Firestar in the MC2

I’ve recently had the opportunity to watch through the entirety of the 1980’s classic animated series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. This experience, combined with the knowledge that it’s a favourite of arias-98105, has prompted me to take a quick look at a character who originated on the show: Angelica Jones aka Firestar in the MC2.

The character of Firestar was created for the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends animated series, from an initial sketch by comic artist extraordinaire John Romita Sr that was refined and finalized by Rick Hoberg. Making her debut in animation with the first episode ‘Triumph of the Green Goblin’ in September 1981 which was followed shortly after with her first comic appearance, an adaption of the episode in December 1981’s Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends #1. But as for the first appearance of Angelica Jones as Firestar in the Main Marvel Universe, that took a few years with Uncanny X-Men #193 in May 1985.

While Firestar would have a superhero career alongside teams including the X-Men, Hellions and most notably the New Warriors, it was her 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 Firestar and her main squeeze Justice joining the group officially in Avengers vol. 3 #4.

 I mention all this to lend context to the limited information we have available regarding Firestar in the MC2. In the Main Marvel Universe, Firestar received a new costume designed by fellow Avenger Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp. This costume was not well received by Angelica, who found it too revealing and soon made modifications to better suit her tastes (Avengers vol.3 #8). Here’s the original costume as well as the first (Avengers vol. 3 #8), second (Avengers vol. 3 #9) and third (Avengers vol. 3 #13) modifications made to it:

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, Firestar appears to be wearing the second or third modified variation of the Avengers-era costume mentioned above, so we know she was by that point a well-established member, either one who was on the then-current roster or simply returning for this major emergency summons (A-Next #7).

Along with her fellow assembled Avengers, Firestar agreed to and embarked on the grave mission which saw only seven members return through the portal. While we don’t get a 100% confirmation, it’s assumed Angelica Jones died along with almost all of the Avengers who went on this final mission, including her lover Justice. 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 Firestar is 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. So that is something to consider, if you are so inclined! A huge thank you to arias-98105, who is a big Firestar fan and provided invaluable help with image research, costume information and fact checking!

 

It’s a shame so many of the Avengers died, but it’s an even bigger shame we never got to see younger heroes like Firestar and Justice reach their full potential in the MC2. At least Speedball made it!

Until I become Amazing Friends with Iceman and Spidey and rent a room from Aunt May, I remain

frogoat

Spider-man with boobs?

I guess the obvious statement made about any female character derived from a popular male character is 'Hey, it's just Superman with boobs'. And yeah, that's valid some of the time. I feel like She-Hulk was only created to protect a copyright, just as I know Spider-Woman was first created for that express purpose. Don't misunderstand though, both characters have gone on to have a rich history of events that characterizes them far afield from their male counterparts. Okay, so what makes Spider-Girl unique, even amongst other Spider-females? I'm going to try to answer that question.

Origin? What origin?

It's even become a running gag in the books themselves that May 'Mayday' Parker has almost nothing in the way of an origin story.  As Mayday says, she just woke up one day and found out she had her powers. That's it. Hmm. Well, okay, she had to fight Normie Osborn, the grandson of the original Green Goblin who had vowed a vendetta and yada yada yada. But still, this leads straight into her series as it's set up initially.  No swearing vengeance on crime, no traumatic childhood, no loved-one struck down. Her characterization comes from how she was raised. My god, a normal childhood for a superhero? Could it be?!

Without Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Now, not to be down on my main man Peter, but seriously, how often does he hang up his webs, vowing never to wear them again, only to take them up again to save someone next issue? May's the kinda girl who, even when she loses her abilities, she still can't quit. See, May's not like her dear ol' dad. Whereas Peter started out as a bit of an outcast who, when he got his amazing abilities, he instantly used them to make money and live his dream, May is different. Peter had to have the trauma of his uncles death to shock him into heroics, to knock him out of his hubris. May simply does the right thing because....well, because it is the right thing to do. For crying out loud, she borrowed a Goblin Glider and equipment to keep on helping people when she lost her powers, doing push ups and admitting to herself that she wasn't done with the hero thing. I guess what I'm saying is May Parker has ovaries of steel and a strong work ethic. :p

Heel Face Turn, or 'No Rematch For You!' 

  You know the routine, the villain and the hero go toe to toe a couple times then the villain falls into a cycle of grudge matches or revenge attacks.....and *yawn* we've all seen it before. For the most part, May's rogues gallery changes often, with only a few big bads returning to spice things up and push chess pieces around. May's belief in the good in people has not only set her apart from her father, but has reformed so many of her former enemies it should be a freakin' super-power. Normie (Green Goblin) Osborn, Brenda (Raptor) Drago, The Dragon King,  Mr Abnormal, Killerwatt, Mayhem, the list goes on and on.

Genre Savvy 

This one I kinda like for the simplest reasons. When I was younger, I often wondered why, being heroes and all, they continued to battle at the slightest provocation. 'He's talking to the bad guy, therefore, he must be working with them!' In the MC2, the heroes try to avoid this. Sometimes they come to blows, but usually, they are all well aware that in the hero biz, things are not always as they seem. May even cites this when confronting her fellow heroes, 'Oh great! Another misunderstanding!'. One of my favorites comes from Stinger: 'Everybody, CHILL! Nobody want's to look like a jerk by starting a fight over some silly misunderstanding! I suggest we retire to the nearest rooftop and try to sort things out like adults.' Spider-Girl: 'Sounds good to me!'

She's a Joiner

Peter Parker was always a loner, either by nature or by choice. Sure, the Bugle never helped his image, but if he'd joined the Fantastic Four like he planned in Amazing Spider-man #1 he could have sued J Jonah Jameson for libel. Problem Solved. It took him around fourty years to join the Avengers and even longer to be a full-time member of the FF. Spider-Girl decided early on to seek allies where ever she could. She joined the new Avengers team in Spider-Girl #13, made friends with the F5 in Spider-Girl #3 and founded her own team in Spider-Girl #42; The...erm....even newer Warriors? We'll call them the Warriors. Okay? Got it? Good. Super villain giving you problems? Call in the Avengers, and the Fantastic Five, and the Warriors and the Nation Guard. Care to surrender?
 

Nobody Dies On My Watch

May takes every death personally, even going so far as to mourn the lose of Crazy Eight after he is shot and killed by another villain. Tom Defalco said it best in an interview,  "Peter failed to stop a burglar who later killed his uncle. Mayday succeeded in stopping a super villain and prevented him from killing her dad. Pete learned that people die when he fails. She learned that people live when she succeeds. It's a subtle, but profound difference."

I've only scratched the surface, but these are the major points I felt sum up Mayday.

Until Marvel prints a Spider-Girl digest volume 13,

I'm frogoat.