What If...? 50th Anniversary

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of WHAT IF? with shocking tales featuring your favorite heroes!

It’s the eternal question that has fascinated Uatu the Watcher for so long: What if things were otherwise? Get ready for more unpredictable answers as acclaimed creators change key moments in Marvel history and show how they could have gone! Imagine a world where Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen, survived the Inferno — and Cyclops chose to stay with his wife and raise their son, Nathan, together! Ponder the consequences if Spider-Man’s symbiote suit had bonded with the Mighty Thor, God of Thunder! Ask yourself what would have happened if it was the Ultimate Universe that had survived the cataclysm of SECRET WARS! Or if teenage Jessica Jones, classmate of Peter Parker, was the one bitten by the radioactive spider! Or if the Runaways had discovered their parents were villains and decided…not to run away! What if Captain America was unfrozen in 2099? Or Cassandra Nova succeeded in killing her brother, Charles Xavier? Plus: Legendary writer J.M DeMatteis presents a thrilling twist on his all-time-classic tale “Kraven’s Last Hunt”!

COLLECTING: What If…? Uncanny X-Men (2026) #1, What If…? Thor (2026) #1, What If…? Secret Wars (2026) #1, What If…? Jessica Jones (2026) #1, What If…? Spider-Man (2026) #1, What If…? Captain America (2026) #1, What If…? Runaways (2026) #1, What If…? X-Men (2026) #1

Written by: Gerry Duggan, Torunn Grønbekk, Alex Paknadel, Justina Ireland, J.M. DeMatteis, Marc Guggenheim, Rainbow Rowell & Ashley Allen

Penciled by: Jan Bazaldua, Sergio Dávila, Cafu, David Messina, Yildiray Çinar, Ron Lim, Zulema Scotto Lavina & Sumit Kumar

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs