What If... the Thing Had Continued to Mutate?

At this point in in its life, What If? is trying to cram multiple stories in each issue, all following a certain theme. In #35 it was life and death. In #36, loss and gain of powers. And here in #37, it's about transformation. Let's just say that in this first one, writer Tom DeFalco goes a bit far...

What If Vol.1 #37 (February 1983)
Based on: Marvel Two-in-One #81
The true history: Ben Grimm was injected with a radioactive virus by MODOK which made him mutate further. Teaming up with Giant-Man Bill Foster and Captain America, he went back to AIM's HQ and got the cure. Foster thought of using it on himself to cure his own radioactive toxemia, but sacrificed his well-being to return the Thing to his former, rocky state.
Turning point: What if the Thing didn't WANT to team up with Giant-Man Bill Foster?
Story type: Happily ever after
Watcher's mood: Barn doors
Altered history: This time, Ben Grimm fears his mind may also mutate and rather than endanger Bill "the former Black Goliath" Foster, he runs away. Or maybe he doesn't trust a third-stringer to actually help him recover the virus and throws in the towel.
He's on the run without a cell, but Reed Richards sets his "vapo-tracker" on him, a heat-seeking missile by any other name.
Note: Reed Richards is not a danger to society. Before the Fantastic Four can find him, Ben's mutated so much he can no longer fly the F-bike and he crashes on a mountain.
Meanwhile, Giant-Man and Captain America take the fight to MODOK and AIM to recover the antidote to "Virus X". Unfortunately, they don't have the Thing on their side this time, and Giant-Man's strength is quickly deteriorating as a result of his own radiation poisoning.
Captain America saves his bacon, but the two of them are still losing the fight. Giant-Man finds the cure-gun and uses it on himself - because now apparently there's enough for everyone... CHEAT! And it doesn't even matter in the end, you'll see... DOUBLE CHEAT! - and he rallies, stronger than ever, saving Cap and defeating MODOK. On the mountain face, the FF and poor blind Alicia Masters find the Thing and he's gone radioactive. Alicia doesn't care (or, I think, understand what that means) and runs into the caves where Ben's hiding. She would rather die than live without him anyway. He's mutated into a (more) horrible radioactive monster.
And then he goes critical. Sue Richards puts everyone in a forcefield as the Thing blows, and then DeFalco tacks on a happy ending to THAT. First, the radiation blast cures Alicia of her blindness. Second, it purges Ben of both the virus AND his powers/mutated form. Now they can get married and still be able to return the rented tux undamaged!
But wait, there's more. Who can possibly take Ben's place on the Fantastic Four? Why, how about Giant-Man Bill Foster?
It all works out, and Foster even gets the fame he never had in our world. Is it possible that he doesn't die cheaply in Civil War? Yes, there's even a chance of that. Also, in this world, mutants no longer suffer prejudice, Spider-Man has a happy life and all the villains retire.
Books canceled as a result: Puts to rest Marvel Two-in-One, unless they expect Giant-Man to carry the burden. Certainly, no Thing comic down the road.
These things happen: Often. Ben Grimm has been a big yo-yo when it comes to mutating back and forth, or losing his powers altogether. The longest-lasting change was probably his spiky look during the Englehart run:
Yeah, let's not do that again.
Next week: What if the Beast Had Continued to Mutate?
My guess: Belle and the candlesticks packed up and left.

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