EARTH-9904 (THE AVENGERS HAD FOUGHT EVIL DURING THE 1950s)

Type: Divergent Earth

Environment: Earth-like

Usual Means of Access: Presumably vibrational attunement (or via time machines)

Dominant Life-Form: Atlanteans, gods, humans, robots, Skrulls

Significant Inhabitants: Desi Arnaz, the Avengers (3-D Man, Gorilla Man, Human Robot, Marvel Boy, Venus, Jimmy Woo), Lucille Ball, the Black Dragons, Captain America, the Cold Warrior, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Electro, Matthew Grayson, the Great Video, Hercules, Jann of the Jungle, Nikita Khrushchev, Namora the Sea-Woman, Elvis Presley, Shaw, Skull-Face, Suwan, Fritz von Voltzmann, the Yellow Claw, Zeus

First Appearance: What If? I#9 (June, 1978)

History:
(What If? I#9 (fb)) - In 1934, Matthew Grayson escaped the threat of Hitler's tyranny by flying into space, where his rocket-ship was knocked off-course, eventually arriving on the planet Uranus, where his son Bob grew up to become the hero Marvel Boy.

(What If? I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Ken Hale's obsession with the idea of a legendary Gorilla Man drove him to seek out the beast in Kenya. But after slaying the creature, a strange curse turned Hale himself into the new Gorilla Man.

(What If? I#9 (fb)) - A scientist created the Human Robot, but needed a regulator to perfect it. Unfortunately, the scientist's unscrupulous business manager sabotaged the robot, programming it to kill its creator; but after the automaton performed the task, it also killed the manager. Seeking more victims, the Human Robot fell into a river, only to be short-circuited by the water.

(What If? I#9 (fb)) - The cousin of Hercules and daughter of Zeus, Venus renounced her godly attributes to dwell among mortals who needed her.

(What If? I#9 (fb)) - While piloting the experimental XF-13 plane, pilot Chuck Chandler was attacked by alien Skrulls; but when the extraterrestrials' flying saucer exploded, it caused Chuck to merge with his brother Hal. From that point on, whenever Hal donned a special pair of glasses, he would merge with Chuck's spirit to become the 3-D Man.

(What If? I#9) - As FBI Agent James Woo waited for his contact in San Francisco's Chinatown, he was attacked by members of the Black Dragons motorcycle gang. Luckily, Agent Woo was saved by the 3-D Man, who happened to be vacationing there with his parents. Agent Woo thanked 3-D Man for the assist and announced that he now would not have to locate 3-D Man later. A confused 3-D Man asked what Woo meant, and Woo explained that he would soon find out, just as Marvel Boy arrived for his meeting with Woo. Marvel Boy did his part to help out as well by telepathically reading one of the Black Dragons' minds, and he discovered that the Black Dragons were under the mental control of the Yellow Claw. Agent Woo then explained to Marvel Boy that he needed a favor done in Africa -- unbeknownst to them, the Yellow Claw watched their actions with his Quartz Crystal.

   In Africa, Marvel Boy met with Jann of the Jungle, and the two searched for Ken Hale, the legendary Gorilla-Man. They soon found him being attacked by a group of lions, and Jann jumped right into battle to help the Gorilla-Man. As Marvel Boy talked the Gorilla-Man into helping him in America, Agent Woo and the 3-D Man met with Namora the Sea-Woman to find the long-dormant Human Robot. While the 3-D Man and Namora went underwater to retrieve the Human Robot, Agent Woo was startled at the arrival of the goddess Venus. Upon its reactivation, the Human Robot attempted to continue its old programming to kill, until Venus held it at bay with her love powers. Once Marvel Boy had re-programmed the Human Robot, Agent Woo explained that he had recently been appointed as a personal bodyguard to President Eisenhower, and during that time, three attempts had been made on Eisenhower's life, all linked to the Yellow Claw in some way. He then invited the other assembled heroes to help thwart the Yellow Claw's crimes as the Avengers, which they all agreed to do.

   One month later, the Yellow Claw was introduced to his own band of super-human agents: Skull-Face, the Great Video, Electro, and the Cold Warrior. With the might of this group at his command, the Yellow Claw chose that time to strike against President Eisenhower -- he had them tunnel underneath a golf course and pull Eisenhower underground during one of the President's golf games. Agent Woo managed to slip underground with the villains, and he followed them and their captive back to their hideout, where he learned of the Claw's plan to hold the President for ransom. Woo managed to give his radio communicator to Suwan before he was zapped unconscious and captured by Electro. Suwan radioed the Avengers and told them where they could find Woo and Eisenhower.

   Just before the Claw's scientist-henchman Fritz von Voltzmann could torture Woo, the Human Robot burst through the wall, giving the Avengers an opening into the Yellow Claw's lair. While the Avengers battled the Claw's group of villains, the Yellow Claw's niece Suwan freed Agent Woo, who then pursued the fleeing Yellow Claw and Voltzmann. Finding the "Yellow Claw," Woo was shielded by the Human Robot when the "Yellow Claw" turned out to be an explosive decoy.

   Following the battle with the Yellow Claw's villains, the Avengers met with a now-safe President Eisenhower, who asked that they disband, fearing that the existence of such a group might cause a panic amongst the general public.

(Avengers Forever I#4) - The Earth-616 Wasp and an alternate-future counterpart of the Genis-Vell Captain Marvel visited Earth-9904 (circa 1959) to investigate a temporal imbalance point during the Destiny War. They gathered from a newspaper that the local California town was throwing a Fourth of July party, with fireworks and special guest Vice-President Richard Nixon. While Wasp and Captain Marvel investigated at the local fairground, they were overheard talking about Nixon by Hal Chandler, one part of the 3-D Man, who radioed Marvel Boy to explain what he had heard. Soon, Captain Marvel's cosmic awareness deduced that the "Nixon" present at the festival was actually a disguised Skrull. Rushing to expose the Skrull, Captain Marvel was abruptly halted by the Avengers, who thought that the Wasp and Captain Marvel wanted to shanghai "Nixon" to China.

(Avengers Forever I#5) - The 1950s Avengers battled and eventually subdued the Wasp and Captain Marvel. Marvel Boy mentioned that he would try a telepathic probe to get the truth behind the Wasp's explanations, and she was happy to prove her story about being from the future. As Marvel Boy discovered that the Wasp was truthfully there investigating temporal disturbances, and that the "Nixon" present was actually a Skrull, two "FBI. agents" arrived and explained they knew there was a problem, and that they needed to confer with the 1950s Avengers. As Rick Jones of Earth-616 observed Earth-9904 from outside of time, Captain Marvel's cosmic awareness kicked in, and he revealed that the "FBI agents" were actually Space Phantoms. The 1950s Avengers immediately jumped into action against the Space Phantoms, while Rick Jones warned Wasp and Captain Marvel that there were temporal disturbances all around them. Soon after the Skrull-Nixon finished his speech to the celebrating crowd, he shook hands with what he thought to be a visiting Army general. As he shook hands, the Skrull-Nixon was outed as a Skrull and the general was revealed to be Immortus, who was wielding the time-altering Forever Crystal. Immortus then announced that the Skrull's attempt at destroying America's space program would eventually be discovered, and that Earth would arm itself against enemies from the stars. Given the future that he saw, Immortus ordered the timeline to be destroyed, and he activated the Forever Crystal, effectively erasing Earth-9904 from existence.

Comments: Created by Don Glut, Alan Kupperberg, and Bill Black.

This reality's divergent point would have occurred when the 1950s heroes decided to band together as the Avengers.

For a good while, it was presumed that the 1950s Avengers from Earth-9904 existed on Earth-616. When Kurt Busiek destroyed their reality in Avengers Forever, he stated that they still could have existed on Earth-616, just not using the name of the Avengers. When Agents of Atlas was published, it was explained that the heroes did team up together on Earth-616, only they were called the G-Men and 3-D Man never joined, which explained that the What If issue's reality (Earth-9904) was the one that Immortus destroyed.

While the 1950s Avengers appeared in Avengers Forever I#4-5, Jimmy Woo was not present with them.

I listed every character that was living at the time as behind-the-scenes in Avengers Forever I#5, because even if they weren't in that issue, they would have had to have died when Immortus erased their reality.

Enhanced images by Ron Fredricks.

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Earth-9904 has no known connections with:

The Avengers

The Avengers were formed by FBI Agent Jimmy Woo in order to better combat the plans of the Yellow Claw. After saving President Eisenhower, they were asked to disband, but instead continued working for the FBI. During a political rally in celebration of the Fourth of July, the Avengers met with Earth-616's Wasp and Captain Marvel from an alternate future, from whom they discovered that the Richard Nixon present at the rally was actually a Skrull. Before they had time to halt the Skrull's plans, Immortus arrived and erased Earth-9904 from existence, killing every one of the Avengers.

They were: (from left to right): Venus, the Human Robot, Marvel Boy, Jimmy Woo, the Gorilla-Man, and the 3-D Man.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#4, 5d

The Black Dragons

The Black Dragons were a motorcycle gang who attacked Jimmy Woo in San Francisco, just prior to the formation of the Avengers. After they were defeated by the 3-D Man, Marvel Boy telepathically discovered that they were under the mental control of the Yellow Claw. They were eventually destroyed along with their entire reality.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS(d)

The Cold Warrior

Much like his Earth-616 counterpart, the Cold Warrior was an anti-communist "hero" who used a costume that enabled him to generate intense cold. In order to better combat Jimmy Woo's Avengers, the Yellow Claw mentally enslaved the Cold Warrior to fight on his behalf. While under the control of the Yellow Claw, the Cold Warrior helped kidnap President Eisenhower, and he later battled the Avengers alongside other mental thralls of the Claw. During the battle, he loathed having to use his power to kill, but was unable to stop himself due to his mental conditioning. He was defeated alongside the other mental thralls by the Avengers. He was eventually destroyed along with everything else in his reality when Immortus erased Earth-9904.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

Electro

Much like his Earth-616 counterpart, Electro was a Communist who could manipulate and control electricity. He was mentally enslaved by the Yellow Claw, and aided in the kidnapping of President Eisenhower; but he was eventually defeated by the Avengers when they rescued the President. He was ultimately destroyed when Immortus erased this reality.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

Matthew Grayson

Wanting to escape the threat of Hitler in 1934, Matthew Grayson used an atomic-powered spacecraft to fly into space with his son Bob. While traveling, the spacecraft was knocked off-course, and it landed on Uranus, where Matthew and Bob spent years with the inhabitants of that planet. He perished along with everyone else in his universe when Immortus erased it out of existence with the Forever Crystal.

--What If? I#9 (fb) (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

The Great Video

Much like his Earth-616 counterpart, the Great Video was given superpowers by a laboratory explosion, which gave him x-ray vision and the ability to kill with a prolonged stare. He almost immediately set his plans to crime; but after being defeated by Marvel Boy, the Great Video lost his powers. The Yellow Claw eventually restored his powers and placed the Great Video under his mental thrall. While under the Claw's influence, the Great Video battled the Avengers, until he was defeated along with the others controlled by the Claw. When Immortus destroyed this universe, the Great Video perished along with it.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

Hercules

Hercules was the same as his Earth-616 counterpart, up until he perished when Immortus destroyed the universe.

Hercules presumably had the same superhuman strength, stamina, resistance, immortality, and durability that his Earth-616 counterpart had.

--What If? I#9 (fb) (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

Jann of the Jungle

Jann of the Jungle was heroine who fought against atrocities that took place within the African jungles. When Marvel Boy came there searching for the Gorilla-Man, Jann led him to Gorilla-Man, and she aided Gorilla Man against an attack by lions. Once Marvel Boy had convinced the Gorilla-Man to help Jimmy Woo, Jann said her goodbyes, wishing that she could also aid them further. When Immortus destroyed the universe, she presumably perished along with it.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

Namora the Sea-Woman

Namora was the same as her Earth-616 counterpart; she aided the 3-D Man in retrieving the Human Robot from a local river. She presumably perished along with her universe when Immortus erased it from existence.

Namora could survive indefinitely underwater by extracting oxygen from water. She could see in the murky depths of the ocean, and she could withstand the intense pressures of the deep. She also had superhuman strength, durability, and the power of flight.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

Shaw

Shaw was a secret service agent who was guarding President Eisenhower when he was kidnapped by the Yellow Claw's group of villains. Shaw tried to protect the President, but Electro zapped him with a blast of electricity.

--What If? I#9 (#9d

Skull-Face

Much like his Earth-616 counterpart, Skull-Face was the skeleton of an alleged demon that was brought to life by electricity. He was soon put under the mental control of the Yellow Claw and served as a member of a group of super-villains opposing the Avengers. Having no eyes in the empty sockets of his fleshless skull, he was immune to the light-bursts from Marvel Boy's bracelets, and he even resorted to biting the young hero's arm; but Skull-Face was destroyed when Marvel Boy hurled him into the Cold Warrior, and his bones were scattered.

Skull-Face had superhuman strength, but being a skeleton, he fell apart pretty easily.

--What If? I#9 (#9d

Suwan

Suwan was the grand-niece of the Yellow Claw; but despite her family-relationship, she was in love with FBI Agent Jimmy Woo. Before Woo was captured by the Yellow Claw, he gave Suwan his radio to call the Avengers, which she did. The Avengers soon arrived and defeated the Yellow Claw's group of villains, but the Yellow Claw escaped with Suwan. She was presumably destroyed along with the rest of the universe when Immortus erased it from existence.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

Fritz von Voltzmann

Fritz von Voltzmann was a Nazi war-criminal specializing in torture; he allied himself with the Yellow Claw following World War II. He aided the Claw in his attempted takeover of the United States, but fled with the Claw when the Avengers defeated the Claw's group of super-villains. He presumably perished when Immortus destroyed the universe.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

The Yellow Claw

The Yellow Claw was an ancient alchemist and sorcerer who concocted a plan to take over the United States after three separate attempts on the life of President Eisenhower. After recruiting a group of super-villains to aid him, the Yellow Claw had them kidnap Eisenhower, whom he hoped to ransom for control of the United States. Unfortunately for him, the Avengers showed up and defeated the Claw's henchmen, forcing the Claw to flee the scene with his grand-niece Suwan. He presumably perished when Immortus destroyed the universe.

--What If? I#9 (Avengers Forever I#5 - BTS (d)

images: (without ads)
What If? I#9, cover (Main Image - 1950s Avengers of Earth-9904)
Avengers Forever I#4, cover (1950s Avengers of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p15, pan4 (1950s Avengers of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p4, pan3 (Black Dragons, defeated by 3-D Man)
What If? I#9, p16, pan4 (Cold Warrior of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p16, pan4 (Electro of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p12, pan2 (Matthew Grayson)
What If? I#9, p16, pan4 (Great Video of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p13, pan5 (Hercules of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p7, pan3 (Jann of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p8, pan6 (Namora of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p18, pan2 (Shaw, getting zapped by Electro)
What If? I#9, p16, pan4 (Skull-Face of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p25, pan3 (Skull-Face, biting Marvel Boy)
What If? I#9, p16, pan2 (Suwan of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p16, pan2 (Fritz von Voltzmann of Earth-9904)
What If? I#9, p16, pan2 (Yellow Claw of Earth-9904)

Appearances:
What If? I#9 (June, 1978) - Don Glut (script), Alan Kupperberg (pencils), Bill Black (inks), Carl Gafford (colors), Tom Orzechowski (letters), Roy Thomas (editor)
Avengers Forever I#4 (March, 1999) - Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern (writer/plot),Carlos Pacheco (penciler), Jesus Merino (inker)
Avengers Forever I#5 (April, 1999) - Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern (writer/plot),Carlos Pacheco (penciler), Jesus Merino (inker)

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

First Posted: 03/25/2007
Last Updated: 07/15/2022

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