What If...? #23

In What If...? #23, writer Kurt Busiek imagines a world where the All-New, All-Different X-Men never came to be, leaving the original team to face the challenges that would later define the new era. With Rodney Ramos' dynamic art and Doug Hazlewood’s inks bringing the emotional weight to every panel, this alternate reality sees Cyclops and Nightcrawler confront cosmic threats in ways that reshape the mutant legacy—culminating in a shocking twist during a mission to stop the Phoenix force, where the true enemy is far more personal than anyone expected. The cover by Ramos and McLeod captures the haunting intensity of the moment, making this a must-read for fans of the X-Men’s deeper mythos.