MC2 Legacy: Did Mainframe Influence the MCU Iron Man?

 

This will hopefully be the first instalment in a new occasional series touching on the various instances of an MC2 character, concept or…whatever that is later used elsewhere. Basically, a record of the many times the MC2 has influenced the comic’s Main Marvel Universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a variety of animated series, etc.  

Many years ago, I wrote about the MC2’s Mainframe being loosely adapted in the Marvel animated series Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. which led to a follow up post and a short video. The episode, ‘Wheels of Fury’, debuted on the 29^th of March 2015 and concludes with the Mainframe Artificial Intelligence taking on a familiar yellow and black armoured form resembling his MC2 design.

 

But this wasn’t the first time we’d seen Iron Man himself in a yellow and black armoured suit. The Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode ‘Fun with Lasers’ which first aired on the 4^th of September 2009 debut’s the teenage Tony Stark’s ‘Space Armor’ when he uses it to reach a hijacked S.H.I.E.L.D. Orbital Station.

 

Some might argue that this is a reference to the ‘Iron Man Armor Model 42’ which was the first Iron Man Armor to feature the yellow and black colour scheme. However, the Model 42 didn’t debut until years later with Iron Man (Vol. 5) #1 in November 2012.

 

One of the dozens of Iron Man Armors seen in the climax of the 2013 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Iron Man 3, the Mark 20 or Mark XX also known by the nickname ‘Python’ is believed to be inspired by the above-mentioned Model 42. Additionally, it also appears in the official Iron Man 3 mobile tie-in video game from Gameloft, thus making the leap to yet another medium.

 

Thus, I’d argue they are all in some way originally inspired by Ron Frenz and Rich Yanizeski’s frankly classic Mainframe designs which debuted all the way back in A-Next #1 from 1998. Here’s an excerpt of what co-creator and artist extraordinaire Ron Frenz had to say about the design of Mainframe on episode 744 of Adam Chapman’s Comic Shenanigan’s podcast:

 

‘We went through a couple of different designs, the early designs still had red and yellow in them and everything. I’ll be perfectly honest with you, what occurred to me about what I like about black and gold is that I’m from Pittsburgh and that’s the colour of all of our sports teams.’

 

Until the MC2 stops being the secret inspiration for the ‘House of Ideas’, I remain

 

frogoat

Why isn't Iron Man dead in the MC2?!

 

Is the title of this post clickbait-y? Not as much as you might think! So, let me try to explain why Iron Man isn’t dead in the MC2. Trust me, this will make sense by the end…well, sort of. Anyway, let us make a start!

 

As I have mentioned many times before, the MC2 shares the published history of the Main Marvel Universe up until the mid-to-late 1990’s after which events diverge in big ways. So, where was Tony Stark aka Iron Man at that point in the Main Marvel Universe, then? Short answer: dead. The long answer is a bit more complicated…

 

To lend some context, we must discuss a very poorly regarded Avengers crossover event story spanning from 1995 to 1996 known as The Crossing. Apparently having been manipulated by Kang the Conqueror, Tony Stark turned traitor and killed or nearly killed various people associated with the Avengers. The Avengers journeyed to the past to recruit the 19-year-old Tony Stark of Earth-96020, in hopes of countering Kang’s plan with a version of Stark free of the villain’s influence (Avengers: Timeslide).

 

The story comes to a head when the Avengers and their allies track the Main Marvel Universe (or Earth-616 for us older fans) Tony Stark to his Arctic bunker and his younger Earth-96020 counterpart (suited up in a prototype Iron Man armour) was nearly killed in the confrontation. Remorseful, the older Tony sacrifices himself to save the day, apparently thwarting Kang’s plan and as his final act provides Hank Pym with the necessary schematics to save the younger Stark. With that, technically, Tony Stark aka Iron Man of Earth-616 was dead (Avengers #395).

 

After this, the teenaged Tony Stark of Earth-96020 was saved with the implementation of a chest plate and assumed the mantle of Iron Man, including joining the Avengers. It was alongside the Avengers and Fantastic Four that this young Tony would soon after sacrifice himself to save the world from the threat of Onslaught (Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1).

 

Unbeknownst to the world at large, the heroes were saved by the subconscious efforts of a grieving Franklin Richards who created an entire pocket universe for them to live new lives in. Here, Tony Stark was again an adult, albeit with memories of living a different life (Iron Man vol. 2 #1-#13). When the truth of their situation was revealed, the ‘refugee’ heroes were returned to Earth-616, including the adult Stark (Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-#4).

 

You may be wondering which Tony Stark it is that returned from the pocket universe, and if so, you would not be alone. As I have mentioned in other posts, the Earth-616 Avengers history apparently diverges from that of the MC2’s Earth-982 Avengers prior to Avengers vol. 3 #1, most likely after the aforementioned Heroes Reborn: The Return #4. That said, many elements of this era are suggested to have occurred, and this next example appears to be one of them.

 Avengers vol. 3 Annual 2001 features a back-up story mostly used to clear up a lot of continuity issues and questions. Here we learn that when the adult Tony Stark returned from the pocket dimension, he remembered everything, ‘three lives, three childhoods.’ While this Tony seemed to retain more memories than others who returned, these began to fade. Investigating his own grave, Stark found the body gone and the grave itself vaporized by the same energy which had lingering traces with his own system. As best the Avengers could determine, Franklin Richards had ‘restored the heroes as he remembered them,’ meaning both the murderously manipulated Iron Man and the young Tony who replaced him are apparently in essence both dead now. Iron Man was also formally cleared of the murders during The Crossing as he was under the influence of Kang at the time.

 

And just to make it even more complicated, most of the events of The Crossing are revealed to have all been part of an elaborate scheme of Immortus disguised as his counterpart, Kang the Conqueror, to halt the Avengers continued forays into space and keep them earthbound, thereby preventing an unwanted future (Avengers Forever #8). There is far more to this story, but it is not relevant to today’s post. However, as an aside, some of the MC2 Avengers do end up involved in Avengers Forever’s ‘Destiny War’ (Avengers Forever #11-#12).

 

In summation, Iron Man aka Tony Stark of the Main Marvel Universe (Earth-616) died, was replaced by a younger counterpart from the alternate reality Earth-96020 who soon after also apparently died but was actually saved by the subconscious efforts of the powerful mutant Franklin Richards who sent him and various other heroes to a pocket dimension, in the process transforming the young Tony Stark into a new adult version with newly created memories. Either upon creating the pocket dimension or when the heroes returned the original Earth-616 Tony Stark’s body was also combined with the others and for some time retained all three sets of memories. Simple, right? The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol. 5 attempts to clarify this situation in the profiles for Tony Stark (Earth-616) and Tony Stark (Earth-96020):

 

“Upon returning, the still adult Tony found he had the collective memories and experiences of the original Tony Stark merged with those of the Earth-96020 Tony and the person he had been on Counter-Earth.”

 

“When Franklin Richards recreated these fallen heroes on the “Heroes Reborn” pocket-world, he recreated Tony Stark as he knew him – an adult tycoon, untouched by Immortus’ influence. When Franklin returned the heroes back to Earth, he restored Tony Stark as an adult with the combined memories of Earth-616’s Tony Stark, the teenage Tony from Earth-96020, and the Tony Stark from his own Counter-Earth. As time passed. Tony memories of his counterparts’ lives faded and merged into his own memories, leaving him with memories free of Immortus’ meddling. The teenage Tony Stark no longer exists in Reality-616 following restoration of Earth-616’s Tony Stark.”

 

 

So… I guess technically the teen Tony was erased or merged with his older counterpart? Anyway, that is the official story and Marvel Comics editorial has rolled with it ever since. Writer Kurt Busiek, responsible for launching the third volume of the Avengers title and Avengers Forever among others, had announced plans to publish a title called ‘Look Back in Armor’ that would explain the situation in detail. However, this never materialized and instead Busiek addressed the issue in the aforementioned Avengers Vol.3 Annual 2001 back-up story.

 

With all that said, hopefully I have made it (somewhat) clear(er) why Iron Man isn’t dead in the MC2. This appears to be another seemingly minor piece of Main Marvel Universe lore that applies to the MC2 post-branching off into its own path. Let me know if you have any questions!

 

Until I die, get replaced by an alternate reality teen version of myself, then die again only to be aged into an adult and live out another life in a pocket reality before being returned to my predecessor’s original state, I remain

 

frogoat

 

   

 

The Drago Family Tree

 

Today I present another MC2 Family Tree, this time a smaller one but still one directly connected to both of the most recent entries, the Allan Family Tree and the Osborn Family Tree. For this entry, we take a look at the Drago Family Tree.

 

Let’s start at the beginning with Raniero “Blackie” Drago who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #48. As a fellow inmate and cellmate of Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture, Blackie Drago failed to uncover the location of Toomes’ hidden set of Vulture wings so instead arranged an accident to try to force Toomes to divulge the location on his seeming deathbed. The ploy worked and Drago quickly made his escape from prison and made use of the Toomes’ wings to begin a crime spree. Defeating a sickly Spider-Man, Drago was quickly trapped by Kraven the Hunter, who resented this new Vulture for defeating the web-head before him. Defeated when a recovered Spider-Man tricking the two foes, Blackie was arrested and returned to jail (Amazing Spider-Man #49).

 

Blackie wouldn’t stay in jail for long though as in Amazing Spider-Man #63, a very much alive Adrian Toomes busts him out of jail, forces him to suit back up in the wings just so they can battle it out to determine who kept the mantle of the Vulture. Soundly defeated by Toomes, Drago was captured by police and swore off using the wings ever again. This turned out to be true as Blackie Drago hasn’t been seen as the Vulture since.

 It’s worth noting that despite only having his real first name revealed in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z hardcover years after the MC2’s divergence from his 616 counterpart, I can include ‘Raniero’ in the Drago Family Tree due to its inclusion in Raptor’s own profile entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #3. Which brings me to the next family member…

 

Brenda Drago is the daughter of Raniero ‘Blackie’ Drago, first appearing in Spider-Girl #18 wherein the Daily Bugle dubbed her the ‘Sky Bandit’ following a score of robberies and burglaries. At the time Brenda was in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Tony, who had converted the Vulture technology to enable Brenda to follow in her father’s footsteps. During her crime spree as Raptor, Brenda dropped a courier from several stories up in an attempt to obtain a case of gemstones he was transporting, leaving the man crippled. Brenda was captured by the combined efforts of The Buzz and Spider-Girl.

 

On her way to court, Brenda was freed on the orders of the villain Funny Face and recruited into his Savage Six team. Sent to defeat Spider-Girl as Raptor, instead Brenda found herself quickly defeated and left webbed up for the police (Spider-Girl #25). Escaping, Brenda attempted to make amends for her past deeds by stealing food and leaving it for the family of the courier she had previously disabled (Spider-Girl #28). Alongside Spider-Girl and The Buzz, Brenda came into conflict with the Avengers. It’s here we learn about Brenda’s childhood: ‘Her father was a career criminal who clothed himself in lies. Her mother was an alcoholic who could only be depended on to be undependable.’ (Spider-Girl #30-31)

 Realising she was genuinely trying to make amends, Spider-Girl with the encouragement and assistance of the recently reformed Normie Osborn helps Brenda to navigate the legal system with an aim of getting a pardon (Spider-Girl #34). During this time, Normie and Brenda grew close and began dating, but the District Attorney seemed determined to have Brenda do jail time (Spider-Girl #34, #37, #44, #49-#50).

 

Brenda also joined a new version of the New Warriors organised by Spider-Girl to end a deadly crime war between The Kingpin and Canis (Spider-Girl #42). However, when Spider-Girl allowed Angel Face and Funny Face to escape in exchange for promising to stop their criminal activities, the Warriors decided to go on without the webhead, with Raptor herself letting Spider-Girl know she’d screwed up (Spider-Girl #43-#44). Despite her loyalty to Spider-Girl, Raptor continued to serve with Warriors (Spider-Girl #46) until turning herself over to the authorities (Spider-Girl #50).

Once taken to prison, Brenda was recruited by Special Agent Arthur Weadon to join an experimental team of reformed supervillains employed as agents of the government to earn their freedom rather than serving jail time (Spider-Girl #52) Initially unable to make contact with Normie, Brenda alongside her new teammates was mistaken for participants in a new crime war by Spider-Girl. When Normie is targeted and nearly killed, Brenda is devastated that she is unable to visit him in hospital, convincing Spider-Girl of her intent and sincerity when she professes her love for him (Spider-Girl #65). After helping to end the crime war, Brenda is finally able to visit Normie during his recovery up until his discharge when she realizes she wants to ask him to marry her (Spider-Girl #66-#67, #72).

 

Unfortunately, Normie calls things off without explaining his reasons to Brenda and shortly after Elan DeJunae announces herself as Normie’s wife (Spider-Girl #73). While it’s soon revealed that the marriage was arranged by the late Norman Osborn while the two were children and not legally binding, Brenda’s team is caught up in a conflict involving the Black Tarantula and Lady Octopus alongside Spider-Girl (Spider-Girl #77-#78). When Elan as Fury the Goblin Queen kidnaps Normie and attempts to expose him to the Goblin Formula, Brenda teams up with Spider-Girl to save him (Spider-Girl #79). Shortly afterwards Normie and Brenda announce they are engaged to be married (Spider-Girl #81).

 

At the couple’s engagement party, Brenda witnesses the return of Fury the Goblin Queen, who forces the Venom Symbiote to bond to Normie, transforming him into a new Venom. Caught by surprise, Brenda is unable to do anything to prevent Fury and Venom escaping. Brenda rallies with the Avengers to launch a manhunt, only to learn that Spider-Girl has saved Normie. Normie tells Brenda the symbiote has been dealt with, secretly keeping the surviving alien bonded to himself (Spider-Girl #82-#84).

Brenda is happy to have Normie back but is not told the details of his plan to move up their wedding date and secure their financial independence (Spider-Girl #85). Brenda is impressed by Normie’s newfound confidence as he assumes an active role at his family’s company, Osborn Corporation, but becomes somewhat concerned witnessing him order the creation of new Goblin equipment -actually intended to empower friend Phil Urich (Spider-Girl #86).

 

These two things come to a head when Weadon orders Brenda to spy on her fiancé due to concerns his reason actions mean he’s considering a return to crime. Upset about being placed in this position, Brenda attempts to talk to her teammate Kaine but ends up witnessing him having a precognitive vision about Spider-Girl. With Kaine’s belief she is in danger he is motivated to find Spider-Girl, with Raptor accompanying him. When the symbiote-disguised Normie appears on the scene, Raptor attacks him believing him to be the Venom who attacked Normie. When Normie reveals he is in control of the symbiote, Brenda becomes distraught at the thought the two of them will never again be free (Spider-Girl #93).

The situation causes conflict between the couple, but the arrival of the Avengers on the orders of Tony Stark quickly escalates matters. The Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man and Hawkeye are joined by Stark's 'personal bodyguard'  James Rhodes on a mission to investigate and apprehend Normie Osborn. Things go awry when Rhodes (now more machine than man) is inadvertently hit by a hex bolt from the Scarlet Witch, triggering a violent rampage. As Raptor, Brenda is among the gathered heroes who attempt to stop the nanite-driven Rhodes’ rampage. Ultimately, Normie and the symbiote play a vital role in saving the day before placing himself into Raptor’s custody (Spider-Girl #93-#95).

Meeting with Special Agent Arthur Weadon, Normie makes it clear he is willingly volunteering the symbiote and himself to Weadon’s super-team in exchange for Brenda’s pardon (Spider-Girl #96).  While Brenda is angry about this turn of events, Normie promises they will ensure he has more freedom than she had working for Weadon and that they also need to plan for their wedding (Spider-Girl #97).

Things take a dark turn when the Brotherhood of Scriers hire the original Hobgoblin to kill Spider-Girl. Aiming to remove her support structure, the Hobgoblin targets Spider-Girl’s closest allies, including Raptor who is brutally beaten and left tied to a fence (Spider-Girl #98). Brenda is rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after which Normie asks Brenda to stop being Raptor and the two move up wedding ceremony to later that same night (Spider-Girl #99). Learning he has an opportunity to avenge Brenda, Normie joins the fight against a team of Scriers and the Hobgoblin, eventually losing the Venom symbiote when it dies protecting Spider-Girl. Fortunately, Normie returns in time and he and Brenda Drago are wed in a small ceremony at the hospital (Spider-Girl #100).

Brenda and Normie go on an extended honeymoon in Europe, only returning to New York in Amazing Spider-Girl #15, where they learn the news of Benjy Parker having lost his hearing following an attack by the Carnage Symbiote. Brenda suggests Normie try and help using his connections through medical research at the Osborn Corporation, which eventually results in Benjy’s hearing being restored through an experimental process.

 

Later, Brenda noticed Normie has been stressed since returning from their honeymoon, often disappearing to his basement laboratory. While Brenda believes he is concerned about Fury’s escape from prison, he assures her he isn’t worried and that he is simply working on a project with Peter Parker. In fact, Normie is troubled by a recently discovered clone of May found while abroad. The lie doesn’t last long, as the clone May escapes and Brenda finds Normie knocked unconscious in his lab after which he comes clean and admits it’s part of a mad plan by his grandfather (Amazing Spider-Girl #23-#24).

Working with Kaine and Darkdevil, Normie and Brenda learn that Peter Parker was kidnapped by Fury the Goblin Queen on his way to meet them. With the situation dire, Brenda suits up as Raptor once more to help the others, teaming with the Green Goblin to confront Fury, only for her to escape. Normie decides to exchange himself for Peter, but finds he is too late: Peter Parker is now inhabited by the mind of his grandfather Norman Osborn. With the Norman-possessed Peter bonding with the hybrid symbiote-clone May to become Goblin God, Brenda and the others desperately try to save Mary Jane and Benjy from his clutches, holding him off long enough for Peter, Spider-Girl and her clone to break free and defeat Norman once and for all (Amazing Spider-Girl #25-#30).

After this, we don’t see Brenda Drago again beyond a cameo or two, effectively ending her chronicled journey and with it, the Drago Family Tree. If you feel I’ve missed anything or have any comments please let me know. I very much enjoy producing these Family Tree posts, but they are extremely time consuming so some feedback is always appreciated.

 

Until I find another excuse to write the name ‘Drago’ without referencing Rocky, I remain

 

frogoat