Showing posts with label Nick Fury. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nick Fury. Show all posts

Thursday 6 July 2023

The Skrull Incident

 

Hey, looks like the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ show Secret Invasion is bringing the Skrulls back in a big way. What better way to celebrate than to take a look at a part of the MC2’s unexplored history by trying to uncover as much as possible about the mysterious event known as ‘The Skrull Incident’.

 


 

The first (and unless I am mistaken only) mention of ‘The Skrull Incident’ was in A-Next #2, when The Orbital Defense Grid detects the approach of a Kree spacecraft and fires upon it, resulting in the craft splitting into two before crashing into the Washington National Park. With the newly formed new Avengers team called in to investigate by Bill Foster, we learn a little history behind the Orbital Defense Grid when Mainframe off-handedly mentions to Thunderstrike that the Grid was erected years prior when the government was convinced by the events of the last known alien invasion, which he identifies only as 'The Skrull Incident'.

 


A collection of satellites positioned in orbit around the planet Earth, the Orbital Defense Grid comes equipped with long-range sensory instrumentation and offensive weaponry capabilities allowing it to detect and destroy incoming space debris, extraterrestrial spacecraft, and various other threats to the planet from outer space (A-Next #2Spider-Girl #34#46#86). We also learn in Last Planet Standing #2 that Reed Richards helped design the Orbital Defense Grid.

 



Circling back to the Skrulls, we learn in Spider-Girl #3 that Lyja is married to Johnny Storm and in Fantastic Five (vol. 1) #2 we are first introduced to the couple's son, Torus Storm, a Human/Skrull hybrid. Torus possesses both his mother's Skrullian ability to shape-shift and his father's pyrogenic powers. Despite his (very) young age, Torus often attempts to aid his family in battle by altering his form into that of a muscular adult male while utilizing his flame-blasts.

 


Here's where we connect some dots from prior exploratory posts and add some speculation. As I mentioned in the History of the MC2: The Fantastic Four post approximately five or so years prior to the events of Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #1, the Fantastic Four prepared to battle Hyperstorm, a cosmically powered warlord from an alternate future who had built a doomsday weapon in the Negative Zone (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #4Spider-Girl #87). Lyja was pregnant at this time and did not join the team on their mission (Fantastic Five Vol. 1 #4). 

 




Presumably, Lyja Storm is heavily pregnant with none other than Torus in the scenes depicting the Fantastic Four preparing to leave for the mission. Now this is significant because as I mention above, we know this mission was only ‘five or so years’ prior to the MC2’s present day. So, as I calculated in the How old is Torus Storm post, Lyja and Johnny’s son Torus is only around 5 or 6 years old.


 

From the book Comic Creators on Fantastic Four by Tom Defalco, we got this comment from Fantastic Four and Fantastic Five artist Paul Ryan:

Tom Defalco: You felt Johnny and Lyja should have actually had a baby, right? Do you want to explain why?

Paul Ryan: I thought it would have been a new dynamic for Johnny, in that he would have to start facing some grown-up responsibilities. I thought that it could make for an interesting character, too, because the child of a Skrull and a human would be totally unique – and it could lead to some interesting story arcs in which the Skrull Empire wanted to get hold of the child for some reason. We could have done things with the child itself, like accelerated growth rate; maybe the Skrulls mature faster. Also, things could have been very interesting where the child had the ability to face-shift, as well as he cosmic ray-based powers of heat and flame, which is something you experimented with in Fantastic Five. Finally, I thought it might bring Johnny and Lyja closer together, and there could have been some exciting story possibilities there.

 

 

I think the late, great Mr Ryan provides us with a very good explanation for why young Torus Storm looks and behaves more like a 10-year-old than a 5-year-old. Skrull hybrids are a rarity, and one that we know little about. But further to this point is Mr Ryan’s comment about the Skrull Empire wanting to get hold of the child.

 


As mentioned earlier, the Orbital Defense Grid was commissioned following the events of the mysterious 'Skrull Incident' (A-Next #2) which was some years prior. This alongside Apox the Omega Skrull's out of date references to heroes such as ThorCaptain America and Iron Man strongly suggests the Skrull Empire has not had contact with Earth since - a fact the marvunapp entry for Apox pointed out (Spider-Girl #47). Notably, in both battles with Apox, he refers to the Fantastic Five as ‘the team once known as the Fantastic Four’ and Skrull’s aboard the Skrull Worldship also refer to the team as the Fantastic Five suggesting the Skrull Empire is aware of the change in team name (Spider-Girl #47, Spider-Girl #86-#87).

 




It is also worth pointing out that apart from Apox, no one from the Skrull Empire approached Earth directly, as evident from the Skrull Worldship's position far away from the planet at the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy (Spider-Girl #87-88). It is also suggested that Apox may have attacked the Fantastic Five against orders as a result of his delusion of godhood. While we do not know much about the state of the Skrull Empire, we do know that it is currently led by an Emperor (Spider-Girl #88) who presumably presides over the Skrull High Command (Spider-Girl #86-88) in a regime that Lyja refers to as 'virtual slavery' (Spider-Girl #88).

 


With all these points laid out, I would like to posit a hypothesis. I believe the so-called ‘Skrull Incident’ involved an invasion resulting in a large-scale attack upon Earth with a potential goal or motivation related to Torus Storm and his hybrid Skrull/Human nature. Presumably this occurred around 5 to 6 years prior to the MC2 present-day, either during Lyja’s pregnancy or shortly afterwards, potentially after the team officially rebranded as the Fantastic Five or simply while they operated with additional family members on a regular basis as the F4. Whatever the details, the invaders are defeated and the Skrull Empire seemingly do not attempt further attacks until the present day.

 


 In the aftermath of this Skrull Invasion, the government was convinced to erect The Orbital Defense Grid, possibly due to the security risk shape-shifting imposters pose to world authorities. Reed Richards (through his Big Brain robot proxies if we assume it takes place after his accident) helps to design this Defensive Grid, with long-range sensors that reach nearly to the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy. This Grid proves effective in detecting and deterring potential alien invasions and is outfitted with offensive weaponry capable of destroying space debris and other threats.

 

Let me know what you think of this theory, it has been a long time brewing in the ol’ brain pan and involves a variety of different minor points of continuity being put together. Do you agree, disagree, or have a different theory?

 

Until I stop plucking at the various loose threads of the MC2’s untouched history, I remain

 

frogoat


Friday 30 June 2023

Maria Hill in the MC2

 

With the release of Marvel’s Secret Invasion series on Disney+ prominently featuring former Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Maria Hill as portrayed by Cobie Smoulders’ who has played the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2012’s The Avengers, I thought now would be an opportune time to finally cover Maria Hill in the MC2.

 


Maria Hill made her debut in the pages of New Avengers #4 in 2005 though was apparently originally meant to first appear in the Secret War mini-series before lengthy delays saw it released far later. In either event, she replaced Nick Fury as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. during that period.

 



Meanwhile in the MC2, we see some familiar faces amongst the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. during the Carnage story arc, with Maria Hill making the scene in Amazing Spider-Girl #9. On behalf of her ‘superiorsAgent Maria Hill tasks Special Agent Arthur Weadon and his team of former villains led by Kaine with safeguarding the transport of an item referred to only as 'Specimen 297' (actually a piece of the Carnage symbiote) through New York City. When the transport convoy is attacked by a faction of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents led by Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (who will no doubt warrant her own post someday) and the Specimen accidentally let loose in the city by Spider-Girl, Carnage is reborn.


 

With the New York City Police Department on the scene (including Police Scientist Peter Parker), Special Agent Maria Hill obstructs Captain Ruiz’s investigation of the situation before chastising Special Agent Arthur Weadon and his team’s failure to protect the Specimen. Nick Fury makes his first on-panel appearance in the MC2 - albeit shrouded in shadow-when he assures President G.W. Bridge the situation would be resolved despite the complications as he has his best Agent on the case. After an attack by Carnage at Café Indigo, Hill dispatches S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and Weadon’s team to track down Spider-Girl for questioning about her involvement (Amazing Spider-Girl #10-#11).

 



After evading both groups, Spider-Girl is reacquired during a battle with Carnage, with Maria Hill sending Weadon’s team and S.H.I.E.L.D. after her once more which results in Carnage attacking all of them. Fortunately, Spider-Girl manages to save everyone involved, but her baby brother Benjy, now merged with a part of the Carnage symbiote, is taken by the villain. Hill calls for emergency aid before following them to Midtown Medical Center (Amazing Spider-Girl #12).

 






 We learn through the investigative work of Kaine and Darkdevil the true plot: the United States was unwilling to destroy the Carnage symbiote despite the United Nations stance on the use of bio-weapons, G.W. Bridge and Nick Fury organised for the team of disguised S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents to 'steal' the Specimen, setting up Weadon's team to fail.  This was all to demonstrate the dangers to the congressional committee wishing to keep the symbiote for bio-weapon research under the guise of finding a cure for cancer (Amazing Spider-Girl #12).


Maria Hill reports back to Nick Fury that Specimen 297 has been fully neutralized. Despite the operation not going as planned, the situation was salvaged thanks to Spider-Girl's intervention, providing the President with a sound rationale to convince the congressional committee to destroy the remaining Specimen (Amazing Spider-Girl #12).


 

As for where Special Agent Maria Hill next appears in the MC2, we turn to the American Dream mini-series. These appearances are tricky. Maria Hill shows up so you would think she was working for S.H.I.E.L.D. but dialogue and recap pages both state she is working for the National Security Force. I would be inclined to accept that Hill simply changed employers since her last appearance, except every issue after she shows up in American Dream #2 clearly depicts her in full S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform and leading other agents also clad in S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform.

 


Maria Hill calls into Avengers Compound to order Shannon Carter aka  American Dream to cease her inquiries into the crystalline creatures she had encountered. After some consideration and discussion with the rest of the Avengers, American Dream decides to continue her investigation while seeking a missing person (American Dream #2).  

 



Returning to Avengers Compound with a federal warrant to assume custody of a crystal creature, Hill proceeds to chastise American Dream, and tells her again to back off before she and the rest of the Avengers are charged with treason. This prompts American Dream to resign from the Avengers to protect them while she pursued the matter solo (American Dream #3).

 


For good measure, Hill angrily makes a third trip to Avengers Compound to arrest American Dream after she is spotted at a classified crime scene, only to be told by Edwin Jarvis that he does not know where the former Avenger has gone. After threatening to take Jarvis in as an accessory, Thunderstrike steps in to defend him, questioning why Hill is trying to stop the investigation. We soon learn that S.H.I.E.L.D. is attempting to discover how to destroy the crystalline creatures to prevent them falling into enemy hands, unaware they are actually illegal immigrants who’ve been unwillingly transformed by the villain Silikong. When the one in their custody reawakens, Hill finds herself shorthanded (American Dream #4).




While across town the Avengers locate and aid American Dream in her fight against the combined forces of Hope Pym aka The Red Queen, Ion Man, Silikong and his crystalline creatures, Maria Hill and her agents struggle against their single foe until the control over the creatures is stopped by Dream. This leads Special Agent Maria Hill to admit she has some grovelling to do and we later learn that Hill has arrested Silikong and will try to reverse the process used on the victims of his experiments (American Dream #5).


 



Maria Hill in the MC2 is a good example of a Main Marvel Universe character who debuted after the point at which the MC2 diverges, with very different events unfolding. Her appearance in the MC2 acts as a nice nod to the New Avengers era of the Main Marvel Universe in much the same way as references to Luke Cage established his membership on that team in the MC2’s own history.

 

Until I perform dual duties as an National Security Agent and an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., I remain

 

frogoat

Sunday 25 October 2020

President of the United States of America in the MC2

 

In my part of the world there is an election on the horizon, which inspired me to finally cover the most non-controversial aspect of the MC2: Politicians! Today I’m going to introduce you all to the President of the United States of America in the MC2.

 


The President of the United States of America during the present-day era of the MC2 is none other than George Washington Bridge. For those unfamiliar, G.W. Bridge first appeared in X-Force #1 and was a high-ranking member of the spy organisation S.H.I.E.L.D. and a long-time member of the time-travelling Cable’s mercenary team Six Pack. While he’s a solid existing Marvel character to draw on when selecting a fictional President, I suspect he was chosen as much for his name which has a nice ring to it as any other reason.

 

The MC2’s G.W. Bridge made his first appearance in Spider-Girl #31, glimpsed on a video call with Tony Stark which gets interrupted by a depowered Spider-Girl who comes crashing into Stark’s office riding a Goblin Glider. Naturally President Bridge offers to call S.H.I.E.L.D. but is dissuaded by Stark. This issue was released in early 2001, so it’s kind of forward thinking (or predictive) of the creative team to feature an African American as President.

 


While President Bridge doesn’t technically appear, we do hear from his Special Advisor (and former Avenger) the Vision in Last Hero Standing #3. Vision reports that the President is concerned about the recent rash of super hero disappearances present a possible security threat to the nation.

 


In the follow up mini-series Last Planet Standing, President Bridge does make a few on-panel appearances, starting with #1 when he discusses the missing Fantastic Five (led by Reed Richards) and the current team of Avengers with Vision. The President is not filled with confidence by the present line up of heroes defending the world.

 


 In Last Planet Standing #2 Vision informs the assembled Avengers that he has been sent by President Bridge to coordinate and supervise all efforts to safeguard the world in the Fantastic Five’s absence. This news is not well received by the Avengers.

 


In Last Planet Standing #3, the Fantastic Five manage to establish communication with the President and update him on the nature of the threat to the planet. President Bridge also asks Vision to convey his sincerest gratitude to the Avengers, placing the Fantastic Five in charge and putting the Avengers on standby, an instruction that is not well received either. Vision points out that as a government-sanctioned team they all serve at the will of President, though Stinger maintains that they are volunteers and shouldn’t be on the sidelines in such a situation. Soon after, the whole Avengers team disobey orders and head off to join the fight as Galactus’ Herald arrives on Earth.






With the world-threatening crisis deteriorating, President Bridge contacts the Fantastic Five only to be brushed off by Reed Richards who tells him that the use of nuclear weapons would be both futile and tragic as it would have no effect on Galactus (Last Planet Standing #4).

 



With the Fantastic Five, Avengers and various other heroes failing to stop the threat of Galactus, the President asks one of his advisors how soon they can attempt a nuclear strike. Learning this would require hours to evacuate ground forces and days to clear the civilian population, President Bridge states ‘I hate this job.’ (Last Planet Standing #5)

 


When Doctor Doom returns imbued with cosmic power and sends his virtually indestructible Doombots across the globe to dismantle the world authorities, President Bridge holds an emergency meeting with his advisors and other major governments before determining his course of action. With no other option, G.W. Bridge contacts Doctor Doom and informs him that the governments of the world have agreed to surrender to save millions of lives (Fantastic Five vol.2 #4).

 



With a cosmically powered Doombot hovering above the White House, President Bridge holds a secret meeting with Tony Stark, Vision and Mainframe. The President learns the Avengers have defeated one of the Doombots and Stark believes he can eventually design a program to jam the robots but things look grim. After Doctor Doom is defeated, President Bridge discusses the need to attempt to reverse engineer the Doombots despite his desire to simply melt them down. Tony Stark admits he has tried to replicate Doom’s technology and discloses it’s impossible. Stark concludes they own the world’s safety to Reed Richards.

 



President Bridge
has a secret conversation with a shadowy figure (actually Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D.) about the accidental release of ‘Specimen 297’ (a piece of the Carnage symbiote) on the streets of New York City (Amazing Spider-Girl #10).

 


Finally, in Amazing Spider-Girl #16 we hear from one of G.W. Bridge’s special advisors that the President is strongly committed to aiding the people of China. Following Doctor Doom’s attack on the Chinese Government during his attempt to conquer the world, the country faces an economic crisis which affects the entire global community. During his public appearance in Paris, this special advisor is assassinated by the invisible mercenary Deadspot.

 


That’s it for today, folks. Maybe in the near future I’ll dedicate a post to more politicians in the MC2? Don’t forget to take part in the democratic process by voting. We’d hate for a Doctor Doom-type to try to take over the world now, wouldn’t we?

 

Until I figure out how to fill in a ballot, I remain

 

frogoat