What The--?!

Marvel Comics comic book series self parodying the Marvel Universe

What The ? ! is a Marvel Comics comic book series self parodying the Marvel Universe, similar in vein to the 1960s series Not Brand Echh. It was billed as "The Marvel mag of mirth and mayhem!" The series ran for 26 issues, from August 1988 through Winter 1993, with issue #26 being a Fall Special. It typically contained a series of short stories with comedic takes on Marvel heroes and villains, such as having Spider Ham substitute for Spider Man.

What The ? ! spotlighted some of the top artists and writers at the time. Many, such as Stan Lee and John Byrne, contributed works that spoof some of their all time greatest successes. For example, in issue #2, Byrne creates a tale pitting his work on the Fantastic Four franchise against his work with Superman. The issue goes so far as to have the Lex Luthor character complain about the changes Byrne made to the Superman legend after DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths. Though it carried the Marvel Comics label on the front left corner, What The ? ! touted itself as being published by "Marble Comics". What The ? ! parodied Marvel institutions such as the legendary Marvel Comics fan mail page, with staged articles called "The Marble Mailbag" and the "What The Mail". The title also did not contain any "true" advertisements. Instead, What The ? ! hosted a number of fake advertisements that made fun of classic comic book advertisements such as Charles Atlas, novelty by mail companies, and the Hostess snack food ads of the 1970s and 1980s.

What The ? ! was originally published as a four issue limited series. The last issue closed with an appeal from Fred Hembeck for readers to write to Marvel if they wanted to see more of the comic book. Several months later, What The ? ! returned, resuming its numbering at issue #5. Marvel. com has a web series called "Marvel Superheroes: What the ? ! ", mainly featuring MODOK and Deadpool.

Issue # Characters Characters parodied Notable writers/artists Year/month published 1 The Pulverizer, the Bower Brats, Clunk and Dagnabbit, the X Persons and New Pubescents, the Watchman The Punisher, Power Pack, Cloak and Dagger, the X Men and related mutant teams of the time, the Watcher, the Beyonder Peter B. Gillis, Hilary Barta, June Brigman, John Severin, Terry Austin, Jon Bogdanove, Steve Ditko, Al Milgrom August 1988 2 The Fantastical Four, Superbman, Knick Furey, Woof R' Ream, Doctor Deranged The Fantastic Four, Superman, Nick Fury, Wolverine, Doctor Strange John Byrne, John Severin September 1988 3 Spider Ham, Vizzion and Scarlett Wench, Bat Man, Scaredevil, Mutant Beach Party Chapter 1 Spider Man, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch, Batman, Daredevil, assorted mutants Glenn Herdling, Alex Saviuk, Kurt Busiek, Joe Sinnott, Fred Hembeck October 1988 4 Mutant Beach Party Chapter 2, Doctor Deranged, Shang Chew, Starchy, Lone Wolvie and Chris The X Men, the New Mutants, Doctor Strange, Shang Chi, Archie, Lone Wolf and Cub John Byrne, Kurt Busiek, Peter David, Fred Hembeck, David Schwartz November 1988 5 The Pulverizer vs. Wolvoream, the Alien ated Legion The Punisher, Wolverine, the Alien Legion Peter B. Gillis, Erik Larsen, Al Gordon, Terry Austin, Jim Lee, Chuck Dixon, Larry Stroman, Walt Jaschek, Whilce Portacio, Al Milgrom, Al Williamson, Hilary Barta, Doug Rice July 1989 6 Smacks of Vengeance, Man Thang, Swamp Thang, Sore, the Pulverizer Acts of Vengeance, the Man Thing, the Swamp Thing, Thor, the Punisher Stan Lee, John Byrne, Terry Austin, Hilary Barta, Doug Rice, Howard Mackie, Peter B. Gillis January 1990 7 The Revengers, Just A League, Awful Flight The Avengers, the Justice League of America, Alpha Flight Scott Lobdell, Marc McLauren, Tom DeFalco April 1990 8 The Goon Knight, Son of Santa, Klang The Moon Knight, the Son of Satan, Kang the Conqueror, Forbush Man returns Scott Lobdell, Kurt Busiek July 1990 9 Wolvie Wolverine John Byrne, Peter David, Scott Lobdell, Don McGregor October 1990 10 What The ? ! X Mas Special: Milk and Cookies, Santa Doom, Chaplain America Cloak and Dagger, Doctor Doom, Captain America Scott Lobdell, John Byrne, AKIRA (Ayehearya) January 1991 11 Wolverina Wolverine March 1991 12 Moanin' the Bavarian, Scarlet Itch Conan the Barbarian, the Scarlet Witch Rurik Tyler, Darren Auck May 1991 13 Silver Burper, Bratman, Goose Rider, My Fist Toe The Silver Surfer, Batman, the Ghost Rider, Mephisto Stan Lee, Joe Quesada, Darren Auck July 1991 14 September 1991 15 Strange Young Fighting Frogs, Tony Stork, Captain Ultra The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Tony Stark Scott Lobdell, Joe Quesada, Darren Auck November 1991 16 Ock Around the Christmas Tree, Milk and Cookies, Ka Mart, the Vault of What The ? ! 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Cloak and Dagger, Ka zar, The Vault of Horror (EC Comics) Scott Lobdell, Darren Auck January 1992 17 Environmental issue: Wolverweenie and Pulverizer save the rainforest Wolverine, the Punisher March 1992 18 May 1992 19 Ghost Writer, the Pulverizer, Wolvie, Knick Furey, Doctor Deranged The Ghost Rider, the Punisher, Wolverine, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange Scott Lobdell, Rick Stasi, Mike DeCarlo, Sholly Fisch, Rurik Tyler, Doug Rice, Hilary Barta July 1992 20 The Infinity Wart, Pork Grind The Infinity War, Venom August 1992 21 Sheeza Hulk, Toast Rider The She Hulk, the Ghost Rider, Weapon X Marie Severin, Darren Auck, Hilary Barta September 1992 22 The Pulverizer, Wolverweenie, Spider Ham, Hazards of Being a Supervillain, Salem's Pot The Punisher, Wolverine, Spider Man, supervillains, Forbush Man Joe Quesada, Hilary Barta, Roger Brown October 1992 23 Superb Pro, Nick Furious, New Worriers Super Pro, Nick Fury, the New Warriors, Forbush Man Hilary Barta November 1992 24 Roasting the Infinity Gauntlet The Infinity Gauntlet December 1992 25 Mutant parody issue The X Men, the New Mutants, X Factor, X Force Summer 1993 26 Spider Ham 15.88 Spider Man 2099 Winter 1993