History WhatCouldHaveBeen / ComicBooks

* The X-Men villain Apocalypse had been suggested as both the mastermind behind the Weapon X program (a plan fitting an immortal mutant with advanced technology and a penchant for playing god), as well as [[WallBanger the third Summers brother who was sent back in time (explaining his and Mr. Sinister's obsessions with the Summers bloodline)]]. Instead, Weapon X became part of Weapon Plus (with Captain America and Nuke being part of said program, as Weapons 0, 01, and 07) and the third Summers brother was sent to his death by Professor X, who them wiped Cyclop's memory when he got upset about it, but that brother came back to life with super-charged powers and conquered a galactic empire.

** JMichaelStraczynski, then still the writer of {{Spider-Man}}, originally planned a very different version of OneMoreDay, in which many events in Peter's life were changed by his helping Harry Osborn through his drug addiction. This would result in Norman Osborn never returning to being the Green Goblin, Gwen Stacy never dying, Harry and MJ never breaking up, and, in effect, Peter never marrying MJ. This was rejected, however, because Joe Q. didn't want to make all the stories of the past 35 years moot. Unfortunately, this storyline would make much more sense than Joe's version of [[WallBanger One More Day]]... which went and made all the stories of the last ''20'' years moot ''anyway''.

* Heroic Publishing, around 2006 or 2007, was trying to get people interested in FantasticGirl, a planned multi-media sensation who would diversify their line-up by being a TokenBlack heroine that would appeal to the old-school Blaxploitation fans. Fan reaction who totally negative, due to the limited info of her seemed to establish her as an EthincCounterpart of their Flare character, and as a result the character was quietly dropped!

** Actually, both theories have been debunked, by none other than Steve Ditko himself. Apparently, he had intended all along for Norman Osborn to be the Green Goblin. He pointed to the fact that he had Norman already situated in J. Jonah Jameson's business club in an earlier issue, and had his son Harry become friends with Spider-Man/ Peter Parker. And in an issue just prior to the big reveal and scripted by Ditko, an incident at Osborn's chemical plant heavily implied that there was something going on with Osborn, with Osborn ominously stated at the end of the tale that Spider-Man had become too much of a problem and needed to be dealt with.

** Similarly, Venom was intended to be killed off after his first major appearance, so the symbiote could move on to other characters, like J. Jonah Jameson. It was swiftly killed when Venom gained popularity.

*** To elaborate, the "Dark Wolverine" story didn't mesh well with plans to bring X-Men to the mainstream in the early '90s with the action figures and the cartoon. The level of violence was also beyond anything Claremont had gotten away with before. To start, Lady Deathstrike would have ripped Wolverine's heart out of his chest. His healing factor would have given out and the adamantium would have oozed out of his pores. This pain would have weakened him mentally, hence the Hand's ability to finally brainwash him. Later, Colossus would have yanked out his claws. By the time it was all over, Wolverine would have regained control of his mind but his claws and healing factor would have been gone indefinitely.

*** To elaborate, the "Dark Wolverine" story didn't mesh well with plans to bring X-Men to the mainstream in the early '90s with the action figures and the cartoon. Also, it was extreme enough to make Silvestri's Wolverine crucifixion cover look like an Archie comic. In addition to being making the star of the franchise a villain for at least a year, it would have begun and ended with all-time macabre moments for Claremont and changed Wolverine beyond recognition. To start, Lady Deathstrike would have ripped Wolverine's heart out of his chest. His healing factor would have given out and the adamantium would have oozed out of his pores. This pain would have weakened him mentally, hence the Hand's ability to finally brainwash him. Later, Colossus would have yanked out his claws. By the time it was all over, Wolverine would have regained control of his mind but his claws and healing factor would have been gone indefinitely.
*** The division of the franchise into two books in 1991 might also have gone differently. A piece of original pin-up art by Jim Lee shows Wolverine, Beast, Forge, Strong Guy, Jubilee, Psylocke, Storm (in an unused costume) and Rogue, with Magneto looming in the background. Another shows Xavier, standing up, with Jean in an updated Phoenix costume, Storm (in the familiar '90s costume, suggesting this one was drawn later), Wolverine, Colossus, Gambit and Beast. There is a similar piece by Whilce Portacio that includes Cyclops, Jean, Archangel, Iceman, Gambit and Colossus with Xavier behind them. It's also been said that at some point Xavier would have been killed and Gateway, of all people, would have mentored some of the mutants. Also, let's not forget Jim Lee's "Things to Come" illustration with a creepy Skrull woman and Selene alongside Matsuo, Omega Red, Longshot and Dazzler. You can see all of the art [http://http://forum.superpouvoir.com/showthread.php?p=85697&postcount=96 here]].

* In ''{{Fables}}'', [[BigBad The Adversary]] was Gepetto, the puppeteer. However, Willingham actually had a much different plan for The Adversary's identity beforehand. Originally, he wanted the Adversary to be revealed as ''Peter Pan'', who would come to the human world and kidnap children so they would remain young and corrupt. There would also be a hero attempting to save the children, and this would be none other than, of all people, ''Captain Hook''. (Given the fact that Captain Hook was, in the original tales, a former SadistTeacher, that's ''definitely'' irony) However, this was changed to Gepetto because Peter Pan wasn't public domain in the UK, and the characters of Fables all have to be public domain. (Hence why characters from ''AliceInWonderland'' and ''WizardOfOz'', for instance, do not appear.)

* In ''{{Fables}}'', [[BigBad The Adversary]] was Gepetto, the puppeteer. However, Willingham actually had a much different plan for The Adversary's identity beforehand. Originally, he wanted the Adversary to be revealed as ''Peter Pan'', who would come to the human world and kidnap children so they would remain young and corrupt. There would also be a hero attempting to save the children, and this would be none other than, of all people, ''Captain Hook''. (Given the fact that Captain Hook was, in the original tales, a former SadistTeacher, that's ''defintiely'' irony) However, this was changed to Gepetto because Peter Pan wasn't public domain in the UK, and the characters of Fables all have to be public domain. (Hence why characters from ''AliceInWonderland'' and ''WizardOfOz'' appear)

* Another {{Spider-Man}} example, and possibly the best-known; [[TheGwenStacy Gwen Stacy]]. Stan Lee has said several times that he originally intended Gwen to be Peter's one-and-only, and that MJ was created only as [[ThePaolo competition]] for Gwen. However, for several reasons too numerous (and controversial) to name here, the writer who succeeded Stan, Gerry Conway, wrote the now iconic comic ''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'' while Stan was away. Many fans still wonder what might have been had Gwen Stacy survived.

* Mystique was going to be revealed as not Nightcrawler's mother, but ''his father'', having [[HomosexualReproduction impregnated another woman]] while in the form of a man. Executive Meddling prevented this one, as it was expected to be controversial. Fans however seem to like the idea, and occasionally a writer will suggest retconning it into the truth (particularly since the reveal of Nightcrawler's actual father has been met with lukewarm reaction).
** I'm not sure I'd describe frothing, seething rage as a "lukewarm" reaction. I have yet to meet a single comic fan, either in person or on the Internet, who approved of that storyline. And it's just one of ''many'' storylines which has led a large portion of the comic book fanbase to hate Chuck Austen.

* Dave Stevens sketched and scripted a three issue {{The Rocketeer}}/{{Superman}} [[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=29312 mini]] that never saw the light of day.

* Mystique was going to be revealed as not Nightcrawler's mother, but ''his father'', having [[HomosexualReproduction impregnated another woman]] [[ShapeshiftingSquick while in the form of a man]]. Executive Meddling prevented this one, as it was expected to be controversial. Fans however seem to like the idea, and occasionally a writer will suggest retconning it into the truth (particularly since the reveal of Nightcrawler's actual father has been met with lukewarm reaction).

* DCComics' first graphic novel, ''StarRaiders'', [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/09/17/comic-book-legends-revealed-278/ was originally intended as a 120-page-long limited series.]] Unfortunately, due to TheGreatVideoGameCrashOf1983, Atari canceled the deal with DC midway through development. With 40 pages of painted art already completed, DC decided to cut their losses by commissioning an additional 20 pages to finish the story, then released it as a graphic novel. needless to say, the story suffers from the CompressedArc, any many characters and plot points are LeftHanging as a result.

* ''{{Watchmen}}'' was originally penned to be about a group of Charlton Comic characters DC had recently acquired. But since the plot Moore wrote had many of them killed off and thereby unusable in future story lines, it was suggested he make up his own characters.
** [[FridgeBrilliance So ''that's'' why they look so much like Charlton Comics characters? It is so clear now...]]

** Some rumors states that Ned Leeds was Steve Ditko's choice for the Green Goblin, backed up by the fact that near the end of Ditko's run, Ned Leeds and Peter had a very antagonist relationship where they patched things up as soon as Romita took over. Ned was later framed for being the Hobgoblin, making him Marvel's go-to guy for not quite- goblins.

* The original outlines for Marvel [[CrisisCrossover crossovers]] ''[[Comicbook/CivilWar Civil War]]'' and ''SecretInvasion'' have some major differences to the end products. ''Civil War'' would have [[http://marvel.com/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/entry/814 originally]] included what would become ''WorldWarHulk'' (in drastically different form as Hulk, his new wife, and their children invading Earth) and involved a plot device "Power Stealing Electric Chair" that would have stripped Speedball and Captain America of their powers; whilst the [[http://marvel.com/blogs/Tom_Brevoort/entry/1545 original ending]] to ''SecretInvasion'' would have massively depowered the Sentry and killed off [[IncredibleHercules Hercules]] and Jessica Jones and Luke Cage's baby, as well as having Norman just out of the blue STEAL the Avengers name from the real Avengers.
* Siegel and Shuster conceived of two early versions of Superman before the famous one. The first was an ordinary man who gained mind control powers in an experiment and became a supervillain until his powers faded (too bad he killed the scientist who gave them to him in the first place) though this was a One Shot. The second version was a nonpowered colorfully attired strongman who went around beating up bullies. This second version eventually became the then mildly popular Slam Bradley (who didn't wear a costume but otherwise looked a lot like Superman). In this case, ExecutiveMeddling worked for the better forcing the creative team to create the third wildly popular version of the character and define an entire genre of fiction.

** In fact,t he sheer amount of this trope in the comic, combined with the demand by fans to know about it, has pushed former head writer Ken Penders to work towards revealing all of these dirty little secrets on his webpage. Thus far, plot details announced include the death of SNivley in a HeroicSacrifice against Eggman, Sonic gaining a higher rank than Sally, conflicting with their relationship, and an alliance between Knothole and Station Square.

* There's an outline floating around the internet for the new direction {{Superman}} was to take in the new millennium. They include a more SilverAge inspired Fortress of Solitude, Lex Luthor's intellect being almost ''supernatural'', and a peculiar [[MemeticMutation memetic virus]] infecting Lois Lane. Various portions have leaked into the comics since then:

** In fact,t he sheer amount of this trope in the comic, combined with the demand by fans to know about it, has pushed former head writer Ken Penders to work towards revealing all of these dirty little secrets on his webpage. Granted, he promised to do this in ''2007'', and only very little information about said storylines has actually been released, but at least the info is coming.

** I'm not sure I'd describe frothing, seething rage as a "lukewarm" reaction. This Troper has yet to meet a single comic fan, either in person or on the Internet, who approved of that storyline. And it's just one of ''many'' storylines which has led a large portion of the comic book fanbase to hate Chuck Austen.

** Too numerous? The only reason this troper has heard was that the only direction the creative team felt that Gwen and Peter could go was to get married, and they didn't want to marry off their protagonist just yet. So they instead killed her. If there are other complex reasons, this troper would like to hear them.

*The ending of {{Johnny the Homicidal Maniac}} was open-ended enough to admit a continuation, to say the least. Personally, this troper still has the first printing of Squee!#4, in which Jhonen Vasquez mentions his burning desire to get to work on the new JTHM series, and also recalls a mention in I Feel Sick of how Satan (who had been providing Rikki Simons and Vasquez with emotional support and sandwiches)was still hoping for a new Johnny series. From all appearances, the Prince of Lies is destined for disappointment, as are a good number of JTHM's fans...
*{{Miracleman}} provides another Neil Gaiman example. A bit of the story of the fold of Eclipse Comics and the subsequent abbreviation of the comic is rehashed on the Miracleman page, but it doesn't mention that the series practically ended in the middle of a sentence. The frustrating lack of closure, tantalizing hints of what was coming provided in the unpublished pages so easily found online, and Gaiman's immense talent made the demise of the series agonizing for this troper.

* Kirsten Dunst originally believed she was being cast as [[TheGwenStacy Gwen Stacy]], rather than Mary Jane, in the SpiderMan films..