What If...? (1989 2nd Series) #23

What If... The All-New All-Different X-Men Had Never Existed?

The original X-Men beat Krakoa, and the new team is never formed; The old X-Men tackle all of the problems that faced the new X-Men but do a much better job; When Lilandra teleports the X-Men into space to take on the Phoenix force, Cyclops volunteers to give his life but it ends up being old foe and lackey of Eric the Red, Nightcrawler, who faces the Phoenix and saves the day (and the universe).

Script by Kurt Busiek, pencils by Rodney Ramos, inks by Doug Hazlewood. Cover pencils by Rodney Ramos, inks by Bob McLeod (based on the Gil Kane/Dave Cockrum cover for Giant-Size X-Men).

This cover is an homge to Giant Sized X-Men #1.