The biggest Marvel story of 2012 is the inspiration for the return of What If? Avengers vs. X-Men was a game-changing event for the Marvel Universe but what if other heroes became the Phoenix Five?
Jimmy Palmiotti and Jorge Molina create a four part story starring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fighting the Children of the Atom…with a new twist!
Iron Man tried to kill the Phoenix before it could possess Hope but the entity split into five hosts: Cyclops, Emma Frost, Colossus, Magik and Namor – with devastating results.
Jimmy Palmiotti tells Marvel.com why the original epic is a perfect inspiration for What If?:
“The set up and concept was one of the biggest events in Marvel history and for that reason alone, it should be messed with and become a What If? story. It features classic Marvel characters pitted against each other, but in a way I feel, given the right set up, the body count on the series should have been sky high. We will not have that problem in WHAT IF? AVENGERS VS. X-MEN. Expect the unexpected is the motto we are following. I know what we do each issue will have people talking, which is right what we want. Why bother if we cannot go wild?”
How does the What If? version differ?
“I take the first sighting of the Phoenix Force coming towards Earth and have it spotted by the Guardians of the Galaxy and show they do not stand a chance. I start the book off with a bang. It is something spectacular and sad at the same time. I wanted to show how dangerous the Force is right away and it made sense having heroes out in space meeting up first,” says Molina.
Here are some new images from the premiere issue by Jorge Molina:
What If AvX #1 arrives in July.
By Editor