The Classics - What If #9

It's interesting to note that the Agents of Atlas first appeared in Marvel's home for "Imaginary Stories" - the comic called What If? - in a story that has (more or less) been accepted as taking place in Marvel's reality.

Confusing, isn't it? Here's how it works. DC famously told made-up stories in its Imaginary Tales, which mostly appeared in Superman's comics, with subjects such as: Superman's death, Superman gets married, Superman's identity is exposed, Superman splits into two beings, solves the world's problems, gets married and lives happily ever after. Stuff like that.

Wanting to tell those kinds of stories, but trying to differentiate itself from pure fantasy, Marvel created the What If comic, with stories narrated by the Watcher about events as they transpired in alternate realities - so they really happened, just not in "our" Marvel Universe.

In this issue, cover dated June 1978, we have the modern-day Avengers watching events from 20 years in the past and wondering, "What If the Avengers had fought evil during the 1950s?"

Written by Don Glut, it tells the story of the first gathering of the team known today as the Agents of Atlas: Jimmy Woo, Marvel Boy, Venus, Gorilla Man, The Human Robot and 3-D Man (who's not in the modern group), with guest appearances by Namora (who is in the group now), Jann of the Jungle and President Dwight Eisenhower!

As with their modern counterparts, the team must face the Yellow Claw and his team of villains - but first the team has to be assembled, and the appropriate origins provided (as they were known in 1978).

This is a fun comic, with solid art by the always-professional Alan Kupperburg, who does his best to channel Bill Everett (with the help of inker Bill Black).

And I really love that Jack Kirby / Joe Sinnott cover. It's a shame the What If? concept played itself out, though surely it could be resurrected in an occasional special - or is that what House of M was all about?

Grade: B+