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What If? Classic #3
What If? Classic, Vol. 3
It's alternate-Earth anarchy as Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, Nova and Shang-Chi are turned against humanity when fate is tossed a twist by that infamous question mark!
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 4, 2023
The third collection of the original 1970s What If?, featuring:
- "What If Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Had Fought World War II in Outer Space?" This is a weird story idea, transposing the history of World War II into a space-opera setting. Seems like the appeal is pretty narrow.
- "What If Someone Else Had Become Nova?" Four very short tales, each with the Nova Force finding a new host: a grief-stricken widow, a kindly homeless man, Peter Parker(!), and a bad guy. All are interesting, though the Peter Parker one feels contrived for maximum angst, and the bad guy (weakest of the set) is kind of a cipher.
- "What If Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, and Captain Marvel Had Remained Villains?" Another mini-anthology, these are only OK and perhaps a bit unenthusiastic. The Captain Marvel story in particular feels like it's just going through the motions.
- "What If Doctor Strange Had Been a Disciple of Dormammu?" One of the better stories in the collection, as it's both plausible and entertaining, though the ending feels a bit too pat.
- "What If Spider-Man Had Stopped the Burglar Who Killed His Uncle?" Best story of the set, as we get a very different direction for Spider-Man with some entertaining twists.
- "What If the Avengers Had Fought the Kree-Skrull War Without Rick Jones?" This story has a sense of foreboding, as Earth is placed in more and more danger, but it doesn't quite pay off. (B+)
- "What If Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos Had Fought World War II in Outer Space?" This is a weird story idea, transposing the history of World War II into a space-opera setting. Seems like the appeal is pretty narrow.
- "What If Someone Else Had Become Nova?" Four very short tales, each with the Nova Force finding a new host: a grief-stricken widow, a kindly homeless man, Peter Parker(!), and a bad guy. All are interesting, though the Peter Parker one feels contrived for maximum angst, and the bad guy (weakest of the set) is kind of a cipher.
- "What If Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, and Captain Marvel Had Remained Villains?" Another mini-anthology, these are only OK and perhaps a bit unenthusiastic. The Captain Marvel story in particular feels like it's just going through the motions.
- "What If Doctor Strange Had Been a Disciple of Dormammu?" One of the better stories in the collection, as it's both plausible and entertaining, though the ending feels a bit too pat.
- "What If Spider-Man Had Stopped the Burglar Who Killed His Uncle?" Best story of the set, as we get a very different direction for Spider-Man with some entertaining twists.
- "What If the Avengers Had Fought the Kree-Skrull War Without Rick Jones?" This story has a sense of foreboding, as Earth is placed in more and more danger, but it doesn't quite pay off. (B+)
July 11, 2025
Collects What If? (1977-1984) issues #14-15 and #17-20
As far as I remember, an issue of "What If?" was the first comic book that I bought off of the spinner rack. Because of that, and my love of parallel universe stories, this series has always been a favorite of mine. Whenever I go to a comic book convention, I try to buy one (or more) issues of "What If." Even though I didn't love ever issue in this collection, I love this series as a whole.
Here are the stories that are included in this collection with my spoiler-filled mini reviews:
Read 6/28/2022 - What if Sgt. Fury had fought World War Two in Outer Space? - Issue #14 - The idea for this comic is great, but the dialogue was almost unreadable. - 2.5 stars
Read 8/22/2022 - What if Nova had been four other people? - Issue #15 - Four short stories, all entertaining. - 4 stars
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS COLLECTION BECAUSE OF RIGHTS ISSUES - Read 9/14/2022 - What if Shang-Chi Master of Kung Fu fought on the side of Fu Manchu? - Issue #16 - It starts out different, and then basically becomes what Shang-Chi always is. - 4 stars
Read 6/22/2024 - What if Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, Captain Marvel were villains? - Issue#17 - Three short stories, all just OK. - 3.5 stars
Read 6/26/2025 - What if Dr. Strange were a disciple of Dormammu? - Issue #18 - A retelling of Dr. Strange's origin story that I really enjoyed. Much like the Shang-Chi story two issues ago, it starts out different but ultimately gets Strange to where he typically is. - 4.5 stars
Read 7/8/2025 - What if Spider-Man had never become a crimefighter? - Issue #19 - Spider-Man is an arrogant movie producer. - 3.5 stars
Read 7/9/2025 - What if The Avengers fought the Kree-Skrull War without Rick Jones? - Issues #20 - I can't remember the original "Kree-Skrull War" story very well, so I didn't know what was different, but this issue felt like it would never end. - 2 stars
As far as I remember, an issue of "What If?" was the first comic book that I bought off of the spinner rack. Because of that, and my love of parallel universe stories, this series has always been a favorite of mine. Whenever I go to a comic book convention, I try to buy one (or more) issues of "What If." Even though I didn't love ever issue in this collection, I love this series as a whole.
Here are the stories that are included in this collection with my spoiler-filled mini reviews:
Read 6/28/2022 - What if Sgt. Fury had fought World War Two in Outer Space? - Issue #14 - The idea for this comic is great, but the dialogue was almost unreadable. - 2.5 stars
Read 8/22/2022 - What if Nova had been four other people? - Issue #15 - Four short stories, all entertaining. - 4 stars
NOT INCLUDED IN THIS COLLECTION BECAUSE OF RIGHTS ISSUES - Read 9/14/2022 - What if Shang-Chi Master of Kung Fu fought on the side of Fu Manchu? - Issue #16 - It starts out different, and then basically becomes what Shang-Chi always is. - 4 stars
Read 6/22/2024 - What if Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman, Captain Marvel were villains? - Issue#17 - Three short stories, all just OK. - 3.5 stars
Read 6/26/2025 - What if Dr. Strange were a disciple of Dormammu? - Issue #18 - A retelling of Dr. Strange's origin story that I really enjoyed. Much like the Shang-Chi story two issues ago, it starts out different but ultimately gets Strange to where he typically is. - 4.5 stars
Read 7/8/2025 - What if Spider-Man had never become a crimefighter? - Issue #19 - Spider-Man is an arrogant movie producer. - 3.5 stars
Read 7/9/2025 - What if The Avengers fought the Kree-Skrull War without Rick Jones? - Issues #20 - I can't remember the original "Kree-Skrull War" story very well, so I didn't know what was different, but this issue felt like it would never end. - 2 stars
July 3, 2017
Mostly average
Three really good stories in this volume, doctor strange, Spider-Man and the Avengers. The rest are, as par for the series, average or below.
Three really good stories in this volume, doctor strange, Spider-Man and the Avengers. The rest are, as par for the series, average or below.
February 17, 2015
with more obscure characters and far weaker premises. This book collects Issues 14 and 15 of the Series (Issue 16 was a Masters of Kung Fu comic Marvel has lost the license to) and Issues 17-20:
1) What if Sergeant Fury and His Howling Commandos had Fought World War II in Space?: As a letters issue in this volume pointed out, this whole scenario was a betrayal of the very idea of the, "What If?" comic which was predicated on asking What if events went differently in established Marvel continuity. This one was founded on Leonardo inventing airplanes. And the writers don't seem to get that World War II against generic space aliens is nowhere near as compelling as World War II. Story is dull and dumb. Grade: D
2) What if Someone Else had become Nova?: This book asks what would have happened if four different people ended up getting the powers of Nova. I get that write Marv Wolfman was coming for a study on the effects of power but the whole story seemed kind of obvious: If different people got these powers they'd do different things with them. It doesn't help that three of the alternate Novas were total unknowns to the Marvel Universe. Still, I'll give it a grade: C as a meditation of the corrupting effects of power.
3) What if Ghost Rider/Spider-Woman/Captain Marvel remain villains: Another three short story tale and my thoughts on each: The Ghost Rider tale is depressing but not that bad. The Spider-woman tale is a bit dumb. I have to admit I enjoyed the Captain Marvel story if for no other reason than the pleasure of seeing Yon-Rogg get get his comeuppance even it's in a What If? Tale. The title's a bit of misnomer as the last two don't stay villains for long. Still, I'll give this one a Grade: C-.
4)What if Doctor Strange were a disciple of Dormammu: A kind of confusing story where Doc Strange joins the forces of evil so easily and is shown to have no real redeeming qualities that to me it makes the choice between good and evil too simple for plot convenience reasons. Grade: D+
5) What if Spider-man had stopped the burglar that killed his Uncle: And finally a good one. In this stories, Spidey stops the burglar for good publicity and decides to make his career in showbiz, falling out with Aunt May and Uncle Ben, and going Hollywood, becoming an agent for the most of Marvel superheroes including the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. I loved the end of the story that suggested the lesson about great power coming with great responsibility was one he'd always have to learn and it's in the face of another tragedy because he continued his entertainment career with unbroken arrogance. A nice twist. Grade: B+
6) What if the Avengers Fought the Kree-Skrull War without Rick Jones: Writer Tom DeFalco gives an alternate end to the Kree-Skurll war story that is enjoyable as a space epic and filmed with all Marvel's big guns coming out to crush this invaders. Whether you know anything about the actual Kree-Skrull war or not, this story is very good on its own right. It's a wonderful epic that made a giant sized comic worth buying. Grade: A
Overall, the first 2/3 of the book is mostly forgettable, but the last two stories make this worth reading
1) What if Sergeant Fury and His Howling Commandos had Fought World War II in Space?: As a letters issue in this volume pointed out, this whole scenario was a betrayal of the very idea of the, "What If?" comic which was predicated on asking What if events went differently in established Marvel continuity. This one was founded on Leonardo inventing airplanes. And the writers don't seem to get that World War II against generic space aliens is nowhere near as compelling as World War II. Story is dull and dumb. Grade: D
2) What if Someone Else had become Nova?: This book asks what would have happened if four different people ended up getting the powers of Nova. I get that write Marv Wolfman was coming for a study on the effects of power but the whole story seemed kind of obvious: If different people got these powers they'd do different things with them. It doesn't help that three of the alternate Novas were total unknowns to the Marvel Universe. Still, I'll give it a grade: C as a meditation of the corrupting effects of power.
3) What if Ghost Rider/Spider-Woman/Captain Marvel remain villains: Another three short story tale and my thoughts on each: The Ghost Rider tale is depressing but not that bad. The Spider-woman tale is a bit dumb. I have to admit I enjoyed the Captain Marvel story if for no other reason than the pleasure of seeing Yon-Rogg get get his comeuppance even it's in a What If? Tale. The title's a bit of misnomer as the last two don't stay villains for long. Still, I'll give this one a Grade: C-.
4)What if Doctor Strange were a disciple of Dormammu: A kind of confusing story where Doc Strange joins the forces of evil so easily and is shown to have no real redeeming qualities that to me it makes the choice between good and evil too simple for plot convenience reasons. Grade: D+
5) What if Spider-man had stopped the burglar that killed his Uncle: And finally a good one. In this stories, Spidey stops the burglar for good publicity and decides to make his career in showbiz, falling out with Aunt May and Uncle Ben, and going Hollywood, becoming an agent for the most of Marvel superheroes including the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. I loved the end of the story that suggested the lesson about great power coming with great responsibility was one he'd always have to learn and it's in the face of another tragedy because he continued his entertainment career with unbroken arrogance. A nice twist. Grade: B+
6) What if the Avengers Fought the Kree-Skrull War without Rick Jones: Writer Tom DeFalco gives an alternate end to the Kree-Skurll war story that is enjoyable as a space epic and filmed with all Marvel's big guns coming out to crush this invaders. Whether you know anything about the actual Kree-Skrull war or not, this story is very good on its own right. It's a wonderful epic that made a giant sized comic worth buying. Grade: A
Overall, the first 2/3 of the book is mostly forgettable, but the last two stories make this worth reading
January 7, 2016
This was an odd collection of What If stories. One that was the Howling Commandos in space had nothing to do with the concept, and was quite boring. The Spiderman story really stood out, as Peter stopped the villain before he shot Uncle Ben. This meant he continued on his path to fame. The Nova stories were interesting, about how different people reacted to being Nova. A fun read if you ignore the Howling Commandos story.
August 5, 2013
I really enjoyed these stories, they were far better written and way more interesting than volume 2. I especially enjoyed the Doctor Strange story, Marvel truly began to realise the potential of the series which years later gave rise to The Ultimate Universe.
June 30, 2013
I wasn't impressed with these What ifs.
August 1, 2014
Muy bueno! Las historias de Conan y Doctor Extraño están entre mis favoritas. De hecho creo que haberlas leído en España hace años y años.
August 5, 2014
Fun flashback to comics of my youth
January 29, 2016
I love the What If? series of comics. Most of the odd ideas I wondered about my favorite heroes get given their own story. Here I can see the other choices explored. Very recommended
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews