9 Mind Blowing "What If?" Scenarios That Almost Changed Comics Forever

1. Alan Moore Uses Charlton Heroes For Watchmen

Today (and probably when it was first released too), Alan Moore's Watchmen is heralded as the finest comic book of all time. It has a spot on Time's Greatest Novels of all Time (being the only comic to register on that list), and it still provokes debate to this day.

One thing that fans of the book might not know, however, is that Alan Moore had a very different vision in mind when he conceived of the Minutemen and their eighties counterparts. DC had recently acquired a bunch of Charlton Comics characters (one being Steve Ditko's the Question), and Moore, sensing an opportunity, wanted to use them in his deconstruction of the medium.

Question was meant to take on the role of Rorschach (a fact that would later be lampooned in the character's own solo series a few years later), Blue Beetle was meant to be Nite-Owl, Silk Spectre was an imitation of Nightshade, and Captain Atom was meant to be Doctor Manhattan too.

While the main beats of Moore's story would probably have stayed the same, using these characters in particular would've erased entire runs from the equation, particularly Question's, who's garnered his own cult following in the wake of his own seminal series and appearance on Justice League.

Learn anything knew? Are there any other "What if?" moments that come to mind? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!