10 Best What If…? Stories in Marvel Comics, Ranked

As a long-time Marvel fan, I’m thrilled to see them celebrating 50 years of What If…?! This series has always been a fun dive into alternate realities, and the new eight-part comic miniseries promises even more. Basically, a powerful being called the Watcher takes you on a tour of the multiverse, showing you what happens when even small things change in the familiar Marvel world. And trust me, these aren’t just minor tweaks – we’re talking huge departures for characters and storylines you thought you knew! Some of these alternate tales are thrilling, others are genuinely heartbreaking, and a few are just wonderfully bizarre. With the 50th anniversary approaching, it’s a perfect time to revisit the best What If…? stories from the past five decades.

What If…? explores the popular fan question of ‘what if things had happened differently?’ by imagining alternate versions of events and characters.

10) What if Spider-Man Had Rescued Gwen Stacy?

As a lifelong cinema devotee, I’ve always been fascinated by alternate takes on classic stories, and this one’s a real ‘what if?’ moment for Spider-Man fans. We all remember the tragedy of Gwen Stacy, but imagine if Peter did manage to save her! In this version, he catches her before it’s too late, and it completely changes everything. They end up getting married, which is amazing, but of course, there’s a catch. The Green Goblin reveals Peter’s secret identity to J. Jonah Jameson, who predictably tries to ruin everything by crashing the wedding with the police. Peter’s forced to become a fugitive to protect Gwen and himself. It’s a story that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking, showing how saving the woman he loves comes at a huge personal cost. It feels surprisingly real, even with the superhero elements.

9) What if Doctor Doom Became a Hero?

Doctor Doom could have avoided becoming a villain with just a single act of humility. As a student, he listened to Reed Richards’ warning about a dangerous experiment, preventing the disfigurement that would later fuel his rage. With his appearance and friendship with Reed saved, Victor was able to rescue his mother’s soul from Hell and lead Latveria into a golden age, even marrying his longtime love, Valeria. But the demon Mephisto demanded a soul in exchange for his mother’s, presenting Victor with a terrible choice: sacrifice himself, the people of Latveria, or Valeria. Despite his newfound heroism, Victor’s overwhelming pride led him to tragically condemn Valeria to Hell, demonstrating that even as a hero, Doom’s ego would ultimately be his undoing. This story offers a compelling look at how even positive change couldn’t overcome Doom’s inherent flaw.

8) What if the Avengers Became Pawns of Korvac?

Wow, one of the most messed up What If…? stories has to be the one where the Korvac Saga goes totally different. You know how in the original story, Korvac gets stopped because Carina rejects him? Well, in this alternate universe, she joins him, and together they absolutely wipe out the Avengers! But it doesn’t stop there – he brings them back as brainwashed slaves, stops any of the gods from getting involved, and then actually challenges the Watcher! It gets even worse because when the Watcher tries to fight back, Korvac just… destroys the entire universe. Seriously, it’s one of the darkest endings I’ve ever seen in a Marvel comic, and it really shows why Korvac is such a powerful, yet underrated, villain.

7) What if Magik Became Sorcerer Supreme?

In this alternate Marvel story, Magik—one of the most powerful magic users—fully realizes her potential. Instead of becoming a New Mutant or X-Man, she leaves to protect her friends from the unpredictable nature of her abilities. She ends up training under Doctor Strange, and the story centers on their developing friendship and Magik’s journey to heal from the trauma of her past imprisonment and abuse in Limbo. This version of Magik experiences a rare sense of peace and optimism, making her story particularly satisfying.

6) What if Elektra Had Lived?

Elektra is currently alive in Marvel Comics, but her original death in 1982 – caused by Bullseye – was a major event that deeply affected Daredevil. This story takes a different path: Bullseye dies trying to escape from prison, preventing the epic showdown he and Elektra were destined to have. Despite this, Kingpin still orders Elektra’s assassination after she refuses to harm Foggy Nelson, a friend of Daredevil’s. However, none of Kingpin’s other assassins are as skilled as Bullseye, and Elektra easily overcomes them. In the end, Daredevil and Elektra achieve a happy ending – something they never had in the main comic book series – and leave to enjoy a peaceful life together.

5) What if Spider-Man Joined the Fantastic Four?

The first What If…? comic explored a different outcome of Spider-Man’s initial encounter with the Fantastic Four. In the original storyline, Spider-Man doesn’t join the team because they aren’t paid. However, this alternate version shows Spider-Man being persuaded to become a member. As part of the newly named Fantastic Five, he proves to be a valuable asset, helping to defeat enemies like Vulture and Red Ghost. The story takes an unexpected turn when Invisible Woman, feeling overlooked due to Spider-Man’s presence, leaves the team and marries Namor. It’s an exciting and entertaining story that perfectly sets the stage for the What If…? series.

4) What if Phoenix Didn’t Die?

Sometimes, saving one person can have devastating consequences. The death of Jean Grey in the “Dark Phoenix Saga” is a famous moment in comics, and the “What If…?” series explored what would happen if she had survived. In this alternate story, Jean controls the powerful Phoenix Force instead of dying. However, when Galactus threatens Earth, she uses the Phoenix Force again, but its immense power corrupts her. Instead of just destroying the X-Men, she ends up obliterating the entire universe. This “What If… ?” story powerfully highlighted the original saga’s message about how absolute power inevitably leads to corruption.

3) What if Captain America Wasn’t Revived Until Today?

This What If…? story is set in 1983, twenty years after Captain America was originally revived. Because Captain America didn’t return in the 1960s, the Avengers fell apart. When he’s finally unfrozen, Captain America discovers that imposters are using his and Bucky’s identities to enforce a prejudiced and oppressive government in the United States, targeting vulnerable communities. Naturally, the true Captain America opposes this and joins a resistance movement against these dictators who have twisted America’s core values. The story delivers a strong and enduring message: it’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure America truly embodies the principles of life, liberty, and justice for all.

2) What if Wolverine had Killed the Hulk?

Wolverine first appeared as a villain fighting the Hulk, and this story explores what would have happened if he’d won. After defeating the Hulk, Wolverine catches the attention of Magneto, who invites him to join the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Wolverine’s initial task is to spy on the X-Men, setting them up for an attack. But the X-Men, and particularly Jean Grey’s compassion, start to change him. Ultimately, Wolverine sacrifices himself to save Jean from the Brotherhood. This story powerfully shows how the X-Men gave Wolverine a place to belong and helped him see himself as something other than just a weapon.

1) What if Spider-Man and Mary Jane’s Child Had Survived?

I absolutely love this one particular What If…? comic! It finally gave Spider-Man something he’s never truly had: a genuinely happy ending. It’s such an emotional story because Peter and MJ’s daughter, Mayday, actually lives! She doesn’t just survive, she thrives, growing up to become this incredible hero, Spider-Girl, inheriting her dad’s powers. It wasn’t just about introducing Mayday, though. This story launched an entire comic universe, MC2, with over a hundred issues dedicated to Spider-Girl and a whole new generation of heroes! No other What If…? storyline ever got that kind of expansion, and honestly, Mayday Parker is one of my favorite versions of Spider-Man across the entire multiverse.

2026-06-08 03:11