Thought of a Couple of interesting What Ifs.Post your too if you like.

[Photon Torme]

So What if instead of Studying with Charles Xavier, Jean Grey had wound up on Titan somehow and become adept in her abilities there? I'm thinking she might have gained greater mastery sooner, due of the lack of teen pathos and Magneto drama if nothing else.( oh, And how would this effect the dynamic of the Xmen. Who if anyone would Charles have chosen for her spot?) Might the Phoenix still have sought her out? Might Jean and the Phoenix had arrived at a more stable, more constructive symbiosis? And What of Heather Moondragon Douglas. Perhaps I'm twisting the timeline here. But Imagine they were contemporaries studying on Titan. Would they be friends? Or would they be Rivals? Would Heather turn to The Evil entity for which she had named herself out of Jealousy for Jean. Perhaps this would get the Phoenix's goat and there would be a big smack down. Or perhaps the Moondragon and Phoenix entities would fall in love and find peace and merge together to create some benevolent God like entity.

Then My other idea is What if The Spiderman Symbiote had been more patient and sophisticated in its approach with Peter Parker instead of being so obvious in trying to subsume him? Say... It was happy working out its agenda over several decades. Peter would get to enjoy the benefits of the costume and be more effective at ... everything really.... while only mild tweeks and quirks arose... So No Venom.... I guess no Carnage. Kraven's last Hunt would be at least a little different. Anyway just some thoughts I had. I've shared them. Now, Perhaps they will live me alone.

[MyriVerse]

What If Xavier was Never Cloned

Back in Uncanny X-Men #167, Xavier's body was destroyed by the Brood Queen. Shi'ar were able to clone him, which gave him back his legs for a while, but what if not? Xavier dies. And that's that. This event has always marked a huge turning point in the X-Men to me. Shortly after this, Xavier lets Rogue become a member, then later, Our Lord Magneto. It's even implied in the Rogue story that Xavier could possibly be controlling the other X-Men into accepting her. Before this, the X-Men had still been on friendly terms with non-mutant groups. But after this is when that really started to progressively change for the worse.

Instead of going back to Alaska to meet Maddie, maybe Cyclops stays at the mansion. They'd meet another way, but it would be a disaster, because acceptance of Maddie just always seemed like a really stupid thing to me. There were far too many coincidences with her, and it's far too easy to see through the rouse. And I think she'd made a great vessel for Malice.

Where does Rogue go, if not the school? Morlock tunnels? Maybe she still meets Remy that way (even if I don't like that plotline).

Carol sticks around since they didn't betray her.

[Michael Watkins]

What if the cheese hadn't slipped off of Scarlet Witch's cracker?

[SilverWarriorWolf]

Then My other idea is What if The Spiderman Symbiote had been more patient and sophisticated in its approach with Peter Parker instead of being so obvious in trying to subsume him? Say... It was happy working out its agenda over several decades. Peter would get to enjoy the benefits of the costume and be more effective at ... everything really.... while only mild tweeks and quirks arose... So No Venom.... I guess no Carnage. Kraven's last Hunt would be at least a little different. Anyway just some thoughts I had. I've shared them. Now, Perhaps they will live me alone.

That’s actually an idea I’m playing with for a fanfic series. Not decades, but he’ll have the symbiote longer than the norm. He would also know it was alive, though it would be convincing and harmless looking.

[Derek Metaltron]

I like the Spider-Man/Venom idea, that would make a compelling mini series.

About a decade ago I actually had a whole series of What Ifs in mind for some fanfiction, though only one of them ever got far enough to write in part down. Here's a couple of their intros...

###

There exist parallel worlds beyond our own. Within these worlds, each living being faces turning points in their existence, and a choice must be made at every one of these points – choices that will affect their own destinies, and perhaps that of their own world or even the universe itself. Call it the ‘road not taken’ – the chance missed, the decision deferred... of what might have been, what could have happened – but for the invisible workings of an incomprehensible fate. Call it...

WHAT IF...?

***

What Happened in SECRET INVASION

In the aftermath of the Avengers role in the Kree-Skrull War, the mysterious and secret Illuminati –Mr Fantastic, Namor, Professor X, Dr Strange, Iron Man and Black Bolt - order the Skrull Emperor and his shape-shifting race never to threaten their world again. They are captured and studied, and though they manage to escape the Skrull race has learnt much of Earth in the process...

Years later, Spider-Woman brings the body of a Skrull Agent posing as Hand Member Elektra to Director of SHIELD and Iron Man, Tony Stark, who in turn presents it to the now divided Illuminati. The revelation brings to light questions on how long this apparent infiltration of heroes has been going on. Black Bolt is revealed to be a Skrull Agent and tries to kill the other members unsuccessfully. The group parts ways, realizing they cannot trust each other if one could be a Skrull.

Some weeks later a Skrull Prison Ship appears to crash in the Prehistoric Savage Land, prompting both the New and Mighty Avengers to investigate. Out step a number of well known heroes, many in dated costumes and several long thought dead, even themselves – all claiming to be the real thing and having escaped Skrull captivity. The two sides battle amongst the confusion, not knowing who to trust. Spider-Woman is revealed to be the Skrull Empress Veranke and places her divine claim over Earth along with fellow infiltrators who have passed as Camp Hammond Director and Founding Avenger Hank Pym, Avenger Butler Jarvis, SHIELD Agents and several others.

Ultimately however the Avengers are able to discern that the supposed prisoners are all brain-washed Skrull Agents and defeat them before heading to battle and defeat the main Skrull Army in Central Park, New York. In the aftermath the replaced heroes are located upon a Skrull Prison Ship by Tony Stark. He and SHIELD are judged as too compromised to continue protecting the world, leaving Thunderbolts Director - and the former Green Goblin - Norman Osborn as appointed Director of the newly created HAMMER by the President of the United States. For the next few months, Osborn will hold the super-human community in thrall as he oversees a Dark Reign of Super Villians.

But suppose those heroes who exited the Prison ship- including Captain America, Jean Grey, Spider-Man and Invisible Woman – had really been escapees? Suppose the Skrull Invasion had been going on for much longer, and this crash landing was a fatal flaw in their plan? How would these lost heroes adjust to a greatly changed world; and those on Earth to the stunning truths it would bring? Indeed, what if...

WHAT IF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE SKRULL PRISON SHIP HAD ALL BEEN REAL INSTEAD OF SKRULLS?

###

There exist parallel worlds beyond our own. Within these worlds, each living being faces turning points in their existence, and a choice must be made at every one of these points – choices that will affect their own destinies, and perhaps that of their own world or even the universe itself. Call it the ‘road not taken’ – the chance missed, the decision deferred... of what might have been, what could have happened – but for the invisible workings of an incomprehensible fate. Call it...

WHAT IF...?

***

What Happened in SECRET WAR

Nick Fury - Director of the World Peace-Keeping Organisation SHIELD (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate) – is aware that several middle-level tech-based Super-Villains are supplied by Phineas Mason, aka the Tinkerer. It is only recently however via several interrogations of such captured criminals that it has become clear that Mason himself has financial backing from an unlikely source; the liberated Latveria. Formerly under the control of despot Doctor Doom, the country has fallen under the command of supposedly American-Sympathetic leader Lucia von Bardas. In reality Lucia has been funding Mason’s work, effectively meaning that she has been committing acts of international terrorism through the American Tech Super-Villain population. Fury presents this Intel to the American Government, but they are unwilling to see Bardas removed from power.

Electing to deal with Bardas covertly, Fury seeks and gains the services of several key American Super Heroes, including Spider-Man, Captain America, Luke Cage, Daredevil and Wolverine to join him, trusted SHIELD Agent Black Widow and Daisy Johnson – a previously unknown female agent of Fury’s possessing the ability to produce Earthquakes- in an unauthorized invasion of Latveria . Bardas is apparently killed in the destruction of Castle Doom while Fury brain washes the heroes - barring the two SHIELD Agents - in forgetting their role in the so-called ‘Secret War’.

Exactly one year later a group of attacks is unleashed on the mission’s participants. Luke Cage is beaten into a coma whilst the others are attacked by several tech-based Super-Villains including Shocker, Scorcher, Wizard, Diamondback and Lady Octopus. Several heroes band together to fight the team before they are confronted by the alive and cybernetic enhanced Lucia. Enraged at losing her home one year previously, she turns the Super Villain tech into a huge human bomb. Only the intervention of Daisy Johnson and her powers prevents her from causing untold destruction. With angry inquests into his role on Latveria from both Super Hero and SHIIELD forces, Nick Fury is forced into going on the run, leaving Maria Hill to be appointed as new Director of SHIELD and an uncertain future for all Super-Humans with the Organization.
But there is more to know.

Tasked with the responsibility of planning the Secret War himself, Nick Fury needed to select himself who would most suit the campaign against Latveria. In doing so he created a back-up plan; a set of super-powered warriors he trusted to be more than capable of unleashing hell on Lucia’s forces should his infiltration team be caught or killed. Men and Women he knew could tear Latveria apart. To this proposed operation he would place his full trust in Countess Allegro De Fontaine – then Deputy Director of SHIELD – from the grave if needed.

Fortunately this mission was not required – Fury’s Plan A was thankfully a success. But suppose it had not had been? Suppose for all his planning Nick Fury and his team of Secret Warriors had fallen to the forces of Von Bardas? Indeed, what if...

WHAT IF NICK FURY’S SECRET WAR HAD FAILED?

(A What If Inspired by Brian Michael Bendis’s ‘Secret War: From The Files Of Nick Fury’)

[JudicatorPrime]

What if Charles Xavier had recruited Wanda Maximoff and Emma Frost as part of the original X-Men, instead of Hank and Bobby?

What if Galactus had first visited the Earth at the height of World War II?

What if all of the first Celestials fell under the lovelorn spell of Death like Thanos did?

What if it was legally impossible to retcon any story?

What if Ragnarok wasn't an eternally repeating cycle...and it happened over 1 million years ago? The real gods are dead. Only the magic exists.

What if Death and Oblivion are married? And Thanos has been vying pointlessly for years to win her completely unaware that she's not on the market?

What if to balance out all of the scientific-based tribes, like mutants, Eternals and Inhumans, the Living Tribunal decreed that the Earth become integrated with several equally powerful and prolific magic-based tribes? Perhaps even a few from the Dark Dimension?

What if the Beyonders are really just TOAA's harbingers and foot soldiers? And the true end is nigh.

What if Marvel's top 5 villains all merged into a single entity...and then left for the DC Universe? Who would take their place?

[davew128]

What if Charles Xavier had recruited Wanda Maximoff and Emma Frost as part of the original X-Men, instead of Hank and Bobby?

There'd have been a lot of teen sex at the Xavier Mansion.

What if Galactus had first visited the Earth at the height of World War II?

Probably the same thing that happened in Ancient times, when the original SHIELD defeated him.

What if all of the first Celestials fell under the lovelorn spell of Death like Thanos did?

Didn't they?

What if it was legally impossible to retcon any story?

Bendis would be out of a job.

What if Ragnarok wasn't an eternally repeating cycle...and it happened over 1 million years ago? The real gods are dead. Only the magic exists.

According to Loki, everything is a story.

What if Death and Oblivion are married? And Thanos has been vying pointlessly for years to win her completely unaware that she's not on the market?

Because even abstract spouses never cheat?

What if to balance out all of the scientific-based tribes, like mutants, Eternals and Inhumans, the Living Tribunal decreed that the Earth become integrated with several equally powerful and prolific magic-based tribes? Perhaps even a few from the Dark Dimension?

Nobody would read the books.

What if the Beyonders are really just TOAA's harbingers and foot soldiers? And the true end is nigh.

Dilly Dilly!

What if Marvel's top 5 villains all merged into a single entity...and then left for the DC Universe? Who would take their place?

Shocker, Wizard, Tiger Shark, Bullseye, and Whirlwind. Because, why not?

[Derek Metaltron]

What if Charles Xavier had recruited Wanda Maximoff and Emma Frost as part of the original X-Men, instead of Hank and Bobby?

What if Galactus had first visited the Earth at the height of World War II?

Both of those sound really interesting, the first in how much darker the X-Men could be without the upbeat natures of Bobby and Hank and less scientific prowess from the latter. Plus whether Scott would end up with Emma much earlier and if Jean would end up with Warren instead. And of course how this would affect Pietro and Magneto.

And Invaders vs Galactus with Red Skull and the Nazis trying to manipulate the situation and maybe steal Silver Surfer's power sounds like a cracking story. I'd definitely read that one.

[Derek Metaltron]

Here's another one I started writing a decade back so there's some actual story. This was actually based on a what if suggested in a classic what if comic which was never made and I thought it sounded cool...

###

I am Uatu, the Watcher. As I observe your species carefully, it seems clear that if there is one matter which your super-powered fighters agree upon, it is the concept of alliance in the direst of circumstances. Several of the philosophers of your planet have agreed with this notion, the matter of unity, whether it be bound by honour and glory, family and friendship, power and greed, or vengeance and destruction.

It is also the case that alliance can come through sheer chance, accident or mistake. Take, for example, some of the most famous heroes upon Earth – the Fantastic Four. Reed Richards, scientific genesis and leader, also called Mr Fantastic – the thinker and strategist. His wife, passionate and caring Susan Richards, known to the world as the mighty Invisible Woman – the heart and soul of the team. Her brother, hot headed Johnny Storm, brash yet promising in the heat of the moment, a true Human Torch – the joker and public face. And last, the brutish but kind-hearted Ben Grimm, determined to the last as the Thing – the beloved friend and ally of Reed Richards. These four individuals in the heights of Earth’s stratosphere became the first of a new age of Marvels, in a world who perhaps had long since forgotten men of fire and water, good and evil. And of course, above all the foes of the Fantastic Four stood a man bound by his own choice to a mask of iron and a heart of stone, a man determined to make Earth his own – Victor von Doom.

But the Fantastic Four were not to become your only heroes in this brave dawn. One by one more came, be they Incredible, Mighty, Amazing, Invincible or Uncanny – and with each sprang evil forces to confront them all. None however, seemed more threatening to your world than the rampage of the Incredible Hulk. It was thus from this fear that Loki, Asgardian God of Evil, devised a most impressive plan; to trick the Hulk into a deal which would force his brother into combat with the green titan. He did not, however, consider the involvement of Rick Jones and his Teen Brigade to try and radio the Fantastic Four – and in his attempts to divert the radio message elsewhere, Loki was responsible for forming Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, for combining the powers of Thor, Iron Man, Ant Man, Wasp and Hulk together – the Avengers.

Though this initial creation had some ties to the original family of heroes, it would not be until some months later, in the wake of a true fight against the powers of an enraged Hulk who had left the Avengers, battled them, and now found himself replaced by a hero only recently out of his time, that the first true encounter between the Avengers and Fantastic Four would take place.

This is a fight that for Reed Richards and his allies began badly. Even prior to the Hulk’s rampage within New York City, Richards contracted a deadly virus in his latest attempts to cure Ben Grimm of his rocky condition. Second, Johnny Storm rashly choose to face the Hulk on his own, leaving him hospitalized and like Richards unable to fight. Thus with the Avengers not yet within the city, this left only the Invisible Woman and the Thing to battle Bruce Banner’s unstoppable rage. With Susan’s powers as yet too weak to hold the behemoth, only Ben Grimm could contain him. For hours, the fight between these two powerhouses raged… until finally, only the Hulk stood, determined once more to locate the Avengers.

And so he would, for soon within the confines of the mansion that Tony Stark, secretly the Invincible Iron Man, had constructed for the business of the Avengers, Hulk lunged at Rick Jones, the boy he believed had betrayed him for the side of Captain America, and with this choice found himself once more at odds with his former allies. However, with Reed’s virus destroyed and the remaining members back to full strength, so it was that in the heat of battle with the Incredible Hulk, the Avengers and Fantastic Four joined forces. After some initial bickering, both Iron Man and Mr Fantastic knew it was essential to put aside their differences and work together. Chasing the Hulk to an abandoned building, the collective might of two such teams of heroes proved too much for him, and he was forced to flee as once again he became the weak, fragile form of Bruce Banner.

Though neither team forgot the partnership of this day, this was an alliance that did not last, and the Avengers and Fantastic Four went their separate ways. In the long-term it might have seemed foolish to remain partners – after all, the Avengers were not family to Reed Richards, and he and his allies did not know their identities as the world did for the heroic foursome. In the years afterward, though the membership of the Avengers would change many times, Mr Fantastic would be - despite some occasional disputes – be proud to call the Avengers friends.

But suppose this first encounter had indeed led to something more long-term? After all, the Avengers Mansion had suffered extensive damage in the battle with the Hulk; perhaps the Baxter Building could serve as much? Indeed, what would have happened if the Mighty Avengers and the Fantastic Four chose to become one? It is thus my role as the Watcher to consider this possibility and it is you, my young observer, who will watch with me to consider the question…

WHAT IF… THE FANTASTIC FOUR AND AVENGERS HAD MERGED INTO ONE TEAM?

[Derek Metaltron]

***

The night air cooled the warmth upon Reed Richards face as he stood waiting amidst the ruined construction site that earlier in the day, he and the rest of his team had joined the newly established Avengers in battling the green titan known as the Hulk. He coughed loudly for a couple of seconds and to lessen the pain, he took a sip from the bottle of medicine the doctors had recommended him to drink over the next few days, having only just recovered from a severe virus whilst searching into means to cure Ben Grimm of his unfortunate condition.

He frowned. If the same doctors… and for that matter Susan… knew he was outside breathing in dust particles when he should by all accords be relaxing in a nice warm bed, he’d never hear the end of it. But he’d been called to appear here, some mere hours after the battle. He was happy to see that the damage control crews had chosen to pack up for the night and deal with the mess later, as it saved him the trouble of explaining why Reed Richards was her at two in the morning sitting in what must have been a worker-men’s office before the Hulk had made a large hole in the roof.

A sound caught his attention from outside and he moved out, aware of the noise of jet-fuelled rocket boots as the metallic figure touched down nearby. Dressed in red and good coloured armour, he was unmistakable, even for a hero who had only recently arrived on the do-gooding scene.

“Iron Man, a pleasure to see you once again.” Reed extended one of his arms as it stretched a couple of metres to shake his Avenger counterpart.

“Dr Richards.” Beneath the mask came the familiar speaker voice which tone made it impossible to know who for certain was under that faceplate. “I want to thank you for accepting my and Tony Stark’s agreement to meet on such short notice. I know that the location was a little strange, but I felt that it would be best to keep this first proper talk both secret from the press, and in a place we both knew off the top of our heads.”

“Not at all.” Reed smiled. “I know that Tony managed to heighten my curiosity. So, and please be brief as it is rather cold here... what brings us here, Iron Man?”

“Chiefly? The prospect of alliance.” The metal warrior raised an arm to step forwards. “I know, a sudden chain of thoughts, but I think a man of your intellect should at least hear me out.”

Reed nodded warily.

“Thanks. As you know, the rules are changing. For the first time since the Second World War super-powered warriors both good and evil are showing up at an alarming rate, faster than any law enforcement or government round the world can manage effectively. You’ve been here longer than any of us other heroes have. You’ve had the opportunity both as a scientist and team member of your group to see what I’m talking about. What I’m suggesting here is a meeting of the minds. Besides those mutant heroes, we’re the only established Super Hero Teams. We represent something good and decent about this country, and Tony Stark thinks that we could do so much more if you were prepared to consider extending your heroic family to accept a few extra relations.”

Reed raised a hand. “I don’t know Iron Man. It sounds a grand concept by design, but to have all of yours and mine teams combined? We’d have to consider the implications of having nine heroes together, under the same roof. Not to mention that with that many heroes together we’d represent the major super hero team on the planet. That fact alone would likely bring every major villainous character to our doorstep... and where would that doorstep be? I don’t fancy the idea of moving all our stuff to that mansion of yours...”

The armored warrior coughed. “Well, to tell you the truth after Hulk’s tantrums and the damage that he did there, I feel that if we did merge together, your Baxter building serves as a stronger base of operations. I’m not saying this would be easy, and yes, we’d likely have to deal with a lot of attacks. But try to think of this – we’d represent the heroic ideal. That’s what I strove for when I formed the Avengers after the business with Loki. Think of all those emerging rookies – Spider-Man, Daredevil, the X-Men... if we were out there, together, setting an example to others, we’d have the opportunity to help them structure their powers, learn to use them wisely... lest they do something wrong and mess up. I never want to see what happens when a hero messes up, Dr Richards.”

Mr Fantastic put a lengthened forefinger to his temple and pondered. His head was still a little fuzzy after the events of the virus and Hulk battle, but what Iron Man was saying had promise. He looked up, a frown on his face. “I have a couple of questions. If we merged... we couldn’t be called the Fantastic Four anymore. We’d be Avengers, right?”

“It’s up to you Reed. My teammates would be happy joining your ranks as much as I hope you would be.”

“There’s also the question of secret identities. We’ve never hidden our faces from the world. I respect that you do it to protect yourselves, that’s fine. But between teammates... it partly the reason we didn’t let Spider-Man join us a while back, we couldn’t expect to let someone on we didn’t know.”

There was a pause and the sound of streets blaring in the background took hold. Then Iron Man spoke. “I see. Well, if that’s what it’ll take... I trust you Reed Richards. I really do.” He moved his metallically enforced arms to his helmet and there was the hiss of steam as he prised off its red-gold plating to reveal the face of billionaire Tony Stark. Reed Richards eyes widened for a moment at this identity, then smiled and took an extended arm and shook it.

“Thank you... Tony. Thanks for trusting me.”

“My pleasure Reed. You’re the second person I ever revealed this to. And the first one... well it’s a long story and I doubt we’ve the time. You’ll consider my request?”

Taking a deep breath, Reed gave his response. “I’ll clearly have to confer with my colleges about this for a while. But I’ve certainly seen the bigger picture. I was impressed with how the Avengers helped us tackle the Hulk, so... You’ve got my backing, certainly, which probably means you’ve gotten Ben’s and Sue’s too. Johnny might take a while, but...” A grin enveloped his face. “It’ll certainly be interesting to see what happens when so many heroes get together under one roof.”

“My thoughts exactly. Let’s wait until next time while let the rest of our teams know the details, but otherwise...” Tony slipped his helmet back on and nodded. “I look forwards to working with you, Reed Richards.” And with that Reed watched as Iron Man – no, Tony Stark – flew though the damaged roof and into the night sky, eventually swallowed up in the blackness above.

He sighed and walked over to the concealed portion of the Fantasicar and rubbed his brow thoughtfully. This could be a long night...

***

So begins the thought to the deed, and as the Watcher I observe this branch in the time line. The charge was in the mind of Tony Stark. Upon your world he does not see the connection that he finds here, and thus the Avengers and Fantastic Four would drift away to become separate heroic teams. But now he has chosen a different path. Will it prove good or bad? That is not yet for me to say, but let us now journey to the following afternoon, where seven very unusual visitors to the Baxter Building are admitted inside – Captain America, lost from the Golden Age but gifted to this new generation, Iron Man, 21st Century Knight, towering Giant Man and the stunning beauty of the Wasp, the Mighty Thor of Asgard, and lastly two humans who accompany their travels at present - the young Rick Jones, the technical forger of the Original Avenger team, and loyal butler of Tony Stark, Jarvis.

This meeting then becomes known as the forging of the Fantastic Four and Avengers into one, powerful super-team. Little are they to know that their first mission might become bound to them sooner than they are aware...

###

And that's what I wrote. The idea was that I was going to take some classic FF and Avenger stories of the time and have this merged team of heroes dealing with it all, but it would lead I believe to an alliance between Doctor Doom and Baron Zemo's Masters of Evil with a huge showdown, and I think Kang and Namor would have been there too and Hulk as well... hard to recall but it would have been a love letter to 60's era Fantastic Four and Avengers, really.

[Mutant God]

What If Scarlet Witch had her kids and raised them?

What If X-Men killed the Inhuman Royal Family during IvX?

What If Beast brought X-Men to the past rather than the O5 to the present?

What if the Illuminati created Civil War as a cover up for a secret mission

What If the Runaways were adopted by different members of the Avengers?

What If Aunt May became Madame Webb?

What If every hero and villain were drafted into sports teams?

[jackolover]

Doom created the Universal Wellspring and thus is the architect of the Silver Age super humans, and, he likes how they are going.

[MaximoffTrash]

What if Robert Frank didn't run away that night at Wundagore and adopt Wanda and Pietro?

What if William and Thomas Maximoff grow to adulthood safe and sound?

What if Celestials didn't nearly wipe out the Deviants?

[Sutekh]

What if Amal Farouk wasn't the first 'Shadow King' but merely the latest host in a long line of hosts that the telepathic parasite had possessed, and when Xavier 'killed' him, he instead fragmented off a seed and infected Xavier, who later unknowingly infected various other telepaths, such as Jean Grey, with splinters of the Shadow King parasite? Every sketchy choice Xavier has made since that day may well be the result of dark suggestions from this malignancy hiding within his psyche, and, even more retconnerifically, the Phoenix Force itself was tainted by the Shadow King fragment hiding within Jean Grey's mind...

The Shadow King liked having the power of the Phoenix to 'play with,' and he's trying to reconstitute himself from being scattered in the minds of Xavier, Jean, etc. now that they are all conveniently alive again, and he can parallel process at full power, so that he can seduce the Phoenix entity back to earth to 'play.'

[JudicatorPrime]

What if Amal Farouk wasn't the first 'Shadow King' but merely the latest host in a long line of hosts that the telepathic parasite had possessed, and when Xavier 'killed' him, he instead fragmented off a seed and infected Xavier, who later unknowingly infected various other telepaths, such as Jean Grey, with splinters of the Shadow King parasite? Every sketchy choice Xavier has made since that day may well be the result of dark suggestions from this malignancy hiding within his psyche, and, even more retconnerifically, the Phoenix Force itself was tainted by the Shadow King fragment hiding within Jean Grey's mind...

The Shadow King liked having the power of the Phoenix to 'play with,' and he's trying to reconstitute himself from being scattered in the minds of Xavier, Jean, etc. now that they are all conveniently alive again, and he can parallel process at full power, so that he can seduce the Phoenix entity back to earth to 'play.'

I've always liked the idea of the Shadow King as the yin to the Phoenix Force's yang.