Showing posts with label Canis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canis. Show all posts

Wednesday 9 December 2020

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



Thursday 15 August 2019

Lady Octopus in the MC2

With her recent reappearance in Nick Spencer's Amazing Spider-Man run (and since I absolutely missed a similar opportunity last year with the release of Into the Spider-Verse) I figured it would be a good time to take a look at Carolyn Trainer aka Lady Octopus in the MC2.




Carolyn Trainer made her first full appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #406 ( with only her tentacles seen the previous issue) wherein she took on the mantle of Doctor Octopus following the murder of Otto Octavius by Kaine. Carolyn was later instrumental in resurrecting her predecessor and assumed the role of student under Otto's tutelage.




However, due to several big changes behind the scenes on the Spider-Man books in the late 90's, Carolyn simply stopped appearing and wasn't seen for several years. When she did return in the 2000's in small roles throughout various titles, she was dubbed 'Lady Octopus', presumably to differentiate her from the original Doc Ock. While the events of these later stories are almost certainly not canon to the history of the MC2, the moniker 'Lady Octopus' does play a curious part in events.

With that out of the way, the MC2's Carolyn Trainer first appears in Spider-Girl #68, working with Dr Sonja Jade, a former ally of Otto Octavius. With a reference to her predecessor earlier in the issue, the major involvement of Dr Jade and the final page of the story leaving Carolyn shrouded in shadows, it's left unclear which Doc Ock we are seeing. However, the letters page for the issue proclaims 'Doctor Octopus is back!'




The mystery is teased a bit further throughout Spider-Girl #69 as John Jameson is kidnapped by Jade's goons with assistance from a set of mechanical tentacles. It's no until later in the issue Carolyn Trainer makes her big entrance declaring herself 'the new Doctor Octopus'. It's here we learn that Otto Octavius has recently died. Dr Jade and Trainer abducted Jameson and his wife's scientific equipment, planning to turn people into 'monsters for mobsters'. Unfortunately for The Buzz, they first tested this on his father John Jameson, turning him into the Man-Wolf once more.





When her control module for the Man-Wolf is destroyed and she is nearly shot dead, Carolyn abandons the plan, splitting from Dr Jade and leaving the equipment and Jade's men to be captured. After Dr Jade is apprehended by Spider-Girl, Doctor Octopus quickly defeats her but spares her life as repayment for the heroine having saved her from a bullet earlier.










Next, Carolyn becomes embroiled in the ongoing gang war between the Black Tarantula and recently incarcerated current Kingpin of crime, Canis. Offering up her protection and technology to chop shop owner and mobster 'Handsome' Richie Valentine in exchange for a weekly stipend, Trainer encounters Spider-Girl when the latter is given intel by the Black Tarantula's assistant Chesbro that Trainer is working with Valentine's boss, Canis (Spider-Girl #72).





However, when Spider-Girl is knocked into Valentine's workshop and is forced to fight off his goons, Valentine surrenders, believing Spider-Girl is working with 'Lady Octopus'. Afterwards, Carolyn thanks Spider-Girl for 'attending' to Valentine for her. Spider-Girl, feeling used, attacks Lady Ock only to be soundly beaten and on the verge of being killed when Ock suddenly leaves. Spider-Girl then receives a phone call from Chesbro offering the Black Tarantula's assistance (Spider-Girl #72).







When next we see our fair Lady Octopus, she frees Canis from police custody during a transfer and seemingly forms an alliance. With Chesbro informing Spider-Girl of this alliance and offering the Black Tarantula's assistance again, Spider-Girl soon confronts the pair of criminals in the sewers only to find herself buried beneath tons of rubble by Ock covering her escape (Spider-Girl #74).






With Canis losing control of his criminal empire, Lady Ock reminds him that he must still compensate her for efforts in breaking him from prison. Offering to eliminate Spider-Girl if he identifies his various criminal connections. Unwilling to do so, Canis attempts to organize a meeting of his men to bring them into line but this too falls apart thanks to the intervention of Spider-Girl. Left with no other options, Canis agrees to Lady Octopus' terms (Spider-Girl #75-76).






Carolyn meets with and convinces the leaders of the various crime families to attend a special meeting, promising her client can provide protection, worldwide distribution and strength. Later, Canis arrives at his meeting to discover that it is not his lieutenants in attendance just as Lady Octopus leaves, having sealed him in. Encountering Spider-Girl, Ock informs her of Canis' predicament and reveals her betrayal, allowing her to escape as the hero attempts to save the fallen crime lord (Spider-Girl #77).








Elsewhere, the Black Tarantula concludes his meeting with the former lieutenants of Canis. We learn that Carolyn has been secretly working to undermine Canis for the Black Tarantula the whole time, just as the Black Tarantula has been manipulating Spider-Girl to target his rival's organisation. The co-conspirators are interrupted by an angry and hurt Spider-Girl who has organised others to aid Canis so that she can follow Lady Ock (Spider-Girl #77).





Confronting Lady Ock and the Black Tarantula, Spider-Girl is soon joined by Agent Weadon's team, led by Kaine. Outnumbered, Carolyn attempts to flee with Raptor and Spider-Girl in close pursuit. No longer restrained by the Black Tarantula's orders not to kill her, Lady Octopus throws a large boat at Spider-Girl, nearly killing Raptor in the process. However this time Spider-Girl blindfolds herself and trusts solely in her instincts to guide her through Lady Ock's tentacles to rip off her harness and disarm the villain. Soon after, the Black Tarantula (briefly) turns himself over to the authorities (Spider-Girl #78).














Unfortunately, that's the last time we see Carolyn Trainer in the MC2. I think it's very notable that in the lead up to her MC2-debut and in her early appearances ol' Carolyn was originally billed as 'Doctor Octopus' -her rightful title especially following her mentors death-  but this was later dropped as the series drew closer to Spider-Girl #75. For those who do not know, the Spider-Girl series was slated for yet another cancelation attempt around this time, possibly resulting in the character being renamed 'Spider-Woman' to accommodate the new character Anya Corazon aka Araña who was to be given the moniker and series title 'Spider-Girl'. Perhaps these events are unrelated, and Carolyn was simply renamed 'Lady Octopus' to keep in line with her Main Marvel Universe counterpart and avoid confusion....but I can't help drawing connections.

Given how I recently talked about LGBT+ representation in the MC2, I think I might be called out if I didn't at least mention that at least some fans believe Dr Jade and Carolyn were in a romantic relationship. I'm guessing this opinion may have arisen at least partially due to Carolyn's proclivity to refer to Sonja Jade as 'my sweet' and 'my darling' and even 'my dear'. While I don't want to dismiss these claims, I do have to point out that Carolyn also referred to others in a similar fashion on various occasions, including both Spider-Girl and Canis. That said, Carolyn was quite thankful when Jade was apprehended; remarking she had become 'tiresome of late', referred to The Buzz as 'definitely not my type' and insisted on clarifying her relationship with the original Doctor Octopus was that of 'colleagues' when Spider-Girl suggested otherwise. So...draw your own conclusions, fans!

Until I find more time to research, write and post these silly little blogs, I remain

frogoat