2010) #200 (Feb 2011) [MU]
    Main Story: What If Norman Osborn Won the Siege of Asgard?
    Back-Up Story: What If I, The Watcher, Killed Galactus?

Venom / Deadpool: What If? (2011) #1 reprints back-up stories from these issues, and the combined tale is sometimes collected with their series from this period – see Guide to Venom and Guide to Deadpool.

The primary story in What If? Wolverine: Father (2011) #1 written by Rob Williams is collected alongside his Daken series from that period – See Guide to Wolverine, Daken (eventually).

Marvel: Now What?! (2013) #1 (Oct 2013)

A humorous one-shot released in the first year of Marvel Now. This isn’t a traditional “If?” though it does explore a few alternate possibilities. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1: Secret Wars Too (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1302902117 / digital)
Collects Captain America: Who Won’t Wield the Shield? (2010) #1, Marvel: Now What?! (2013) #1, , Secret Wars Too (2016) #1, Shame Itself (2012) #1, Ultimate Civil War: Spider-Ham (2007) #1, Wha…Huh? (2005) #1, and material from Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration (2014) #1, Original Sins (2014) #5, World War Hulk: Front Line (2007) #2-5

What If? Avengers vs. X-Men (2013) #1-4 (Sep 2013)

This mini-series by Jimmy Palmiotti and Jorge Molina explores and alternate version of the 2012 Avengers vs. X-Men event, where Hope inherits the Phoenix Force under the guidance of Magneto. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-4: What If? AvX (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785183945 / digital)

What If? Age of Ultron (2014) #1-5 (Jun 2014)

This mini-series by Joe Keatinge and Raffaele Ienco explores an alternate version of the 2013 Age of Ultron event, where Wasp had been preemptively assassinated by Wolverine rather than Hank Pym. [Marvel Unlimited]

#1-5: What If? Age of Ultron (2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785190547 / digital)

Secret Wars [various] (2015)

The 2015 Secret Wars event is effectively one giant What If universe made up of a patchwork of various one-off realities. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret Wars (2015) for a list of series and collections.

What If? Infinity (2015) [various] (Dec 2015)What If? Infinity (2015) Inhumans #1

A series of one-shots written by Joshua Williamson imagining different scenarios related to the Infinity Gauntlet and the 2013 Infinity linewide event. These issues did not feature a titular question on the front cover, but still had question story titles on the interior of the issues.

What If? Infinity (2016 paperback [not on Amazon US], ISBN 978-0785193142 / digital)
Collects the following “What If? Infinity” issues released in December 2015:

  • What If? Infinity Dark Reign (2015) #1 (Dec 2015) [MU]
    AKA What if the Green Goblin Stole the Infinity Gauntlet?
  • What If? Infinity Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) #1 (Dec 2015) [MU]
    AKA What if Guardians of the Galaxy Tried to Free Thanos?
  • What If? Infinity Inhumans (2015) #1 (Dec 2015) [MU]
    What if Black Bolt Betrayed Earth?
  • What If? Infinity Thanos (2015) #1 (Dec 2015) [MU]
    AKA What if Thanos Joined the Avengers?
  • What If? Infinity X-Men (2015) #1 (Dec 2015) [MU]
    AKA What if the X-Men Were the Sole Survivors of Infinity?

2017-2018 “True Believers” Reprints

In 2017 and 2018, Marvel produced a number of “True Believers” reprints of issues from the 1977 and 1989 series.

  • True Believers: What If Avengers Fought Evil During 1950s – Reprints (1977) #9
  • True Believers: What If Conan the Barbarian Walked the Earth Today? – Reprints (1977) #13
  • True Believers: What If Dr. Doom Had Become A Hero? – Reprints (1977) #22
  • True Believers: What If Jane Foster Had Found the Hammer of Thor? – Reprints (1977) #10
  • True Believers: What If Kraven The Hunter Had Killed Spider-Man? – Reprints (1989) #17
  • True Believers: What If Legion Had Killed Magneto? – Reprints (1989) #77
  • True Believers: What If Silver Surfer Possessed The Infinity Gauntlet? – Reprints (1989) #49
  • True Believers: What If Spider-Man Had Rescued Gwen Stacy? – Reprints (1977) #24
  • True Believers: What If The Alien Costume Had Possessed Spider-Man? – Reprints (1989) #4
  • True Believers: What If The Fantastic Four Had Different Super-Powers? – Reprints (1977) #6
  • True Believers: What If The Fantastic Four Had Not Gained Their Powers? – Reprints (1977) #36

What If? (2018) [various] (Oct 2018)

What If? Magik (2018) #1

A series of October 2018 one-shots re-imagining their heroes with vastly different missions and powers.

What If? With Great Power (2019 paperback, ISBN 978-1302916152 / digital)
Collects the following “What If?” issues released in October 2018:

  • What If? Ghost Rider (2018) #1 (Oct 2018) [MU]
    • Cover titled “What If Marvel Comics Went Metal?”
    • This follows a Nordic Black Metal band from the “real world” as they visit the Marvel Universe
  • What If? Magik (2018) #1 (Oct 2018) [MU]
    • Cover titled “What If Magik Became Sorcerer Supreme.”
  • What If? The Punisher (2018) #1 (Oct 2018) [MU]
    • Cover titled “What If Peter Parker Became The Punisher?”
  • What If? Spider-Man (2018) #1 (Oct 2018) [MU]
    • Cover titled “What If Flash Thompson Became Spider-Man?”
  • What If? Thor (2018) #1 (Oct 2018) [MU]
  • Cover titled “What If Thor Was Raised by Frost Giants?”
  • What If? X-Men (2018) #1 (Oct 2018) [MU]
    • Cover titled “What If The X-Men Were… [computer error]?”
    • This imagines the X-Men as a group of digital vigilantes in a virtual reality world.

Though not collected together, the Magik issue connects to speculative Doctor Strange: The End (2020) #1, which is by the same creative team.

What If…? Dark (2023) [various] (Jul – Nov 2023)

These one-shots saw a few legendary creators returning to their classic characters, including Walt Simonson to Loki, Gerry Conway to Spider-Gwen, and Marv Wolfman to Tomb of Dracula.

What If…? Dark (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302953263 / digital)
Collects the following “What If…? Dark:” issues from the second half of 2023:

    • What If…? Loki (2023) #1 (Jul 2023) [MU]
    • What If…? Spider-Gwen (2023) #1 (Jul 2023) [MU]
    • What If…? Moon Knight (2023) #1 (Aug 2023) [MU]
    • What If…? Venom (2023) #1 (Aug 2023) [MU]
    • What If…? Carnage (2023) #1 (Sep 2023) [MU]
    • What If…? Tomb of Dracula (2023) #1 (Nov 2023) [MU]

What If…? Venom (2024) #1-5 (Feb – Jun 2024)

A series following a number of alternate Venoms – She-Hulk, Wolverine, Doctor Strange, Loki, and Moon Knight. [Marvel Unlimited]

What If…? Venom (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302957384 / digital)

Aliens: What If? (2024) #1-5 (Mar – Jul 2024)

A mini-series co-written by actor Paul Reiser, Carter Burke in the original Alien. [Marvel Unlimited]

Aliens: What If? (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302946586 / digital)

Marvel & Disney: What If…? [various] (Jul 2024 – TBA)

A series of bi-monthly one-shots casting Disney’s characters as some of Marvel’s most-famous heroes.

Marvel & Disney: What If…? (2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1302953263 / digital TBA)
Collects the following Marvel & Disney: What If…? issues

  • Marvel & Disney: What If…? Donald Duck Became Wolverine (2024) #1 (July 2024) [MU]
  • Marvel & Disney: What If…? Donald Duck Became Thor (2024) #1 (Sep 2024) [MU]
  • Marvel & Disney: What If…? Minnie Became Captain Marvel (2024) #1 (Nov 2024) [MU]
  • Marvel & Disney: What If…? Mickey & Friends Became the Fantastic Four (2025) #1 (Jan 2025) [MU]
  • Marvel & Disney: What If…? Mickey & Friends Became the Avengers (2025) #1 (Mar 2025) [MU]
  • Marvel & Disney: What If…? Donald Duck Became Iron Man (2025) #1
  • Marvel & Disney: What If…? Goofy Became Spider-Man (2025) #1

What If…? Galactus Transformed [various] (Jan 2025)

A series following a number of alternate heralds of Galactus – Hulk, Moon Knight, Gambit, Rogue, & Spider-Gwen. Note that the actual issues are all #1s titled “What If…? Galactus Transformed [character]”

What If…? Galactus [Transformed…] (2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1302964504 / digital TBA)

Didn’t find what you were looking for?
Check Amazon for Marvel’s newest What If? titles.

Back to Crushing Comics

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar


Support Crushing Krisis on Patreon
Support CK
on Patreon


Follow me on BlueSky Follow me on Twitter Contact me Watch me on Youtube Subscribe to the CK RSS Feed

About CK

About Crushing Krisis
About My Music
About Your Author
Blog Archive
Comics Blogs Only
Contact Krisis
Terms & Conditions

Crushing Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Events Guide

Spider-Man Guide

DC Comics

  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Universe Events Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing DC Universe Event Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing DC Universe Event omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Villains Joker Omnibus MappingEvery Missing DC Villains Omnibus – Joker, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Villains omnibus mapping - Joker, Doomsday, Lex Luthor, & more! - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Solo Heroes Q to Z The Spectre Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Question, Zatanna, Spectre Omnibus & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Hero Q-Z omnibus mapping - Question, Spectre, Zatana, & more - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Solo Heroes F to P Martian Manhunter Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Firestorm, Jonah Hex, Martian Manhunter Omnibus & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Hero F-P omnibus mapping - Firestorm, Jonah Hex, Martian Manhunter, & more - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - DC Solo Heroes A to E Doctor Fate Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Blue Beetle, Doctor Fate, Deathstroke Omnibus & More, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Missing DC Hero A-E omnibus mapping - Blue Beetle, Doctor Fate, Deathstroke, & more - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Superman Family Supergirl Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Superman Family Omnibus, Mapped – Superboy, Supergirl, & More! | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Superman Family omnibus mapping - including Supergirl & Superboy - from DC Comics for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Superman Omnibus MappingEvery Missing Superman Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Superman omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Every Missing Suicide Squad Omnibus, Mapped – plus, other DC Teams! | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Suicide Squad omnibus - plus other DC teams - mapping from DC Comics for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Teen Titans Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Teen Titans Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Teen Titans omnibus mapping (plus Young Justice) from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Shazam Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Shazam Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Shazam omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Legion of Super-Heroes Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Legion of Super-Heroes Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Legion of Super-Heroes omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Green Lantern Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Green Lantern Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Green Lantern omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Justice Society Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Justice Society Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Justice Society omnibus mapping from DC Comics to prepare for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]
  • Most Wanted DC Omnibus - Justice League Omnibus Mapping 2025Every Missing Justice League Omnibus, Mapped | 2025 Tigereyes Most Wanted DC Omnibus Poll
    Every missing Justice League omnibus mapping from DC Comics - plus Trinity team-ups! - for the 2025 Tigereyes Most-Wanted DC Omnibus Poll. […]

Content Copyright ©2000-2023 Krisis Productions

Crushing Krisis participates in affiliate programs including (but not limited to): Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), eBay Partner Network, and iTunes Affiliate Program. If you make a qualifying purchase through an affiliate link I may receive a commission.