File:What If Vol 1 1 001.jpg

Description
In this landmark first issue we are greeted by Uatu the Watcher, who explains to the readers that there exists a number of alternate realities. In each alternate reality, there is a divergence from what what has happened and what could have happened. The Watcher focuses on an alternate reality in which Spider-Man attempts to join the Fantastic Four as a solution to his money problems. Originally, Spider-Man is turned down by the group, but in this alternate reality they allow Spider-Man to join causing the birth of the Fantastic Five. With Spider-Man on the team, his association with the Fantastic Four grants him acceptance from the population unlike his mainstream counter part who is labeled a menace by the Daily Bugle. The Fantastic Five begin taking on a number of villains, including the Vulture and the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. While Mr. Fantastic, Thing, Human Torch and Spider-Man go on these adventures, the Invisible Girl often stays behind to monitor things from base. Sue is eventually seduced into meeting Namor the Sub-Mariner who is under the control of the Puppet Master to get revenge on the Fantastic Five. After freeing Sue and Namor from the Puppet Master's control, Sue decides that she loves Namor and wants to stay in his kingdom with him, after months of neglect from the Four thanks to Spider-Man's inclusion in the group. Accepting her request, Namor conditions her body so that she can breath underwater (a process that is apparently permanent) and the remainder of her former comrades leave in defeat, Spider-Man regretting have joined the group.