Back in the 1960s, during the Roy Thomas run on The Avengers the titular team traveled to an alternate Earth where the original Avengers line-up had been influenced by the Scarlet Centurion (one of Kang the Conqueror's identities) into taking over the Earth.
But What If...? no-one had ever showed up to stop them? What if the Avengers made they were the only heroes on Earth?
Tropes:
- Didn't Think This Through: The Scarlet Centurion's plan was to have the founding Avengers beat every other hero so he could take over the world. He didn't stop to think they might oppose him, and that thanks to having beaten up pretty much every superpowered being on the planet they'd be capable of beating him as well.
- The Fellowship Has Ended: Once they've beaten every possible threat, the Avengers decide there's no point to sticking around, and retire. They only momentarily reunite to stop the Scarlet Centurion, then go right back to re-retirement.
- In Spite of a Nail: Thanks to the Scarlet Centurion's meddling, the Hulk never left the team after the events of Avengers #2... until he turns on the team anyway.
- Point of Divergence:
- Two-fold; the Scarlet Centurion kicking the Conflict Ball of Avengers #2 away and manipulating the Avengers into becoming dictators, and then no-one showing up to stop them. As a result, every other Marvel hero and villain has been defeated and arrested.
- On a much minor note, due to the Avengers' actions, Black Widow never donned her Spy Catsuit look, instead sticking with her original appearance, while Daredevil never went into his red outfit.
