Published Jun 1, 2026, 12:00 PM EDT
John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.
The Uncanny X-Men are just days away from revisiting one of the most infamous stories of all time, and fans will never be able to look at it the same way again.
New preview pages for the next unexpected Uncanny X-Men story are here, and they have given fans a glimpse into the past that could have been for Scott Summers and Madelyne Pryor. On June 3, What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1 will offer the former couple a chance to relive their romantic heyday, and all to answer the question of what would have happened if Cyclops and the Goblin Queen never parted ways.
What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1
- Written by GERRY DUGGAN
- Art by JAN BAZALDUA
- Colors by ARTHUR HESLI
- Letters by VC's CLAYTON COWLES
- Design by JAY BOWEN
- Main cover art by LUCAS WERNECK
- Variant covers by GERMÁN PERALTA; MAHMUD ASRAR & MATT WILSON; MARK BUCKINGHAM & RICHARD ISANOVE; STEFANO CASELLI & FERNANDO SIFUENTES; and MICHELE BANDINI
The official solicit synopsis for What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1 from Marvel Comics reads, "Imagine a world where Madelyne Pryor, the Goblin Queen, had survived the Inferno. What would have happened if Cyclops had saved her soul? What would have happened if he and Maddie had raised their son, Nathan Summers? What would that world look like? And why would that be the most terrible thing to happen to mutantdom and Earth itself?"
Who Is Madelyne Pryor in the X-Men Comics?
Madelyne Pryor has been a part of the Marvel Universe since she was first seen in the pages of 1983's Uncanny X-Men #168 by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith, although her true origins weren't revealed until much later. Initially, Madelyne was presented as a woman who simply shared an uncanny resemblance to Jean Grey, who was then believed to be deceased. Soon enough, however, Madelyne's nature as a clone of Jean created by Mister Sinister was revealed, though that was hardly the most shocking aspect of her character.
In the decades since, Madelyne has suffered greatly at the hands of the likes of Mister Sinister, the X-Men, and even demonic forces from Limbo, the latter of which she went on to overcome entirely, cementing her place as the Goblin Queen. Although Madelyne has typically played the role of the villain in that time, more recent years have seen her step into the role of an unlikely antihero more so than anything else.
What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1 was unveiled back in mid-May and is set to be the first of nearly a dozen new What If...? stories released in celebration of the title's 50th anniversary. Following What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1, readers will be treated to What If...? one-shots starring Thor, Jessica Jones, Kraven, Captain America, the Runaways, Cassandra Nova, and even the original Ultimate Universe of Earth-1610 as it would stand today had it survived 2015's Secret Wars.
What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1 from Marvel Comics goes on sale on June 3.
First TV Show X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men
Cast Hugh Jackman, James Marsden, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Ryan Reynolds, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence
English (US) · 