What If...? (1977) #8

• "What If... Someone else had become the Amazing Spider-Man?" – Uatu recounts how Peter Parker became Spider-Man in preparation for three alternate versions of the story...

... In the first alternative version (Earth-78127), Flash Thompson is bitten by the spider instead of Peter Parker. Peter, noticing the spider takes it with him to run some tests. Flash goes on to become a super hero and fights crime while Peter becomes his biggest fan. However, when Flash has his first fight with a super villain, the Vulture, he is dropped by his enemy in mid-flight. Flash, not being the science whiz that Parker is, never developed web fluid and is therefore unable to break his fall. He dies in an alley watched by Parker.

... In the second alternative version (Earth-78227), Betty Brant is present at the demonstration and is bitten by the spider. Once again, Parker discovers the spider and takes it into his possession. Betty confides in Parker that she has spider powers and Parker aids her in becoming a heroine, designing a costume and building her web shooters. Betty fights crime but refuses to use her spider strength in battle. However, when a criminal escapes from Betty she later finds out that he killed Ben Parker, and she punches the criminal in a rage. The blow proves to be fatal. Unable to cope with the fact that she took someone's life, Betty gives up on the life of a crime fighter and goes back to living an ordinary life.

"What If... the World Knew that Daredevil was Blind?"

Daredevil fought Electro alongside Spider-Man when Electro figured out he was blind after setting off an extremely bright flare in front of his face. Spidey didn't believe it, and asked Daredevil what color Electro's costume was, confirming the suspicion.

Electro outed the secret to the Daily Bugle, and Matt continued to fight crime as Daredevil at the protest of Karen. The Owl tried to use this known weakness against him, and almost succeeded, causing Matt to reconsider a radical experimental operation to regain his sight.

Matt and Karen travel to Lichenbad to have the operation, and encounter the tyrant monarch Duke Klaus Kruger along the way. After the operation, Daredevil is forced to save the doctor who performed it and is subjugated to a large radiation dose from shutting down a Nuclear Pile Reactor.

The Dose causes Matt to lose his heightened extra senses, but he regains his sight. Upon arriving back in the States, the Owl immediately abducts Matt and Karen to participate in his form of a courtroom trial against the Judge (Lewis) who put him away. Matt calls Daredevil to the stand and leaves to get his key witness. Daredevil defeats the Owl and saves Karen as well.

Later Matt outs his secret identity to the press and runs for District Attorney. He wins, and he and Karen get married, seemingly living a happy normal life from then on.


"What If... the Spider Had Been Bitten By a Radioactive Human?"

Webster Weaver was bitten by a radioactive human and his life is forever changed, becoming Man-Spider.