LETTING IT ALL HANG OUT- 'WHAT IF?' STYLE

 BY AJ DAZZY D

     Why is it that Marvel's "What If..." series rocks so hard?  Well, they start with a pretty awesome premise, a change in an important moment.  Then they go for broke--there's not going to be any next issue so they let it all hang out.  And lastly, there's no continuity damage, so, the ripple effects are major.  Comic readers rejoice, "What If..." is back.  And if spoiling the first issue is what it takes to highlight the awesomeness--so be it.

     If you don't know, "What If..." is Marvel's title which examines alternative storylines by changing key points in the continuity.  A classic example is the "what if Spider-Man hadn't got off the Black Costume?"  Venom (We're just going to call it that for ease) sucks fifty years off of Spider-Man (who later dies) and then gets on the Hulk.  He then tries to take over Thor at Mount Rushmore and Black Bolt wipes out the whole mountain subduing the alien.  Black Cat shows up and kills Venom.  Boom! Pow!  Marvel's entire world is rocked and in a way which was not built up for months in slow, money-making steps.  That's the fun of "What If..."

THE ISSUE THAT STARTED IT ALL FROM FEBUARY 1977: WHAT IF? #1 (1st SERIES)

     "What If.." kicks off again on Planet Hulk.  Only this time, the ever-malfunctioning capsule they sent Hulk into space with blows up and kills the Hulk and not his wife, Caiera.  Caiera soaks up some power from the planet and then gears up to destroy earth.  Right away, we have an interesting change:  Dead Hulk and one crazy alien queen.  "What If..."  starts out with these subtle diversions that can seem like just small changes.  However, the genius is that the changes are going to be big and forever.  In the latest "What If...," dead Hulk is like actually dead, for real-real, not for play-play.  When they say "what if" they mean it.

     And talk about going for broke!  "What If..." is easily the most action packed series out there.  Caiera, in the newest issue, creatively destroys the Sentry and Dr. Strange.  She then dispatches Iron Man and Reed Richards seconds later.    Same thing with last year's "What If...Wolverine:  Enemy of the State."  One of the creepest Marvel Comics you'll ever read, this "What if..." has a HYDRA brainwashed Wolverine wiping out the Marvel heroes one at a time with Jason-like unstoppability.  It is a "say, hi to Bucky" level of creepy.  Of course, these bloody pages sometimes seem incredible.  Caiera and Wolverine's mortal combats only have one issue to complete.  Sometimes there are spin-offs, but for the most part these one-shots aren't about building up to it like an Elseworld such as Red Son.  These issues get down to business at a brisk, even curt pace.

ONE OF THE LATEST OFFERINGS FROM THE WHAT IF? GRAPEVINE...'WHAT IF PLANET HULK?'

     But the action is not just for show.  You can kill off Spidey, or even all the Avengers, and not change the world.  Caiera doesn't just wipe out the Avengers and then get beaten back.  She takes over the whole world.  "What If..." doesn't fiddle around.  This first 2007 issue ends with Caiera enslaving the human race and building a thousand story high Hulk statue.  We even get a glimpse of son of Hulk.  This title has a take no prisoners atitude.  "What If..." doesn't have to maintain the continuity; in fact, the crazier the ending (within the limits of character and tone) the better. 

     In a comic book world that is constantly afraid to kill off a major character, or change anything, we have, in deed, recently gotten some changes (mostly cosmetic).  But "What If..." has the freedom to do anything.  In a many ways those storylines are the strongest.  Unlike in standard Trek episodes, where only the red-shirted, nameless crew member may die or get horribly scarred; "What If..." is more like the time-travel or alternative universe episodes where Kirk can die or Spock can betray or whatever.  Something is going to happen in a "What If..."  It is the whole point of printing the book.  Some Marvel comics go the whole issue without anything happening.  But when is the last time you picked up a Marvel comic and said anything could happen in this issue and will?  "What If..." might not be mainstream continuity, but it is fun--because anything can happen and will.