MC2 Legacy: Did Mainframe Influence the MCU Iron Man?

 

This will hopefully be the first instalment in a new occasional series touching on the various instances of an MC2 character, concept or…whatever that is later used elsewhere. Basically, a record of the many times the MC2 has influenced the comic’s Main Marvel Universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a variety of animated series, etc.  

Many years ago, I wrote about the MC2’s Mainframe being loosely adapted in the Marvel animated series Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. which led to a follow up post and a short video. The episode, ‘Wheels of Fury’, debuted on the 29^th of March 2015 and concludes with the Mainframe Artificial Intelligence taking on a familiar yellow and black armoured form resembling his MC2 design.

 

But this wasn’t the first time we’d seen Iron Man himself in a yellow and black armoured suit. The Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode ‘Fun with Lasers’ which first aired on the 4^th of September 2009 debut’s the teenage Tony Stark’s ‘Space Armor’ when he uses it to reach a hijacked S.H.I.E.L.D. Orbital Station.

 

Some might argue that this is a reference to the ‘Iron Man Armor Model 42’ which was the first Iron Man Armor to feature the yellow and black colour scheme. However, the Model 42 didn’t debut until years later with Iron Man (Vol. 5) #1 in November 2012.

 

One of the dozens of Iron Man Armors seen in the climax of the 2013 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Iron Man 3, the Mark 20 or Mark XX also known by the nickname ‘Python’ is believed to be inspired by the above-mentioned Model 42. Additionally, it also appears in the official Iron Man 3 mobile tie-in video game from Gameloft, thus making the leap to yet another medium.

 

Thus, I’d argue they are all in some way originally inspired by Ron Frenz and Rich Yanizeski’s frankly classic Mainframe designs which debuted all the way back in A-Next #1 from 1998. Here’s an excerpt of what co-creator and artist extraordinaire Ron Frenz had to say about the design of Mainframe on episode 744 of Adam Chapman’s Comic Shenanigan’s podcast:

 

‘We went through a couple of different designs, the early designs still had red and yellow in them and everything. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, what occurred to me about what I like about black and gold is that I’m from Pittsburgh and that’s the colour of all of our sports teams.’

 

Until the MC2 stops being the secret inspiration for the ‘House of Ideas’, I remain

 

frogoat

Adamantium in the MC2

 

Let’s rip into yet another X-Men ’97 related topic today, with a quick look at the nigh-indestructible Marvel metal alloy: Adamantium, as it relates to the world of the MC2. Prepare for an injection of information about Adamantium in the MC2.

 

Before I jump into the history of the amazing alloy, I have to address Captain America’s shield. Prior to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was for commonly held ‘wisdom’ that the virtually indestructible shield of Captain America was composed of Adamantium. However, this is not the full story. The shield is a unique combination of ‘Proto-Adamantium’ (apparently even stronger than its successor) and Wakandan Vibranium. Even that account was retconned or disputed in the Avengers (vol. 3) Annual 2001. But that’s a story for another time and another post all its own!

 

True Adamantium first appeared in the Main Marvel Universe or Universe-616 in Avengers (vol. 1) #66 as the creation of a Dr. Myron Maclain who has invited various Avengers including Thor and Iron Man and Goliath (Clint Barton) aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier to test their abilities against it in order to confirm it’s durability. Against his will, The Vision steals the Adamantium and uses it to rebuild his creator, Ultron.

Most notably, Wolverine is the poster boy for Adamantium. First appearing in a single panel of Incredible Hulk #180 and making his first full appearance in Incredible Hulk #181, where Wolverine reveals to the Hulk his claws are ‘forged of diamond-hard Adamantium’. But it’s not until X-Men #98 that the X-Men (and the readers) learn the claws are a part of his body rather than attached to his gloves. Mention is made of Wolverine’s ‘unbreakable bones’ in X-Men #124 before X-Men #126 has Logan outright state he has ‘a skeleton made of about three million bucks worth of Adamantium’. And that’s not adjusted for inflation!

 

We see this ‘Weapon X’ experiment play out in the pages of Marvel Comics Presents #72-#84. Logan survives the experiment due to his mutant healing factor but loses his memory. Writer Larry Hama addressed a significant issue fans had with Logan having Adamantium bonded to his skeleton in Wolverine (vol. 2) #80. There it was explained that Logan’s own mutant physiology had caused a molecular change in the metal- creating what was identified as ‘Adamantium Beta’ -allowing it to bond directly into his skeletal material without inhibiting the living nature of his bones.

 

Now we come to the X-Men storyline known as Fatal Attractions, during which Magneto returns to his villainous ways and uses his powers to rip the Adamantium from Wolverine (X-Men (vol. 2) #25), nearly killing him and shortly afterwards revealing Logan had bone claws beneath the Adamantium the whole time (Wolverine (vol. 2) #75).

Logan would spend several publication years without Adamantium which brings us to the MC2. While on an apparent rescue mission in Madripoor with Wolverine, Zane Yama asks the Canadian former X-Man when he got his Adamantium back. Amusingly, the MC2 predicted and pre-dated the restoration of Wolverine’s Adamantium-coated skeleton, which didn’t occur until Wolverine (vol. 2) #145, published several months later (J2 #10).

 

Jumping back a few months, in the pages of A-Next #6, while helping the hero Argo to find his father Hercules, the Avengers find themselves in the secret S.H.I.E.L.D. facility within Mount Athena. There they learn 'The Merchandise' (actually Hercules himself) is buried several miles within the mountain in a special Adamantium cell. Agent 33 receives orders from 'The Top Man himself' to allow the Avengers to take custody of Hercules.

The following month in J2 #7 we have a one-panel appearance from the mainstay Daredevil villain and assassin Bullseye. I mention this as Bullseye received Adamantium-laced bones to some degree after his spine was shattered in Daredevil #181. This took place in Daredevil #197-#198 at the hands of Kenji Oyama (Lord Dark Wind), the man who originally conceived the method of bonding Adamantium to bones which was stolen and used on Wolverine. Of course, the MC2 Bullseye might instead be a descendant, as was once humorously suggested by Ron Frenz…

 

Back in J2 #8 we get the first appearance of Sabreclaw aka Hudson, the half-brother of Rina Logan aka Wild Thing and the son of Wolverine. While it doesn’t appear to be explicitly referenced in the comics unless I’ve missed something, the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #3 confirms that Hudson’s claws have been reinforced with Adamantium sheaths. Additionally, while the Avengers are preparing for a conflict with the Adamantium-bodied Ultron Extreme, Sabreclaw quips that he has ‘experience against Adamantium.’ (Avengers Next #3).

 

 I hope this slice of MC2 history helped provide some context and insight into Adamantium. Let me know if I missed anything as it relates to the MC2!

 

Until I survive a horrific experiment that laces my body with an indestructible metal, survive its removal and then willingly agree to undergo the same experiment again, I remain

 

frogoat

 

Ant-Man in the MC2

 

While it may have taken me a little longer than most to get to the theatre to see Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as you know from my last post I did finally manage it. So today, let us look at one of the film’s protagonist’s counterpart in my favourite corner of the Marvel Universe: Scott Lang aka Ant-Man in the MC2.

 

Scott Lang made his comics debut in the pages of Avengers #181 before assuming the identity of the second Ant-Man in Marvel Premiere #47 and #48 in order to save his daughter, Cassie Lang from the clutches of the villainous Darren Cross. As for Scott Lang’s first appearance in the MC2, he makes a small appearance in A-Next #1 as his daughter Cassie tests her abilities as Stinger. When Stinger receives a distress call on an old Avengers priority code, Scott offers to report as Ant-Man in place of Hank Pym who had long since died. Of course, Cassie herself responds to the call and the rest is history with the formation of the next generation’s Avengers team.

 

Scott makes another brief appearance in A-Next #2 where he expresses his discomfort and concern with Cassie being a super hero. Cassie informs hm she needs to step out from behind his shadow as a person, a scientist and an Avenger. In A-Next #3, Edwin Jarvis employs Lang as the Avengers technical advisor, which leaves Cassie far from impressed.

 

However, Cassie is more impressed when Scott catches up with their old friends in the Fantastic Five which results in her leading a squad of Avengers into Latveria to investigate rumors about the return of Doctor Doom. In fact, this proved to be Cassie’s lost love Kristoff Vernard, former ward of Victor Von Doom. We catch a glimpse of Scott in the background during a flashback to these aforementioned lovebirds as children during their time living with the Fantastic Four (A-Next #5).

 

When Stinger, Freebooter and Crimson Curse investigate an unknown presence deep beneath Avengers Compound, they are joined by Scott Lang. It is worth noting that Scott mentions ‘all the time [he] served with the original Avengers’ he was not aware of anyone coming down to the sub-basement level 7. This confirms his status as a former member of the Avengers, if nothing else (A-Next #6).

 

The group’s progress is halted by visions of the entire team of Avengers dead or dying. Scott divulges his own hallucination was mainly focused on his daughter, Cassie. Cassie and Scott head to a business meeting at Lang Labs but are soon after interrupted, first by Mainframe and then by Ion Man. Scott offers to aid his daughter and Mainframe battle Ion Man by suiting up as Ant-Man but Cassie instead instructs him to evacuate the building. After the battle, Scott and Cassie race to help the fallen Mainframe (A-Next #7).

 

With the revelation that Mainframe is robotic in nature, Scott and Cassie work to save their fallen friend. After receiving the schematics from Edwin Jarvis, Scott finally suits up as Ant-Man alongside Stinger for a journey to the centre of Mainframe to ensure the core module returns to the orbiting satellite that houses and manufactures Mainframe’s robotic shells. The father and daughter duo succeed in their mission (A-Next #8).

 

It's worth noting Lang’s Ant-Man suit is a version of one first seen in the pages of Fantastic Four #405 designed by the late great comic artist Paul Ryan.

With the members of the new Avengers debating whether or not to investigate the mysterious portal to an alternate universe they found in basement alongside the Scarlet Witch, Scott not so subtly encourages Cassie to focus on the big picture, and later sees the team off as they collectively conclude they must go (A-Next #9).

 

While MC2’s Scott Lang witnesses an argument about the new Avengers between Tony Stark and Clint Barton, his twisted counterpart known as Pincer in the alternate universe ruled by Doctor Doom attacks Cassandra Lang alongside his team, the Thunder Guard. When she learns he killed his own daughter for not allying with Doom, Cassie is horrified, but thankfully spared the same fate thanks to the aid of American Dream (A-Next #10).

 

This sadistic version of Lang is pleased with his universe’s Eric Masterson aka Storm-Trooper for killing one of the rebels, Maria Sapristi, and questions why he would feel sorry for her. Masterson makes it clear how he feels about this by attempting to choke Pincer. Later when the Avengers and rebels launch their attack, Pincer again targets Cassie, goading her by saying neither his daughter nor the MC2’s Stinger amounted to anything without their father. This provocation allows Cassie to see clearly that Pincer is nothing like her own father despite their issues (A-Next #11).

 

Lang is among those captured by the Red Queen’s Revengers team when they launch an attack on Avengers Headquarters. With the Avengers captured shortly after, Scott helplessly witnesses his daughter Cassie being tortured by Hope Pym until reinforcements arrive and he is freed. While at first seeming concerned for her safety, Scott instead tells Cassie he is proud of her as she heads off to help (A-Next #12).

 

With so many members off with injuries or otherwise absent following the events of Last Hero Standing, Scott Lang is recruited as Ant-Man by Tony Stark to fill out the Avengers roster. Alongside The Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye and Stark's 'personal bodyguard’ James Rhodes on a mission to investigate and apprehend Normie Osborn. Things go awry when Rhodes (now more machine than man) is inadvertently hit by Wanda Maximoff’s hex bolt, triggering a violent rampage. After Rhodes is subdued, Scott and the others conclude they would be better use as teachers and mentors to the new Avengers team (Spider-Girl #93-#95). 

 

Not an active member of the Avengers this time around, Scott Lang as Ant-Man only appears briefly this time, as a miscoloured magical energy duplicate created when Sylene attempts to recreate Asgard on Earth in Avengers Next #4 and again correctly coloured in Avengers Next #5.

 

Finally, Scott Lang features in the Secret Wars Spider-Girl tie-in story published in Spider-Island #1-#5. There, he once more suits up as Ant-Man when the Avengers come under attack from Enthralla and Hope Pym, but is knocked out by a mind-controlled Edwin Jarvis.

 

Once more seeking revenge on the Avengers for her parents death’s, The Red Queen sentences Scott to death for assuming her father’s Ant-Man identity. Scott makes an impassioned appeal for Hope to stop obsessing over how her parents died and instead remember how they lived. His words fail to reach her leaving Spider-Girl to save him. Under Enthralla’s sway, Cassie is ordered to execute her own father and is only prevented from doing so by Spider-Girl’s determination to spare Cassie the tragedy of losing her father.

 

That’s it for Scott Lang aka Ant-Man in the MC2, unless I’ve missed some small appearance or tiny reference. If so, please let me know as we all make little mistakes now and then. The father/daughter relationship between Scott and Cassie is one of the core aspects of the MC2’s ethos so I’m glad it was left untarnished in recent years. Hopefully the future holds more for this version of the character.

 

Until I steal Hank Pym’s stuff to save my daughter and end up becoming a super hero, I remain

 

frogoat