What if… we finally got around to putting all of the Watcher’s appearances in the What If…? series into his chronology? I’ve only been meaning to do it for YEARS, after all.
For the most part, I’m only looking for Watcher appearances. We wouldn’t list any alternate reality characters from this series unless they appeared somewhere else as well, anyway (and we’ve already done that for the most part, I think. There are also some backup strips that take place in the Marvel Universe’s past that are already included as well, but some of them are incomplete; I’ll fill these in as well). I’ll list all of the issues, and only make a note if a character from the main Marvel Universe appears besides the Watcher (because the Watcher appears in all of these stories), and if a story takes place out of publication order.
WHAT IF…? #1 (February, 1977)
What if Spider-Man joined the Fantastic Four?
WHAT IF…? #2 (April, 1977)
What if the Hulk had always had Bruce Banner’s brain?
WHAT IF…? #3 (June, 1977)
What if the Avengers had never been?
WHAT IF…? #4 (August, 1977)
What if the Invaders had stayed together after World War Two?
WHAT IF…? #5 (October, 1977)
What if Captain America and Bucky had BOTH survived World War II?
WHAT IF…? #6 (December, 1977)
What if the Fantastic Four had different super-powers?
WHAT IF…? #7 (February, 1978)
What if someone else had become the Amazing Spider-Man?
SYNOPSIS:
The Watcher watches Spider-Man save some kid pretending to be Spider-Man, then looks into other realities. (already placed in the MCP for Spider-Man)
WHAT IF…? #8 (April, 1978)
What if the world knew Daredevil was blind?
WHAT IF…? #9 (June, 1978)
What if the Avengers had been formed during the 1950’s?
WHAT IF…? #10 (August, 1978)
What if Jane Foster had found the hammer of Thor?
WHAT IF…? #11 (October, 1978)
What if the Fantastic Four were the original Marvel bullpen?
WHAT IF…? #12 (December, 1978)
What if Rick Jones had become the Hulk?
WHAT IF…? #13 (February, 1979)
What if Conan the Barbarian walked the Earth TODAY?
WHAT IF…? #14 (April, 1979)
What if Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos had fought World War II in OUTER SPACE?
WHAT IF…? #15 (July, 1979)
What if someone else had become Nova?
WHAT IF…? #16 (August, 1979)
What if Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, had remained loyal to Fu Manchu?
WHAT IF…? #17 (October, 1979)
What if Ghost Rider, Spider-Woman and Captain Marvel had remained villains?
WHAT IF…? #18 (December, 1979)
What if Dr. Strange had been a disciple of Dormammu?
WHAT IF…? #19 (February, 1980)
What if Spider-Man had stopped the burglar who killed his uncle?
WHAT IF…? #20 (April, 1980)
What if the Avengers had fought the Kree-Skrull war without Rick Jones?
WHAT IF…? #21 (June, 1980)
What if Sub-Mariner had married the Invisible Girl?
WHAT IF…? #22 (August, 1980)
What if Doctor Doom had become a HERO?
WHAT IF…? #23 (October, 1980)
What if Hulk’s girlfriend Jarella had not died?
2nd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: The first Celestial Host!
(already placed in the MCP for the Celestials)
WHAT IF…? #24 (December, 1980)
What if Gwen Stacy had lived?
SYNOPSIS:
A year after Gwen Stacy died, Spider-Man remembers their life together. The Watcher then shows us a reality where Spider-Man saved her. (already placed in the MCP for Spider-Man, but WAY too early)
2nd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: The first Eternals
SYNOPSIS:
Kronos builds a home for the Eternals, Uranos is upset with Kronos’ plans for the Eternals. A civil war erupts and Kronos defeats and imprisons Uranos. Later, Kronos makes a great discovery with the life-force, but mishandles it; it explodes and he survives, but without a body. (expands CM 29-FB)
WHAT IF…? #25 (February, 1981)
What if Thor fought Odin over Jane Foster?
2nd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: The first Uni-Mind!
SYNOPSIS:
(flashback: Kronos raises Zuras and Alars) Zuras and Alars check on an explosion and find their father Kronos without a body. Kronos tells them their people are now eternal because of his experiments with life-force. They learn how to form the Uni-Mind. Later, Alars realizes that he and Zuras will never agree on how the Eternals should live, so he leaves. (expands CM 29-FB, currently only placed in the MCP for Zuras)
WHAT IF…? #26 (April, 1981)
What if Captain America were elected president?
2nd story:
What if the Man-Thing had regained Ted Sallis’ brain?
3rd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: Outpost on Uranus
SYNOPSIS:
Uranos and a group of exiled Eternals arrive on Uranus and find a Kree outpost. They defeat a Kree Sentry (213) left there to defend it, and take over the place. Later, Korath and Ronan of the Kree noticed the Sentry in off-line and calls for reinforcements.
WHAT IF…? #27 (July, 1981)
What if Phoenix had not died?
2nd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: Kree encounter!
SYNOPSIS:
Uranos builds a ship to return to Earth with, but Astron says they shouldn’t return. Uranos leaves Astron and some others behind. On their way back to Earth, they’re attacked by the Kree.
WHAT IF…? #28 (August, 1981)
What if Ghost Rider were separated from Johnny Blaze?
2nd story:
Matt Murdock, Agent of… S.H.I.E.L.D.
3rd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: New life
SYNOPSIS:
Uranos and his fellow Eternals float in space. The Kree take one of the Eternals for study and leave. The rest wake up and drift to a moon around Saturn and decide to make it their new home, calling it Titan. Later, the Kree study the Eternal and tell the Supreme Intelligence about his similarities to the Kree, and that he came from Earth. He sends a Kree Sentry and some Kree to Earth to investigate and perform experiments.
WHAT IF…? #29 (October, 1981)
What if the Avengers were the LAST superheroes on Earth?
SYNOPSIS:
Crosses over with/expands Avengers Annual #2. (already placed in the MCP for the Avengers)
2nd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: …the search for the Great Refuge!
(already placed in the MCP for the Eternals & Inhumans)
3rd story:
What if Sub-Mariner never regained his memory?
WHAT IF…? #30 (December, 1981)
What if Spider-Man’s CLONE had survived?
2nd story:
Untold tales of the Marvel Universe: Moving day!
(already placed in the MCP for the Inhumans)
WHAT IF…? #31 (February, 1982)
What if Wolverine had killed the Hulk?
2nd story:
What if there was no Fantastic Four?
WHAT IF…? #32 (April, 1982)
What if the Avengers had become pawns of KORVAC?
SYNOPSIS:
When Korvac and Carina Walters lock off their reality from the rest of the multiverse, Immortus notices. Later, the Living Tribunal holds a trial to decide what to do. Also, a bunch of alternate reality Watchers appear. (already placed in the MCP for Immortus and Living Tribunal, who are multiversal singularities)
WHAT IF…? #33 (June, 1982)
What if the Dazzler had become the Herald of Galactus?
2nd story:
What if Iron Man had been trapped in King Arthur’s time?
WHAT IF…? #34 (August, 1982)
It’s the comedy issue! The Marvel Universe Watcher does appear on the first page, and then a whole bunch of alternate reality Watchers appear through the issue.
WHAT IF…? #35 (October, 1982)
What if Bullseye had not killed Elektra?
SYNOPSIS:
Matt Murdock visits Elektra’s grave and the Watcher tells him what would have happened if she hadn’t died. (already placed in the MCP for Daredevil)
2nd story:
And thus are born the Cat People!
SYNOPSIS:
Centuries ago, Sorcerer Ebrok creates the Cat People. When the Cat People get tired of being treated like second class citizens they rebel. Orann tells Ebrok something must be done, so the Cat People are sent into exile. Later, Flavius and Helene, having learned how to pose as humans, return to Ebrok. He tells them every creature has the capacity to be evil, not just humans. They leave, but one day the Cat People will give the world Tigra! (already placed in the MCP for Belasco, where apparently FF 314 reveals he was BTS)
3rd story:
What if Yellowjacket had died?
WHAT IF…? #36 (December, 1982)
What if the Fantastic Four had not gained their powers?
2nd story:
What if Nova had not given up his powers?
WHAT IF…? #37 (February, 1983)
What if the Thing had continued to mutate?
2nd story:
What if the Beast had truly become a Beast?
(a flashback that takes place before the divergence point is already placed in the MCP)
3rd story:
What if Galactus had turned the Silver Surfer back into Norrin Radd?
WHAT IF…? #38 (April, 1983)
The Leaving
2nd story:
What if Sharon Carter had not died?
3rd story:
Daredevil: 2013
WHAT IF…? #39 (June, 1983)
What if Thor of Asgard had met Conan the Barbarian?
WHAT IF…? #40 (August, 1983)
What if Dr. Strange had never become master of the mystic arts?
WHAT IF…? #41 (October, 1983)
What if Destiny had not destroyed Atlantis?
WHAT IF…? #42 (December, 1983)
What if Susan Richards died in childbirth?
SYNOPSIS:
While Reed and Sue are in college together, Reed and Sue begin to date, even though Sue knows Ben likes her as well. (This is already placed in Sue’s chronology, but without a flashback tag)
This needs to be deleted from Sue’s chronology. This comic says that Reed and Sue’s relationship got serious while Reed was still in college. However, after college Reed dated Alyssa Moy, then went into the armed forces, then became a famous scientist, then got serious with Sue.
WHAT IF…? #43 (February, 1984)
What if Conan the Barbarian were STRANDED in the 20th century?
2nd story:
Untitled
SYNOPSIS:
The Watcher looks in on the aftermath of WI? 32.
WHAT IF…? #44 (April, 1984)
What if Captain America were not revived until TODAY?
WHAT IF…? #45 (June, 1984)
What if the Hulk went BERSERK?!
WHAT IF…? #46 (August, 1984)
What if Spider-Man’s uncle Ben had lived?
WHAT IF…? #47 (October, 1984)
What if Loki found Thor’s hammer first?
WHAT IF…? #1 (June, 1988)
What if Iron Man had been a TRAITOR?
NOTE:
This should probably by What If…? v2, but we’ve already given that abbreviation to the second ongoing. I’ll suggest WI? SPEC as the abbreviation.
Placement suggestions:
ASTRON [ETERNAL]
WI? 26/3
WI? 27/2
EBROK
WI? 35/3
FLAVIUS
WI? 35/2
HELENE
WI? 35/2
INVISIBLE GIRL/SUE STORM RICHARDS
…
FF 520-FB
**WI? 42 (delete)
FFWS
…
KORATH [KREE]
WI? 26/3
WI? 28/3
*KRONOS (change name to KRONOS [ETERNAL])
*WI? 24/2 (1 - 2)
*{CM 29 (4:3)-FB}
*WI? 24/2 (3)
*CM 29 (5:1)-FB
*WI? 24/2 (4)
*CM 29 (5:2 - 5:4)-FB
*WI? 25/2-FB
*CM 29 (5:5 - 5:8)-FB
*WI? 24/2 (5)
*CM 29 (6:1 - 6:6)-FB
IM 55-FB
…
MENTOR/ALARS [ETERNAL]
*CM 29 (5:2 - 5:4)-FB
*WI? 25/2-FB
*CM 29 (5:5 - 5:8)-FB
*WI? 25/2
*CM 29 (6:7 - 6:10)-FB
DD 105-FB
…
ORANN
WI? 35/2
RONAN THE ACCUSER [KREE]
INH3 1-FB
*WI? 26/3
WI? 28/3
…
SENTRY 213
WI? 26/3
WI? 27/2
SPIDER-MAN/PETER BENJAMIN PARKER
…
GSSH 1
*WI? 24 (move from here)
M/TU 22
…
PPTSS 51
*WI? 24 (move to here)
ASM 211
…
UATU [WATCHER]
…
M/TIO 20
*WI? 1
*WI? 2
*WI? 3
*WI? 4
*WI? 5
FF 188
*WI? 6
*WI? 7
*WI? 8
*WI? 9
A 173
A 177
*WI? 10
*WI? 11
*WI? 12
*WI? 13
*WI? 14
FF 205
FF 211
FF 212
FF 213
*WI? 15
*WI? 16
*WI? 17
*WI? 18
*WI? 19
*WI? 20
*WI? 21
*WI? 22
M/GN 29
UX 137
PHOENIX 1
*WI? 23/2
*WI? 24/2
*WI? 25/2
*WI? 26/3
*WI? 27/2
*WI? 28/3
*WI? 29/2
*WI? 30/2
*WI? 23
*WI? 24
*WI? 25
*WI? 26
*WI? 26/2
*WI? 27
*WI? 28
*WI? 28/2
*WI? 29
*WI? 29/3
*WI? 30
M/GN 1
FF 240
*WI? 31
*WI? 31/2
*WI? 32
*WI? 43/2
*WI? 33
*WI? 33/2
*WI? 34
*WI? 35
*WI? 35/2
*WI? 35/3
*WI? 36
*WI? 36/2
H2 279
*WI? 37
*WI? 37/2
*WI? 37/3
M/TU 127
*WI? 38
*WI? 38/2
*WI? 38/3
*WI? 39
*WI? 40
*WI? 41
*WI? 42
FF 261
FF 262
ASM 246
*WI? 43
*WI? 44
*WI? 45
FF@ 18
T@ 12/2
*WI? 46
*WI? 47
SWII 6
…
WOSM 34
*WI? SPEC
FF@ 21
…
URANOS [ETERNAL]
WI? 24/2 (1 - 2)
{CM 29 (4:3)-FB}
WI? 24/2 (3)
CM 29 (5:1)-FB
WI? 24/2 (4)
WI? 26/3
WI? 27/2
WI? 28/3
ZURAS [ETERNAL]
*CM 29 (5:2 - 5:4)-FB
*WI? 25/2-FB
*CM 29 (5:5 - 5:8)-FB
WI? 25/2
E3 4 (15)-FB
…