Showing posts with label Elan DeJunae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elan DeJunae. Show all posts

Wednesday 26 May 2021

The Osborn Family Tree

 

I’m bringing the MC2 Family Tree series back and I’m doing it in a big, labour-intensive, research-heavy way by tackling a small time Spider-Man villain’s family tree. Without much further ado, I present The Osborn Family Tree.

 


For the purposes of these family trees, I accept that MC2 characters share their published history (up to a point) with their 616/Main Marvel Universe counterparts. I make exceptions for any retcons implemented after the point the MC2 diverges from the 616 and in cases where it's explicitly or implicitly different (Aunt May really died) or when a writer later introduces a previously unheard of relative (the Lang family and likely the Pym family) who is never mentioned, seen or heard of in the MC2. With the last exception, I would add them to the family tree in later updates should they be mentioned in MC2 material at any point.

With regard to this particular family tree, we have some examples of characters who weren’t a part of the established history of the 616/Main Marvel Universe prior to the MC2’s introduction. As they’ve been mentioned or alluded to in the MC2, they’ve been included in the family tree. Additionally, I’ve taken a slight leap and assumed other characters who share appearances with these confirmed characters. I’m more inclined to do so as MC2 co-creator Ron Frenz also worked on these characters’ 616 appearances so it lends credence to this notion.

 


Brace yourself for spoilers, folks: Norman Osborn is the original Green Goblin. The Green Goblin first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #14 and Norman made his first civilian appearance in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #37. I won’t go into too much detail about Norman’s Legacy of Evil as it’s well-known and I’ll no doubt end up doing a focus post on him at some point. Suffice to say, Norman plays a major role in the Spider-Man mythos either directly or indirectly.

 


Harold ‘Harry’ Osborn, who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #31, is the son of Norman and after a rocky start becomes close friends with Peter Parker aka Spider-Man. Harry would succumb to mental illness and follow in his father’s footsteps after the latter’s death. Fortunately, Harry recovered and eventually fell in love with and married Peter’s former Midtown High classmate, Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Osborn. Oddly, their wedding occurs off-panel and Peter Parker himself only learns of it after the fact in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 1) #63.

 



Speaking of Liz, she apparently first appeared as an unnamed student way back in Amazing Fantasy #15 and was identified as Liz Allan in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #4. Liz and her family will probably need a separate family tree somewhere down the line too, so stay tuned for that in the next million years.



Let’s jump around a little bit to cover some history. We learn a lot about Norman and Harry’s earlier life in Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #14 thanks to a recorded family tree left by Harry Osborn himself following his death in the legendary Spectacular Spider-Man #200. Norman’s father Amberson Osbon was an alcoholic who lost the family fortune and took it out on his wife and son. This led the young Norman to kill the family dog in order to reduce the number of mouths for his father to feed. We do not learn the name of Norman’s mother.







In this same story, we learn that after the death of his mother, Harry was neglected and abused by his father, left to fend for himself while his father toiled on his work. While his father was apologetic after hurting Harry, he continued to do it. After being neglected in favour of his father’s work, Harry apparently sabotaged Norman’s chemical formula. Harry blamed himself for the explosion which (originally unbeknownst to Harry) granted Norman Osborn his abilities as the Green Goblin. It should be noted this account is from Harry’s perspective and may not be entirely accurate.


 



Harry’s mother is first seen in Spectacular Spider-Man #180 in a photo album, but we don’t learn her name until years later in the Revenge of the Green Goblin mini-series from writer Roger Stern and artist’s Ron Frenz and Pat Olliffe. As mentioned above, normally a series published after the MC2’s launch isn’t considered part of the history of the MC2 but as it is referenced within MC2 stories, I’ve included aspects of it here. Anyway, Norman loved his wife Emily dearly, only for her to die within a year of Harry’s birth.




It’s also in this mini-series that we get more of the Osborn family history, with Norman utilizing the mansion built by his great-grandfather Alton Osborn in the late 1800’s. Explaining to his private nurse Kolina Frederickson, Noman mentions that Alton built the family fortune which led to many enemies calling him a ‘robber baron’. Elaborating on early stories here, Norman explains that his own father eventually lost the family fortune and home. Norman would spend his life reclaiming the family fortune and estate (Revenge of the Green Goblin #1-#2).










Harry and Liz eventually have a baby together in Amazing Spider-Man #263 whom they name Norman Harry Osborn in Amazing Spider-Man #265. If you are reading this post you almost certainly know the significant roll ‘Normie’ plays in the MC2 beginning with What If #105 where he initially assumes the mantle of his father and grandfather before him, the Green Goblin.




As I’ve noted in the History of the MC2: Daredevil post, following her husband Harry’s death, Liz dates lawyer Franklin ‘Foggy’ Nelson (Daredevil (vol.1) #354). While in the Main Marvel Universe the couple break up in Daredevil (vol. 2) #8, in the MC2 they stay together and eventually marry (Spider-Girl #63). Normie resents Foggy for marrying his mother following his real father’s death. Things deteriorate further between them when Liz falls ill which leads to Normie’s spiral into madness leading to him assuming the Green Goblin identity and targeting the Parker family.

 


We learn in Spider-Girl #17 that Liz does in fact die from her illness and shortly after Normie re-assumes his villainous identity in Spider-Girl #19-20 before seeking psychological help and attempting to make amends following the events of Spider-Girl #27.




While still staying in a sanatorium, Normie meets and begins dating Brenda Drago aka Raptor, former villain and daughter of “Blackie” Drago aka the second Vulture. After some time, the two marry in the pages of Spider-Girl #100.



Their courtship was not without complications, as in Spider-Girl #73 we first met a woman named Elan DeJunae who claimed to be Normie’s wife. We soon learn that Elan’s father Philippe DeJunae had organised an arranged marriage with Normie’s grandfather, Norman Osborn while both Elan and Normie were toddlers. While this marriage remains valid in Elan’s home country of San Mardeo, it is not legally recognized in the United States(Spider-Girl #74). It’s soon revealed that Elan is Fury the Goblin Queen, a member of a cult founded by Norman called the Order of the Goblin when she kidnaps and attempts to expose Normie to the Goblin formula (Spider-Girl #79) and shortly after succeeds in bonding him with the Venom Symbiote (Spider-Girl #82-84).







 



Just when you thought we were finished, along comes Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) #1/Amazing Spider-Man Family #5 and the ‘Who is Gwen Reilly?’ story. The titular ‘Gwen Reilly’ appears out of nowhere at the Parker’s door step, claiming to be Ben Reilly’s daughter. However, this is revealed to be a elaborate scam, with ‘Gwen’s’ real name being Connie Frederickson, a con artist who had previously used the alias Connie Osborn. Connie is the daughter of Kolina Frederickson (Norman’s private nurse mentioned above) and -apparently- Norman Osborn (Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) #3/Amazing Spider-Man Family #7). Recruited into the Order of the Goblin by Fury the Goblin Queen, Connie was given plastic surgery to resemble Gwen Stacy and sent to toy with the Parker’s (Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol.1) #4/Amazing Spider-Man Family #8). However, Connie was killed shortly afterwards by Elan DeJunae who wished to eliminate any one else with a potential claim to the legacy of Norman Osborn and distract Spider-Girl in the process (Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) # 2/ Amazing Spider-Man Family #5, Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) #8/Web of Spider-Man (vol. 2) #4).
















Hopefully now the reason for including Osborn family members established in the Revenge of the Green Goblin mini-series makes more sense. With the extended family via marriages etc I’ll have to work on further family trees, there’s just too many to include here! A huge thanks to my good friend Jesús for all his help. And a shout out to The Green Goblin’s Hideout, which is an excellent source for all things Norman Osborn and proved invaluable to my research.

 

Until I perfect the Goblin Formula and go just a little bit crazy, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 5 October 2018

Venom in the MC2

With the Venom movie in cinemas, I figured it would be the perfect time to shine a little light on the symbiotic Spider-Man foe within the MC2.




The symbiotic half of the villainous Venom makes their MC2 debut in Spider-Girl #5 wherein we learn it has been held in a S.H.I.E.L.D. Maximum Security Facility in Mount Athena, New York for over a decade. We also learn that Spider-Man was involved in the symbiote being separated from it's 'true' host Eddie Brock, who later died leaving it alone and hungry for revenge.



When the symbiote learns of the existence of Spider-Girl, it breaks out the plexisteel container and seeks out another of it's former hosts to re-bond and control: Peter Parker.


After being defeated by Spider-Girl with the help of Phil Urich's sonic abilities, the symbiote is returned to it's confinement at Mount Athena. It would not be seen again in the MC2 until Spider-Girl #82 when Fury, the Goblin Queen crashes  Normie Osborn and Brenda Drago's engagement party and bonds the symbiote to Normie as a 'wedding gift'.



Despite the Fantastic Five's efforts, Spider-Girl is the last one standing against Venom and Fury until the vigilante Darkdevil intervenes, only to end up with a hole through the chest for his troubles.




 
The story continues in Spider-Girl #83 where Spider-Girl seeks the aid of the Avengers to track down Venom. When Mayday becomes frustrated with the Avengers approach, she dons her old black suit and recruits her 'Uncle' Phil Urich aka the heroic Green Goblin to pursue Fury while she confronts Venom.









The story concludes in Spider-Girl #84 where May leads Venom to a large bakery. Wise to Spider-Girl's plan, the symbiote is only stopped when Normie resists the alien's influence. Just as May is seemingly absorbed by the symbiote, Normie and May's combined willpower overpower the creature.





Despite May's assertions they should hand the symbiote over to the Avengers or Fantastic Five, Normie convinces her to let him keep the creature in the belief he can now control it.



Over the next several issues, Normie and the symbiote are seen working on something in secret, suggesting Normie may be slipping back into his former villainous ways. I think the page convey the story far better than I could.









Eventually things become clear in Spider-Girl #93 when a crime is interrupted by a figure riding a Goblin Glider...









However, Normie's choices aren't without a downside, as now Normie and his fiancé Brenda (who was working off her debt to society by working for the FBI's Agent Weadon) will now be in legal trouble again.



Obviously, creating several new super-weapons for the Green Goblin and harbouring a fugitive alien symbiote leads to Normie being confronted by the Avengers in Spider-Girl #94 on Tony Stark's orders. Things go awry when Tony's 'bodyguard' (actually a cyborg James Rhodes, see here) goes haywire after being hit by a hex from the Scarlet Witch.








 Proving to be instrumental in ending Rhodes rampage, Normie declares he is turning himself over to his fiancé Brenda, who is herself a government agent (Spider-Girl #95).







In Spider-Girl #96 Normie meets with Agent Weadon and his team to offer his services and negation terms. We learn that Normie plans to trade his services in exchange for a full pardon for Brenda (Spider-Girl #97). Despite projecting confidence and demonstrating control over the symbiote to Weadon and his fiancé, Normie privately confides in his personal assistant (Kristy Watson) that he is relying on her to keep him in check and-should he lose control- contact Spider-Girl to destroy him.







Later while sparring with Kaine, Normie and the symbiote are alerted to the threat posed to Spider-Girl by the Brotherhood of Scriers and their agent, the original Hobgoblin. Soon after, Spider-Girl and Normie discover several allies brutally beaten; including fiancé Brenda Drago (Spider-Girl #98).





After frantically rushing Brenda and the others to the hospital, Normie heads out to help bring down the Hobgoblin (Spider-Girl #99).







The various threads of the ongoing plots in the series come together when Mayday is stabbed by a Scrier's poisoned blade and on the verge of death. Normie aids Kaine in driving off (and apparently killing some of) the Scriers before using the symbiote to heal May's wounds and absorb all the venom (Spider-Girl #100).





Still too weak to carry on alone and losing an internal struggle against her own demons, May is given new hope by Normie who offers the symbiote to her. Normie tells May he has banished the  'Venom' persona that corrupted the symbiote, returning it to it's original state. The symbiotic other will only feed off the emotions of it's host, whether for good or evil (Spider-Girl #100).






Strengthened by bonding with the symbiote, May heads off the find the Hobgoblin. As a parting gift, the symbiote 'cleansed' Normie, removing his scars and hateful tattoos (Spider-Girl #100).


 

May finds the Hobgoblin battling her father and intervenes to save him, only for the symbiote to be driven off by the Hobgoblin's sonic device. Instead of fleeing, the symbiote continues attacking the Hobgoblin in an attempt to save May and Peter. The symbiote dies in an act of self-sacrificial redemption, with May revealing the symbiote learned these values from Normie. We learn soon after that Normie felt his symbiotic 'other' die (Spider-Girl #100).





The symbiotes death spurs Mayday on to defeat the Hobgoblin in a one on one fight. Despite the symbiotes death, she would appear one last time in Amazing Spider-Girl #29. We learn that before his death Eddie Brock was hired by Norman Osborn. Osborn used cell samples from the symbiote to transform a cloned infant May into a hybrid which possessing both the alien's abilities and spider-powers. Norman planned to use the hybrid clone in an elaborate plan against Spider-Man. After Norman's unexpected death, this hybrid would lay dormant for years until awakened and eventually taking the name April Parker aka Mayhem. But that's a story for another time...


The Venom symbiote made a large impact on the MC2 Universe and had, in my opinion one of the best character arcs in the Spider-Girl series coupled and interwoven with Normie's own arc of redemption. Who'd have thought a black blobby creature from outer space could move you to tears?

Until I stop delving deep into gooey MC2 lore, I remain

frogoat