History of the MC2: The X-Men

I was inspired recently to make a 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.

The X-Men of the MC2. Colour artwork by Erundel.

Given that X-Men: Dark Phoenix is hitting cinemas, for the sixth installment of this series I've chosen to examine the history of the oft-forgotten team of mutants, the MC2's X-Men. Following a few references to the original mutant team in the series, we get our first glimpse of the X-Men in J2 #7 via a flashback to 'The Last Days of the Original Juggernaut'. It's here we learn Cain Marko aka the Juggernaut reformed and joined the X-Men, eventually being lost on a mission while at the Crossroads of Infinity though some details would remain unrevealed.

We get hints of the Juggernaut's final mission as early as J2 #1 with mentions of him being lost in a 'weird alien dimension' when Cain's son -Zane- has a recurring nightmare about his father. It's also in this issue we first learn that Cain met, fell in love with and married Sachi Yama a few years prior to his disappearance. Zane also mentions his parents were married 'a few years' before his disappearance and recalls his father taking him to Central Park or the movies when he was 'only a kid' which gives us a vague order of events.

We get hints and mentions throughout the J2 series until #12 reveals that Cain's final mission with the X-Men was to save the Earth from the Overlords Eight. While on their way back from the Crossroads of Infinity, the X-Men ran into an army of creatures called Darklings and Cain was imprisoned and tortured by one of the Overlords Eight, Nemesus. Cain would spend many years trapped in Nemesus' dimension, eventually inadvertantly transferring much of his powers as Juggernaut to his son, Zane.

The X-Men team that Cain Marko joins is led by Wolverine and other teammates included Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair), Synch (Everett Thomas), Siryn (Theresa Cassidy) and 'Hopper' (J2 #7, J2 #12 and Wild Thing #5). Notably, Cyclops mentions he was on a sabbatical at the time the Juggernaut joined the X-Men (J2 #7) and the latter made peace with his stepbrother, Charles Xavier (Wild Thing #5).

In addition to the mystery of original Juggernaut, we have a few other bits and pieces of information which help us assemble a very loose order of events surrounding the X-Men. At some point in the past, Wolverine regained his adamantium which at the time the issue was published, had not occurred in the Main Marvel Universe (J2 #10). Cain Marko's and his former partner in crime, Black Tom Cassidy, had a falling out, possibly as a result of Cain dating Sachi Yama (J2 #7).  Cassidy Keep, the ancestrial home of Black Tom has been seemingly uninhabitated following Tom's disappearance 'years ago' (J2 #9).

Wild Thing aka Rina Logan mentions growing up in a super hero team (Spider-Girl #½), and learning how to manifest her psi-claws from her 'Godmother' (J2 #5), most certainly a reference to the X-Men and Psylocke respectively.

In Wild Thing #3 we learn that Mr Woodhill, the social studies teacher at Upper Saddle River High was involved in a crash ten years prior, spending a year in the hospital as a result. While there Woodhill was transformed into a Sleeper Sentinel, including suppression implants to ensure he remained unaware he was a cyborg. Jubilee explains that the X-Men had years ago attempted to find all the Sleeper Sentinels but some -such as Mr Woodhill- had gone undetected. Using a program devised by Dr McCoy and Forge, the Sleeper Sentinels would have their Sentinel activation nullified, allowing them to continue on believing they were ordinary humans (Wild Thing #3).

As noted in my History of the MC2: The Avengers post, Jubilee was active as a member of the Avengers interim team that formed following several losses during a mission to an alternate world (What If #105, A-Next #1 and #7 and Spider-Girl #32). Based on that information, we know this was around 10-11 years prior to the present-day in the MC2 seen in What If #105. 

Zane notes that thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of the X-Men, anti-mutant sentiment has been on the down-swing for the past few years and that the X-People currently operate from a mansion in Saddle River, New Jersey (J2 #2). Additionally, Rina seems to imply that both the X-Men and X-People teams currently exist (J2 # 10). The continued existence of the X-Men team is confirmed by Mainframe in Spider-Girl #92, in which we also learn Magneto hasn't been seen in years and is believed by some to be dead. 

With all that covered, we can piece together a very rough outline of events for Marvel's Merry Mutants, the X-Men during the approximately 15-year span prior to present-day events in the MC2 starting with What If #105:

• Cain Marko falls in love with Sachi Yama and reforms

• Cain has a falling out with Black Tom Cassidy, possibly over Sachi

• At some point Black Tom Cassidy disappears

• Wolverine regains his adamantium under unrevealed circumstances

• Cain joins the X-Men led by Wolverine. Cyclops is on a sabbatical around this time.

• Sachi and Cain are married and their son, Zane Marko is born.

• A few years later, Cain is lost on a mission with the X-Men and is imprisoned and tortured by Nemesus of the Overlords Eight
• Jubilee joins the Avengers following the loss of many of their members. 

• Several people are transformed into Sleep Sentinels including Mr Woodhill. 

• Dr Hank McCoy and Forge devise a method of neutralizing the Sentinel programming, allowing the Sleepers to lead normal lives unaware they are cyborgs. However Woodhill and others remain undetected.

• Following several sacrifices by the X-Men, anti-mutant sentiment is reduced. 

• At some point, Magneto disappears and is thought dead by some.

• Working from a mansion in Saddle River, New Jersey, the X-People team is formed and named by Jubilee. 

• The X-Men team continues to operate and oversee the newer team in some capacity.

While much of the dating of events remains extremely unclear, and certain events (such as Zane's birth or characters disappearances) could easily be placed elsewhere, I believe this is a pretty good summation of the available information. As there are still several plot threads left unresolved and more than a few X-Men teammates' whereabouts unaccounted for, I'd sincerely love the X-Men of the MC2 to get some more page time one day. Perhaps in an X-People mini series?

Until I develop mutant powers, don a yellow a blue skin-tight outfit and fight for equality in world that fears and hates me, I remain

frogoat

S.H.I.E.L.D. in the MC2

I've been super busy of late, and I missed my self-imposed deadline for releasing anything S.H.I.E.L.D. related in time for the Agent's of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6 premiere. So, without further ado, let's look at S.H.I.E.L.D. in the MC2.

S.H.I.E.L.D. makes it's first appearance within the MC2 in A-Next #4 via an appearance from Agent 33 (not to be confused with the Main Marvel Universe's Agent 33 also created by Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz) who is tasked with protecting the Wakandan ambassador, N'Kano and the Wakandan prince, T'Chaka during their visit to America. Notice Agent 33 wears a yellow and blue-black S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform.

Shortly after within the pages of Spider-Girl #5 we first learn of the organisation's Maximum Security Facility at Mount Athena, New York. It's here we glimpse the Venom Symbiote, who's been imprisoned here for over a decade. Notably, the unnamed S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent's seen here wear yellow (or perhaps orange?) and black uniforms.

The very next week, in A-Next #5, we get another appearance from members of S.H.I.E.L.D. operating in Latveria's former capital Doomstadt.  Here we see a few more Agents, this time clad in more standard looking military attire, attacked by Doombots while searching for a missing girl. We learn that thanks to political bickering, even S.H.I.E.L.D. is forbidden to set foot within Castle Doom. After the Avengers recover the missing child, they provide S.H.I.E.L.D. with a false story to hide the existence of Kristoff Vernard. This is also our first reference to Nick Fury in the MC2.

The title goes for 3 in a row with another S.H.I.E.L.D. appearance in A-Next #6 when the Avengers team accompanies Argo to the Mount Athena Facility in search of his father Hercules. Agent 33 returns to give intel to the Avengers team, advising them no one on-site has clearance high enough to know the identity of 'The Merchandise' (in actuality an insane and grief-stricken Hercules himself) but 'the Top Man himself' approved the Avengers team to take over custody.

Over in Fantastic Five (Vol. 1) #2 we witness the titular team field-testing the invention of Dr. Lenny Gilcrest, 'The Superoid,' for S.H.I.E.L.D. Things go awry when Gilcrest is knocked out by the villainous Dominator disguised as a S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent. Dominator and the rest of the Wizard's Warriors take control of the Superoid and attempt to steal it, coming into conflict with the F5 and S.H.I.E.L.D. Interestingly, Dominator mentions she used to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. Note the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are garbed in yellow and blue uniforms.

We don't see S.H.I.E.L.D. again for quite some time until Spider-Girl #86 when we revisit Agent 33 at the Mount Athena Facility as Apox the Omega Skrull escapes his containment deep beneath the mountain. Notice again that the various S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents all wear the seemingly standard yellow and blue-black uniform.

After this, S.H.I.E.L.D. is mentioned to be attempting a rescue of Nova and Earth Sentry following the destruction of their spacecraft by Galactus' herald Dominas (Last Planet Standing #3).

We see some familiar faces among S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents during the Carnage story arc in Amazing Spider-Girl #9-12 with Maria Hill (more on her in the future!) and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and the shadowy Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. himself, Nick Fury all making their MC2 debut. We also see a more tradition S.H.I.E.L.D. colour scheme for the first time here with white on black uniforms.

Next up we have Fantastic Five (vol.2) #4 in which a freshly returned and cosmically-empowered Doctor Doom forcibly ejects S.H.I.E.L.D. forces from Latveria. Here, the S.H.I.E.L.D. forces are seen in the military attire seen previously in A-Next #5. Later in the issue we get our first and only glimpse of a Helicarrier in the MC2 as we learn of it's destruction.

For the final appearances of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the MC2, we turn to the American Dream mini series. These appearances are tricky. Maria Hill shows up so you'd think she was working for S.H.I.E.L.D. but dialogue and recap pages both state she's working for the National Security Force. I'd 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 leading other agents also clad in S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform. Perhaps I could cover this further at a later date, but for now, I'll simply include these appearances.

That's it for present-day appearances, but we also see S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Sharon Carter in flashbacks in both Spider-Girl #32 and American Dream #3 in addition to mentions elsewhere. For a bit more on this see The Carter Family Tree.

That's it for S.H.I.E.L.D. in the MC2. I find it interesting that all of the organisation's appearances prior to the Amazing Spider-Girl series seem to feature a distinct variation of the S.H.I.E.L.D. uniform with the yellow and blue-black colour scheme, while all appearances since feature the classic white and blue-black uniform colours. It brings to mind this old Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe entry:

Until I master spy craft and become a secret agent tasked with obtaining unpublished MC2 stories from Tom and Ron's desks, I remain

frogoat

That One Time Jim Cheung Drew Spider-Girl

Recently I've been thinking about well-established artists in the comics industry who's take on the MC2 characters we've yet to see. Then I remembered there are a bunch of artists outside of MC2 mainstays such as the wonderfully talented Ron Frenz, Pat Olliffe, Paul Ryan, Ron Lim or Todd Nauck who've in some way worked on my favourite fictional universe. Every so often I'll try and dedicate a short post to each artist's brief foray into the MC2 Universe.

Jim Cheung

As a fan of Jim Cheung's work on the Young Avengers characters, I've sometimes wondered what his take on the MC2's various teen heroes of Spider-Girl. While I'd long thought I wouldn't get to see Cheung's rendition of my favourite character, it turns out I'd already missed it! Thanks to regular reader arias-98105 for bringing to my attention to the Marvel Chronicle: A Year by Year History reference book by Tom Defalco published by DK (formerly known as Dorling Kindersley) and first released in 2008. Here's the cover:

   

Now, Mayday isn't visibly featured here and as near as I can tell, isn't featured on this editions back cover either. Some future releases of this book use different artwork too, but the copy I found online features a variation on this cover art. Luckily, if you want the full piece Mr Cheung produced for this book, it comes bundled as lithographs both in colour and black and white. Here, at last, we can see Jim Cheung's rendition of Spider-Girl:

It's a truly gorgeous piece of art from Cheung...but can you spot Spider-Girl? She's way off to the left there next to Tigra! Here, I'll crop the picture:

It's not much but I'll take it! Let me know if there's any other instances of Jim Cheung drawing Spider-Girl! I'd love to see more from him as I think his talent for drawing teenaged heroes is a great fit for the MC2.

Until I find more connections and every hidden gem, I remain

frogoat