The Falcon in the MC2

 

When I think I’m out, they keep pulling me back in! Consider this a temporary reprieve. With The Falcon and the Winter Solider show now streaming on Disney + I think it’s the appropriate time to cover Sam Wilson aka The Falcon in the MC2.

 

 

 

Unlike many past Avenger entries, the Falcon is not seen or mentioned in the A-Next #7 flashback to the last days of the original Avengers. While not seen or even mentioned, we actually get our first hint of Sam Wilson’s alter ego in Spider-Girl #6. It’s here we have the debut of the Ladyhawks, aka Rosetta and Regina Morgan the twin daughters of crime lord Boss Morgan. The Ladyhawks costume is clearly an homage to the Falcon’s original green costume first seen with his first appearance in Captain America #117.

 

 

 

Additionally, we also got a mention in the letters page of Spider-Girl #11 when a fan asked if the Ladyhawks would have to pay royalties to Sam Wilson for using his motif

 

We don’t learn of the Ladyhawk twin’s origins until Spider-Girl #60, and it’s there that we discover their father was responsible for the death of The Falcon. Following this, Rosetta and Regina decided to use their (apparently) deceased father’s estate to make amends and wage a war on crime.

 

This is further reiterated in Amazing Spider-Girl #7 where we learn that Boss Morgan remains alive and criminally active. When Rosetta confronts her father, her costume’s resemblance to The Falcon’s is brought up along with the hero’s death which, according to Boss Morgan, was ‘quite some time ago’.

 

Meanwhile, over in the Avengers Next #1 we saw the team battle the magically created ‘zombies’ of various Avengers throughout the team’s history. Among these Sylene-created duplicates was a green-garbed fake Falcon who soon crumbles to dust alongside the others when Sylene loses focus. It’s worth pointing out that Sylene used stolen stored samples from the Avengers Compound, suggesting Sam provided these prior to his death.

 

While it’s not actually the MC2’s Falcon, I wanted to mention American Dream’s first encounter with the Sam Wilson of an altered reality in Captain America Corp #2. Shannon clearly recognizes and admires the hero from her world and also refers to Sam -and Luke Cage and Peter Parker- saying they ‘were heroes--Avengers’.

 

Finally, in the Secret Wars MC2 story featured in the Spider-Island mini-series, we see a glimpse of Ladyhawk (presumably Rosetta Morgan) in a new costume, this time inspired by the Falcon’s later red and white costume. Ironically, despite this Falcon costume being far more prominent and iconic, this is the only time the red and white colouring is seen in the MC2 (Spider-Island #4-#5).

 

Initially I thought the Falcon got a raw deal in the MC2 but looking at the overall impact the winged Avenger has had on this universe, I think it’s fair to say he’s well served. Yes, Sam Wilson is dead, but his legacy lives on through the Ladyhawks and their dedication to fighting crime. Furthermore, while it’s not explicitly stated, I think the Falcon is well-regarded among the next generation of Avengers, particularly American Dream who is herself upholding the legacy of Captain America. There remains a lot of untold stories in the MC2, and the Ladyhawks origins are the perfect place to detail the events surrounding Sam Wilson’s demise. Once again, I ask: can we please have a Ladyhawk mini-series?

 

Until I figure out what happened to Redwing, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

 

 

Cottonmouth in the MC2

*Before I start, I'd just like to announce I have my laptop back and in working order! So look forward to more wholesome content in the near future!*

Late to the game as ever, I decided to persist in my attempts to shamelessly tie-in to the now less-than-relevant Netflix series Luke Cage. Worse still, I'm not even connecting this post to the latest season of the show. Instead, I'll be talking about an antagonist from the first season: Cottonmouth! (why do I do these things?)

Cornell Cottonmouth was first mentioned in Power Man #18 and made his first appearance the following issue in Power Man #19 (both published in 1974) as a drug lord leader of a criminal organisation. One of Cottonmouth's rival's was 'Boss' Morgan, who I've previously discussed here.

But of course, as this is a blog about the MC2 Universe, let's look at Cornell's appearances in Amazing Spider-Girl #17-#18. When the self-styled 'Crimelord' calls a meeting of the leaders of various criminal organisations, Cottonmouth attends in hopes of winning the auction. The prize? The extensive files of Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin of Crime.

Naturally, the auction is interrupted but the Hobgoblin, who attempts to claim the Fisk Files in exchange for Spider-Girl, who he has captured. When things go awry several times over, Cottonmouth is among the various mob bosses who gets caught in the mix. Eventually, the police arrive and Cottonmouth is arrested, though Detective Drasco cynically states that many of the people arrested at the auction will be out on bail before the paperwork is completed.

It's nice to see a fairly obscure villain like Cornell Cottonmouth getting some panel-time in the pages of the MC2. Until Luke Cage himself makes an actual appearance in the MC2, I remain

frogoat

The Morgan Family Tree

I'm surprised I haven't covered this family before! Here's a look at the Morgan Family Tree. Ladyhawk is the crime-fighting identity shared by identical twin sisters Rosetta and Regina Morgan, who first appeared in Spider-Girl #6.

A recurring crime boss who often had run ins with the Falcon, 'Boss' Morgan first appeared in Captain America (vol. 1) #152 and would go on to hold a grudge against the winged crime-fighter. At some point, Morgan (who's first name is still unrevealed) married and had twin daughters, Rosetta and Regina. What little we do know of the sisters childhood is revealed in Spider-Girl #60. When their parents divorced as a result of Morgan's temper, the two sister were separated, with Regina going to live with her mother and Rosetta with her father. Despite his criminal career and temper, Rosetta describes her father treating her like a little princess-a warrior princess.

Supposedly, 'Boss' Morgan died in a shoot-out while Rosetta and Regina were still in high school, with a later police investigation revealing he was responsible for the death of the Falcon. When the sisters were reunited, they set about using their father's estate to fund their war on crime as. Or...at least that's what Rosetta tells Spider-Girl.

But it would seem the reports of Mr Morgan's demise were greatly exaggerated because he appears in Amazing Spider-Girl #7, very much alive and still in charge of his criminal organisation. So what gives? I think, either we can chalk it up to Rosetta not feeling comfortable to share certain details with Spider-Girl or Morgan faked his own demise. Based on Rosetta's reaction to hearing mention of her father's name and their tense interaction later in the issue, I'm inclined to believe Rosetta was not aware, or there's more going unsaid than we know about.

I have not been able to find a name for Rosetta and Regina's mother, but Rosetta tell's Spider-Girl that their mother died a few years prior. If anyone has a suggestion as to her name or identity, feel free to send me a message and let me know. I've always wanted to see the Ladyhawks' get their own mini-series at the least because there is a lot of fertile territory to explore both with the pair's superhero lives and the nature of their own familial relationships.

Until I stop enjoying this series of posts, I remain

frogoat

Global Re-Read: Spider-Girl #0-12

Over the past few months, I've introduced the Spider-Girl series to a friend of mine and we've been going through, issue by issue and reading (re-re-re-re-re-re-re-reading in my case) and talking about different elements. This has been a really enlightening experience.

So, first thoughts: She likes Mayday. Apparently May has that affect on people, who knew? Darkdevil is cool, a fast favorite amongst the heroes introduced in the series. She's very interested in the relationship dynamics, Moose thinking Courtney is our hero, Brad and Jimmy trying to date May, May and her parents. All entertaining stuff.

Oh, and Davida is clearly Ladyhawk...both of them(?!). The humor is appreciated, especially when Spyral accuses our webbed hero's weight for throwing them into the past...and her later 'retort', or, as mentioned before, Moose believing Courtney to be Spider-Girl.

Well, they do share the same hairstyle...

Interesting, to me at least, was my friend commenting about Brad becoming, rather quickly too much of a 'good guy,' being too nice, without much else to make him interesting. I'm looking forward to watching both the characters grow and her impressions on these changes. Should be fun.

Until I forget to update this blog, I remain

frogoat