Customer Reviews

What If? Classic, Vol. 2

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While I appreciate Marvel's effort to get a second volume of WHAT IF CLASSIC into print, their incentive for doing so is not so much to give the classic series more attention, but to wring more money out of their latest round of modern What If comics. There is really no reason why Roy Thomas' classic series couldn't have been reprinted as an Essential Edition. By using their expensive glossy trade format for the collecting of What If Classic, Marvel sticks us with only six issues per volume for twenty-five dollars apiece. Think about that - only two volumes so far, reprinting only 12 issues, and you will have spent fifty bucks, the equivalent of a Marvel Masterwork! The big question is: is the printing of What If Classic in this expensive trade format really worth it? The answer is "not really", but that answer is due primarily to the fact that there just aren't enough stories here.

As I stated in my review of WHAT IF CLASSIC volume 1, the ideas for Roy Thomas' series took a while to build up steam. While the stories in volume 1 just barely cut it, however, the 6 issues contained here in volume 2 are more inspired, and definitely a step in the right direction, as Don Glut takes over the writing chores from Thomas. Consider this line-up:

#7: What if someone else besides Spider-Man had been bitten by the radioactive spider? Three members of Spidey's supporting cast get their turn at using the proportionate strength and abilities of a spider. The results aren't all that pleasant, and all three cases tie together into an ending that is a bit of a cheat.

#8: What if the world knew Daredevil is blind? Great concept, but a horrible set-up. Is that really all it would take to discover DD's secret?

#9: What if the Avengers had fought evil during the 1950s? A truly great entry in the series - Marvel/Timely characters from the `40s and `50s are resurrected in a very entertaining story, and thorough references are provided so you won't be left scratching your head. Superb.

#10: What if Jane Foster had found the hammer of Thor? Ehh... this one really could have been better.

#11: What if the Marvel bullpen had become the Fantastic Four? This almost seems like an inspiration for James Sturm's FF: UNSTABLE MOLECULES, as Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Sol Brodsky, and Flo Steinberg gain the powers of the FF. Crazy Kirby story and art.

#12: What if Rick Jones had become the Hulk? The funniest of the bunch. Rick-Hulk speaks in hipster slang, and he STILL gets to be Bucky II and Captain Marvel's human anchor. A bit of an overload, but it has a great ending.

I prefer this volume to the first, due to the quality of writing, as well as the focus on more diverse characters. Also, the stories fit in better with major and minor events from the characters' histories. But still, 6 issues per book just doesn't make it worth it. The best way to go with the WHAT IF CLASSIC volumes is to order them at a discount from Amazon.

While I enjoyed the old What If? stories more than most older series, this collection was a little weak. At this time, the series was just starting to stretch its wings and get creative, so the stories have their hits and misses. The Spider-Man story had a few good moments, especially seeing Flash Thompson as his version of the hero (Spider-Man without the webs...interesting). The Daredevil story is perhaps the strongest in the collection, though the discovery of his blindness is a little contrived. The Thor story and the Fantastic Four story are the weakest in the bunch. The Avengers story was a really great idea, showing us the 3-D Man (an underused hero) teaming with other greats like Marvel Boy and Gorilla Man for an intriguing twist on the Avengers legend. The Hulk story was funny because you'd never expect the Hulk to call anyone a "square". Still, it was the 70's, so it makes sense. It gets annoying though when they announce the next issue is "What if Conan had lived today?" about 3 times (I don't know what the hold up was or why they kept pushing the story back issue after issue, but they shouldn't have kept announcing the story until they were ready for it. I guess it shows up in the next collection.).

The series got stronger after the stories in this collection, and I hope Marvel continues to release the series, though an Essential collection would probably make more sense. While seeing the stories in color is a nice bonus, only getting 6 stories per collection and paying more for them seems to rob it a bit. Still, keep an eye open for future stories in the first run of the series. They were great!

This is the 2nd vol. of Marvel what if classics. That has issues 7-12 of the comic that dares to ask the question...what if? I liked the first one a little better but this vol. did have good what ifs in it.

What if someone else besides Spiderman had been bitten by the radioactive spider?: This is a 3 part story taking place in 3 different alternate universe but all the endings have the same result. In all three universes Peter isnt bit by the spider that turns him into Spiderman. Instead we find out what if Flash Thompson, Betty Brant and John Jameson had been there and got bit instead. All three become heroes but not the same one Peter would have been. This was a pretty good story. The only complaint is I wish each story was a little longer.

What if the World knew Daredevil was blind?: The title is self explainatory. You would think this would have been a good story but it wasnt. It wasnt much different, except people knew Daredevil was blind and use it to their advantage. I wont go into any further but its nothing really special.
-What if the spider was bitten by a radioactive human?: This was a mini comic that was featured in the What if the World knew Daredevil was blind? and can be credited as the first ever What huh comics which was an issue of the what if series that was all humor. Well anyway its what it sounds like. In this world all the characters are bugs the bug version gets bit by a radioactive human to become Man-Spider. The story goes the same way as the first issue of Spiderman but with bugs instead of people. Pretty good.

What if Rick Jones had become the Hulk?: If you dont know by now Bruce Banner became the Hulk when he saved teenager Rick Jones from the Gamma bomb by pushing him into safety. But what if Rick Jones pushed Banner into safety and got hit by the gamma bomb. Well this is what this story is about. Its pretty good, they follow some of the aventures Rick has (becoming Bucky II, etc) but while turning into the Hulk while Banner seeks a cure for him. Pretty good story to read.

What if Jane Foster found the hammer of Thor?: This story revolves around Jane Foster who was the nurse for the man who would become Thor. She goes on vacation with him to Norway where she finds the hammer of thor instead of him. So she joins the Avengers and fights the battles he would have had. But this wasnt meant to be and she realizes that. Again good story, I never knew the origin of Thor before this story is good for people like me.

What if the original Marvel Bullpen became the Fantastic 4?: Ok possibly the worst what if I have ever read in my life. The marvel bullpen was a nickname for the 4 main people (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, etc) who worked in Marvel during the time this issue was made. So the story follows what if they became the Fantastic 4. This is in a world without superheroes and a some of the villians (Skrulls, Namor, etc). They got the same powers as the real Fantastic 4 but got their personalities which wasnt that entertaining.

What if the Avengers fought during the 1950s?: I couldnt figure out if this was an alternate universe or untold history. Iron Man shows fellow Avengers an alternate universe that in the 50s a group of heroes (3D Man, Human Robot, etc) became the Avengers to rescue the president from a group of villians. Even though about the confusement and never hearing about these 50s heroes. I found the story very entertaining. Very good what if story.

So I think this book is perfect for any comic collector.

What If? Classics Volume 2 is another fun entry in Marvels "Classics" series. This 70s series asked some pretty entertaining questions that foretold of things that we are seeing today. This second volume compiles What If issues 7 thru 12.

Issue 7 asks "What if someone else besides Spider-Man had been bitten by the radioactive spider?" Here we see Flash Thompson, Betty Brant and John Jameson all getting a shot at the web swingers powers.

Issue 8 asks "What if the world knew Daredevil was blind?" This is one of the weaker stories in the collection. This issue also features a What if "spoof" that asks "What if the spider had been bitten by a radioactive human?" This is a comedic story in the vein of Marvels "Not Brand Echh" spoofs. It's not very good and really wasn't all that funny back in the 70s.

Issue 9 asks "What if the Avengers had been formed during the 50s?" This story gave birth to todays entertaining "Agents of Atlas" series. Jimmy Woo, Venus, Gorilla Man, the robot M-11, Marvel Boy and 3D Man join forces to become the Avengers of the 50s. Some fun art by Bill Black.

Issue 10 asks "What if Jane Foster had found the hammer of Thor?" This question leads to some bizarre relationship problems between Donald Blake, Jane Foster, Siff and Odin. An odd story that has fun with the idea of how Thor would be treated if he was a woman. For starters, he'd be constantly hit on by the Warriors Three.

Issue 11 asks "What if the Marvel Bullpen had become the Fantastic Four" Yes, you read that correctly. Here we get Stan Lee as Mr. Fantastic, Sol Brodsky as the Human Torch, Jack King Kirby as The Thing and Fabulous Flo Steinberg as the Invisible Girl. The treat here is that it's also drawn by Jack Kirby.

Issue 12 asks "What if Rick Jones had become The Hulk?" This is an entertaining entry in the series. There's not much in the way of extras, but the volume does include the comics original letters section and notes from the Editor.

While I didn't enjoy this as much as What If Volume 1, it still had enough entertaining stories to merit purchase. Decent bronze age fun for all ages.

The original premise was that the writers and artists who worked on the original would get a chance to cut loose and create a wildly innovative alternative to the books, something that couldn't happen in the originals. Thus you would have Jim Shooter penning a tale of the Avengers, or Herb Trimpe doing a Hulk story or Frank Robbins drawing the Invaders. (All three of these possibilities DID occur in volume 1: What If? Classic Vol. 1 (Marvel Heroes)

Unfortunately that plan quickly fell by the wayside. The top-tier talents were just too BUSY to do an extra book, so by the time the issues printed in this volume came out, the book was pretty much written by Don Glut and drawn by Rick Hoberg or Alan Kupperberg, second-stringers whose work, while satisfactory, wasn't really memorable.

When these books came out, it was disappointing to go from George Perez on original Avengers to Alan Kupperberg in "What If," or comparing Rich Buckler and John Buscema on Thor to Rick Hoberg. This was worsened IMO by having classic artists like Jack Kirby or Gil Kane doing covers, only to find a lesser talent doing the interior work.

However, when I picked this volume up recently, I was pleasantly surprised how well it held up when you didn't compare these stories directly to the non-What If books printed at the same time. Now I can see the effort that went into making the Daredevil story look like a (70's-era DD artist) Bob Brown tale or Thor like a Jack Kirby - Joe Sinnott book. I actually enjoy these stories more NOW than when they first appeared. That being said, the writer takes too much time setting up the premise; usually taking 3 pages to describe the original (how Don Blake became Thor) before starting the alternative tale proper. Really, all of these "recaps" could have been done in a single page.

The first two volumes have a lot of "downer" endings. Probably the writers were trying to show that anything could happen, even tragedy. However, so many of the stories have this negativity that it colors the non-tragic endings so that you remember the sadder aspects more than the upbeat ones.

BTW, the author listing for this book is incorrect. All but one of the stories here were written by Don Glut. Rick Hoberg did the art on two stories, Alan Kupperberg drew two and Sal Buscema illustrated the Hulk story. The exception is the Marvel Bullpen / Fanastic Four story written and drawn by Jack Kirby. Roy Thomas appeared only on the letters page. Jim Shooter, Gil Kane, Herb Trimpe and Jim Craig were in the first volume and do NOT appear here at all. The letters pages from these issues is included, which is unusual.

Although I enjoy seeing these stories in color, I agree with the reviewers who feel that the books are overpriced. However, if you like Silver and Bronze Age Marvel, you will probably enjoy this book.