Carolyn Trainer made her first full appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #406 ( with only her tentacles seen the previous issue) wherein she took on the mantle of Doctor Octopus following the murder of Otto Octavius by Kaine. Carolyn was later instrumental in resurrecting her predecessor and assumed the role of student under Otto's tutelage.
However, due to several big changes behind the scenes on the Spider-Man books in the late 90's, Carolyn simply stopped appearing and wasn't seen for several years. When she did return in the 2000's in small roles throughout various titles, she was dubbed 'Lady Octopus', presumably to differentiate her from the original Doc Ock. While the events of these later stories are almost certainly not canon to the history of the MC2, the moniker 'Lady Octopus' does play a curious part in events.
With that out of the way, the MC2's Carolyn Trainer first appears in Spider-Girl #68, working with Dr Sonja Jade, a former ally of Otto Octavius. With a reference to her predecessor earlier in the issue, the major involvement of Dr Jade and the final page of the story leaving Carolyn shrouded in shadows, it's left unclear which Doc Ock we are seeing. However, the letters page for the issue proclaims 'Doctor Octopus is back!'
The mystery is teased a bit further throughout Spider-Girl #69 as John Jameson is kidnapped by Jade's goons with assistance from a set of mechanical tentacles. It's no until later in the issue Carolyn Trainer makes her big entrance declaring herself 'the new Doctor Octopus'. It's here we learn that Otto Octavius has recently died. Dr Jade and Trainer abducted Jameson and his wife's scientific equipment, planning to turn people into 'monsters for mobsters'. Unfortunately for The Buzz, they first tested this on his father John Jameson, turning him into the Man-Wolf once more.
When her control module for the Man-Wolf is destroyed and she is nearly shot dead, Carolyn abandons the plan, splitting from Dr Jade and leaving the equipment and Jade's men to be captured. After Dr Jade is apprehended by Spider-Girl, Doctor Octopus quickly defeats her but spares her life as repayment for the heroine having saved her from a bullet earlier.
Next, Carolyn becomes embroiled in the ongoing gang war between the Black Tarantula and recently incarcerated current Kingpin of crime, Canis. Offering up her protection and technology to chop shop owner and mobster 'Handsome' Richie Valentine in exchange for a weekly stipend, Trainer encounters Spider-Girl when the latter is given intel by the Black Tarantula's assistant Chesbro that Trainer is working with Valentine's boss, Canis (Spider-Girl #72).
However, when Spider-Girl is knocked into Valentine's workshop and is forced to fight off his goons, Valentine surrenders, believing Spider-Girl is working with 'Lady Octopus'. Afterwards, Carolyn thanks Spider-Girl for 'attending' to Valentine for her. Spider-Girl, feeling used, attacks Lady Ock only to be soundly beaten and on the verge of being killed when Ock suddenly leaves. Spider-Girl then receives a phone call from Chesbro offering the Black Tarantula's assistance (Spider-Girl #72).
When next we see our fair Lady Octopus, she frees Canis from police custody during a transfer and seemingly forms an alliance. With Chesbro informing Spider-Girl of this alliance and offering the Black Tarantula's assistance again, Spider-Girl soon confronts the pair of criminals in the sewers only to find herself buried beneath tons of rubble by Ock covering her escape (Spider-Girl #74).
With Canis losing control of his criminal empire, Lady Ock reminds him that he must still compensate her for efforts in breaking him from prison. Offering to eliminate Spider-Girl if he identifies his various criminal connections. Unwilling to do so, Canis attempts to organize a meeting of his men to bring them into line but this too falls apart thanks to the intervention of Spider-Girl. Left with no other options, Canis agrees to Lady Octopus' terms (Spider-Girl #75-76).
Carolyn meets with and convinces the leaders of the various crime families to attend a special meeting, promising her client can provide protection, worldwide distribution and strength. Later, Canis arrives at his meeting to discover that it is not his lieutenants in attendance just as Lady Octopus leaves, having sealed him in. Encountering Spider-Girl, Ock informs her of Canis' predicament and reveals her betrayal, allowing her to escape as the hero attempts to save the fallen crime lord (Spider-Girl #77).
Elsewhere, the Black Tarantula concludes his meeting with the former lieutenants of Canis. We learn that Carolyn has been secretly working to undermine Canis for the Black Tarantula the whole time, just as the Black Tarantula has been manipulating Spider-Girl to target his rival's organisation. The co-conspirators are interrupted by an angry and hurt Spider-Girl who has organised others to aid Canis so that she can follow Lady Ock (Spider-Girl #77).
Confronting Lady Ock and the Black Tarantula, Spider-Girl is soon joined by Agent Weadon's team, led by Kaine. Outnumbered, Carolyn attempts to flee with Raptor and Spider-Girl in close pursuit. No longer restrained by the Black Tarantula's orders not to kill her, Lady Octopus throws a large boat at Spider-Girl, nearly killing Raptor in the process. However this time Spider-Girl blindfolds herself and trusts solely in her instincts to guide her through Lady Ock's tentacles to rip off her harness and disarm the villain. Soon after, the Black Tarantula (briefly) turns himself over to the authorities (Spider-Girl #78).
Unfortunately, that's the last time we see Carolyn Trainer in the MC2. I think it's very notable that in the lead up to her MC2-debut and in her early appearances ol' Carolyn was originally billed as 'Doctor Octopus' -her rightful title especially following her mentors death- but this was later dropped as the series drew closer to Spider-Girl #75. For those who do not know, the Spider-Girl series was slated for yet another cancelation attempt around this time, possibly resulting in the character being renamed 'Spider-Woman' to accommodate the new character Anya Corazon aka Araña who was to be given the moniker and series title 'Spider-Girl'. Perhaps these events are unrelated, and Carolyn was simply renamed 'Lady Octopus' to keep in line with her Main Marvel Universe counterpart and avoid confusion....but I can't help drawing connections.
Given how I recently talked about LGBT+ representation in the MC2, I think I might be called out if I didn't at least mention that at least some fans believe Dr Jade and Carolyn were in a romantic relationship. I'm guessing this opinion may have arisen at least partially due to Carolyn's proclivity to refer to Sonja Jade as 'my sweet' and 'my darling' and even 'my dear'. While I don't want to dismiss these claims, I do have to point out that Carolyn also referred to others in a similar fashion on various occasions, including both Spider-Girl and Canis. That said, Carolyn was quite thankful when Jade was apprehended; remarking she had become 'tiresome of late', referred to The Buzz as 'definitely not my type' and insisted on clarifying her relationship with the original Doctor Octopus was that of 'colleagues' when Spider-Girl suggested otherwise. So...draw your own conclusions, fans!
Until I find more time to research, write and post these silly little blogs, I remain
frogoat
