If you love the classic What If? title way back when, then you are in for a treat this December. We get 5 new What If stories for the holidays… “What if Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man and Wolverine became Fantastic Four after the originals died?” “What if Iron Man died instead of Captain America?” “What If Mary Jane Had Been Shot Instead Of Aunt May?” “What if Dr. Doom won the Secret War?” “What if Scarlet Witch had ended the HOUSE OF M by saying “NO MORE POWERS!”

There are actually SIX stories if you count each issues chapter of the 5-part back-up story… a “What if the Runaways became the Young Avengers.”

via Newsarama

Can the divided teams reunite and conquer the Skrulls? Can Hulking fulfill the prophecy and become a Skrull messiah? What will become of Xavin after the dust settles in this concluding chapter?

via CBR

Here’s hoping we get to find out more about Hulkling’s prophesied place in the Skrull religion this issue… Xavin has NOT turned on the Runaways, he realized the only way to keep them alive was to take them out, so that’s what he/she did.

via CBR

I’m really looking forward to the face to face between Kate Bishop and Clint Barton. And with Alan Davis art to boot! I hope we learn something new about her, there are still so many questions (archery camp as a kid doesn’t make you an Olympic level marksman).

We’ve always known Cassie Lang was the product of a broken home. She’s was introduced as the preteen daughter of a dead ex-con turned costumed adventurer father and a bitch of a Mom who divorced him and married a cop who didn’t like superheroes either. Not exactly a Norman Rockwell painting. Hell, its not even an Alex Ross commemorative plate.

In this tale we get a peak into this not so pretty picture as Cassie attempts to recover from a traumatizing failure as a hero. Doesn’t the Initiative have shrinks on the payroll for this? Well if it gets her back with the Young Avengers and away from Skrully Hank Pym and that creepy Initiative base, all the better. Too bad someone innocent may have been hurt in the bargain though… head to the comic shops Thursday (HOLIDAY DELAYS COMIC BOOK SHIPPING) to see what happens after these pages…

via CBR

With Young Avengers 5 Stature coming out this week (more on that next) I was reminded that Alan Davis (Of Captain Britain, Excalibur and ClanDestine fame) will be taking up the pencilling chores for Young Avengers Presents 6: Hawkeye. Some of Alan Davis’ pencil sketches are below the Jim Cheung cover.

Newsarama’s Benjamin Ong Pang Kean spoke with Marvel’s Matt Fraction (The Punisher War Journal, Invincible Iron Man AND Uncanny X-Men as of 500 - he can sure churn it out) about the upcoming issue and revealed that it has a lot to do with the current Hawkeye meeting the original as Kate Bishop comes face to face with (not dead) Clint Barton.

Full article and interview at Newsarama

Will Clint find her worthy of his mantle? Has her rich absentee daddy noticed the money she used to fund the team and design costumes yet? How is it that she is such a natural with such a variety of weapons? Is she the Taskmasters daughter? - (his identity is still unrevealed, despite his tenure at the initiative). You have to wait a month for these answers (well not answers to all the questions, just the first). So far I think I’m the only one asking the rest.

via Newsarama

Well we all suspected Nick had been up to something… Here is the cover to Secret Invasion #4 and we see him palling around with everyone favorite teen (non sidekick) superheros.

It’s good to know the Young Avengers will be more visible this year… Between the mini spotlighting the individual members of the team and this upcoming crossover dealing with the Skrulls on both of Marvels premiere teen teams. Coincidentally both Skrulls are involved in homosexual relationships. I do hope that neither Skrull is exposed as a duplicitous betrayer worming their way into the hearts of their intended. But if it has to be one, it better be Xavin.

ARTICLE FROM IGN

Cover to Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1

Cover to #2 after the jump…
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