What If? 36
December 1982

"The Fantastic Four Had Not Gained Their Powers?"

Cover: John Byrne and Terry? Austin
Story and Art: John Byrne
Lettering: Joe Rosen
Coloring: Bob Sharen
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
20 pages
$1.00
Story and art © Marvel Comics

Characters: Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, the Watcher, the Mole Man, his minions

Synopsis: In an alternate reality, the Fantastic Four never gain super-powers, so tackle the Mole Man with bare fists, guns, and science.

The cover is yet another riff on Fantastic Four 1. When one fan complained that John Byrne was overdoing it in a letter column, the editor assured them that John wanted to do 12 consecutives take-offs of FF1 just for fun, and had to be reined in!

This story is more of a homage than direct translation of the Challengers. It ran during John Byrne's run on the Fantastic Four.

"A stunning saga of an alternate reality!" starts out the same as Fantastic Four 1, except they don't rush the initial space flight. At a quiet word from Sue, the team decides to test further to protect against cosmic rays. So they make the space voyage and DON'T become the Fantastic Four.

Reed Richards, now famous, sets up an industrial complex. And gets called in when buildings begin to sink. He assembles his non-super team and they descend into the Earth. And meet and defeat the Mole Man.

Their costumes are snazzy and evocative of Challenger uniforms: the standard FF blue with purple highlights. The R on their caps stands for Richard's Rocket Group.

The only direct mention of "challenges" and "the unknown" is here. Johnny asks, "What do you think we'll find ahead?" Reed replies, "The unknown, Johnny. But whatever it may be... we'll meet its challenge."

And of course, the Mole Man unleashes a slew of Kirbyesque monsters. Artists LOVE to draw these!

Comment

John Byrne tips his hat to Jack Kirby, creator of the Challengers - and by the back door, the Fantastic Four.