Marvel Comics Revives What If...? With Major Twists for Cyclops, Kraven the Hunter, and More

1 week ago 15

Published Feb 25, 2026, 9:00 AM EST

Patrik Walker is an Emmy Award–winning writer who covers all things Comics & Superheroes. His work can also be found at the Dallas Cowboys, The Sporting News, and CBS Sports, among other outlets. One of the most respected names in his field, he is also a diehard enthusiast of all things comics, anime, gaming and movies — thriving in spaces where discussions involving those or similar topics reign supreme.

Anybody not living under a rock knows how pivotal the What If...? franchise has been to Marvel animation. Not many expected it would become the runaway success that it has after its debut on Disney+ in 2021, but the TV adaptation has now spawned three seasons of delight for MCU fans and, in the process, has blown the door open for possible storylines to come.

So when Marvel Comics opted to revive What If...? in comic book form for 2026, hope turned to excitement almost instantly. And, speaking of infinite storyline possibilities, go ahead and include Cyclops (and Jean Grey clone, Madelyne Pryor), Kraven the Hunter and a hell of a lot more in this next iteration of twisted arcs; and that includes Captain America as well.

How does a Symbiote Thor strike you?

The next version of What If...? will debut in June 2026, and through a new series of one-shots that will be led by What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1 — written by Gerry Duggan and Jan Bazaldua. Alongside it will come What If...? Thor by Sergio Dávila and Torunn Grønbekk.

As declared in the February press release, there will be just under ten one-shots in all.

"For 50 years, Marvel Comics has dared to ask, 'What if?', putting bold twists on major Marvel moments and opening the floodgates to the multiverse! To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original What If...? series, Marvel will publish eight all-new What If…? one-shots this summer. Crafted by some of today’s biggest talents, the new one-shots shake the foundations of every corner of the Marvel mythos beginning with startling stories starring the X-Men and Thor and continuing with epic reimaginings of pivotal storylines like Secret Wars and Kraven’s Last Hunt!"

What If...? Continues to Change the Game for Marvel

It's clear Marvel isn't bending the knee to the Absolute Universe birthed by DC Comics. Instead of standing idly by and watching that anthology siphon most of the comic book headlines, Marvel Comics is using What If...? as a nuclear warhead to fight back and, honestly, it's shaping up to be an all-out war between the two [now eerily friendly] rivals as they also enjoy crossover success with the launch of Superman/Spider-Man #1.

The one-shots for 2026's What If...? series will break down as follows regarding art, cover art, variants and written word:

WHAT IF…? UNCANNY X-MEN #1

Writer: GERRY DUGGAN
Art: JAN BAZALDUA
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
Promo Variant Cover by MAHMUD ASRAR
On Sale: June 17

WHAT IF…? THOR #1

Writer: TORUNN GRØNBEKK
Art: SERGIO DÁVILA
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale: June 17

WHAT IF…? SECRET WARS #1

Writer: ALEX PAKNADEL
Art: CAFU
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale: July 11

WHAT IF…? JESSICA JONES #1

Writer: JUSTINA IRELAND
Art: DAVID MESSINA
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale: July 15

WHAT IF…? SPIDER-MAN #1

Writer: J.M. DEMATTEIS
Art: YILDIRAY CINAR
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale: July 29

WHAT IF…? CAPTAIN AMERICA #1

Writer: MARC GUGGENHEIM
Art: RON LIM
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale: Aug. 5

WHAT IF…? RUNAWAYS #1

Writer: RAINBOW ROWELL
Art: ZULEMA LAVINA
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale: Aug. 19

WHAT IF…? X-MEN #1

WriterL ASHLEY ALLEN
Art: SUMIT KUMAR
Cover: LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale: Aug. 26

That's more than enough mind-bending firepower to keep Marvel fans guessing and craving (Kraven?) more throughout and after the series concludes in late August. This is especially true because, as it stands, Marvel and Disney+ have opted not to bring back What If...? for a fourth season on streaming.

That's a shame, really and truly, but at least the premise isn't dead and gone, and we can all still head to our local comic book store to keep the good times rolling.