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What If...? #53 (of 114)

What If... Iron Man of 2020 had been stranded in the past? Rick Jones remained the Hulk? Spider-Man killed the Lizard?
September 1st, 1993

What If...? #53 (of 114)

What If... Iron Man of 2020 had been stranded in the past? Rick Jones remained the Hulk? Spider-Man killed the Lizard?
September 1st, 1993

Publisher:
Number:
53 (of 114)
Name:
What If... Iron Man of 2020 had been stranded in the past? Rick Jones remained the Hulk? Spider-Man killed the Lizard?
Aliases:
Cover date:
September 1st, 1993
Store date:
Unknown
cover

What If the Iron Man of 2020 Had Been Stranded in the Past?

  • Simon Furman - Writer
  • Dane McCart - Artist
  • Mark Benardo - Color
  • Janice Chiang - Letters
  • Rob Tokar - Editor
  • Tom DeFalco - Editor in Chief

In our reality, Arno Stark battled Spidey, but returned to his time to find his world destroyed. This story diverges from the battle, instead stranding Arno in our time. He goes to prision, then has a string of dead end jobs, until the announcement that Tony Stark is dead.

Allying himself with Morgan Stark, they frame Jim Rhodes for Tony's death. When Rhodey confronts Arno, Arno kills him. Tony, apperently not dead, sends a remote armor to battle Arno, accidentally leading to Arno's death. Stark is relieved that at least the threat is over, only for a scene shift to show us that the present-day Arno Stark is alive- the son of Morgan Stark.

What If Rick Jones Remained the Hulk?

  • Simon Furman - Writer
  • Dave Simons - Artist
  • Joe Andreani - Color
  • Janice Chiang - Letters
  • Rob Tokar - Editor
  • Tom DeFalco - Editor in Chief

In weird turn of events, instead of the nutrient bath that integrated Bruce Banner's personalities, Rick Jones fell into the bath as well, and Banner's Hulk personalities were split between the two of them.

In trying to stop Hulk-Rick with a ray, the ray gets turned on Hulk-Banner instead, both curing Banner of the Hulk, and repowering the Leader, who was helping Banner. Banner and the Leader eventually capture Rick, the plan being to drain Rick's gamma power to the Leader the same as Banner's had been.

Banner, fearful of the Leader having all that power, attempted to drain Rick's power to himself instead. The Leader had anticipated Banner's betrayal though, and worked it so Banner's mind wound up in the Leader's comatose, non-gamma-powered body, and the Leader's mind wound up in the body of the Hulk.

What If Spider-Man Killed The Lizard?

  • Simon Furman - Writer
  • Manny Galan - Penciller
  • Jim Amash - Inker
  • Joe Andreani - Color
  • Janice Chiang - Letters
  • Rob Tokar - Editor
  • Tom DeFalco - Editor in Chief

Spinning of of the "Torment" arc from Web of Spider-Man, instead of Calypso resurrecting The Lizard again, she leaves him dead. Kurt Connors' son, Billy, blames Spidey for not keeping his promise to bring his dad back to him. He somehow loses his arm, and while in the hospital, Calypso comes to him, promising to make him just like his dad.

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