Carnage Was Nearly An Avenger?!

 

Sadly, Venom: Let There Be Carnage still hasn’t been released in my country, so I’m still riding that pre-viewing excitement for the film. So, I figured why not go all in on throwing out Carnage posts (I may not get this chance again) and detail a few MC2-related Carnage appearances that I’ve yet to discuss.

 

Firstly, and I can’t believe I missed discussing this one previously, but thanks to the MC2 A DAY blog, I was reminded that Carnage technically makes his first MC2 appearance in Spider-Girl #44 in a flashback to the events of Spectacular Spider-Man #217 where Peter Parker teams up with Ben Reilly to take down the symbiotic serial killer.

 

Secondly, and for now probably finally, did you know Carnage was nearly made a member of the Avengers of the MC2 way back in What If #105? It’s true, as evident from this early concept sketch by Ron Frenz for the Avengers cameo scene in the issue where we can see him alongside The Vision, Speedball (here known as Ricochet), the original Juggernaut, Jubilee and Thunderstrike. I imagine the implications of this cameo would have radically altered the MC2 going ahead! Interestingly, we don’t learn the identity of the person bonded with the Carnage Symbiote here either, so it again might not have been Cletus Kasady.

 

Just a nice quick post for today. Hopefully you haven’t noticed a huge dip in my output lately, as I’ve tried to bank a few posts for release this month. That said, I’m now officially tapped out. If there’s any specific topics, you’d like to see me cover on the blog, let me know!

 

Until I figure out the membership policy over at the Avengers Compound, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

Where is Cletus Kasady in the MC2?

 

While I’ve been busy lately, it’s perhaps a good thing I already jumped the gun and detailed Carnage in the MC2 years back when the first Venom movie came out. That said, with Venom: Let There Be Carnage out in cinema (well, in some parts of the world! Not here yet, sadly) I figure I should at least try and put out something to tie-in. One question not specifically addressed in my previous post is the whereabouts of Carnage’s first and most iconic host: Where is Cletus Kasady in the MC2?

 

Cletus Kasady made his very first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #344, cameoing as Eddie Brock’s prison cellmate. When the Venom symbiote busted Eddie out, it left behind it’s offspring which bonded with serial killer Cletus to become the mass-murdering Carnage and the rest is history (Amazing Spider-Man #345, #359-#361). 

 

When a splinter of the Carnage symbiote (specifically Specimen 297 of 300) appeared in the MC2 starting in Amazing Spider-Girl #9, Cletus was nowhere to be seen. To explore why, we should look to the last published appearance of Cletus Kasady prior the MC2’s own publication history, a two-part story in Amazing Spider-Man #430-#431. The story starts out as a fairly standard ‘Carnage on a rampage’ plot until the Silver Surfer shows up and the Carnage symbiote abandons Cletus and bonds with the Surfer (Amazing Spider-Man #430).

 

While at first it seems as though Cletus is merely suffering a kind of withdrawal in the absence of his symbiote ‘other’, when Spider-Man takes Kasady to a hospital it’s discovered that he is suffering from an advanced case of stomach cancer and that the symbiote has been keeping him alive (Amazing Spider-Man #431).

 

By the story’s conclusion, the Surfer allows the Carnage symbiote to re-bond with Kasady…only to leave him encased in an unbreakable shell of ethereal energy ‘for the rest of his life’. Ironically, the Main Marvel Universe never really addresses Cletus’ situation, either how he escaped this seemingly permanent imprisonment nor recovered from his terminal cancer. Instead, the next time we see him he’s just in prison and shortly afterwards has his symbiote eaten by Venom with almost no ill effects. Wasted potential.

 

While we also don’t have an explanation for how the Carnage symbiote escaped the Silver Surfer’s encasement (though perhaps I could present a theory on that someday?) we can assume that Cletus Kasady is probably long dead in the MC2. The interesting thing to note is that both stories here were written by Tom Defalco and both refer to the symbiotes ability to keep a host alive even with a terminal cancer diagnosis, with the Carnage symbiote promising to help save new host Moose Mansfield’s father in exchange for his co-operation (Amazing Spider-Girl #9-#12).

 

Well, hopefully you got something out of this. I know I was pleasantly surprised when I realized the similarities between the two Defalco Carnage stories. I’m also fairly sure Defalco was the first person to associate symbiotes with cancer in anyway.

 

Until I find another tangential connection to the Venom films, I remain

 

frogoat

Raptor Ramblings

 

 

While working on the Drago Family Tree I found some nice little details about Raptor that I wanted to share, but they didn’t really fit into that post. So, here’s a little entry detailing some more info about Brenda Drago: Raptor Ramblings.

 

Let’s start with something that might be kind of obvious but interesting nonetheless: Both Brenda and her father, Raniero ‘Blackie’ Drago wear protective headgear while flying. I mention this because it’s something originated by Blackie during his initial short-lived career as The Vulture (Amazing Spider-Man #48).

 

It’s also worth noting that Raniero rigged his helmet with a short-wave radio receiver. Brenda’s Raptor helmet keeps her in constant contact with her partner in crime (and abusive POS) Tony, both via audio and visual means (Spider-Girl #18). Later, as with all member of the New Warriors initially, Brenda’s helmet used an additional headset with microphone to maintain contact (Spider-Girl #43). While serving on Special Agent Weadon’s team Raptor apparently returned to using her helmet’s internal communication, as unlike her teammates, she is not shown to wear an earpiece with microphone (Spider-Girl #62).

 

Another nice piece of symmetry between Brenda and her father’s initial appearances is their choice of targets. Raniero attacks a wall street messenger who’s chained to his briefcase, flying off with the man and threatening to drop him him to get at the contents (Amazing Spider-Man #48). Brenda does nearly the same thing, targeting a diamond courier named Theo Rudolpho who’s chained to his briefcase, only this time the man is nearly killed when his briefcase handle breaks and he falls from a great height (Spider-Girl #18). Unlike her father, Brenda shows remorse for her actions and begins stealing food and leaving it at the man’s door, which eventually leads to her eventual redemption (Spider-Girl #28).

I’ve said in the past I love the Official Handbooks of the Marvel Universe, and I do, but I also understand they are limited by page-space and time-factors as well as simple human error. While the following aren’t really mistakes, they are small omissions from Raptor’s profile in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #3 I’d like to see one day in an MC2 Handbook. In addition to the noted abilities of her winged suit, Raptor’s wings are able to be disengaged, folding up like a cape behind her and freeing up her arms (Spider-Girl #93, #97, Amazing Spider-Girl #26, #28). Finally, on at least one occasion, Brenda has made use of gas grenades which use gas that clings to their target and render them unconscious (Spider-Girl #62).

Okay, I think I’ve rambled enough for today. Brenda is a great character and a wonderful example of the redemption arc Spider-Girl has helped enable in members of her rogue’s gallery.

 

Until I run out of things to love about the MC2, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

The Kingpin in the MC2

 

The Kingpin of Crime aka Wilson Fisk is a huge figure who casts a long shadow. That shadow still continues to hang over the first several years of the Spider-Girl series, the Darkdevil mini-series and across the very History of the MC2 in significant ways. Let’s explore how the fallen crime boss’ expansive influence continued to loom large over the MC2.

 

Even though he doesn’t appear, the after effects of Fisk’s reign as Kingpin are first obscurely referenced when we learn in What If #105 that Daredevil aka Matt Murdock had been killed. It all starts with the very first published MC2 story.

 

You’d be forgiven for thinking Mr Nobody is the main villain in Spider-Girl #1 but it’s clear by the issue’s end that Wilson Fisk is the man behind the curtain. Despite being in prison, The Kingpin continues to control organized crime. While it’s not overt, I’ve always found it interesting that Fisk’s organization seems to be taking an interest in Peter Parker.

 

Kingpin next orchestrates the attempted escape of the super criminal Crazy Eight from custody, using his employee Mr Nobody to both provide cover and deliver equipment and weaponry to Eight prior to his trial. The attempt is thwarted by Spider-Girl and her father Peter Parker in his civilian identity and Darkdevil delivers a warning to Fisk by teleporting into his prison cell (Spider-Girl #8). It appears Crazy Eight was either working for the Kingpin previously or paid for his services, but either way the two characters are now tied, as is Mr Nobody.

 

Wilson Fisk is a new trial in the courts for his release, represented by Murdock’s former law-partner and friend Foggy Nelson. He is visited in jail by Darkevil who warns Fisk that Kaine is out for revenge and plans to kill him, however Fisk is unconcerned. Kaine attempts to kill Fisk on the steps of the courthouse, only to be soundly beaten by Spider-Girl, but not before Kaine reveals to Nelson that Fisk is the one who ordered Matt Murdock’s death. This prompts Nelson to step down as Fisk’s lawyer and, though we don’t see how it played out, the trial does not result in Fisk’s release. Kaine is imprisoned next to Fisk in Ryker’s Island Prison (Spider-Girl #17).

 

Throughout the Darkdevil mini-series, The Kingpin acts as one of the primary antagonists. Fisk arranges for Kaine’s release from prison in order for the Scriers to assassinate him. Meanwhile, Wilson has also sent the Scriers to eliminate loose ends in his plot to steal the New York Mayoral Election and in the process putting his puppet politician in power. These loose ends include Darkdevil, who is targeted by the demonic Zarathos residing within the body of the Scrier Prime as he attempts to prevent The Kingpin’s plot. It’s also revealed via flashbacks that Kaine was formerly in Fisk’s employ until the fearless Daredevil sacrificed his own life to save the mercenary from Fisk’s firing line (Darkdevil #1-3).

 

Next, as a result of the rising threat of rival crime lord Canis, Wilson Fisk employs Crazy Eight alongside Mr Nobody to counter Eight’s brother Funny Face who works as Canis’ enforcer (Spider-Girl #36). However, due to the familial bond, Crazy Eight reaches out to Canis to ensure his brother is safe (Spider-Girl #39) which leads to Fisk ordering Mr Nobody to ‘alleviate any potential conflict’ (Spider-Girl #40). With Eight having warned Mr Nobody not to go after his little brother, a massive fight breaks out between Canis, the new Spider-Man, Crazy Eight, Funny Face and Mr Nobody. Just as Spider-Girl arrives and pushes the young Spider-Man out of the way, Mr Nobody’s bullets hit Crazy Eight, inadvertently killing him (Spider-Girl #40).

 

This incident proves to be a turning point in the gang war with Funny Face going rogue, breaking his mother Angel Face out of confinement. The pair go on a rampage against the smaller criminal organisations regardless of their loyalty to the Kingpin or Canis seeking revenge on those they held responsible for Eight’s death-Mr Nobody and Spider-Girl. With such a massive disruption to daily operations and heavy financial cost for both crime bosses, Fisk arranges a meeting with Canis (Spider-Girl #42).

 

Canis meets face to face with Fisk at Ryker’s and the two men discuss a truce. Fisk reveals he has terminated Mr Nobody’s employment and cut all ties, leaving the gunman to be captured by the combined efforts of Darkdevil, the young Spider-Man and a temporarily back in action Peter Parker as the original Spider-Man. Having reached a truce and made concessions to Canis, Fisk remains confident he will win with patience in due time. Meanwhile, Spider-Girl convinces the Faces to leave New York and cease their destructive rampage, mostly out of sense of guilt for the death of Crazy Eight (Spider-Girl #43).

 

This truce remains in place until the ‘Marked for Death’ storyline, where it appears both Canis and Kingpin are targeted for assassination. With bombs being set off at Canis’ mansion and the Ryker’s Island Prison, along with several other lower-level crime bosses being killed, it appears the hit is being orchestrated by a South American crime lord known as the Black Tarantula. Wilson Fisk is left in critical condition and a visiting Darkdevil goes missing following the bombing, but Canis is left unscathed thanks to the intervention Spider-Girl. Soon after, Spider-Girl is also targeted when a bomb goes off in her secret hideout, nearly claiming her friend and ally Normie Osborn (Spider-Girl #61).

 

Spider-Girl learns that one of the suspects, Mr Nobody, remains in prison and shortly afterwards encounters other former criminals who should also be behind bars while following up on a tip from Canis (Spider-Girl #62). Requiring emergency surgery, Fisk lays unconscious on the operating table and has visions of his deceased son and wife, Richard and Vanessa who urge him to renounce his criminal ways. Fisk dies at 6:47 PM as the medical team are unable to stabilize him (Spider-Girl #63). His death is confirmed the following issue in Spider-Girl #64 and with it, the reign of the Kingpin of Crime comes to an end. Fisk never learns that Canis was the mastermind behind the takeover plot that killed him (Spider-Girl #66).

 

Even after his death, The Kingpin’s imposing legacy persists. A stolen DVD belonging to Wilson Fisk which was believed to contain a list of all his contacts and every government official who was ever on his payroll becomes the focus of a new war on the streets, this time with the Hobgoblin, Black Tarantula and other crime lords all vying for its possession (Amazing Spider-Girl #1-6, #13-18).

 

I should have done this post two years ago when Kingpin was everywhere: Daredevil Season 3, the Spider-Man PS4 game and the Into the Spider-Verse movie. Oh well!

 

Until I go bald, pack on the muscle and rule a criminal empire from prison, I remain

 

frogoat