The only problem I have with what ifs .....is they are just so pedominatly so DARK.....I like to see changes but hate it when every issue ends with world basically annhilated

But that was always sort of the conceit with "What If", wasn't it? That nearly every issue ended with Uatu telling the reader "Hey guys, aren't we lucky things worked out the way they did?"

Yeah, but some of them were a lot of fun too!
Like the new Fantastic Four stories!

By your definition of arbitrary, literally any individual decision ever made is "arbitrary," from your decision not to read "Pu52" to my decision not to eat mushrooms (because they're ####ing disgusting). In terms of comic books, I could just as easily get on your case regarding your decision not to read, say, Hulk books.

If we're going by the definition of "arbitrary" in the sense of someone making a decision irrationally and without a verifiable reason, I have to disagree.

I think it's perfectly acceptable to dislike something because it's not what you want out of that thing.

For instance, I don't like any of the modern takes on Nova, because dammit, I really like Wolfman's take on Nova, and nothing has been as good.

EDIT: Or my favorite example: Back in the day Denny's had a badass Fried Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. That thing was perfect! Then, without informing me personally, they started grilling the chicken, and it stopped being perfect. Was it a good sandwich, sure. But was it what I wanted out of a Denny's Buffalo Chicken Sandwich? Hell no.

Yep, this.

Lovely bit of Maestro dickery in FI #1. And no, indicating the presence of dickery on the part of the Maestro isn't a spoiler.

I did like the "What if the All-New All-Different X-Men Never Existed?" storyline, as that was actually a lot more cheerful/optimistic than the normal reality. Since the original five (plus Havok and Polaris) stopped Krakoa themselves, the need to recruit the other X-Men never happened.

My favorite "What If?" is THIS one.

In the words of the reviewer: "Most. Hardcore. What if. Ever."

I miss that sandwich.

Anyone else get issue #3?

I really like this series.

Yes, that issue was quite good. I like how things are ramping up.

Can someone please explain what's going on for me? I tried picking up a book, and I got lost. This is so confusing.

What part(s) don't you understand? Otherwise I feel like I'm just going to extrapolate on the opening text in the all the issues...

It's the perfect example of how to do in medias res right: nice doses of intrigue with just enough WTF to make you wonder how things got this way.

Compare that to, say, AoU, which also starts in medias res but doesn't give you much of anything to give a #### about.