Written by BRIAN REED, JIM MCCANN & C.B. CEBULSKI
Penciled by PAOLO PANTALENA & PATRICK SPAZIANTE
Cover by JIM CHEUNG & MARKO DJURDJEVIC
We all remember when the Scarlet Witch uttered the three words that would change the landscape of the Marvel Universe: “No More Mutants!” But what if she said something different? And what of the consequences…? In a world without great power, who bears the burden of responsibility? Who will stand up to an enemy who fills the vacuum of power and whose hatred is unparalleled? Brian Reed (SECRET INVASION: FRONT LINE) with Marvel's own Jim McCann and brand-spankin’ new artist Paolo Pantalena answer the question: "What if Scarlet Witch had ended the HOUSE OF M by saying "NO MORE POWERS!" Also featuring Part 1 of a special five part back-up story in all the What Ifs this year, in which we see Iron Lad take a different path that leads him to recruit a different set of future Avengers. Join C.B. Cebulski (X-MEN: DIVIDED WE STAND, LONERS) and Patrick Spaziante (MUTIES, Sonic The Hedgehog) as they ask, 'What if the Runaways Became the Young Avengers?'
Date Available: 12/4/2008
REVIEW by Brian Fisher
I’ve always been a little wary of “What If?” stories. They’re always hit-or-miss and when your time is as valuable as mine (ha) you don’t want to waste it reading a story that’s not worthwhile. The premise however is what grabbed my attention in this particular case. What if the Scarlett Witch had said “no more powers” instead of “no more mutants?” That was a concept I could get behind, and with the right handling could be a great story. And I was please to find out it was handled very well. Written by Brian Reed, the story follows a world of heroes without power trying to come to terms with their newfound powerlessness. And in the vacuum of power, one of the most power hungry villains in the Marvel Universe makes his move. The only disappointing part of this issue was the back-up story following the Runaways as they take up the mantle of the Young Avengers. If I didn’t have as much invested in those two groups as I do I would have avoided it altogether. I’d suggest the same to you.
