For this MC2 Family Tree, we'll be coving May 'Mayday' Parker's former rival on the basketball court, Nancy 'Lucky' Lu and her family.
Nancy Meeko Lu first appears in Spider-Girl #23 as Central High's star basketball player. Demonstrating why she had earned the nickname 'Lucky' with her uncanny fortune on the court, May became suspicious (and perhaps a little jealous) when she and the rest of Midtown's team were beaten.
As Spider-Girl, May followed Nancy home, hoping to uncover something sinister, only to discover Nancy and her family appeared to be the very definition of an all-American family, complete with annoying brother and adorable sister. Eventually, Spider-Girl observes Nancy using her powers to prevent a child from being hit by a car. Confronted, Nancy admits she's a mutant with low-level telekinetic abilities and that she has no interest in being a super hero. We also learn that Nancy was approached by the X-People but turned them down as she wishes to lead a normal life and become a doctor.
But that's not the last we'd see of Nancy Lu, oh no! After spotting Jack Jameson with Nancy Lu in Spider-Girl #29 May learns that Nancy may be transferring to Midtown High's school district as a result of Mr. Lu changing jobs.
In Spider-Girl #30 May runs into Nancy with JJ at the Daily Bugle and later Coach Thompson asks Davida and May to convince Nancy to join Midtown's basketball team. Again in Spider-Girl #31, we see JJ and Nancy out together but it's seems Nancy doesn't start at Midtown High until Spider-Girl #32 when we see her and JJ heading to lunch. Nancy makes friends with Davida and May even enjoys a one-on-one game of basketball with her in Spider-Girl #33. May realizes she genuinely likes Nancy despite her previous misgivings. The three girls discuss shoes in Spider-Girl #34 and Nancy joins May's friends for an outing in Spider-Girl #35. Everything is going very well. So naturally, it won't last.
Nancy learns of Coach Thompson's plan to use May and Davida to recruit her to the school team. When May attempts to explain things to Nancy lashes out with her powers, knocking May into a locker and storming off.
After a failed attempt and a heated encounter with JJ, Nancy apologizes to May in Spider-Girl #43 and we don't see her again for a while.
Spider-Girl #61 is the beginning of a major turning point when Coach Thompson takes Davida off the basketball team's starting line-up in favour of Nancy Lu.
Things only get worse from here on out. During an altercation with Davida in Spider-Girl #64, Nancy instinctively uses her powers to defend herself, exposing herself as a mutant to the school.
Things reach a head in Spider-Girl #67 when Nancy's locker is vandalised and graffitied with anti-mutant messages. At home, Nancy's parents argue over their daughters situation and Nancy's siblings are ostracised at school. Later while attempting to get some air, Nancy is accosted by several hooded figures.
The group attacking Nancy Lu are revealed to be fellow students from Midtown High. When The Buzz (aka JJ) and Spider-Girl intervene, Nancy reveals she's more afraid of hurting others due to a lack of control of her abilities than being hurt herself. Afterwards, Nancy makes the decision to go with the X-People to better master her powers.
And for a while, it seemed like we would never see Ms Lu again. That is until she reappeared in Spider-Girl #92 in a very different role, that of the mutant hero in training: Push. May briefly runs into Nancy Lu before the two both run off to switch into their hero attire in order to stop a imposter-Magneto.
I love how Nancy's X-People costume resembles the original X-Men's first costumes as a nod to her status as a novice hero. Unfortunately Nancy has only appeared in one further story to-date. In a plot-line that references Nancy's own outing as a mutant, student Sara Hingle's story takes a turn for the worse when she ends up recruited and manipulated by Magneta and her Sisterhood of Mutants (Amazing Spider-Girl #22-24).
Unfortunately that's the last we see of Nancy Lu to date. Another nice touch with Nancy's costume now more in keeping with the rest of X-People. From one-off rival to supporting character to full-fledged super heroine, Nancy is a wonderful example of how the MC2 takes small roles and makes them into something truly inspiring. Nancy never stops striving to be a good person and still aims to be a doctor regardless of how others wish to pigeon-hole her into a single category.
A few little tidbits before I wrap this up. Nancy's middle name -Meeko- is given in Spider-Girl #67. Push doesn't appear in Last Planet Standing, which came out within months of her super heroic debut in Spider-Girl #92. If you look closely in Spider-Girl #23, you'll notice Nancy has a cat. I wonder if they accompanied her to the X-Mansion?
I think the idea of the Lu family as 'The All-American Family' is a nice statement in and of itself, while also reflecting aspects of May's own home life. Nancy could have very easily been written as a one-dimensional rival character instead of the nuanced individual we saw develop over time. For that, I'm grateful.
Until I figure out a blogging schedule that includes sleep, I remain
frogoat
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