Justice in the MC2

As part of my endless delving into the obscure and wonderful characters of the MC2, today I’m going to take a look at the leader of the New Warriors and the Avengers teammate, the long-time love interest of Firestar. Yes, this post is about the telekinetic mutant hero Vance Astrovik aka Justice in the MC2.

While the older alternate reality 30^th century future Guardians of the Galaxy counterpart to Justice known as Major Vance Astro first appeared in Marvel Super Heroes #18, it wasn’t until Giant-Size Defenders #5 that the Main Marvel Universe Vance Astrovik debuted as a teenager. Due to encountering his older time-travelling self (twice!), not only did Vance’s life take a different path, but his telepathic abilities emerged earlier (Marvel Two in One #69).

 

Eventually, Vance becomes his own hero as Marvel Boy and later Justice, joining the New Warriors along the way. But it was his eventual membership as an Avenger that we will be discussing today, particularly as it relates to the History of the MC2 Avengers. As I’ve detailed in previous posts, it appears the events surrounding Heroes Reborn and Heroes Return unfolded in the MC2 just as they had in the Main Marvel Universe. However, with the start of the third volume of the Avengers series, it becomes less clear how closely the two worlds mirror each other after this point. What is likely is that in the MC2, the Avengers team reformed much as they had in Avengers vol. 3 #1-4 with Justice and his fiancé Firestar joining the group officially in Avengers vol. 3 #4.

 

 

 I mention all this to lend context to the limited information we have available regarding Justice in the MC2. In the Main Marvel Universe, Justice (alongside Firestar) received a new costume designed by fellow Avenger Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp in Avengers (vol. 3) #8.

 

As I’ve discussed previously, we know the original Avengers team’s last mission was nearly 12 years prior to the events of A-Next #1, as mentioned by Jarvis when he recounts the details to the new Avengers. Both Firestar and Justice are seen amongst the assembled Avengers during the flashback where it is decided the team must venture through the portal to the alternate world to halt Doom’s multiversal threat. While it is difficult to discern from this cameo, Justice appears to be wearing the Van Dyne-designed Avengers-era costume mentioned above, so we know he was by that point in time a well-established member, either one who was on the then-current roster or simply returning for this major emergency summons (A-Next #7).

 

 

Justice was among the first who agreed to embark on the grave mission which saw only seven members return through the portal. While we don’t get a 100% confirmation, it’s assumed Vance Astrovik died along with almost all of the Avengers who went on this final mission, including his lover Firestar. Despite the sobering tragedy of such a massive loss, the team did succeed in saving their Earth from the threat of Doom (A-Next #7).

 

While I believe it’s extremely unlikely that either Justice or Firestar are somehow alive on the alternate Earth ruled by Doom, it should be noted that the reports of Captain America’s death were greatly exaggerated as revealed in A-Next #10. It’s such a huge tragedy that both these young heroes gave their lives for the cause, especially as they were engaged or had even married by this point. Sadly, we’ll probably never know.

 

Until I meet my future self who has not only been in suspended animation for centuries but also travelled back in time, I remain

 

frogoat

 

Norman Osborn in the MC2

With Spider-Man: No Way Home on everyone’s mind, I figured now is a great time to cover some of the MC2 counterparts of the villains confirmed to appear in the film. For what I believe is the last entry in this series, we are taking a look at Norman Osborn aka The Green Goblin in the MC2. This is gonna be a big one.

 

Norman Osborn first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #14 and made his MC2 debut in the pages of Spider-Girl’s own first appearance in What If #105 via a flashback to his final battle with Spider-Man. Despite being dead, Norman’s legacy of evil looms large over much of the MC2, extending from his family, his Goblin Cult through to his posthumous machinations.

 

Let’s start with some of the stuff I’ve covered before. Alison Mongrain is hired by Norman Osborn to carry out part of his plan to kidnap the newborn child of Peter and Mary Jane. Disguised as a member of the hospital staff, Alison swapped out baby May with a recent stillborn baby, leaving Mary Jane to believe her baby had died at birth. Shortly afterwards, Alison met with Norman Osborn who paid Alison a ‘sizeable bonus’ to take an ‘expensive vacation’ through Europe with the newborn May (Spider-Girl #48, Amazing Spider-Girl #25).

 

Immediately afterwards chronologically is a flashback to the conclusion of the Clone Saga, specifically Peter Parker: Spider-Man #75 where we see Ben Reilly impaled by Norman’s Goblin Glider (Spider-Girl #44).

 

The Brotherhood of Scriers arrive to collect the infant May for Norman Osborn. Alison asks if she can accompany them as she has grown attached to the child, but the Scriers remind her not to question Mr. Osborn. The Scriers leave Mongrain with Norman’s compliments and her ‘final payment’ which turns out to be counterfeit bills and knockout gas. Kaine, being familiar with Osborn and the Scriers methods, rescued Mongrain just as the yacht exploded, hoping to learn what role she had played for Norman Osborn. Upon learning that Alison had kidnapped May and helped convince Peter and Mary Jane she was dead, Kaine leaves Mongrain floundering in the bay with no care whether she lived or died (Spider-Girl #49).

 

Meanwhile, terrible months have passed by for Peter and Mary Jane until Mary Jane receives a phone call from the man called Kaine. Having located Mongrain’s yacht, Kaine begins by telling Mary Jane ‘Your baby’s alive!’ and then goes on to provide a longer explanation, but insists that Mary Jane not tell Peter until the child is safe in her arms. Mary Jane hated keeping secrets from Peter but did not wish for Peter to endanger their baby’s life by confronting Norman Osborn (Spider-Girl #48).

 

Next up we have a flashback to the events of ‘Goblin at the Gate’ story published in Spectacular Spider-Man #259-#261, wherein Norman came into conflict with Roderick Kingsley aka The Hobgoblin. This actually provides some nice context clues regarding what parts of the late-90’s Spider-Man comics we can confirm as having occurred in the History of the MC2, but my placement of this event is by no means definitive.

 

Shortly after this, we get a glimpse of a Scrier handing over baby May to Norman Osborn. Norman cloned the baby and ‘genetically tinkered’ with both to ensure they would eventually manifest spider-powers. Later, Norman placed one of the babies (May) into the care of his good friend Philippe DeJunae. Retaining the other baby (later known as April) himself, Norman ‘added a few more enhancements’ including using cells from Venom aka Eddie Brock’s alien symbiote which transformed the other infant into a unique hybrid. Also around this time, Norman also distilled all his thoughts, dreams and desires, his entire essence into his ‘brain-enhancer’ as part of his unfinished plan to make Peter his successor (Amazing Spider-Girl #29).

 

 Kaine’s months-long mission across the globe brings him into conflict with the Brotherhood of Scriers. After defeating the group of Scriers, Kaine makes short work of their leader before taking possession of baby May from Monsieur Philippe DeJunae. Unbeknownst to Kaine, Norman had orchestrated the encounter to ensure Kaine would return May to her parents and allow him to continue his Project: Changeling experiments with the second baby, which Osborn intended to put into effect within a year or two if his scheme proceeded as planned (Amazing Spider-Girl #25).

 

Kaine returns May to Mary Jane and assures her there are tests she can perform to confirm she’s not being tricked. Kaine states he is doing this as part of the debt he owes to Ben Reilly, indicating his intention to punish the man responsible: Norman Osborn. Kaine’s revenge ultimately does not come to pass (Spider-Girl #48-#49).

 

Norman seemingly splits his time between New York and Europe throughout all this, at least initially, as evidenced by his work on Project: Changeling in the Swiss Alps and his conflict with the Hobgoblin in New York, to name a few examples. Additionally, after their baby daughter May is returned, Peter and Mary Jane make no mention of Norman and his machinations in the Mr. and Mrs. Spider-Man stories (Amazing Spider-Man #1-#4). This may indicate that Osborn had left New York by this point, giving the Parkers a time of relative peace while he put his plans into action. This in turn perhaps better explains Norman’s movements: He was in New York until he had arranged for Kaine to retrieve May and moved to Europe while focused on Project: Changeling.

It’s unclear exactly how much time passes but at some point, Osborn returns to New York and recruits Mattie Franklin, Greg Herd, Cassandra Webb (aka Madame Web) and Morris Maxwell as willingly participants in the Gathering of Five ritual. As Spider-Man, Peter interrupts Norman Osborn’s Gathering of Five ritual and the pair have their final battle in which Peter loses his leg and Norman loses his life when the latter detonates a webbed pumpkin bomb in his hand. Deciding he has more important responsibilities as a father, Peter retires as Spider-Man (What If #105, Spider-Girl #7, Spider-Girl #49).

.

While this would usually be the end for anyone else, Norman’s brain-waves survived within his ‘brain-enhancer’ device until Rene DeSantos dispatched Fury, the Goblin Queen to capture Peter Parker. Norman Osborn’s brain-waves were transferred into Peter’s body and the original Green Goblin was reborn once more. Norman revealed his ultimate goal when he used the hybrid symbiote-clone of May to combine with himself, becoming the ‘Goblin God’. Unfortunately for him, Spider-Girl also joined in this merging and in a combined effort, managed to defeat and drive Osborn from Peter’s body, seemingly ending his legacy for good (Amazing Spider-Girl #27-#30).

 

While this post only details the direct appearances of Norman Osborn in the MC2, there is still much left to discuss regarding his influence upon others. But that can wait for another day and another post. For now, let us leave Norman to his fate. If you feel I’ve forgotten anything or perhaps disagree with my placement of events, please reach out and let me know!

Until I find time to get to the cinema to see the Green Goblin’s theatrical return, I remain

frogoat

Electro in the MC2

 

With Spider-Man: No Way Home on everyone’s mind, I figured now is a great time to cover some of the MC2 counterparts of the villains confirmed to appear in the film. For the third entry in this little series, we are taking a look at Maxwell ‘Max’ Dillon aka Electro in the MC2.

 

Maxwell ‘Max’ Dillon first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #9 but makes his MC2 debut in the pages of Spider-Girl #81 where he once again dons his classic Electro costume for an expected reason. For those who might be interested, I’ve previously detailed the Dillon Family Tree, which can be found here.

 

But first, an unnamed female villain clad in an Electro-inspired costume makes an appearance in Spider-Girl #51. The aforementioned Electro-styled villainess who briefly appears goes unnamed, though Spider-Girl does point out the apparent connections to Electro and jokingly refers to her opponent as 'Electra', quipping that it's already taken.

 

We wouldn't learn anymore about this character until she was re-visited in Spider-Girl #81 in what has to be one of the best stand-alone issues of the series. Showing up at the Avengers front door and asking to speak to Spider-Man, Dillon eventually meets with the original webhead face to face and explains the situation.

 

We learn that years ago Max fell in love with a woman named Marilyn, though the two never married. They had a daughter together named Allison Dillon who was born with similar electrical powers. Sadly, Max and Allison were never able to make physical contact due to their 'electrical auras' causing one another extreme pain. Marilyn told Max to stay out of Allison's life and he obliged, later winding up in prison. While there, Marilyn died, leaving Allison to be shuffled between foster homes, eventually donning a costume and starting a life of crime like her father before her. Which is why, having only recently learning of Allison's situation, and apparently having served his time, Max reaches out to the Avengers to obtain help from his old enemy Spider-Man.

 With the assistance of the Avengers, Spider-Man and Spider-Girl, father and daughter are reunited after Max shows Allison he wouldn’t give up on her nor himself. The pair fight through the pain of their electrical auras, finally overcoming the barrier between them, with Max promising they will go through whatever happens next together.

 

It’s not known what happens for the two after this, though Peter does speculate that given Allison is a minor, she’ll either get a light sentence or be paroled into Max’s custody. Either way, Max Dillon has proven he’s grown and is perhaps ready for parenthood.

 

Until I figure out how to travel along power lines using electrical fields, I remain

 

frogoat