Spider-Symmetry: The Sinister and Savage Six

 

Today’s post is part of a very occasional series where I like to highlight the visual or narrative symmetry between the Spider-Man and Spider-Girl comics. For this entry, I wanted to demonstrate a great example, this time from MC2 mainstay and Spider-Girl artist extraordinaire Pat Olliffe.

 

Presented for your consideration, Spider-Girl #25, the double-sized anniversary issue which is probably best known for parallelling and referencing the Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, the first appearance of the villainous team, the Sinister Six. The references include the introduction of a new generation of six (or is it seven?!) super villains who come together as the Savage Six, the Spidey of the day losing their powers, the kidnapping of two supporting characters and the use of gorgeous splash pages to punctuate each battle. Certainly, credit must go to both writer Tom Defalco and artist Pat Olliffe for this loving tribute to Stan Lee and Steve Ditko’s original work.

 

What’s less a direct reference or parallel to the first Sinister Six story is the cover to Spider-Girl #25, which doesn’t homage Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1. Instead, it references the next Sinister Six story. The Return of the Sinister Six is, appropriately, a six-issue story arc spanning from Amazing Spider-Man #334 to Amazing Spider-Man #339. By now, it’s obvious that the cover of Spider-Girl #25 is an homage to Amazing Spider-Man #337.

 

There’s a lot more to breakdown when it comes to this issue, and it’s obviously just a single example of the literally hundreds of references, homages and continuations present throughout the MC2. But that’s it from me for today!

 

Until I lose my powers either before or after fighting a team of six villains whom I’ve faced separately in the past, I remain

 

frogoat

Dragon King: Custodial Engineer

After listening to the Mayday Mondays podcast, I've decided to make another post, this time about the huggable and loveable Dragon King, one of Spider-Girl's rogues gallery.

 History 

 

Spider-Girl #4

 

Carlton T. Hackmutter was just a lowly janitor 'Custodial Engineer' who'd been working for decades at Midtown High School . A bitter and curmudgeonly old man who's only passion in life seemed to be collecting and maintaining his large assortment of dragon memorabilia, at least some of which Carlton kept in the basement beneath the school. At some point Hackmutter acquired a Dragon Medallion originating from Ancient China. Carlton was sold this particular Medallion by a deal who said it possessed mystical properties, though Carlton didn't believe such stories. Unhappy and frustrated with his job, Mr Hackmutter would have quit years earlier, if not for his expensive hobby.

While cleaning up some broken glass, Carlton cuts his hand and rushes to the basement to find himself a bandage, angry at the students, the teachers and his place in the world. When some of his blood spills onto the Dragon Medallion he is transformed into the huge Dragon King and decides to use his new found power to terrorize the students and faculty of Midtown High. His rampage does not last very long due to Spider-Girl threatening his dragon collection causing the Dragon King to lunge at her, hitting the electrical main and knocking himself out. He is taken away by the authorities.

Spider-Girl #25

Apparently escaping prison, the Dragon King is recruited into Funny Face's team: The Savage Six.While Face claims the group all want revenge, Hackmutter makes it clear he is only in it for the money. Battling Spider-Girl again, the Dragon King is swiftly defeated when Spider-Girl drops a five-ton boxcar on top of him.

Spider-Girl #80

The last time we see the Dragon King, we find him hiding out in the old basement beneath Midtown High School. Seeking his missing Dragon Medallion to return him to his human form again, Hackmutter has taken to breaking into antique stores in search of it, briefly battling Spider-Girl on one such occasion.

 Unbeknownst to Carlton, a student who had befriended him named Kevin Hartman had possession of the medallion. Having grown tired of being trapped in his monstrous Dragon King body, Hackmutter disliked being called by his villainous name and lamented the loss of his former life. When Mayday (in her civilian identity) and Davida stumble upon Dragon King in the basement, she revealed Kevin had the medallion and was manipulating him for his own purposes. Taking the medallion back, Carlton was transformed back into his original human form before he and Kevin were escorted away by police.

Thoughts

I really like the character of Dragon King. I genuinely think he has a place in Spider-Girl's rogues gallery. Dragon King is visually interesting and intimidating with the strength to back it up. Carlton as a person is also appealing to me. I mean, the guy is a cranky, bitter and nasty old man when we first meet him. I love his random and pointless rampage through Midtown High simply because the kids annoy him and the teachers aren't much better. He's angry and hates his position in life but by the time we see him in Spider-Girl #80 he's grown weary and disheartened at the thought of being stuck in the form of the mythological Dragon King. See, he's even got a character arc!

 Plus the grumpy Mr Hackmutter loves his dragon collection, something any comic fan can relate to on some level. Speaking of his dragon memorabilia, why is it still down in the basement months later when he returns to the school to hide? Unless his collection was split up and sold, or confiscated and what we are seeing in the basement is what he's been taking from his antique shop heists? And how does that four-ton bundle of fun fly?!

I've had this idea in my head for years that a mastermind-type villain would blackmail/coerce/manipulate or otherwise force Carlton T Hackmutter into his Dragon King form once more, giving us an opportunity to see more of Carlton's bitterness and resentment and perhaps even sympathize with him as he seeks his retribution. Then, maybe the mastermind takes on the mantel of the Dragon King, giving us a new character to work with. It's just an idea, but I'd love to see it someday.

One final note, for anyone who cares about the silly MC2 dating non-controversy; In Spider-Girl #4 you can see a poster on the wall amongst Carlton's collection that clearly reads 'Dragonfest 2006'. Spider-Girl #4 was published in late 1998 with a January 1999 cover date. Even back then, Pat Olliffe (or possibly Al Williamson) were making in-jokes. I love it.

I hope we see the Dragon King again someday

Until the Dragon King hides out in the circus, juggling small puppies and singing 'Kids in America' I remain,

frogoat


Another MC2 Villain Blog:

Spyral

Quick Facts: MC2 Edition No. 4

This factoid will be the fast and furious fourth in the series of facts.

Did you know that the MC2 was the originator of both the Revengers (A-Next #12) and Savage Six (Spider-Girl #25) teams. A Revengers team led by Wonder Man would later be used in the regular Marvel Universe in  New Avengers Annual vol.2 #1. The Savage Six name would also be used in the MU by the Crime Master's team of villains starting with Venom vol. 2 #17.

The MC2 Revengers.

Until Tom Defalco gets the recognition he deserves, I remain

frogoat

Quick Facts: MC2 Edition No. 1
Quick Facts: MC2 Edition No. 2
Quick Facts: MC2 Edition No. 3

Building a Rogues Gallery

One of the biggest challenges of any superhero comic is building up the rogues gallery. If Spidey didn't have such an impressive array of villains to trounce every story, he wouldn't be nearly as interesting. Yes, the character of Peter Parker is fascinating,  but think: without the dynamics of his and Norman Osborn's relationship wouldn't he be a little less? Without the Green Goblin to torment Spider-Man, life just wouldn't be as flavorful. Doctor Otto Gunther Octavius', with all his plans and arms, and Electro with his electricity, Venom with his dark-Spidey-analog schtick. Cruel old Vulture, cold-blooded and cold-hearted Lizard, stinging Scorpion, Cunning Hobgoblin, tricky Mysterio. The list goes on and on. I may not be knowledgeable about DC Comics, but honestly, Batman's rogues gallery are notoriously notable. The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, so many long-running titles and characters have developed many varied and fascinating villains through the years.

But what are all these new heroes supposed to do? Sometimes, borrowing from other characters works wonders. Daredevil doesn't have many truly great bad guys, but Kingpin fits so well amongst DD's assorted rogues, it's like he was made for the part. Spider-Girl utilised a few of daddy dearest's villains in her adventures. Notable amongst them are the Hobgoblin and Carnage. In fact, I'd go so far as to say ol' Kingsley worked better against Mayday, the cunning older man against the youthful hero. A new twist on an old villain then, is that the answer?

A mix of new villains unique to the character has to be included, surely. Otherwise, isn't it just wholesale theft? Okay, so Spider-Girl has some nice villains too: Dragon King and Mr Nobody are personal favorites of mine. They have a nice visual and both pose a genuine threat when written appropriately. Any villain can become iconic. By tossing a loved one off a bridge, for example. But a good villain shouldn't have to resort to killing cast members. That's cheap. In the case of the Green Goblin, his and Peter's war was personal. The death of Gwen Stacy was a direct result of it, but I don't believe it's the crux of what makes Norman Osborn infinitely re-usable. Osborn himself is interesting: A ruthless businessman with a lot of personality before he ever put on a garish green mask.

I love this art by John Romita Jr

Maybe that's the answer then: A mix of the old and new, the borrowed and true-blue with a lot of character depth and a great visual thrown in for good measure. What do you think?

Until Hypno Hustler gets his own series, I remain

frogoat