Sunday Rerun: What Ifs from When Then!

Martinex1: Back in the day of the Bronze Age Babies site, the hosts Doug and Karen invited us to contribute short reviews of comics that we enjoyed.   Here today I share a few of my quick reviews from April 20, 2015.  I've added a few extra notes as well.  I hope you enjoy these reruns today!  Cheers!

What If? #6 (December 1977)

"What If the Fantastic Four Had Different Super-Powers?"

Roy Thomas-Jim Craig/Rick Hoberg/Sam Grainger

 

In typical What If fashion, the Watcher explores possible outcomes of the fateful flight and cosmic ray impact in the origin of the FF. The artwork is serviceable at best but the story and characterization move briskly. In what may be the first overt linking of the foursome’s personality to their powers, we get Big Brain, Dragonfly, Mandroid, and Ultra Woman. Fairly standard adventures ensue. The highlight is the rather 1950’s horror inspired lunacy of Reed’s floating bodiless brain. Only Marvel could have vengeful dialogue like, “What’s wrong kiddies? You got something against Grand Funk Railroad!”  Who needs Dr. Doom?

Martinex1 (update): This was within the first ten Marvel comics I ever purchased.  I was an early fan of the FF and was really intrigued by this What If.  I felt that Ben Grimm really shined in this issue as he became the field leader. There was an emotional pull as Reed dealt with being reduced to a brain floating in a series of tubes filled with life sustaining liquid.   I maintain a nostalgic desire to see this version of the FF appear again and actually battle the mainstream family in the way the cover depicts (alas that never happened in the book).  I mentioned in my early review that the art was "serviceable" but I actually like Jim Craig's quirkiness here; the only other work of his that I know was on 3-D Man in Marvel Premiere.  And in retrospect I am happy to see that Sam Grainger, one of my favorite inkers, was involved. 

What If? #7 (February 1978)

"What If Someone Else Had Become the Amazing Spider-Man?"

Don Glut/Roy Thomas-Rick Hoberg/Sam Grainger

The ol’ Watcher is at it again, sharing alternative tales of Spidey’s origin with the icon’s supporting cast being bitten by the radioactive spider. We get three abbreviated stand alone and tragic tales in which Flash Thompson, Betty Brant and John Jameson are the recipients of that fateful bite. The costumes are repetitive at best, and reflective of 70’s goofiness at worst. Spider Jameson (yes that is his moniker) dons a helmet reminiscent of the TV Captain America. No great insights here, and the ultimate outcome on all three worlds is predictable and melodramatic. Makes you long for Spider Ham!

Martinex1 (update):  This is the weakest of the issues reviewed today, but it was actually a nice primer for a kid who was not that familiar with Spider-Man's origin at the point I read this.  I have seen comments on other sites that abhor Betty's Spider-suit, but I liked that costume as many heroines don't hide their face and I thought this was strikingly different that way.  Why don't the females hide their secret identities better? Wasp, Sue Storm, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Woman etc are all fairly exposed.

 What If? #20 (April 1980)

"What If the Avengers Had Fought the Kree-Skrull War Without Rick Jones?"

Tom DeFalco-Sal Buscema/Alan Kupperberg/Bruce D. Patterson

In a nice companion piece to the Kree-Skrull War, the Watcher investigates a world in which Rick Jones dies at the hands of Ronan so he is never employed as the “deus ex machina” for that conflict’s conclusion.  The alternative action which includes an armada of heroes joining the fracas could have been explored more thoroughly.  But Alan Kupperberg’s art is better than expected, and the way the story deftly hits on original keynotes of the epic is admirable.  Hard to believe that this enjoyable “imaginary” diversion was somehow the impetus for the morass that was Avengers #200.

Martinex1 (update): I actually thought that in some ways the all out battle with Earth's heroes was a more palatable conclusion than the way Rick psychically created manifestations of heroes in the original story.   I am curious as to why the coloring had Daredevil (below) in black.  The reference I make to Avengers #200 is that editorial decided to change that Avengers story as this issue had a similar ending as to what they had planned.  My understanding is that the Supreme Intelligence was going to have some influence on Ms. Marvel's mysterious pregnancy but they had to shoehorn in Marcus / Immortus so it wasn't redundant.  Whatever the cause, that did not work out well at all. 

Avengers #169 (March 1978)

"If We Should Fail... the World Dies Tonight!"

Marv Wolfman-Sal Buscema/Dave Hunt

This fill in issue pits Iron Man, Cap, and the Panther against a megalomaniac with a weak heart and a diabolical plan. The story devolves into a Justice Society like adventure as each Avenger explores the globe searching for a portion of a world destroying bomb. The plot is weak as the heroes confront men and beasts in their time hindered quest. The story includes rather stereotypical antagonists and a penchant for melodrama. The real star is Sal Buscema with some incredibly clean lines and spot on Avenger action. And who can resist the crossword drama of the opening splash?

Martinex1 (update):  The dreaded deadline doom caused Marvel to publish this stock issue right in the middle of the Guardians of the Galaxy and Korvac epic.  But I have to say that I really think Sal Buscema's art in the issue was so solid. His Captain America and Black Panther brought me back to the classic days when he first worked on the book. The story is weak and as I stated is more reminiscent of an early DC book.