From Thunderbolt to Avenger: Jolt in the MC2

 

Marvel Studios has released its latest Marvel Cinematic Universe entry with the Thunderbolts* movie. But the Thunderbolts in the comics have a long and storied history, and the MC2 specifically featured the first Thunderbolt to become an Avenger. So today, let’s finally take a look at the often-overshadowed Jolt in the MC2.

 

But first, the basics! Helen ‘Hallie’ Takahama first appeared in 1997 in the pages of Thunderbolts #1 where we learn she has been living rough since her 15^th birthday, when both her parents were crushed to death during the Onslaught event. Abducted and experimented on by the unseen amoral villain Arnim Zola, Hallie eventually gained superpowers and used them to escape, heading to Four Freedoms Plaza to seek help from the Fantastic Four. Finding instead the Thunderbolts, Hallie joins them in their mission to apprehend her captor and soon after becomes a member of the team unaware of their true motives (Thunderbolts #1-4).

 

Jumping into the MC2 now, Jolt made a surprise cameo in the pages of What If #105 as a member of the new Avengers team alongside Jubilee, Speedball, Thunderstrike, the Vision and *ahem* J2.

 

Hallie Takahama shows up again in A-Next #1, a story set a little earlier than her above cameo, providing readers with the new Avengers team’s origin which involved Kevin Masterson transformation into the new Thunderstrike as a result of the machination of Loki. During this adventure, we learn Jolt is semi-retired with (at least) two school-aged children. As such, Hallie declines the offer to join the team as a full-time member but does mention they can call if they need her.

 

I’ve always imagined the fledgling full-time new Avengers contacted the more established heroes for assistance with setting up the Avengers Compound and perhaps a photo shoot between the pages of A-Next #1 and A-Next #2, which would explain their presence in What If #105 and the Daily Bugle’s front-page photo seen in American Dream #4. Speaking of which, it’s notable that Jolt doesn’t appear in the image, itself a direct reference to the cover of A-Next #1. Though, word of god (tongue no doubt firmly in cheek) says Jolt *is* present, just behind J2!

 

In Spider-Girl #32, we catch a tantalising glimpse of the largely unseen interim Avengers team who attempted to fill the void left after many of the original Avengers perished on their final mission (mentioned in A-Next #7). Jubilee was a member of this line-up alongside Nova, the Steel Spider, Speedball and, of course, Jolt. It’s heartening to learn that members of the X-Men, New Warriors and Thunderbolts all came together in the wake of the tragic loss of many of the Avengers to try and carry on their legacy.

 

Finally, in a nice little story published on the Marvel Unlimited digital comic reading app as Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic #37, Jolt makes it onto the cover of an MC2 comic! In a story set between the panels of A-Next #1 we learn an interesting fact about Hallie Takahama: she can party like an Asgardian!

 

Jolt is a possibly the earliest example of the MC2 including elements from across the decades of Marvel’s published history, even (at the time) very recent additions such as the youngest member of the Thunderbolts, in their stories. It’s a wonderful tradition, and one I hope we see again someday.

 

Until I find out I’m working with a team of disguised super villains posing as heroes, I remain

 

frogoat

 

Patriotic Parallels: A-Next 10 and Captain America Corps 1

Consider today’s post a sequel to a spin-off entry to the Spider-Symmetry series, because I’m looking at the visual parallels between other MC2 comics and their related fellow Marvel titles. I’m calling this particular spin-off Patriotic Parallels because this entry is about both the Captain America Corps and A-Next.

 

The first issue we need to look at today is the MC2’s own A-Next #10 which was first published in May 1999. The new team of Avengers (including Shannon Carter aka American Dream) have journeyed to an alternate universe where the entire world is ruled by Victor Von Doom (designated Earth-9907) and must prevent his use of a Universal Cube to conquer the entire multiverse. Upon arriving, the Avengers find themselves in a very different Times Square, New York.

 

Now, let us look at Captain America Corps #1 which was first published in June 2011. Shannon Carter aka American Dream would later be recruited into the ‘Captain America Corps’ by one of the Elders of the Universe known as That Ki aka The Contemplator. Alongside other time-displaced patriotic heroes including Earth-616’s Captain America aka Steve Rogers from World War II, Earth-616’s James ‘Bucky’ Barnes during his time as Captain America, the 25^th Century’s Kiyoshi Morales aka Commander A, Shannon Carter aka American Dream also works with Earth-616’s John Walker aka U.S. Agent who is taken from a point in time shortly after his brief stint as Captain America.

 

The Corps find themselves on the altered Earth-11418, where the Americommand rule over a dystopian America thanks to the manipulations of the time travelling Deidre Wentworth aka Superia. Where do they first arrive? Why, a dystopian alternative present day Times Square, New York, of course!

 

Have a great day, everyone.

 

Until I find myself suffering déjà vu will journeying across the multiverse, I remain

 

frogoat

 

John Walker in the MC2

Marvel Studios is set to release the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe entry with the Thunderbolts* movie. What better way to get into the spirit of things than to look at the most patriotic of the film’s protagonist characters through this blog’s usual MC2 lens? Today, we’ll take a brief look at U.S. Agent aka John Walker in the MC2.

 

Johnathan ‘John’ Walker first appeared in the pages of Captain America #323, first as Super-Patriot, assuming the mantle of Captain America in Captain America #333 before taking on his long-standing role as U.S. Agent beginning in Captain America #354.

 

Now that we’ve briefly brushed up on the Main Marvel Universe or Universe-616 John Walker, let’s transition over to John Walker in the MC2…sort of. When the newly reassembled Avengers team’s investigation into the last mission of the original Avengers leads them to an alternate universe ruled by Doom and the threat posed to all universes by his Universal Cube. It is here we learn that many of the Avengers died during their final mission, with Iron Man (among the few to return) declaring there were no other survivors (A-Next #7).

 

However, when the new team of Avengers arrive in the alternate world, they discover the rumours of Captain America's demise were greatly exaggerated. Cap reveals he chose to stay behind and aid the rebel underground, allowing his teammates to add his name to the list of the dead to discourage any would-be rescuers (A-Next #10).

 

Captain America details the history of this alternate world (which the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 designates as Earth-9907) which was roughly identical to their own until World War II. Whereas on the Main Marvel Universe and MC2’s Earth the Red Skull was trapped in suspended animation within a hidden bunker until the modern era, on Earth-9907 he escaped and killed Adolph Hitler and led the Axis Powers to victory, killing Captain America and conquering the entire planet. Many years later, the Red Skull spared a young Victor Von Doom, making him his heir only to be murdered and replaced as ruler by him. Needing new worlds to conquer, Doom spent billions to produce a Universal Cube capable of opening portals to other realities which led to the original Avengers team becoming aware of this universal threat (A-Next #10).

 

The rebel base is attacked by members of Doom's Thunder Guard, including the twisted version of John Walker known on this world as the SS Agent, forcing Cap to order the rebels and Avengers to retreat before he destroys the jump portal to cover their escape. When Steve tries to send the new and inexperienced Avengers team home to save them, believing they are not prepared for the upcoming battle, the heroes refuse, declaring they are staying (A-Next #10).

In A-Next #11, Captain America leads the Avengers in a mission to stop Dr Doom's use of his new Universal Cube. The team separates into groups and combat the various members of the Thunder Guard, with Cap, Thunderstrike and American Dream's aiming to destroy the Cube itself. When American Dream is pinned by Walker, Cap throws her the shield of his deceased counterpart, allowing her to free herself and knockout SS Agent. In the end, Doom is defeated when Crimson Curse sacrifices herself to banish him.

Shannon Carter aka American Dream would later be recruited into the ‘Captain America Corps’ by one of the Elders of the Universe known as That Ki aka The Contemplator. Alongside other time-displaced patriot heroes including Earth-616’s Captain America aka Steve Rogers from World War II, Earth-616’s James ‘Bucky’ Barnes during his time as Captain America, the 25^th Century’s Kiyoshi Morales aka Commander A, the MC2 or Earth-982 Shannon Carter aka American Dream also works with Earth-616’s John Walker aka U.S. Agent who is taken from a point in time shortly after his brief stint as Captain America (Captain America Corps #1).

 

This is notable as this U.S. Agent shares the same history as Shannon’s own John Walker on Earth-982. In fact, Captain America Corps #3 depicts the moment John was recruited by The Contemplator which includes an editors box specifying it occurs ‘circa Captain America #360’. For reference, here are the relevant scenes as depicted in the original story alongside U.S. Agent’s aforementioned ‘recruitment’ by Tath Ki (Captain America #360-#362).

 

The Captain America Corps are tasked with stopping an Entropy Wave from wiping out all of existence. The Entropy Wave is the result of someone excising various Steve Roger’s from across the multiverse before he could join the Avengers, causing unnatural alterations to those realities. The Corps find themselves on the altered Earth-11418, where the Americommand rule over a dystopian America thanks to the manipulation of the time travelling Deidre Wentworth aka Superia. Liberating the incarcerated superhuman population, the Captain America Corps lead an attack against Americommand and with the aid of Tath Ki, the team set reality back on its natural course (Captain America Corps #1-#5).

Following the Captain America Corps return to their respective points in time and space, only Bucky, Shannon and Kiyoshi retain memories of the event, having occurred in the past from their perspectives. Much like the young Steve Rogers returning to April 1941, John Walker is returned to the past, to the instant he left and recalls none of what transpired.

 

And with that, it’s a cap on John Walker in the MC2. Hope you didn’t mind that I cheated somewhat!  Special thanks to my buddy Jesús Arias for the spark that ignited this one, like a thunderbolt from the blue. 😉

 

Until I get my name from an alcoholic drink, I remain

 

frogoat