Show pageBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== What If...? (Series) ====== ===== Part 1: The Dossier: An At-a-Glance Summary ===== * **Core Identity: **What If...?** is Marvel's premier speculative anthology franchise, both in comics and animation, dedicated to exploring the infinite possibilities of the Marvel Multiverse by chronicling pivotal moments that diverged from the established timeline, asking the question: "What if one thing had gone differently?"** * **Key Takeaways:** * **Role in the Universe:** //What If...?// serves as the primary gateway to understanding the [[marvel_multiverse]], showcasing countless alternate realities born from singular changes to iconic events. It functions as both a creative sandbox for writers and a philosophical exploration of cause, effect, and the nature of heroism, all narrated by the cosmic being known as [[uatu_the_watcher]]. * **Primary Impact:** The series is renowned for introducing characters and concepts that eventually crossed over into the mainstream continuity. Characters like [[spider-girl]] (Mayday Parker) and the villainous [[maestro]] (an evil future Hulk) originated in //What If...?// issues before earning their own dedicated storylines and universes, demonstrating the title's power as a creative incubator. * **Key Incarnations:** The original comic series is a pure anthology, with each issue being a self-contained, often cautionary tale observed by a strictly non-interfering Uatu. The [[what_if_mcu_series|Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series]], while also an anthology, features a more interconnected narrative, a version of The Watcher who becomes emotionally invested, and culminates in a team-up of its alternate heroes, the [[guardians_of_the_multiverse]]. ===== Part 2: Origin and Evolution ===== ==== Publication History and Creation ==== The concept of //What If...?// emerged during the Bronze Age of Comics, a period marked by increased creative experimentation. The series was conceived by legendary Marvel writer and editor **Roy Thomas**, who was inspired by older science fiction and fantasy stories that explored alternate histories. The title's core premise was simple yet profound: take a well-known moment in Marvel history and alter a single, crucial detail to see how the entire timeline would unfold differently. The first volume of //What If...?// debuted in **February 1977** with //What If...?// #1, which famously asked, "What If Spider-Man Had Joined the Fantastic Four?". This inaugural issue set the tone for the series, blending familiar characters with unforeseen circumstances and often concluding with an ironic or tragic twist. It established the series' narrative framework, with the omniscient cosmic being, Uatu the Watcher, serving as the host and narrator, guiding the reader through these divergent realities from his home on the Moon's Blue Area. The first volume ran for 47 issues until 1984. It was revived for a second, more expansive volume in 1989, which ran for 114 issues and became one of Marvel's longest-running series of the era. This second volume was notable for its darker tone and for more frequently introducing concepts that would have lasting impacts, such as the Maestro. Since then, Marvel has periodically released new volumes and one-shots, often tied to contemporary comic book events like `[[civil_war]]`, `[[avengers_vs_x-men|Avengers vs. X-Men]]`, and `[[age_of_ultron]]`, using the //What If...?// banner to explore the road not traveled in its biggest storylines. The enduring appeal of the series lies in its ability to deconstruct iconic heroes and stories, revealing their core truths by showing us what they could have been. ==== In-Universe Origin Story ==== === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === The in-universe premise of the comic series is intrinsically tied to its narrator, [[uatu_the_watcher|Uatu]]. Uatu is a member of the Watchers, an ancient and immensely powerful alien race who were among the first intelligent beings to evolve in the universe. Billions of years ago, the Watchers decided to share their advanced technology with a less developed race, the Prosilicans. Tragically, the Prosilicans used this gift to create nuclear weapons and annihilated themselves in a global war. Haunted by this cataclysmic failure, the Watchers collectively vowed never again to interfere in the affairs of other species. They dedicated themselves to a new purpose: to passively observe and chronicle all events across the universe and its infinite realities, but never to act. Uatu was assigned to watch over Earth and its solar system from a hidden base in the Blue Area of the Moon. However, Uatu developed a deep, almost paternal affection for the heroes and inhabitants of Earth. While bound by his oath, his desire to share the profound stories he witnessed led him to create a narrative loophole. The //What If...?// series represents Uatu directly addressing the reader, showing them visions of alternate timelines that exist within the vast tapestry of the Multiverse. Each story is a glimpse into another Earth—Earth-772, Earth-829, Earth-928—where a different choice was made or a different outcome occurred. For Uatu, narrating these tales is his way of interacting with the universe without directly interfering, serving as the Multiverse's ultimate historian. Though he has, on rare and momentous occasions, broken his oath to help Earth's heroes, his primary role in this series is that of the detached, all-seeing chronicler. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === The MCU's //What If...?// series presents a similar, yet distinct, in-universe origin. The premise is directly enabled by the events of the Disney+ series `[[loki_series|Loki]]`. For eons, the timeline of the MCU was carefully managed by He Who Remains, who pruned any deviation to prevent a multiversal war instigated by his own variants (like [[kang_the_conqueror]]). This curated reality was known as the "Sacred Timeline." When Sylvie killed He Who Remains in the `[[loki_season_1_finale|Loki Season 1 finale]]`, the Sacred Timeline shattered, branching into an infinite number of new realities, officially birthing the modern MCU Multiverse. It is this newly chaotic and untamed Multiverse that The Watcher of the MCU observes. This version of The Watcher, voiced by Jeffrey Wright, shares the same core purpose as his comic counterpart: to observe all that transpires across all realities without ever interfering. He introduces himself as our guide to these new, vast realities, showing us universes where Peggy Carter became a Super-Soldier, T'Challa became Star-Lord, or Doctor Strange turned to dark magic. However, a key distinction emerges as the series progresses. This Watcher becomes increasingly invested in the stories he witnesses, expressing empathy, sorrow, and frustration. His vow of non-interference is put to the ultimate test when a variant of Ultron, fused with Vision and empowered by the Infinity Stones, becomes aware of the Multiverse and threatens to destroy all realities. This forces The Watcher to break his sacred vow, actively intervening to assemble a team of heroes from across the Multiverse—the Guardians of the Multiverse—to combat the threat, marking a significant departure from the traditional, passive role of his comic book inspiration. ===== Part 3: Format, Themes & The Watcher's Role ===== === Earth-616 (Prime Comic Universe) === * **Format and Structure:** * The classic comic book format is almost always a **standalone, single-issue story**. Each comic presents a self-contained narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end. * The stories begin with Uatu introducing the "nexus point"—the specific moment that diverged from the Earth-616 timeline. * Many of the early //What If...?// stories are known for their **tragic, ironic, or downbeat endings**. They often serve as cautionary tales, reinforcing why the original timeline unfolded the way it did and highlighting the grave consequences of even small changes. For example, "What If Gwen Stacy Had Lived?" ends with her still facing peril, proving that her connection to Spider-Man would always put her in danger. * The series experimented with different formats over time, including multi-part stories, comedic issues (like "What If the Watcher Threw a Bachelor Party?"), and even issues with multiple, shorter stories. * **Core Themes:** * **Consequence:** The central theme is that every action has a ripple effect. The series meticulously explores the unintended consequences of heroes' choices. * **The Nature of Heroism:** By placing characters in different circumstances, the series questions what truly makes someone a hero. Is it their powers, or their choices? "What If Captain America Hadn't Been Lost in World War II?" explores a world shaped by his continued presence, for better and for worse. * **Tragedy and Irony:** A recurring motif is the "be careful what you wish for" scenario. Stories where heroes achieve their heart's desire often lead to even greater catastrophe, suggesting a form of cosmic fate at play. * **Uatu's Role:** In the comics, Uatu is the quintessential **passive observer**. His narration is typically omniscient and detached, providing context and exposition without judgment. His non-interference is his defining characteristic, born from his species' collective trauma. While he has been known to bend the rules—offering cryptic clues or assembling heroes when a threat is truly cosmic in scale (as seen in events like //The Korvac Saga// or //Original Sin//)—within the context of the //What If...?// series itself, he is almost exclusively a narrator. He is the lens through which we view these alternate worlds, not a character within them. === Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) === * **Format and Structure:** * The MCU series is an **animated anthology with a serialized, overarching plot**. While most episodes can be viewed as standalone stories, they build upon each other, culminating in a season-ending crossover event. * The series introduces the concept of an **"Absolute Point"** in time—an event so crucial to a timeline's existence that it cannot be changed, no matter how many times a person tries to alter it. This was the central focus of the Doctor Strange Supreme episode, where his attempts to save Christine Palmer only resulted in the destruction of his universe. * The animation style is cel-shaded and heavily inspired by classic American illustrators, giving the series a distinct visual identity that sets it apart from other MCU properties. * The tone varies wildly between episodes, ranging from the high-adventure of Captain Carter to the dark, cosmic horror of Doctor Strange and the zombie apocalypse. * **Core Themes:** * **Hope and Resilience:** Unlike the often-bleak comic stories, the MCU series frequently highlights the resilience of its heroes. Even in darker timelines, characters often find a way to embody hope and fight for what's right (e.g., T'Challa as Star-Lord redeeming the galaxy). * **Identity and Purpose:** Many episodes explore how a character's core identity remains even when their circumstances change dramatically. T'Challa is still a noble leader, Peggy Carter is still a courageous soldier, and Peter Parker is still driven by responsibility. * **Interconnectedness:** The series' climax emphasizes that no reality is truly an island. The threat of Infinity Ultron proves that the walls between universes are fragile, and heroes may be called upon to defend not just their world, but all worlds. * **The Watcher's Role:** The Watcher in the MCU begins as a passive narrator, mirroring his comic counterpart. However, his character arc is one of the series' central threads. He quickly becomes **emotionally compromised**, forming attachments to the heroes he observes, particularly Doctor Strange Supreme and Captain Carter. He talks //to// the characters, not just about them, and his struggle with his oath becomes a major source of conflict. His ultimate decision to intervene and form the Guardians of the Multiverse represents a fundamental evolution of the character, transforming him from a simple storyteller into a proactive defender of the Multiverse itself. ===== Part 4: The Multiverse and Its Keepers ===== ==== Uatu the Watcher ==== Uatu is the heart of the //What If...?// concept. Assigned to Earth's sector, he became the most well-known of his kind due to his frequent, silent appearances at pivotal moments in Earth-616 history, from the coming of [[galactus]] to the trial of [[jean_grey|Jean Grey]]. His affection for humanity, and particularly for the [[fantastic_four]] who first discovered him, made his post a deeply personal one. While his oath forbids direct action, his very presence often signals an event of cosmic importance. The //What If...?// comics are his personal chronicles, a library of might-have-beens that showcases his encyclopedic knowledge of the spacetime continuum. His eventual murder in the 2014 storyline `[[original_sin]]` was a cataclysmic event, as the secrets he had guarded for eons were unleashed upon Earth's heroes, proving that even a passive observer holds immense power. ==== The Watchers (Race) ==== The Watchers are among the oldest and most powerful races in the Marvel Universe. Possessing unimaginable cosmic power, they are capable of manipulating time, space, and energy on a scale that rivals entities like the Celestials. Their technology is beyond mortal comprehension. Their singular, self-imposed purpose is to observe and record the entirety of existence without interference. This vow is the cornerstone of their culture and identity, a penance for the Prosilican tragedy. They operate from a position of strict neutrality, viewing universal constants like life, death, good, and evil as mere data points to be recorded. Other Watchers have occasionally appeared in Marvel comics, often to chastise Uatu for his emotional attachment to Earth and his tendency to bend their sacred rules. ==== The Marvel Multiverse ==== The //What If...?// series was instrumental in popularizing the concept of the Marvel Multiverse for readers long before it became a central focus of major events. Each issue effectively introduced a new, numbered alternate Earth, creating a vast and explorable cosmos of possibilities. * **In the Comics:** The multiverse is a near-infinite collection of parallel universes, each with its own designation (e.g., the main universe is Earth-616, the Ultimate Universe is Earth-1610, etc.). //What If...?// explored these branches, showing how one different choice could create an entirely new reality. These universes were typically separate, with crossovers being rare and momentous occasions. * **In the MCU:** The multiverse was initially presented as a more theoretical concept. The `[[loki_series|Loki]]` series established that it was actively suppressed and managed. The MCU's //What If...?// demonstrates the "natural" state of this multiverse: a chaotic, endlessly branching tree of timelines sprouting from key moments. The show provides a visual and narrative language for the concept, making it accessible for a mainstream audience ahead of films like `[[spider-man_no_way_home]]` and `[[doctor_strange_in_the_multiverse_of_madness]]`, which rely heavily on multiversal travel and incursions. ===== Part 5: Landmark Issues & Episodes ===== ==== Comic: "What If Jane Foster Had Found the Hammer of Thor?" (Vol. 1, #10, 1978) ==== A truly foundational story, this issue predated the modern era's `[[jane_foster_thor|Jane Foster as Thor]]` by decades. The divergence point occurs when Donald Blake fails to find his walking stick (Mjolnir in disguise), and Jane Foster stumbles upon it instead. Striking it against the ground, she is transformed into **Thordis, the Goddess of Thunder**. The story explores her journey as she quickly masters the hammer's powers, defends Earth from alien invaders, and is summoned to Asgard. Odin, however, is displeased and subjects her to a series of trials to prove her worth. Ultimately, despite her heroism, Odin decrees that the power is not meant for a mortal woman and transfers it back to a now-humbled Donald Blake. Jane is returned to Earth with no memory, but with the status of a full goddess, destined to live on Olympus. This bittersweet ending was a classic example of the series' ironic twists, while also being a pioneering story of female empowerment in its time. ==== Comic: "What If the Phoenix Had Not Died?" (Vol. 1, #27, 1981) ==== This issue is a direct sequel to one of the most famous storylines in comic history, the "Dark Phoenix Saga." In the main Earth-616 timeline, Jean Grey sacrifices herself on the Moon to stop the immensely destructive Dark Phoenix entity. This issue explores what would have happened if, at the last moment, the fragment of Jean Grey's personality within the Phoenix had managed to purge its dark impulses instead of killing itself. The Phoenix entity performs a form of psychic lobotomy on itself, removing its own power and cosmic awareness to live as Jean Grey. While the X-Men are relieved, the Shi'ar Empire, having witnessed the Phoenix consume a star, cannot let the entity live. They attack, and in the ensuing battle, the Phoenix's power-limiters are broken. To protect her loved ones from her own immense power, the Phoenix flees to the empty corners of the universe, destined to live in eternal, lonely isolation. It is a profoundly tragic ending that validates the necessity of Jean's original sacrifice. ==== Comic: "What If the Hulk Had Killed Wolverine?" (Vol. 2, #50, 1993) ==== This dark and gritty tale serves as the direct origin story for one of the Hulk's most fearsome villains: the Maestro. The story begins during the Hulk's first battle with Wolverine. Instead of the inconclusive brawls they are known for, this fight ends decisively when the Hulk, in a fit of savage rage, snaps Wolverine's neck, breaking his adamantium-laced spine and killing him. This act of brutality sends Hulk on a downward spiral, alienating him from his fellow heroes. Years later, a devastating nuclear war wipes out most of humanity and its heroes. The Hulk, due to his unique physiology, not only survives but absorbs the massive amounts of radiation, which drives him insane while exponentially increasing his strength. With no heroes left to stop him, he conquers the remnants of the world, crowning himself the **Maestro**, the tyrannical, intelligent, and utterly ruthless ruler of a dystopian future. This story was so popular that it was directly adapted into the canonical `[[future_imperfect]]` miniseries. ==== MCU Episode: "What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?" (S1, E1) ==== The inaugural episode of the MCU series establishes its core premise beautifully. The nexus point is simple: during the Super-Soldier experiment, Agent Peggy Carter chooses to remain in the observation room instead of the booth. When a HYDRA agent attacks, Steve Rogers is injured before he can receive the serum. To save the project, Peggy steps into the chamber herself, emerging as **Captain Carter**. The episode follows her journey, facing sexism and skepticism from her superiors but proving her worth on the battlefield. Steve, not wanting to be left behind, pilots an armored suit built by Howard Stark called the "Hydra Stomper," becoming her partner in the field. The episode mirrors key beats from `[[captain_america_the_first_avenger]]`, culminating in Captain Carter pushing the Tesseract-powered final HYDRA weapon through a portal, only to emerge 70 years in the future, much like Steve did. Her character became the breakout star of the series, a recurring figure, and even made a live-action appearance in `[[doctor_strange_in_the_multiverse_of_madness]]`. ==== MCU Episode: "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" (S1, E4) ==== Widely considered the masterpiece of the first season, this episode is a dark, Shakespearean tragedy. The nexus point is that on the night of his accident, Stephen Strange is accompanied by his love, Dr. Christine Palmer, who dies in the crash. This loss, not the injury to his hands, is what drives him to seek out Kamar-Taj. After becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, he remains obsessed with saving Christine. The Ancient One warns him that Christine's death is an "Absolute Point" in his timeline; preventing it would create a paradox that would unravel reality. Ignoring her, Strange uses the Time Stone to travel back countless times, but she always dies. In his grief, he turns to dark magic, spending centuries absorbing countless mystical beings to gain enough power to break the Absolute Point. He becomes a monstrous figure, **Doctor Strange Supreme**, and succeeds in resurrecting Christine, only for his universe to immediately collapse around them as a result of the paradox. He is left utterly alone, the sole survivor in a void of his own making, imprisoned by The Watcher as a lesson in arrogance and loss. ===== Part 6: Legacy and Influence ===== ==== Canon Crossovers and Character Creation ==== The most significant legacy of //What If...?// is its role as a creative testing ground. Several characters who debuted in its pages became so popular that they were integrated into the wider Marvel canon. * **[[spider-girl|Spider-Girl (May "Mayday" Parker)]]:** Debuting in //What If...?// Vol. 2, #105, which explored a world where Spider-Man's daughter inherited his powers, Mayday Parker was an instant hit. This single issue launched the entire "MC2" (Marvel Comics 2) line of comics, a new universe (Earth-982) set in the near future that ran for over 100 issues. * **[[maestro|The Maestro]]:** As detailed above, the evil future Hulk from //What If...?// Vol. 2, #50 became the primary antagonist of the celebrated `[[peter_david_hulk|Peter David]]` storyline //Future Imperfect// and remains a major threat in the Hulk mythos. * **Elder-Power Thor:** A version of Thor from a //What If...?// issue who became the Herald of Galactus eventually crossed over into the main continuity during Donny Cates's run on //Thor//. ==== Paving the Way for Multiversal Storytelling ==== Long before multiversal epics like `[[spider-verse]]` or `[[secret_wars_2015|Secret Wars (2015)]]`, //What If...?// conditioned the Marvel readership to accept and understand the concept of alternate realities. It established the core rules and possibilities of the Multiverse, making it a familiar concept. This foundation allowed for the creation of multiversal super-teams whose entire premise was built on the //What If...?// model, most notably the `[[exiles_comics|Exiles]]`, a team of heroes plucked from different timelines to fix broken realities. ==== Influence on the Marvel Cinematic Universe ==== The //What If...?// comic series provided a direct blueprint for the MCU's own exploration of the Multiverse. The animated series served as the perfect, low-stakes entry point to introduce this high-level concept to a global audience. It allowed Marvel Studios to: * **Introduce Variants:** Familiarize viewers with the idea that there are different versions of beloved characters (Captain Carter, T'Challa as Star-Lord, Party Thor). * **Explore New Genres:** Test out different tones and genres, like the zombie horror episode, without committing a full feature film. * **Plant Seeds for the Future:** Characters and concepts from the animated series, such as Captain Carter and the idea of a multiversal-level threat, have already appeared or been referenced in live-action MCU projects, demonstrating a direct and ongoing synergy between the animated show and the overarching "Multiverse Saga." ===== See Also ===== * [[uatu_the_watcher]] * [[marvel_multiverse]] * [[captain_carter]] * [[guardians_of_the_multiverse]] * [[loki_series]] * [[exiles_comics|Exiles]] * [[maestro]] * [[spider-girl]] ===== Notes and Trivia ===== ((The very first //What If...?// story, "What If Spider-Man Had Joined the Fantastic Four?", was based on a story Roy Thomas had originally pitched for //Amazing Spider-Man// years earlier.)) ((//What If...?// Vol. 1, #34 contained one of the first meta, comedic, "fourth-wall-breaking" issues, titled "What If the Watcher Were a Stand-up Comedian?", featuring Uatu performing a disastrous comedy routine about the heroes he observes.)) ((The MCU's //What If...?// series features the final performance of actor Chadwick Boseman, who recorded his lines for the role of T'Challa/Star-Lord before his passing. The second episode is dedicated to his memory.)) ((While most //What If...?// stories are considered non-canon to Earth-616, the events are considered to have "actually happened" on their respective alternate Earths within the Marvel Multiverse.)) ((The concept of a "nexus point" causing a timeline to diverge, which is central to the MCU's //What If...?// and //Loki//, was first popularized in the comic series as the moment Uatu would identify as the catalyst for the new reality.))