On the Naughty List: Slaybelle, the No-Hit Wonder

 

♪Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening♪

♪A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight♪
♪Walking in a winter wonderland♪

-Winter Wonderland

 

 

It’s nearly that time again, merry people! With the holiday season upon us and with me recently having trawled back through my old notes on unused concepts in the MC2, I’ve got a gift for one and all: Slaybelle, the villainess who (almost) stole Christmas.

 

I enjoy the unused concepts conceived by the creative teams of the MC2, particularly Spider-Girl co-creator Ron Frenz, who has kindly shared a plethora of unpublished pitches through the years. Among these, we have this tantalizing titbit from Ron’s own facebook post:

 

“NOPE.

So The Legendary Tom DeFalco and I were working on an issue of Spider-Girl that would be on sale around Christmastime and needed a villain to give Mayday a warm-up battle at the beginning of the issue, you know, an opening bank robbery kinda thing. We put our heads together and came up with THIS young lady,

SLAYBELLE (Get it?)

Tom and I: Pretty cool, huh?

Editor: Nope.

Oh well.”

 

For those who don’t get it, Slaybelle is a punny bit of wordplay on ‘sleigh bell,’ which is another term for a ‘jingle bell’ which were often found on sleds or sleighs and are closely associated with the folk story of Santa Claus and his flying sleigh. Slay, meaning to violently kill is a homophone of sleigh. Belle is a term for a beautiful woman. Honestly, I’m probably overexplaining this. But it’s a clever joke!

 

On the podcast Make Mine Mayday Episode 43, Ron mentioned the situation:

 

‘The only thing I remember an editor saying we couldn’t do was Slaybelle. A young woman in a Santa suit with a big gun and we were going to use her for an opening sequence, like a bank robbery or something like that. I forget whether it was Nicole or Molly or who it was, whoever was our editor at the time said ‘No’. And we went ‘why?’ and they said ‘No. Just no.’

 

As for what issue of Spider-Girl this Miss missed, Ron notes Slaybelle was conceived for an issue published after Spider-Girl #54, which was of course pencilled by MC2 alumni Pat Olliffe. I’ll let you theorize!

Until I can come up with something for next this time next year, I remain a very merry

 

frogoat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spider-Symmetry: The Swinging 60's Spidey

 

For today’s post we have another entry in the occasional series where I endeavour to highlight the visual or narrative symmetry between the Spider-Man and Spider-Girl comics. For this entry of Spider-Symmetry, we are taking a look at a silver age era comic classic and a modern era classic. This instalment, we must credit the amazing penciller and Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko and MC2 and Spider-Girl co-creator, artist extraordinaire and friendly fella, Ron Frenz, but we have a few stops on the way…

 

First up we have the iconic cover to 1964’s Amazing Spider-Man #19 by sturdy Steve Ditko, featuring our webbed wonder, Spider-Man swinging directly toward the reader with various familiar faces surrounding him in a stylized web. Seriously, this guy was talented.

 

It would be remiss of me not to mention the amusing Spider-Man cameo from the pages of Fantastic Four Annual #3 released in 1965. I’ll let it speak for itself.

 

For the generations of Spidey fans who know the 1967 Spider-Man cartoon will no doubt recognize this pose, as it (along with many other poses) was ‘recycled’ for various episodes’ swinging segments.

 

Now, here’s the cover to Amazing Spider-Man #68 by jazzy John Romita Senior, coincidentally released in 1968, which features a similarly swinging Spider-Man albeit rendered very much in the style of Mr. Romita.

 

 

One more time, we have the original Steve Ditko pose brought back and referenced in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #261 by artist and major Marvel fanboy Ron Frenz.

Coming full circle, the cover to Spider-Girl #42 pencilled by Ron Frenz and released in 2002 demonstrates a combination of both Mr. Ditko and Mr. Romita’s cover poses and art styles, no doubt influenced or informed by Mr Frenz’s own affection for the 60’s Spider-Man animation.

 

Once again, it’s wonderful reverence and references like this that really make the MC2 feel familiar and inclusive of the whole history of the Spidey mythos.

 

Until I make a post about the 70’s series, I remain

 

frogoat

Spider-Girl's Live-Action Debut is Kick-Ass

 

Apologies for the clickbait-y title but a friend of mine brought this to my attention and I just had to share it with everyone! While there’s lots of rumours and theories swirling about May ‘Mayday’ Parker aka Spider-Girl making her debut in a live-action movie, they are all far too late. It’s already happened.

 

A big shout out to friend of the blog Jesús Arias for discovering this little tidbit. At 57 minutes and 30 seconds into the live-action comic book movie adaptation Kick-Ass, we get this shot:

 

Did you spot it?

 

There’s a closer look at it at 1 hour 13 minutes 57 seconds. Yes, I have no life.

 

 

Yup, the cover of Amazing Spider-Girl #10 by artists extraordinaire Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema featuring the alien symbiote Carnage can be glimpsed.

 

A nice piece of trivia for all you self-styled vigilantes out there.   

 

Until I stop getting a kick out of these kinds of things, I remain

 

frogoat

Stinger: A Case For Cassie Lang's Codename in the MCU

 

While I’ve been particularly busy and going through a lot of personal turbulence, I felt an odd impulse to just throw this together. It’s something I’ve been thinking about since Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was announced and has grown into a bit of a personal obsession. This is my case for why Cassie Lang should be called Stinger in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

Let’s start with a little background: Officially Marvel Studios hasn’t assigned a codename to their interpretation of Cassie Lang in the MCU. However, there is precedent for official sources to refer to and, as a result, canonize information gleaned from fan-produced sites. An example of this would be the Across the Spider-Verse animated movie from Sony legitimizing the designation of their Venom films as ‘Earth-688’ after the Marvel Fandom wiki used the place-holder designation ‘Earth-TRN688’ (TRN referring to Temporary Reality Number) to refer to it in lieu of any officially provided designation. This itself had a knock-on effect that presents further issues which are beyond what I want to discuss today. Needless to say, sometimes widely accessed fan-curated content, well-meaning though it may can end up creating unintentional ‘Ascended Fanon’.

 

 This brings me to the well-considered Marvel Cinematic Universe wiki, a fantastic resource on anything related to Marvel Studios. While I have the utmost respect for the many contributors to the site, I can’t help but notice they have elected to assign Cassie Lang the codename ‘Stature’ despite the character never being referred to by any superhero title in any official MCU-related material. A look at the character’s talk page revealed the matter has been closed, with the only cited source I can see for the name ‘Stature’ being an early Deadline article that refers to the comic character’s origin and codename. Nothing else.

 

 My main concern, if you can call it that, is that an unassuming and well-meaning Marvel Studios employee will do a brief online search, encounter this wiki entry first and take it at face value, thereby making it official. Not that I dislike fanon being elevated or embraced per se, but it does rather bias the odds of the MCU Cassie being known as Stature rather than Stinger.

 

Here are some examples that reinforce a lack of official codename for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Cassie Lang at this point. Here is the Funko Pop figure, exclusive to the Marvel Collectors Corps, titled ‘Cassie Lang’.

 

Here are some official designs seen on shirts, socks and various other merchandise, again referring to the character as ‘Cassie’ or ‘Cassie Lang’.

 

The Marvel Legends action figure line released a series of 8 figures in its ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Build-A-Figure Cassie Lang’ line which came packaged with various parts which combined to make the character as depicted in Quantumania.

 

Another tie-in to the Quantumania movie, Cassie was introduced to the Marvel’s Contest of Champions mobile game under the title ‘Cassie Lang’. The same is true of this adaption of the character in another mobile game, Marvel’s Future Fight.

 

 

All this to say, clearly the powers that be at Marvel Studios haven’t settled on the character’s codename just yet.

 

Now I’d like to make the case for using the superhero moniker ‘Stinger’ rather than ‘Stature’. Firstly, Cassie adopting Stinger as a superhero title pre-dates Stature, with the MC2 comics A-Next #1 being published in 1998 well before her Main Marvel Universe comic counterpart became a hero and took the name Stature in Young Avengers #6. Yes, the MC2 comics originated the concept of Cassie as a superhero.

 

Secondly, the costume. Cassie debuts her Pym Particle suit in Quantumania and it is primarily purple. The colour purple was first associated with Cassie Lang as Stinger in the MC2 but also inspired her Main Marvel Universe counterpart years later in the pages of Astonishing Ant-Man #6.  In addition, Cassie would ditch Stature too, also adopting Stinger as her codename. Both costumes are nearly identical, and both sport a insect inspired helmet, another element the movie would adapt albeit a full-face mask in keeping with their established rules for shrinking.

 

Additionally, the MCU’s Cassie demonstrates a gifted intellect, another character trait first and most closely associated with the MC2’s version of Cassie. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Young Avengers Cassie isn’t known for her scientific ability.

 

I’ve talked about all this before and I’m sure I’ll probably bring it up again some time. I’m also aware there are elements of Cassie in Quantumania that are more aligned with the Stature name, such as her ability to grow to giant size, but I think it’s important to make the argument all the same. I’d personally love to see ‘Stinger’ make the jump to the big-screen and see Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz’s creation get more recognition.

 

Until I stop questioning how they are growing and shrinking at subatomic size, I remain

 

frogoat

Wakandan Technology in the MC2: Wakandan Airship

 

While I am late to the party (as I often am) I still wanted to offer a short post tangentially related to the recent Eyes of Wakanda mini-series. Here is that post, a kind of cousin to the Spider-Symmetry and Patriotic Parallels posts, but without a set name just yet (any suggestions welcome!).

 

The world is first introduced to T’Challa aka The Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 when a snazzy Wakandan Airship (identified as a Magnetic Wave Rider) greets the Fantastic Four and whisks them away to the nation of Wakanda.

 

Reed would test a new model of the Magnetic Wave Rider sent by the Black Panther in Giant-Size Super-Stars #1. As an aside, it’s obvious the Magnetic Wave Rider influenced the Black Panther movie’s Maglev Trains concept.

 

In the MC2, the next generation of Avengers are introduced to the son of The Black Panther, Prince T’Chaka aka The Coal Tiger in A-Next #4. As confirmed by Ron Frenz on Adam Chapman’s podcast Comic Shenanigans Episode 744, a version of the Magnetic Wave Rider returns for this Wakandan related story:

 

‘It’s one of the Wakandan Ships. It was originally Kirby’s design for a Wakandan Airship that the Fantastic Four then had a model that they hung on to. Since we were dealing with Wakanda I thought it would be kind of cool to throw it in there.’

 

Now, I think it’s worth mentioning that the text and dialogue in the comic does explicitly refer to this aircraft as a ‘Quinjet’. However, given Ron’s statement and the obvious visual similarity to the Magnetic Wave Rider and the discontinuity with the design of the Quinjet’s seen in other issues of A-Next, we need to develop a No-Prize explanation.

 

I submit the following: Given the vehicle is adorned with the Avengers livery, and the Black Panther is credited with earlier Quinjet designs, and considering the outward resemblance to the Wakandan Magnetic Wave Rider gifted to the Fantastic Four, the aircraft seen in A-Next #4 is a new version of the  Magnetic Wave Rider equipped with quinjets (meaning five jets) developed by T’Challa, perhaps as a gift to his former team. The Avengers colloquially refer to their various air vessels as Quinjets, and technically this would also count, which explains their referring to it as such.

 

Either way, it’s a great little reference to the past from Mr Ron Frenz and helps further the connection between Wakanda’s Royal Family and the Avengers. Let’s hope J2 has learnt how to fly by now!

 

Until I learn how to Flintstone a vehicle like J2, I remain

 

frogoat

 

Spider-Symmetry: Spider-Girl 31 and Spider-Girl 45

 

For today’s post we have a brief entry in the occasional series where I endeavour to highlight the visual or narrative symmetry between the Spider-Man and Spider-Girl comics. For this entry of Spider-Symmetry, we are taking a look at just the MC2 comics. For this installment, we must credit the amazing penciller Pat Olliffe and as you’ll note soon enough, MC2 co-creator, artist extraordinaire and friendly fella, Ron Frenz.

 

Spider-Girl #31 gives us this delightful cover from Pat Olliffe, first published in February 2001, of May ‘Mayday’ Parker as Spider-Girl surrounded by floating heads of guilt.

 

Now, here is Pat Olliffe’s gorgeous cover to Spider-Girl #45 which was first published in March 2002. In a direct reference to his earlier cover, we now have May ‘Mayday’ Parker in her civilian attire surrounded by Spider-Girl costume design concepts from the in-universe clothing store, the Spider-Shoppe.

 

And with the Spider-Shoppe connection, lets segue to the cover of Spider-Girl #91 by the rambunctious rascal Ron Frenz, which was first published in October 2005. This cover continues the Spider-Girl costume designs concept from the cover of Spider-Girl #45 by continuing the theme. There are even some repeated designs both here and within the story itself.

 

Okay, that is a wrap for this entry!

 

Until I find myself surrounded by cosplay costume variations or floating heads of guilt, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

The Surprising Connection Between Spider-Girl and Cheers

 

I’ve taken it upon myself to become more acquainted with classic American sitcoms recently which has led me to today’s quick post about The Surprising Connection Between Spider-Girl and Cheers.

 

The iconic American television sitcom Cheers first debuted in 1982 and ran for 11 seasons, and launched multiple spin-off shows including the popular and long-running Frasier. Cheers takes place in and around the eponymous bar in Boston which is owned by Ted Danson’s character Sam Malone.

 

 

The connection to Marvel Comics and the MC2’s own long-running series and character Spider-Girl aka May ‘Mayday’ Parker was revealed by co-creator Ron Frenz on Episode 43 of the sensational Make Mine Mayday podcast:

 

‘I’m not that creative but what I stole it from was Cheers. Sam Malone’s character on there when he played ball was called Mayday Malone. The fact her name was May, and we were going to make her a basketball star. I was trying to come up with a chant for the crowd and that became her nickname.’

 

So there you have it, another piece of the pop culture landscape that has ties to the MC2. It’s fascinating to consider how creative efforts influence one another and in turn go on to influence later generations. It’s all a rich tapestry of humanity.

 

Until I find a place where everybody knows my name, I remain

 

frogoat

How Vibranium Gave Us The Coal Tiger

 

 

Here’s a question you may not have asked: How does T’Chaka II aka the Coal Tiger transform into a big cat man or ‘were-panther’? That is what we will be exploring today. How Vibranium gave us the Coal Tiger.

 

First, some history for context. Let’s start with the fantastic fictional metallic substance Vibranium. First appearing in Daredevil #13, this form of Vibranium (popularly known as ‘Anti-Metal’ or ‘Antarctic Vibranium’ as codified by the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 1) #15) is found only in the region of Antarctica known as the Savage Land. Antarctic Vibranium emanates vibrations which cause the atomic and molecular bonds of other nearby metals to weaken and liquify.

 

The most well-known form of Vibranium is named Wakandan Vibranium due to it being found almost exclusively in the African nation of Wakanda. First appearing in the pages of Fantastic Four #53, Wakandan Vibranium absorbs and stores vibratory energy such as soundwaves and mechanical energy in its vicinity, growing increasingly more durable as it does so. Should a piece of Vibranium reach its capacity, the Vibranium would explosively release its absorbed energy (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 1) #15).

 

By now, most people are aware of Marvel’s the small African isolationist nation called Wakanda. The Kingdom of Wakanda first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 when Marvel’s First Family the Fantastic Four first meet King T’Challa aka the Black Panther. The nation’s history with Vibranium is further explored in Black Panther #7 where we learn that Vibranium is extraterrestrial in origin, having crashed as a meteor in the region that later became the nation of Wakanda. During early attempts at mining, stories spread of men turning into ‘evil spirits’ and attacking their friends and neighbours, with the radiation from the unprocessed raw Vibranium ore causing mutations among the people. These mutagenic properties were also seen in other species such as the White Gorillas (Avengers #62, Jungle Action (vol. 2) #13, Wakanda #1) and even the plant life within Wakanda, most notably the Heart-Shaped Herb which grants the powers of the Black Panther (Fantastic Four #53, Avengers #87, Jungle Action #8, Black Panther: Panther’s Prey #2, Fantastic Four Unlimited #1, Marvel Atlas #2).

 

Through the decades of published Black Panther stories, the nature, importance and depths of the Right of Ascension and the rituals associated with ruling Wakanda has grown and changed, though the Heart-Shaped Herb and Vibranium remain constant elements. Which brings us to the MC2’s Prince T’Chaka II and the nature of his ability to transform in to a ‘were-panther’. While we don’t get an origin story for the Coal Tiger in published works, fortunately co-creator Ron Frenz appeared on Adam Chapman’s Comic Shenanigans Podcast Episode 744, where he had this to say:

 

 ‘We also were going with the idea that the panther root has started to have more and more of an impact over the generations. The fact that T’Chaka is named after T’Challa’s father but that T’Challa spent most of his life using the panther root and having the powers…that it’s starting to cause a mutation or an evolution of the panther power in the offspring. That’s what we were trying to suggest.’

 

From this we can infer that the intention was that T’Challa’s (and presumably his ancestors) continual exposure to the Heart-Shaped Herb which was itself mutated by the raw Wakandan Vibranium in the region resulted in his son T’Chaka II’s ability to transform into a ‘were-panther’ form. This is a pretty neat and novel expansion on the existing Black Panther mythos which I would love to see explored further.

 

 

Special thanks to Jesús Arias for his indefatigable dedication to assisting me with various posts on this blog through the years. A big shout out to the fantastic Black Panther Blog for being the only accurate, well-researched and referenced source I could find online regarding the Heart-Shaped Herb and its history. Please check them out here: Black Panther Discussion and Appreciation

 

Until I can figure out if this science paper is right about the Heart-Shaped Herb, I remain

 

frogoat