So you’ve heard about Marvel What If comics, right? Maybe you watched the Disney+ series and got curious. Or perhaps you saw What If... Spider-Man Joined the Fantastic Four? in a comic shop and wondered how deep this rabbit hole goes. Let me tell you, as someone who’s collected these since finding a water-damaged copy of issue #32 at a garage sale, these aren’t just gimmicks. They’re storytelling playgrounds where writers break canon like Lego sets.

What Exactly Are Marvel What If Comics Anyway?

Picture this: It’s 1977. Roy Thomas is editing Marvel comics. He thinks, “What if we took major events and flipped them sideways?” So he creates this anthology series where each issue answers one insane question. Like, what if the Hulk had Bruce Banner’s brain? Or if someone else became Spider-Man? That’s the core of every Marvel What If comic – taking established continuity and throwing it out the window.

They nailed it by making these self-contained. You didn’t need to read 200 issues of Avengers to “get it.” Just pick up an issue and boom – you’re in a universe where Jane Foster lifted Mjolnir decades before the movies. Clever, right?

Why What If Stories Matter More Than You Think

Some collectors dismiss these as non-canon fluff. I get it – issues like What If... The Alien Costume Had Possessed Spider-Man? (#8) feel like B-movies. But when they hit? Like issue #34 where Conan the Barbarian shows up in modern New York? Pure gold. They let writers:

• Kill off major characters without consequences (looking at you, What If... The Avengers Had Been Formed During the 1950s? where everyone dies)
• Explore social issues sideways (#43’s take on segregation through mutants)
• Test future storylines (Venom’s symbiote origins first appeared in What If before main comics)

The Must-Read Marvel What If Comics (And Where to Start)

Okay, real talk: With over 200 issues across multiple series, jumping in feels overwhelming. Skip the chronological order – start with these game-changers instead:

Volume 1 Classics (1977-1984)

• What If #1: “What If Spider-Man Joined the Fantastic Four?” – The OG. Art by Jim Craig. Shows Peter’s guilt complex beautifully.
• What If #33: “What If Wolverine Had Been Lord of the Vampires?” – Bonkers premise, shockingly emotional payoff with Jubilee.
• What If #44: “What If Conan the Barbarian Walked the Earth Today?” – Hilarious culture clash. Conan vs. muggers in NYC? Yes please.

Modern Gems (2004-Present)

• What If? Spider-Man: Back in Black (2007): Peter kills Kingpin. Darker than coffee left out all night.
• What If? Age of Ultron (2013): Ultron wins. Like, really wins. Makes the movie look PG.
• What If? Miles Morales (2018): Explores if Miles never became Spider-Man. Gut-wrenching.

How the Animated Series Changed Everything

Let’s address the elephant: Yes, the Disney+ shows boosted interest. But they’re different. The animated “Marvel What If” (2021) remixes ideas rather than adapting comics directly. Example: Episode 1’s Captain Carter? Original character. The comic’s version (What If #34) had British SAS agent Peggy inject herself with Super-Soldier serum. Similar concept, totally different execution.

Biggest difference? Tone. Comics could get brutal – What If? Secret Wars (2009) had heroes slaughtering each other. The show feels PG-13 by comparison. Not worse, just… safer.

Collecting Tips From a 20-Year Collector

Want to start a collection? Avoid my mistakes:

• Key Issues Hunt: Focus on these heavy-hitters:
  • What If #1 (First appearance)
  • What If #10 (First Jane Foster Thor)
  • What If #105 (Proto-Spider-Gwen)
• Grading Matters: A 9.8-graded #1 sells for 4x raw copies. Send high-value books to CGC.
• Watch for Damage: Silver Age issues (#1-47) have brittle pages. Hold them to light – brown spots mean decay.

Answering Your Biggest What If Questions

Q: Are Marvel What If comics canon?
A: Officially? No. But writers steal from them constantly. That Venom thing I mentioned? Yeah. Think of them as “test kitchens” for Marvel continuity.

Q: Why are early issues harder to find?
A: They printed fewer copies back then. Plus, fans didn’t preserve comics like today. Finding a #1 without spine ticks is like spotting a unicorn.

Q: Should I read comics before watching the show?
A> Not necessary – but you’ll catch Easter eggs. Like episode 3’s Hank Pym going full Ultron? Straight from What If #23.

Q: What’s the rarest Marvel What If comic?
A> Hands down, What If Magazine #1 (1988). Only sold in UK/EU. Saw one sell for $2k last year.

Creating Your Own What If Story (Yeah, You Can)

Marvel actually ran reader-submitted ideas in later issues! My failed pitch in 2002: “What If Daredevil Led the Hand?” Terrible, I know. But here’s how to craft a compelling one:

1. Pick a REAL Turning Point: Not “What if Tony Stark ate cereal?” Use pivotal moments: Uncle Ben’s death, the gamma bomb test.
2. Snowball the Changes: If Peter doesn’t stop that thief, he becomes an arrogant jerk. Then what? Maybe he sells his powers. Maybe Doc Ock recruits him.
3. Embrace Tragedy: Most What If endings are bittersweet. Don’t chicken out.

Pro Tip: Study What If #40 – “What If the Silver Surfer Had Not Escaped Earth?” Shows Galactus devouring the planet… because one choice failed. Chilling.

The Future of Marvel What If Comics

With the show’s success, Marvel’s pumping out new volumes. Recent hits like What If... Dark: Moon Knight (2023) prove the formula still works. But I’ve got gripes – modern issues feel too slick. Missing that raw, experimental vibe of the ‘70s books.

Though What If... Venom Possessed the Marvel Universe? (2024) gave me hope. That issue? Pure chaos. Eddie Brock bonding with Mjolnir? Yes! More like this, please.

Anyway. Whether you’re a curious newbie or a jaded collector, Marvel What If comics offer something rare: infinite Marvel universes in your hands. Just don’t start reading at 10 PM. You’ll be up until 3 AM wondering what if…