Iron Man in the MC2

With all the build up for Avengers: Endgame, I've elected to cover some of the MC2 incarnations of the films main cast. For this entry, we'll be taking a look at the golden Avenger, the genius, billionaire, former playboy philanthropist: Iron Man. 

Making his first appearance in the MC2 in the A-Next #7 in a flashback to the last days of the original Avengers team, we learn that not only did Iron Man join the team on their final mission, he was among the few to return alive. After mourning their fallen comrades, Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch worked tirelessly for months to seal the portal permanently against future attacks. Unfortunately, to achieve this the Scarlet Witch was sealed within a stasis pod, holding the aperture shut. Tony Stark retired as Iron Man, but continued to work to help the world. 

We also learn through flashbacks that around this time Tony Stark developed Mainframe, a sophisticated robotic armour with Tony's own brain patterns, designed to ensure there would always be someone to answer the call to assemble (A-Next #7, Spider-Girl #95).

Jumping around a bit for context: Tony Designed and built a Nanite Agenda in an attempt to aid the Scarlet Witch. However, Tony discovered too late that his best friend James Rhodes aka War Machine had tested it on himself to protect Tony. The Agenda proved harmful, causing a slow erosion of Rhodes' humanity, making him less and less human over time whilst also gifting him increasing superhuman abilities (Spider-Girl #95).

Stark makes his first present-day appearance in A-Next #10 when the new Avengers team venture to the alternate world. When Tony learns of this news, he confronts Edwin Jarvis only to be stopped by Clint Barton aka Hawkeye who argues with him about their last mission. 

The three men were taken hostage by the Red Queen and her Revengers team prior to A-Next #12. While held captive, Stark manages to get a signal to Mainframe's satellite, enabling the robotic Avenger to return with reinforcements. Despite Tony's initial misgivings he is soon impressed with the team's performance, giving the new Avengers his blessing.

Next showing up in Spider-Girl #30-32, Tony warns Spider-Girl about interfering with the Avengers pursuit of The Buzz following her encounter with Stark's 'bodyguard,' the now super powered nanite-puppet James Rhodes. Refusing to stand down, Spider-Girl finds herself in conflict with the Avengers when she attempts to defend the wrongly-accused Buzz. During the battle, we learn that Stark contributed technology to the Human Fly Project which created the suit now worn by The Buzz and wishes to take  it back. Things are resolved when the Stark-controlled Rhodes strips the technology from the Buzz and allows him to go. Due to his manipulations of the team behind the scenes, the Avengers clash with Tony soon afterwards.

Despite most other retired super heroes being drawn back into costume during the events of Last Hero Standing, Tony Stark does not don his trademark suit of armour. In fact, we only see him in Last Hero Standing #1 visiting the comatose Wanda Maximoff aka The Scarlet Witch. When she is abducted, Stark alerts the Avengers. Notably, there is a brief exchange between Tony and Captain America, the only interaction we see the two old friends share before Cap's death.

With so many members of with injuries or otherwise absent, Stark takes it upon himself to recruits some 'experienced pros' to fill out the Avengers roster. 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. Forced out of retirement, Stark reluctantly dons an old suit of Iron Man armour to help end Rhodes' rampage (Spider-Girl #93-#95). 

When we last see Tony, he's discussing the grave threat posed by the newly-returned Doctor Doom with the President of the United States G.W. Bridges, Mainframe and the Vision. After the crisis is ended, Tony concludes they have Reed Richards to thank.

Tony Stark is an interesting character in the MC2. I get the impression he is quite lonely, considering he lost many of his closest friends in short span of time. Several colleagues perished on their final mission, Captain America stayed behind, the Wasp died soon after returning home, Hercules was driven insane and the Scarlet Witch fell into a coma as a result of sealing the dimensional portal with Tony. Not to mention Tony's best friend Rhodey becoming trapped in a state living-death due to his invention. All that loss most definitely weighs on Tony. I'd love to see more of him.

Until I build myself a high-tech suit of armour in a cave--WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS, I remain

frogoat

Captain America in the MC2

With all the build up for Avengers: Endgame, I've elected to cover some of the MC2 incarnations of the films main cast. For this entry, we'll be taking a look at the star-spangled super soldier, the patriotic World War II veteran and Avengers team leader; Steve Rogers aka Captain America in the MC2.

We get our first glimpse of Captain America in the MC2 via a flashback to the last mission of the original Avengers in A-Next #7. It's Captain America who announces to the assemblage of Avengers the danger posed to all worlds by the alternate universe's Doom and his Universal Cube. It's here we learn that many of the Avengers died during their final mission, with Iron Man among the few to return declaring there were no other survivors.

However, when the new team of Avengers arrive in the alternate world, they discover the rumours of Captain America's demise were greatly exaggerated. Cap reveals he chose to stay behind and aid the rebel underground, allowing his teammates to add his name to the list of the dead to discourage any would-be rescuers (A-Next #10).

The rebel base is attacked by Doom's Thunder Guard, forcing Cap to order the rebels and Avengers to retreat before he destroys the jump portal to cover their escape. When Steve tries to send the new and inexperienced Avengers team home to save them, believing they are not prepared for the upcoming battle, the heroes refuse, declaring they are staying (A-Next #10).

In A-Next #11, Captain America leads the Avengers in a mission to stop Dr Doom's use of his new Universal Cube. The team separates into groups and combat the various members of the Thunder Guard, with Cap, Thunderstrike and American Dream's aiming to destroy the Cube itself. When American Dream is pinned, Cap throws her the shield of his deceased counterpart, allowing her to free herself. In the end, Doom is defeated when Crimson Curse sacrifices herself to banish him. Following this, Thunderstrike elects to stay behind to aid Captain America with his efforts and to bond with that world's version of his father.

It's some time before we see Captain America again, making his next appearance in Spider-Girl #58 when American Dream and Spider-Girl journey to the alternate world to recruit Thunderstrike, his father and Captain America in the fight against Seth.

After this, Captain America is seen working with the Avengers during the events of Last Hero Standing. Here we see just how much of a toll his many battles have taken on his body, and we learn that Steve's abilities are declining.  When Loki kidnaps and places various heroes under his dark spell in a plot to bring about the end of the heroes, Captain America leads a team made up of Spider-Girl, Thunderstrike, Wild Thing and J2 to Asgard. There, they learn of Loki's plans and join with Thor to return to Earth to stop the evil god.

Having planned to retire after this last battle, Captain America is instead mortally wounded in combat with Loki when he breaks the Asgardian's spell, freeing the other heroes. As he lays dying, Thor intervenes, combining Asgardian life force with the spirit and power of Captain America's country channeled through Mjolnir to transform the heroes soul into a new star that will inspire generations to come. 

As one of my favourite Avenger's, I enjoyed seeing Captain America fighting another war against Nazi's in another world almost as much as his moments of doubt and vulnerability during Last Hero Standing. I also think there was (and still is) room to explore more of this Captain America's past both in the MC2 universe and during his time on Doom's world. Despite that, I think Captain America's heroic death here is beautifully fitting.

Until I figure out how to get these posts out on time, I remain

frogoat