What If? #2

Published in April 1977, What If? #2 was part of an imaginative anthology series created by Marvel Comics to explore divergent timelines in the Marvel Universe. The concept was conceived during an era of creative experimentation at Marvel, intended to provide writers and artists the freedom to deviate from established continuity without permanent consequences. This specific issue reimagines the origin of the X-Men, asking the provocative question: 'What If the X-Men Had Stayed in Their Original Costumes?' or more significantly, in this case, focusing on the team's early formative years.

The issue was written by Roy Thomas and featured artwork by Jim Craig. Thomas, who served as a key architect for Marvel's narrative expansion during the 1970s, utilized this platform to revisit the Silver Age roots of the mutant franchise. The design and storytelling approach focused on self-contained, cautionary, or alternative-reality tales that challenged readers' expectations of character development. Upon release, the series was well-received for its ability to satisfy fan curiosity about 'what might have been' while maintaining the core appeal of the primary superhero archetypes.