Publishers / Marvel / What If? (1977) / #23
23October 1980
$0.75

What If? #23

Marvel · October 1980

First appearance: ZiranFirst appearance: EsonFirst appearance: Oneg1 variant
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
What If? (Marvel, 1977 series)
Issue
#23
Publication date
October 1980
Key date
1980-10-00
Indicia publisher
Marvel Comics Group
Price
$0.75
Pages
52
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Ziran - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Eson - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Oneg - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Dreaming Celestial - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Hargen - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Tefral - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0What If the Hulk Had Become a Barbarian?cover1pencils: John Buscema; inks: Al Milgrom; letters: Ron ZalmeHulk [Bruce Banner]
1What If... Hulk's Girlfriend Jarella Had Not Died?comic story20script: Peter Gillis; pencils: Herb Trimpe; inks: Mike Esposito; colors: Gaff; letters: Tom OrzechowskiWatcher [Uatu]; Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Queen Jarella Banner; Clay Quartermain; Thunderbolt Ross; Betty Ross; Glen Talbot; Hank Pym [Ant-Man]; Lord Visis; Crypto-Man; Torla; Holi; Moli; Cnerla; Hrond; Ythaer; Vidias; Glunno; Psyklop (flashback)
3The First Celestial Host!comic story7script: Mark Gruenwald; pencils: Ron Wilson, Chic Stone; inks: Chic Stone; colors: Gaff; letters: Michael HigginsDreaming Celestial First, Eson First, Gammenon, Hargen First, Nezarr, Oneg First, Tefral First, Uatu, The Watcher, Ziran First
4What If Aunt May Instead of Her Nephew Peter Had Been Bitten by That Radioactive Spider?comic story8script: Steve Skeates; pencils: Alan Kupperberg; inks: Alan Kupperberg; colors: Alan Kupperberg; letters: Alan KupperbergSpider-Lady [May Parker]; Peter Parker; Ben Parker; Leap Frog [Vincent Patilio]; Warren Savin
5-letters page1script: Mark Gruenwald

Plus 1 page of advertisements and other matter across 1 sequence, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Newsstandbarcode 0714860268610

Where to read it

CollectionYear
What If? Classic #42004On eBay ›
Hulk: Heart of the Atom #[nn]
ISBN 978-0-7851-3087-1		2008On eBay ›
Hulk: Heart of the Atom #[nn]
ISBN 978-0-7851-6212-4		2012On eBay ›
Eternals: Secrets from the Marvel Universe #12020On eBay ›
What If? Classic: The Complete Collection #2
ISBN 978-1-302-92059-3		2019On eBay ›
The Eternals: The Complete Saga Omnibus #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-92246-7		2020On eBay ›
Eternals: The Dreaming Celestial Saga #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-92201-6		2021On eBay ›
Eternals: Cosmic Origins #[nn]
ISBN 978-1-302-92665-6		2020On eBay ›
What If?: The Original Marvel Series Omnibus #2
ISBN 978-1-302-93133-9		2021On eBay ›
The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #7
ISBN 978-1-302-96824-3		2026On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

‹ #2223 of 47#24 ›

Sources

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com