The Orbital Defense Grid

This is something somewhat different today, because unlike many of my recent posts which usually tie-in or are in someway tangentially related to upcoming and current movies and films or comic events....this one doesn't have much to do with anything outside the MC2. Unless I'm mistaken (and feel free to correct me) this is a wholly original MC2 concept: The Orbital Defense Grid.

 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 #2, Spider-Girl #34, #46, #86).

We learn a little history behind the Orbital Defense Grid in A-Next #2 when Mainframe off-handedly mentions the Orbital Defense Grid was erected years prior when the government was convinced by the events of the mysterious 'Skrull Incident'. We also learn in Last Planet Standing #2 that Reed Richards helped design the Orbital Defense Grid.

It's worth mentioning that on occasion the Orbital Defense Grid seems to be referred to using different names  and there is also one instance where the speaker may, in fact be referring to an entirely different satellite. The only potential reference to appear in either Fantastic Five series comes from Fantastic Five (vol. 1) #1 when Johnny Storm mentions having downloaded images from the team's 'new Safeguard Satellite'. However, aside from this one example, I believe all other mentions to defensive satellites protecting the Earth are referring to the Orbital Defense Grid.

With all of that out of the way, let's take a look at the various appearances and mentions of the Orbital Defense Grid throughout the MC2. The Orbital Defense Grid first appears to in A-Next #2 when it 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.

Following the return of hero spider-powers, May 'Mayday' Parker and her father visit the Fantastic Five for a full check-up. The check-up is interrupted when Lyja spots an alien vessel on long-range space scanners. Lyja calculates the unidentified alien spacecraft will be within range of the planet's Orbital Defense Grid. The team sets out to determine the alien's intentions and potentially avoid a misunderstanding (Spider-Girl #34).

The Fantastic Five are again involved when the Orbital Defense Grid destroys the meteor swarm concealing Apox the Omega Skrull on his approach to Earth. However, the Grid isn't powerful enough to prevent the Skrull from reaching the Fantastic Five Headquarters on his mission to destroy the team (Spider-Girl #46).

The Orbital Defense Grid detected the Skrull High Command's coherent energy beam as it passed on it's way to restore the Power Cosmic to Apox the Omega Skrull so that he could play a part in their revenge plans against the Fantastic Five (Spider-Girl #86).

In Last Planet Standing #2 we not only learn that Reed Richards helped design the Orbital Defense Grid but we also see it's destruction when the latest Herald of Galactus Dominas the Wavemaster uses his phenomenal power upon his approach to Earth.

The destruction of the Orbital Defense Grid is referenced in Avengers Next #1 by American Dream when she mentions Mainframe being called to Washington to consult on a 'new Space Defense Program'. The situation is also referenced by Nova and Earth Sentry when they recall their near deaths during the events of Last Planet Standing (Avengers Next #2). Notably, on both occasions Nova doesn't use the term 'Orbital Defense Grid', instead calling it 'Earth's Satellite Defense Program' in Last Planet Standing #2 and 'Space Defense Perimeter' in Avengers Next #2. Perhaps these are colloquialisms, as we see the likes of the more formal and intelligent Reed Richards, Mainframe and Vision use the term 'Orbital Defense Grid'.

This is the last time the Earth's Orbital Defense Grid is mentioned or seen in the MC2. It's unclear whether Mainframe's meeting in Washington yielded productive plans for a new and improved Orbital Defense Grid and related program. In the meantime, the MC2's Earth remains just a little more vulnerable.

I like the idea of an Earth that's frequently combated alien incursions and invasions developing a defense, particularly because it shows the veteran heroes are competent and didn't leave the world defenseless in their absence. It's a nice plot device.

Until I figure out a way to expand the 'Skrull Incident' into a full post, I remain

frogoat

Luke Cage in the MC2 *Update*

So, sometimes I get things wrong. When I first wrote about Luke Cage in the MC2 I said we only got one mention of the real (meaning not a magical zombie duplicate) Hero for Hire, and it was Avengers Next #1. I pointed out that the same issue made it canonical that Luke Cage was a former member of the Avengers, despite the MC2's history branching off from the Main Marvel Universe before he joined Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Well, as I said, I make mistakes at times. I was re-reading the Roger Stern penned Captain America Corps mini series recently and I discovered a detail I'd never noticed before. Throughout the series we see instances of American Dream using her extensive knowledge of Avengers history, such as recognizing Tath Ki aka The Contemplator from the Avengers Database and recalling critical points in the team's history. But the most intriguing piece of information Shannon Carter demonstrates is from this page in Captain America Corps #2, when the team find themselves on an altered reality surrounded by various imprisoned super-powered heroes and villains:

'Sam Wilson...The Falcon? And Luke Cage? Peter Parker. So very young...In my world's past, these men were heroes--Avengers.'

 
So, I think that further supports the idea of Luke Cage being a former member of the Avengers prior to the team re-forming in A-Next #1. The fact that American Dream recognizes Peter Parker as a hero and Avenger also raises other questions...but those are for another time!

Until I stop finding more threads to pull at, I remain

frogoat

Spider-Girl HeroClix

Despite my lack of knowledge on how to play, I've always appreciated the HeroClix tabletop game. Today I'll be taking a very brief look at the current and upcoming Spider-Girl miniatures available for the game. 

The first Spider-Girl miniature for HeroClix was released in 2008 as part of the Secret Invasion series. Figure 041 here is actually the only one I own myself, and is apparently rare.

The next time a Spider-Girl miniature released was as figure 008 of 2016's Superior Foes of Spider-Man series. The first image below is the computer render from the official site. A black and white painted 'sketch variant' is also available, but I think the best part of this piece is the attention to detail on the abilities card.

Finally, we have the newest figure which is due for official release February 6 this year. From the Earth X series, we have figure 001a. Apparently this version of May 'Mayday' Parker is a variant of the Earth X Venom miniature which would explain the costume inaccuracies somewhat.

I really love the attention to detail with the nod to A-Next and May's strength in comparison to her father. Nice touches. I'm considering tracking these figures down just so I can have them for my collection. Who knows, perhaps one day I'll even learn how to play!

Until I master the tabletop game format, I remain

frogoat

History of the MC2: The Punisher

I'm working on making a complete timeline of events covering the history of the MC2, spanning the nebulous 15 year stretch of time after the Main Marvel Universe (or Universe-616) split off and became the MC2 (or Universe-982) and before the next-generation of heroes began to debut starting with J2 #1, A-Next #1 and What If #105.

Today's focus will be a short companion piece to my previous post about The Punisher in the MC2 because we only have a small amount of information to examine regarding Frank Castle's history in the MC2. We get all the relevant MC2-exclusive history on The Punisher in the Spectacular Spider-Girl mini series. In issue #1 Frank notes in his War Journal that the 'masks' have kept the streets clean for 'nearly a decade', giving us a rough idea of how long it's been since The Punisher ended his war against the mob. 

Continuing his journal entry, Frank also mentions he stationed himself near drug traffickers in South America when he 'retired' so that he could keep relatively active (Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #1). 

It's in the next issue, Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #2, that we get the final piece of information. We learn from Normie's research that Don Silvio Barraca was the last of the criminal organization known as the Maggia. Castle shot Silvio in the spin, crippling him; choosing to leave the mobster alive as a warning to others. Considering his mission complete, Frank faded into the background, his war over.

Based on Frank's statement that it's been 'nearly a decade,' we can assume this is when The Punisher ended his war on the mob and left New York. So with all of these facts, we can construct a rough timeline of events:

•  The Punisher war reaches it's end when he shoots the last of the Maggia leaders Don Silvio, crippling the mobster as a warning to others.

• Frank Castle retires to South America, positioning himself near drug traffickers to stay sharp over the following decade.

That's all we have regarding The Punisher's history, unless I've missed something vital. In which case, please reach out and let me know.

Until I get a gnarly facial scar and retire to South America, I remain

frogoat

The Punisher in the MC2

With the second and very likely last season of The Punisher now out on Netflix, it's as good a time as any to take a look at the character's appearances in the MC2 Universe.

Frank Castle makes his MC2 debut in the final pages of the Spider-Girl story published within Web of Spider-Man Vol. 2 #7 (or more accurately, the story was first released on the Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited service as Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 1 #11).

In the Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #1 we learn what old man Frank has been up to. This is a back-to-basics pared-down version of The Punisher, as Frank notes himself in the opening pages.

This direction is particularly interesting because it allows readers to ignore some of the more outlandish or over the top adventures published over the years. Frank narrates via his War Journal that he was never the psychopathic vigilante who sought to eradicate crime, merely a soldier who declared war on the mob. It's an important distinction. With his mission finished, Castle had retired (more or less) to South America, stationing himself near drug traffickers to keep himself sharp. When news reaches him (thanks to a tip off from a certain crime lord) that the last of the mob, Silvio Barraca aka Silverback is attempting to become the new Kingpin of crime, Frank makes his return to New York (Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #1).

We learn more about Frank's past with the Maggia (Marvel's answer to the real world Mafia) in Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #2. Castle finished his war with the mob by crippling Silvio Barraca as a warning to others. With the Maggia finished, The Punisher disappeared. With the news of Silvio's return to power (thanks to his new exoskeleton) Castle makes his presence known to the seedy underbelly of New York, attempting to learn of Barraca's whereabouts.

When Spider-Girl finds herself staring down the barrel of The Punisher's gun, the two do battle until the fight is interrupted by Wild Card (more on him another time) and Castle is forced to change opponents. Knocking out Wild Card, Frank tracks down Silvio's enforcer Man Mountain Marko and engages him in hand-to-hand combat (Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #3).

Having gained the advantage, Castle is attempting to 'convince' Marko to give up Silvio's location when he is stopped by The Black Tarantula, Silvio's rival for Kingpin. The Black Tarantula offers to trade Marko's life for Silvio's by giving Frank his target's location. When Frank offers instead to kill both Marko and The Black Tarantula, the crime lord reminds the old soldier of his mission's main objective (Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #4).

However, upon arrival at Silvio's mansion, Frank finds himself in the midst of a full blown war between Silvio 'Silverback' Barraca, his men and his puppet master The Hobgoblin and the combined forces of the NYPD, The Warriors, American Dream, The Buzz and Spider-Girl. Castle once again finds himself in conflict with Spider-Girl before she is snatched up by the Hobgoblin, leaving Frank webbed to a chimney as the villains turn the tide in their favour (Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #4).

Assessing the situation, Frank determines that the assembled heroes are outmanned and outgunned and, using a flash-bang grenade to free himself, launches a final assault on Barraca by lunging at the mob boss with a combat knife. Easily stopped by Silvio, Castle is mocked for bringing a knife to a super-fight as the crime lord begins to choke the life out of Frank. Castle inaudibly utters his last words as Barraca leans in closer to hear his enemy's dying words. Suddenly realizing, Barraca snaps Castle's neck as The Punisher shoots the last of the old mob dead. The Punisher has completed his mission and ended his war (Spectacular Spider-Girl Vol. 2 #4).

The MC2 depiction of The Punisher is honestly one of the best, giving us a straightforward and down to earth take on Frank Castle and his mission. I love his scarred, grey and haggard appearance, his stripped down iconic uniform complete with knee brace and his single-minded focus on completing his mission. This is one of my all-time favourite story-arcs. The art is gorgeous on all counts, the writing is sharp and on-point and the whole thing just culminates so perfectly.

Until I run out of pages in my War Journal, I remain

frogoat