Showing posts with label Quicksilver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quicksilver. Show all posts

Monday 29 May 2023

Omissions and Additions: The High Evolutionary and Jessica Drew

 

I always appreciate feedback on the posts I produce, especially if it leads me to learn something new. And so today I would like to make a small supplemental entry to my post about The High Evolution and Jessica Drew. Thanks to Richard at the MC2 A Day blog for pointing out these omissions and additions. Without further ado, let us jump straight into it!

 


As I noted last time, the High Evolutionary blasts off into space with his Knights of Wundagore in The Mighty Thor #135 (1966), while the evolved cow-woman Bova remains behind with the child Jessica Drew as seen in West Coast Avengers Annual #3 (1988). However, we first see Jessica under the care of Bova in a flashback from Spider-Woman #20 (1979) where we see it did not take long for her to realize she was unique among the New Men of Wundagore who ostracized her, keeping with her earliest origin story. This is where we first see a young Jessica alongside Bova watching the High Evolutionary’s ship leave earth. We also first learn that Bova raised Miss Drew to maturity before she was sent to an orphanage in a nearby village to be nurtured by her own kind. From here, the events play out similar to previous depictions, with Jessica being ostracized even among humans before her deadly bio-electric venom-blast leads the villagers to attempt to destroy her.

 


Jessica is rescued by the leader of Hydra’s European branch, Count Otto Vermis. Outfitted with a special costume and trained, Drew was brainwashed into believing she was an evolved spider in order to alienate her further, ensuring her loyalty to Vermis. Jessica recalls how she escaped Hydra’s clutches and learned more of her past from Mordred and a magician named Magnus, noting she only knows what these men had revealed to her. This issue also marks the inevitable meeting between Spider-Man and Spider-Woman, with Peter Parker giving Jessica’s super heroic alias the benefit of the doubt in a burglary case due to his own storied history of misunderstandings and bad publicity (Spider-Woman #20).  

 



Jumping back just a few short months to Avengers #186, published in May 1979, Bova recounts her own origin to the Avenger named Pietro Maximoff aka Quicksilver, beginning with the High Evolutionary evolving her as one of his first projects and tasking her with the caring for the children his New Men. Bova notes that the High Evolutionary was preoccupied with matters coinciding with the unexplained return of his assistant Jonathon Drew. Via these flashbacks we see that while Jonathon and the High Evolutionary were occupied, the pregnant woman Magda arrived seeking asylum and the two became very close over the weeks preceding the birth of Magda’s twins: Pietro and Wanda, later known as the Scarlet Witch. During their birth, Bova noted Wanda’s tiny form mirrored the mysterious lights which filled the sky that night. These strange lights, of course, relate to the manifestation of Chthon.



 

Shortly after the twins are delivered, Magda disappears, leaving only a note expressing fear that her unnamed husband might force the revelation of her children’s existence from her if she remained alive. This is a direct reference to Uncanny X-Men #125 and the master of magnetism himself, Magneto, but we will save talking about him for another time. We then glimpse the subsequent tragic events involving Madeline and Robert Frank and their own stillborn child, followed by the High Evolutionary appearing before Django and Marya Maximoff to entrust them with Wanda and Pietro. With Pietro unable to recollect his childhood clearly, Bova relates her own sense of emptiness when she elected to remain behind ‘for…personal reasons’ as the High Evolutionary’s Wundagore Citadel left for the stars. This is evidently in reference to the aforementioned Spider-Woman #20 and Bova’s duty as carer for the young Jessica Drew (Avengers #186).




 

It must be noted that all these interconnected and overlapping characters and events were woven together by the writer (or co-plotter) of Avengers #186, Spider-Woman #20 and the various ‘Evolutionary WarAnnual’s back-up stories which detail the history of the Herbert Wyndham aka the High Evolutionary; none other than the keeper of continuity himself, Mark Gruenwald. Rest in Peace, Mr Gruenwald.

 

Until I become miraculously infallible like Mobius M. Mobius, I remain

 

frogoat

Thursday 23 April 2020

History of the MC2: Zombie Avengers Breakdown

I’m unable to churn out large posts regularly at the moment due to extra work obligations, but I wanted to put out something of substance, something that looks more deeply at what a few pages of not-quite Zombies in the MC2 actually tells us about the original Avengers. I’ve already tackled the History of the MC2 Avengers in the past, so consider this a supplemental piece to that post.



Created by combining magic with stolen blood and tissue samples of various former and present Avengers, the ‘magical clones’ are sent against the current Avengers team as a diversion. There are eighteen ‘zombieAvengers depicted in Avengers Next #1. They are as follows:

 

1.       Falcon

2.       Hulk

3.       Vision

4.       Wonder Man

5.       Quicksilver

6.       Hawkeye

7.       Stinger

8.       Black Widow

9.       Hercules

10.   Luke Cage

11.   J2

12.   Freebooter

13.   Scarlet Witch

14.   Thunderstrike

15.   Black Panther

16.   Bluestreak

17.   American Dream

18.   Yellowjacket *

 

*seen on later page only



 

Let’s group them into smaller groups based on their actual Avenger counterparts. First up, the ‘ZombieA-Next Members:

 

1.       Stinger

2.       J2

3.       Freebooter

4.       Thunderstrike

5.       Bluestreak

6.       American Dream

 

Obviously, these are all the current-generation of Avengers, and it’s evident the six of them donated their blood and tissue samples prior to the events of this story, most likely before Last Planet Standing, as Freebooter and Stinger were stated to be on leave at the start of Avengers Next #1. Notably, Crimson Curse is not seen among the horde of ‘Zombies,’ despite being the only member of the new Avengers to have died. This perhaps indicates that the new Avengers samples were provided after her death in A-Next #11.


Next, lets list all of the ‘ZombieAvengers whose counterparts are known to be still alive/operational:

1.       Hulk

2.       Vision

3.       Hawkeye

4.       Hercules

5.       Luke Cage

6.       Scarlet Witch

7.       Black Panther

 

Bruce Banner is first seen in the MC2 in A-Next #3 where we learn he hasn’t turned into the Hulk in some time and has settled down in the suburbs to raise his son. The Hulk was last seen in Last Hero Standing #5 accompanying Loki to Limbo after being mind-controlled into causing a swathe of destruction through New York. See here for more information.






The synthezoid Vision is first glimpsed in What If #105 on a computer screen, making his first proper MC2 appearance via flashback in A-Next #7 where we learn he was one of the few original Avengers to return from the team’s last mission. We later learn in Last Hero Standing and Last Planet Standing he works as an advisor to the President of the United States. Apparently destroyed in Last Planet Standing #4, Vision is presumably restored by the newly combined being formerly known as the Silver Surfer and Galactus as he returns in Fantastic Five (vol. 2) #5 and is among the reserve Avengers members called upon in American Dream #4.





Hawkeye is first seen in flashbacks in A-Next #7 where we learn he was also among the few original Avengers to return from their final mission. Clint makes his first present-day appearance in A-Next #10 where we learn he was blinded as a result of the mission, but went on to train the members of the Dream Team. Barton would also return to his costumed identity in Last Hero Standing while mind-controlled by Loki and as an Avenger in Spider-Girl #93-#95 with the aid of a device that enables him a form of sight. He is among the assembled heroes attempting to stop Galactus in Last Hero Standing and is one of the many heroes to fall victim of Sylene’s energy duplicate spell in Avengers Next #4.





Hercules first appears in A-Next #6, driven made by his experiences on the original Avengers final mission to an alternate world, he was kept in a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. facility until discovered by the new Avengers. He is currently in the care of his son Argo and only makes another appearance via flashbacks to the original Avengers final mission in A-Next #7.




I’ve placed Luke Cage on this particular listing because, as I’ve noted on a few previous occasions, we know thanks to this ‘magical clone’ or ‘Zombie’ that Cage was formerly a member of the Avengers, though it’s unclear exactly when he joined the team. We also know that Luke is still alive thanks to a comment made by American Dream in this story.


 


The Scarlet Witch is first seen in the MC2 in A-Next #7 in flashback where we learn that upon her return from the original Avengers final mission, she and Iron Man set to work to close the breach between worlds to ensure there would be no incursions from the alternate universe. We also get a hint of Wanda in the same issue with a single panel showing her energy signature. A-Next #8 reveals that in order to seal the gateway between worlds the Scarlet Witch was placed in a coma-like stasis to hold it closed with her powers, protecting herself by generating several physical manifestations of Wonder Man. Wanda remains in this state (as seen A-Next #10) until kidnapped and awakened by Loki’s spell in Last Hero Standing #1-#5 after which she briefly returns to active duty as an Avenger in Spider-Girl #93-#95. She remains with the team during Last Planet Standing and is seen as an energy duplicate of Sylene in Avengers Next #4.


 






The Black Panther, much like Luke Cage, isn’t actually seen on-panel in the MC2. Apart from his ‘Zombie’ counterpart seen here in Avengers Next #1, the only mentions of T’Challa are in A-Next #4 where his son T’Chaka aka Coal Tiger mentions the Ruler of Wakanda in the present tense. See here for the Wakandan Royal Family.

 





List of ‘ZombieAvengers whose counterpart’s status is unknown in the present day MC2:

 

1.       Wonder Man *

2.       Quicksilver

3.       Black Widow

 

Wonder Man is a point of contention within the MC2. In the Main Marvel Universe, Simon Williams died in Force Works #1, an event that greatly affected Force Works team mate, fellow Avenger and lover the Scarlet Witch. However, Wonder Man was revealed to remain lingering in some form in Avengers (vol. 3) #2 and was eventually restored by Wanda’s powers in Avengers (vol. 3) #11. As the History of the MC2’s Avengers mostly diverges prior to this point, Wonder Man may have simply remained deceased. Either he was already dead long ago, thanks to the shared history of the MC2 and the Main Marvel Universe diverging, or he was restored under similar circumstances. To further confuse the matter, when I asked A-Next co-creator and artist Ron Frenz about Wonder Man’s status in relation to his resurrection in Avengers (vol. 3) he had this to say:

As we’ve discussed, anything we could use, we’d use. Anything else we’d ignore. We wanted to acknowledge current continuity but, as you remember, Jarvis says everyone who was EVER an Avenger was gathered for that meeting and assault so we didn’t really feel we were committing to any single moment in specific continuity.

Then, when asked if Wonder Man was still dead:

Dead or “Missing in Action,” I guess

 I will one day have to dedicate an entire post to Wonder Man, so keep an eye out!

 

The ‘Zombie’ counterpart of Quicksilver is the only acknowledgment of Pietro Maximoff’s existence within the MC2 and as such, his status remains unknown. The blood and tissue sample later stolen and used to create this double could have been obtained at any point.

 

The Black Widow doesn’t make a physical appearance in the MC2 outside her ‘Zombie’ counterpart’s decaying visage in Avengers Next #1. However, Natasha Romanoff is seen in Spider-Girl #60 on both the cover and within the thoughts of May ‘Mayday’ Parker as she reflects on her place amongst the other superheroines who came before her. No specifics are given, and as such her status remains unknown. Expect a dedicated post on the Black Widow at some point.


 


And finally, a list of Avengers who are confirmed as deceased in the MC2 among those represented by their counterparts in the zombie horde:

 

1.       Falcon

2.       Yellowjacket

 

The Falcon aka Sam Wilson is one of the few confirmed cases of a deceased Avenger who didn’t die on the original team’s final mission. We learn in Spider-Girl #60 that the Ladyhawks’ father ‘Boss’ Morgan was revealed to be responsible for the Falcon’s murder. This information is only brought to light during a police investigation after Morgan’s supposed death, which occurred while both Ladyhawks’ were still in high school. There are no specifics given for when Sam Wilson’s death occurred, though when Morgan is revealed to be still alive, he remarks that the Falcondied quite some time ago’ (Amazing Spider-Girl #7).

 




I nearly neglected to include this one on the list, but upon a quick re-read of Avengers Next #1, I realized Yellowjacket is also among the shambling ‘zombieAvengers; though not seen in the splash page he appears in a single panel later. Of course, Hank Pym as Giant-Man is seen in the flashbacks within A-Next #7 when the original Avengers agree to travel to the alternate universe to confront the threat to the multiverse. Later in the same flashback sequence, we see the few returning Avengers including a heartbroken Janet Pym aka Wasp make it back to their world. When Jarvis asks Iron Man where the others are, Stark states ‘There are no others.’ Shocked, Jarvis continues ‘Y-you mean Captain AmericaGiant-Man…. Justice…’ to which Iron Man confirms ‘And all the rest!’


 


As I noted above, obviously not all of the Avengers are represented by a doppleganger. It’s rather interesting to note which characters aren’t seen amongst Sylene’s army of horrors: the aforementioned Crimson Curse or the recently deceased Captain America, along with many of those who died on the final mission and other members of both the ‘interim’ Avengers era and the A-Next era of the team. It’s more than likely that when swiping these samples for Sylene, Warp didn’t grab them all. It’s also possible some members didn’t give permission for samples of their blood and tissue to be collected.

When I started working on this it was only intended to be a brief look at where the various Avengers represented by these replicated off-brand ‘magical clone Zombies are now in the MC2. I think I may have gone a little beyond that, but hopefully the post is informative and clarifies some things for readers.

 

Until I stop wondering how they obtained a sample from the super thick-skinned Luke Cage, I remain

 

frogoat

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Comic Homages

Continuing on from my previous post about homages and all things lovingly referenced, I present to you, my loyal readers (if I have any) a further examination into not just cover homages, but also panels, stories and motifs. Read on.

You may remember a small little post a while back regarding the subtle and not-so-subtle connections between Amazing Spider-man #9 and Spider-Girl #9: Electrically-themed villain, cover parallels, heck, even the same number issue! I'll link it here so you can take a quick peak: http://frogoat.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/supanova-approaches.html

Well, let's go deeper down the rabbit hole, shall we?

A-Next #8 clearly borrows heavily from the classic Avengers #93 (from the absolutely sublime Kree/Skrull War saga) in which Ant-Man enters the body of the inert android Vision to re-activate him, battling his way through the synthetic man's strange immune system in the process. Meanwhile, in the MC2's Avengers Compound, Stinger enlists her father Scott Lang, the second Ant-Man as they venture inside the mechanical Mainframe (spoilers, by the way) to ensure his malfunctioning module broadcasts his intelligence into another body.

Avengers #93 art by Neal Adams and Tom Palmer
A-Next #8 art by Ron Frenz and Al Milgrom




While we are talking about A-Next, I can't go past the most obvious nod to the Avengers past: Avengers #16. The first and most daring Avenger's roster shake-up ever, throwing the established team of Giant-Man (formerly Ant-Man), the Wasp, Thor and Iron Man out in favor of relative unknown's (to say nothing of known criminals and possible terrorists) Hawkeye, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. The impact this had on the fledgeling team is probably the most significant, proving to the readers and the creative team that this little Avengers thing--this could work no matter who was in the book, so long as it was good.
Avengers #16

 Over in A-Next #4 we get American Dream and her Dream Team thrust upon the new fledgeling team of Avengers by the machinations of the mighty Mainframe. Suddenly, the team has to face the possibility of replacement by an already functional and well-trained team. This time we get American Dream (already glimpsed in A-Next #3 and sneakily hidden in A-Next #1. Look closely), Freebooter, Blue Streak and the mysterious Crimson Curse.


A-Next #4

Want more Avenger-y goodness? Avengers #25 features the newbie Avengers (Cap's Kooky Quartet as fan's have since dubbed them) in Latveria, doing battle with the good doctor himself, Doctor Doom (with a name like that, was he ever going to be a horse-whisperer?). A-Next #5 features (you guessed it!) the new members- teamed with Stinger- in Latveria investigating rumors of a returned Doctor Doom.



 This issue not only pays it's dues to the Avengers tale but also to Marvel history, utilizing Doom's ward Kristoff Vernard and building upon old Fantastic Four and Avengers characters and stories. Most of which I haven't read and don't need to to understand the situation. In short: Stinger aka Cassandra Lang and Kristoff Vernard were lovers. Beautiful.


What it adds is also impressive: We hear in A-Next #3 from the Defenders that the 'savage' Sub-Mariner, Namor did battle with Doom. In this tale we discover more tidbits. Scattered through-out the MC2 universe are hints of what happened: Doom wiped out Atlantis, killing Namor's people, and in return, Namor kill's Doom. Or so we are led to believe.....


Until I run out of homages to ramble about, I remain

frogoat