The Human Torch in the MC2

 

Fresh from seeing Marvel Studios latest release, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I’m finally reinvigorated and motivated to delve into the MC2 Universe’s own members of the Fantastic Four …. or the Fantastic Five, as they are now known in this world. For today, let’s look at the hot-headed Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch in the MC2.

 

All the core four members of Marvel’s First Family debuted in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby 1961’s Fantastic Four #1, launching the very Marvel Universe itself as we know it today by depicting the fateful space launch which gave this famous four their powers.  

In the MC2, Johnny Storm first appeared in the story which launched a new universe in the pages of What If #105. While it’s only a cameo appearance, it does give us our first glimpse of the MC2’s Fantastic Five.

 

It’s not long until the Fantastic Five make their full debut in the pages of Spider-Girl #3 battling Spyral. We learn Johnny now leads this new team comprised of Reed Richards aka Big Brain, Franklin Richards aka Psi-Lord, Lyja Storm aka Ms. Fantastic and Ben Grimm aka The Thing.

 

In the following issue, Johnny Storm invites his old friend Peter Parker (the retired superhero Spider-Man) out to lunch where he broaches the subject of encountering Spider-Girl. Despite Johnny’s assumption, Peter is less than pleased about the situation (Spider-Girl #4).

 

In a flashback in Spider-Girl #7 we learn that it was Johnny himself who contacted Mary Jane following her husband Peter’s near-deadly maiming in his final battle with the Green Goblin.

 

Here’s the relevant MC2-specific events in Johnny’s past. While we don't know the exact point at which the history of the Main Marvel Universe Fantastic Four stops being the same as that of the MC2 Fantastic Four/Five, we do know a few things about the team’s history. At some point, the Skrull called Lyja joined the Fantastic Four and married Johnny Storm (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #1). 

 

Approximately five or so years prior to the events of Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #1, the Fantastic Four prepared to battle Hyperstorm, a cosmically powered warlord from an alternate future who had built a doomsday weapon in the Negative Zone (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #4, Spider-Girl #87). Lyja was pregnant at this time and did not join the team on their mission (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #4). Franklin engaged Hyperstorm in a 'mind-war' on every plane of existence which ultimately left Hyperstorm comatose and apparently stripped Franklin of much of his god-like power (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #4).

 

 Unfortunately, the doomsday device had already begun to tear a hole in the fabric of reality. When Reed Richards was forced to overload the device to stop it, Susan Richards attempted to shield him from the radiation with her force field. Caught in the blast radius, half of Reed's body was left in a melted and deformed state. With the reality rip still widening, Susan used her powers to hold the tear in place, with the strain leaving her in a coma and she was placed in suspended animation.

 

In the wake of the tragedy, The Fantastistation was built in the Negative Zone around the tear in reality. This allowed Reed to keep Sue company while she remained in suspended animation as he worked to slowly repair the hole in the fabric of reality (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #4, Spider-Girl #87). Over the next few months, while the Fantastic Four remained in seclusion, rumours and speculation spread about the fate of Susan Richards despite the team never releasing details to the public. Reed developed the Big Brain robot to allow him to remain on the team by remotely controlling it from the Negative Zone (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #1).

 

The team formally changed their charter, membership and name, finally re-branding themselves as the Fantastic Five, with John Storm aka The Human Torch leading the team of Ms. Fantastic aka his wife Lyja Storm; Ben Grimm aka The Thing; Reed Richards as Big Brain and Franklin Richards now known as Psi-Lord (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #1, Fantastic Five Vol. 2 #1).

 

It's obvious Johnny Storm has matured and grown into his role as leader of the Fantastic Five and appears to have settled down as a father and husband Torus and Lyja, respectively.

 

Until I learn how to look cool while on fire, I remain

frogoat

  

The Surprising Connection Between Spider-Girl and Cheers

 

I’ve taken it upon myself to become more acquainted with classic American sitcoms recently which has led me to today’s quick post about The Surprising Connection Between Spider-Girl and Cheers.

 

The iconic American television sitcom Cheers first debuted in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons, and launched multiple spin-off shows including the popular and long-running Frasier. Cheers takes place in and around the eponymous bar in Boston which is owned by Ted Danson’s character Sam Malone.

 

 

The connection to Marvel Comics and the MC2’s own long-running series and character Spider-Girl aka May ‘Mayday’ Parker was revealed by co-creator Ron Frenz on Episode 43 of the sensational Make Mine Mayday podcast:

 

‘I’m not that creative but what I stole it from was Cheers. Sam Malone’s character on there when he played ball was called Mayday Malone. The fact her name was May, and we were going to make her a basketball star. I was trying to come up with a chant for the crowd and that became her nickname.’

 

So there you have it, another piece of the pop culture landscape that has ties to the MC2. It’s fascinating to consider how creative efforts influence one another and in turn go on to influence later generations. It’s all a rich tapestry of humanity.

 

Until I find a place where everybody knows my name, I remain

 

frogoat

Iron Man's Armory in the MC2: Model 2

 

The release of the Ironheart series on Disney+ has got me in the mood to make another entry in my recent and occasional series (as if I haven’t got enough of those running) looking at the various armours of Tony Stark. This is Iron Man’s Armory in the MC2: Model 2.

 

 For consistency, I’ll be using the designations for the various Iron Man armours provided by to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe team’s most recent version of the All-New Iron Manual, updated and corrected as it appeared in the Iron Manual trade paperback.

 

Iron Man’s second armour made its debut in the pages of Tales of Suspense #48 wherein Tony Stark builds a brand new, sleeker and lighter suit. This basic outline and the addition of red to the colour scheme (thanks to artist Steve Ditko, no less) would define Iron Man for decades.

Now, in the MC2 we see Tony’s original Model 2 armour in the pages of Spider-Girl #57 in the form of a portrait hung on the walls of Avengers Compound when May ‘Mayday’ Parker aka Spider-Girl comes calling on the Avengers for their assistance.

 

I’ve not spotted any other appearances of this specific suit, but it’s entirely possible I’ve overlooked another sneaky cameo somewhere in the MC2. If you find one, please let me know.

 

Until I decide to throw a little hot-rod red into the mix, I remain

 

frogoat

What to Watch Before Ironheart

 

The long-delayed latest instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to release on Disney+ in just a few days, so let’s have a quick look at some of the most pertinent MCU movies and shows to watch before the Ironheart series hits our screens.

 

The first and most obvious movie is the very first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the first Iron Man movie from 2008. Not only does Ironheart not exist without this foundational and genre-defining classic, neither does the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself!  Of course, it is worth mentioning the prevailing rumours that a member of the Ironheart series’ cast may just be related to a certain villain featured in Iron Man, one who liked to shout about boxes of scraps…

 

While some may argue the importance of re-watching the entirety of the MCU’s Iron Man appearances, I really don’t think that will prove necessary. With that said, the do have to mention that actor Jim Rash will return as the Dean of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology aka MIT, following his brief appearance in Captain America: Civil War. Not super important, but worth a mention regardless. Consider it optional at best. Moving on!

 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from 2022 marks Dominique Thorne’s debut as Riri Williams, a gifted young woman at MIT who’s one-of-a-kind Vibranium Detector was co-opted by the Central Intelligence Agency without her knowledge. It’s use led to Riri being drawn into a brewing war between 3 separate nations, the United States, Wakanda and the people of the underwater Kingdom of Talokan. Not only does this movie introduce Riri, but also two suits of Ironheart armor, the first of her own making akin to Tony Stark’s original tin can and the second made by Princess Shuri marking a far more advanced design. Sadly, Riri was not allowed to keep the latter and the former was destroyed.

 

Bonus: What If…? Season 3 features appearances from both Riri Williams and a version of Ironheart series antagonist The Hood, with episode 5 What If... The Emergence Destroyed the Earth? and episode 6 What If... 1872? Again, these are not essential viewing but might be a fun sample before the first Ironheart episodes drop.

 

Honestly, I think that’s all anyone will really need before they jump into the series in a few days’ time.

 

Until I manage to make my own suit of power armour, I remain

 

frogoat  

Iron Man's Armory in the MC2: Model 1

 

Today I wanted to launch a new occasional series (as if I haven’t got enough of those running) looking at the various armours of Tony Stark. This is Iron Man’s Armory in the MC2: Model 1.

 For consistency, I’ll be using the designations for the various Iron Man armours provided by to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe team’s most recent version of the All-New Iron Manual, updated and corrected as part of the Iron Manual trade paperback.

The very first and famously low-tech armour made its debut in the pages of Tales of Suspense #39 wherein Tony Stark built it alongside fellow prisoner Ho Yinsen while held captive as a means to keep him alive and eventually escape. But I’m sure you all already know that. Shortly afterwards, Stark would add a gold finish to better appeal to the public (Tales of Suspense #40).

 

Now, in the MC2 we see Tony’s original Model 1 armour in the pages of Spider-Girl #95 during a flashback to events which took place directly following Tales of Suspense #39 as shown in Iron Man #144 which depicts Stark’s first meeting with James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes.

 

We can also see  a replica of the golden version of the Model 1 in Avengers Next #5 when Kevin Masterson pulls it out of the Avengers Headquarters armory and uses it as a brief distraction against Ulik and Sylene.

 

Unless I’m mistaken, that’s all the appearances of the original tin can suit in the MC2. Next time, we’ll move on to another Stark designed Iron Man Armor, one with a little hot-rod red thrown in…

 

Until I’m able to build one of these in a cave WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS, I remain

 

frogoat

H.E.R.B.I.E. in the MC2

 

There’s this highly-anticipated movie on the horizon called Fantastic Four: First Steps from Marvel Studios. Perhaps you’ve heard of it? One of the aspects unique to this big-screen theatrical adaption of Marvel’s First Family is the debut of the robotic companion H.E.R.B.I.E. So, let’s look at the history of H.E.R.B.I.E. in the MC2.

 

H.E.R.B.I.E.’s origins lie outside the comics, having been conceived by Stan Lee for 1978’s The New Fantastic Four animated series as a replacement fourth member of the team when the Human Torch was unavailable for use due to a planned but never realized solo film. Fantastic Four co-creator and comic book legend Jack Kirby provided the design for the character.

H.E.R.B.I.E. or ‘Herbie’ was soon after introduced into the comics, making his (‘its’?) first appearance in the pages of Fantastic Four #209 by Marv Wolfman and John Byrne in 1979. Built by Reed Richards (and Master Xar of Xandar), it is revealed the animated series itself exists in-universe as a licenced product and that Reed offered the design to the producers as a replacement for Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch who was out of town that day and unable to sign a contract. According to Richards, H.E.R.B.I.E. stands for Humanoid Experimental Robotic B-Type Integrated Electronics.

Let us hop on over to the MC2 Universe now, where what appears to be a version of H.E.R.B.I.E. makes a cameo appearance as a member of the Fantastic Five in What If #105. But is this really H.E.R.B.I.E.? When we next see the Fantastic Five in Spider-Girl #3, we learn the public story that Reed Richards body was mangled in an accident, leading him to use a robotic form resembling H.E.R.B.I.E. albeit under the codename ‘Big Brain’.

 

We learn more of the mystery surrounding Reed’s accident in Fantastic Five (vol. 1) #1 when the Big Brain robot is destroyed. Soon after we see flashbacks to a battle in the Negative Zone about 5 years beforehand between the Fantastic Four and the villainous Hyperstorm. In the aftermath of this battle, a doomsday device had already begun to tear a hole in the fabric of reality. When Reed Richards was forced to overload the device to stop it, Susan Richards attempted to shield him from the radiation with her force field. Caught in the blast radius, half of Reed's body was left in a melted and deformed state. With the rip in reality still widening, Susan used her powers to hold the tear in place, with the strain leaving her in a coma, forcing the misshapen Reed to place her suspended animation (Fantastic Five (vol. 1) #4).

 

In the wake of the tragedy, The Fantastistation was built in the Negative Zone around the tear in reality. This allowed Reed to keep Sue company while she remained in suspended animation as he worked to slowly repair the hole in the fabric of reality (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #4, Spider-Girl #87). Over the next few months, while the Fantastic Four remained in seclusion, rumours and speculation spread about the fate of Susan Richards despite the team never releasing details to the public. Reed developed the Big Brain robot to allow him to remain on the team by remotely controlling it from the Negative Zone (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #1).

 

With the destruction of the previous Big Brain robot in Fantastic Five (vol. 1) #1, Reed begins using a new model with a more humanlike shell, marking the last time we’d see the H.E.R.B.I.E. design utilized in the MC2.

 

Until I decide to put my brain in a robot to spend more time with my wife, I remain

 

frogoat