Best of "What If...?": #4

One-Shot (2005)
What if Dr Doom had become the Thing?

Written by Karl Kesel
Drawn by Paul Smith

Years ago, Empire State University admitted two students of unusual genius named Reed Richards and Victor von Doom. Whereas Reed allowed himself time for leisure, Victor devoted himself entirely to a number of clandestine experiments. One day, Reed noted a flaw in the calculations of his jealous rival. Victor shrugged off the remark, and soon, the criticized experiment literally blew up in his face.

Yet even the arrogant Doom could have paused and reconsidered his work. Finding that Richards was right after all, Victor could have partnered with Reed to share ideas and achieve the impossible. In a universe unlike our own, he did.

It is now five years since Reed and Victor began working together, and the final products of their research will soon be unveiled. Two civilian passengers are presently flying into space with the scientist pair to prove the safety of their first commercial spacecraft. Success seems assured until potentially lethal cosmic rays begin to bombard the ship, and Victor makes a sinister announcement…

“I’ve already dredged the most useful ideas from Richards’ mind. And so I will finish the research and bask in the glory alone…”

Best of "What If...?": #7

Volume 2 #11 (1990)
What if the Fantastic Four all had the same power?

Written and Drawn by Jim Valentino

The Fantastic Four have saved the world – and each other’s lives – on a great many occasions, thanks to the complementary nature of their powers.

Johnny Storm can light on fire and take flight; his sister, Sue, can become invisible and create force fields. Would a Fantastic Four sharing just one of their powers always use it responsibly for the good of mankind?

Reed Richards possesses an odd stretching ability; his friend Ben Grimm wields super-strength at the expense of a monstrous form. Would a Fantastic Four in either of their places seek to become superheroes?

Tasked with observing all that transpires on Earth, the otherworldly Watcher has had a special interest in the Fantastic Four since their founding. All of the realities considered above have – in other universes – played out before his eyes…

“Four different worlds, four different fates. Each one could have been yours, had only circumstances been slightly different.”

Best of "What If...?": #25

Volume 1 #36 (1982)
What if the Fantastic Four had not gained their powers?

Written and Drawn by John Byrne

“Nobody calls me a coward! Get the ship! I’ll fly her no matter what happens!”

Ben Grimm spoke these words years ago, and the rest is history. Ben and three others – Reed, his best friend; Sue, Reed’s fiancée; and Johnny, Sue’s brother – tore off into space, exposing themselves to cosmic radiation. Amazingly, these four adventurers not only survived a crash landing back to Earth but moreover gained fantastic powers.

Ever since, Reed’s cool intellect has prevailed… as it could have years ago. Given time to adequately shield their ship, the foursome’s flight could have gone off without a hitch. That success – combined with further fruits of Reed’s genius – could have ushered mankind into an era of unprecedented prosperity.

Now, that age is nearly at hand. Mere months after Ben’s celebrated landing, a sprawling scientific complex bearing Reed’s name has just opened. Thus, seismic scanners are in perfect working order when they report that an inexplicable earthquake is about to occur directly beneath the facility…