The Osborn Family Tree

 

I’m bringing the MC2 Family Tree series back and I’m doing it in a big, labour-intensive, research-heavy way by tackling a small time Spider-Man villain’s family tree. Without much further ado, I present The Osborn Family Tree.

 

For the purposes of these family trees, I accept that MC2 characters share their published history (up to a point) with their 616/Main Marvel Universe counterparts. I make exceptions for any retcons implemented after the point the MC2 diverges from the 616 and in cases where it's explicitly or implicitly different (Aunt May really died) or when a writer later introduces a previously unheard of relative (the Lang family and likely the Pym family) who is never mentioned, seen or heard of in the MC2. With the last exception, I would add them to the family tree in later updates should they be mentioned in MC2 material at any point.

With regard to this particular family tree, we have some examples of characters who weren’t a part of the established history of the 616/Main Marvel Universe prior to the MC2’s introduction. As they’ve been mentioned or alluded to in the MC2, they’ve been included in the family tree. Additionally, I’ve taken a slight leap and assumed other characters who share appearances with these confirmed characters. I’m more inclined to do so as MC2 co-creator Ron Frenz also worked on these characters’ 616 appearances so it lends credence to this notion.

 

Brace yourself for spoilers, folks: Norman Osborn is the original Green Goblin. The Green Goblin first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #14 and Norman made his first civilian appearance in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #37. I won’t go into too much detail about Norman’s Legacy of Evil as it’s well-known and I’ll no doubt end up doing a focus post on him at some point. Suffice to say, Norman plays a major role in the Spider-Man mythos either directly or indirectly.

 

Harold ‘Harry’ Osborn, who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #31, is the son of Norman and after a rocky start becomes close friends with Peter Parker aka Spider-Man. Harry would succumb to mental illness and follow in his father’s footsteps after the latter’s death. Fortunately, Harry recovered and eventually fell in love with and married Peter’s former Midtown High classmate, Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Osborn. Oddly, their wedding occurs off-panel and Peter Parker himself only learns of it after the fact in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man (vol. 1) #63.

 

Speaking of Liz, she apparently first appeared as an unnamed student way back in Amazing Fantasy #15 and was identified as Liz Allan in Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #4. Liz and her family will probably need a separate family tree somewhere down the line too, so stay tuned for that in the next million years.

Let’s jump around a little bit to cover some history. We learn a lot about Norman and Harry’s earlier life in Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #14 thanks to a recorded family tree left by Harry Osborn himself following his death in the legendary Spectacular Spider-Man #200. Norman’s father Amberson Osbon was an alcoholic who lost the family fortune and took it out on his wife and son. This led the young Norman to kill the family dog in order to reduce the number of mouths for his father to feed. We do not learn the name of Norman’s mother.

In this same story, we learn that after the death of his mother, Harry was neglected and abused by his father, left to fend for himself while his father toiled on his work. While his father was apologetic after hurting Harry, he continued to do it. After being neglected in favour of his father’s work, Harry apparently sabotaged Norman’s chemical formula. Harry blamed himself for the explosion which (originally unbeknownst to Harry) granted Norman Osborn his abilities as the Green Goblin. It should be noted this account is from Harry’s perspective and may not be entirely accurate.

 

Harry’s mother is first seen in Spectacular Spider-Man #180 in a photo album, but we don’t learn her name until years later in the Revenge of the Green Goblin mini-series from writer Roger Stern and artist’s Ron Frenz and Pat Olliffe. As mentioned above, normally a series published after the MC2’s launch isn’t considered part of the history of the MC2 but as it is referenced within MC2 stories, I’ve included aspects of it here. Anyway, Norman loved his wife Emily dearly, only for her to die within a year of Harry’s birth.

It’s also in this mini-series that we get more of the Osborn family history, with Norman utilizing the mansion built by his great-grandfather Alton Osborn in the late 1800’s. Explaining to his private nurse Kolina Frederickson, Noman mentions that Alton built the family fortune which led to many enemies calling him a ‘robber baron’. Elaborating on early stories here, Norman explains that his own father eventually lost the family fortune and home. Norman would spend his life reclaiming the family fortune and estate (Revenge of the Green Goblin #1-#2).

Harry and Liz eventually have a baby together in Amazing Spider-Man #263 whom they name Norman Harry Osborn in Amazing Spider-Man #265. If you are reading this post you almost certainly know the significant roll ‘Normie’ plays in the MC2 beginning with What If #105 where he initially assumes the mantle of his father and grandfather before him, the Green Goblin.

As I’ve noted in the History of the MC2: Daredevil post, following her husband Harry’s death, Liz dates lawyer Franklin ‘Foggy’ Nelson (Daredevil (vol.1) #354). While in the Main Marvel Universe the couple break up in Daredevil (vol. 2) #8, in the MC2 they stay together and eventually marry (Spider-Girl #63). Normie resents Foggy for marrying his mother following his real father’s death. Things deteriorate further between them when Liz falls ill which leads to Normie’s spiral into madness leading to him assuming the Green Goblin identity and targeting the Parker family.

 

We learn in Spider-Girl #17 that Liz does in fact die from her illness and shortly after Normie re-assumes his villainous identity in Spider-Girl #19-20 before seeking psychological help and attempting to make amends following the events of Spider-Girl #27.

While still staying in a sanatorium, Normie meets and begins dating Brenda Drago aka Raptor, former villain and daughter of “Blackie” Drago aka the second Vulture. After some time, the two marry in the pages of Spider-Girl #100.

Their courtship was not without complications, as in Spider-Girl #73 we first met a woman named Elan DeJunae who claimed to be Normie’s wife. We soon learn that Elan’s father Philippe DeJunae had organised an arranged marriage with Normie’s grandfather, Norman Osborn while both Elan and Normie were toddlers. While this marriage remains valid in Elan’s home country of San Mardeo, it is not legally recognized in the United States(Spider-Girl #74). It’s soon revealed that Elan is Fury the Goblin Queen, a member of a cult founded by Norman called the Order of the Goblin when she kidnaps and attempts to expose Normie to the Goblin formula (Spider-Girl #79) and shortly after succeeds in bonding him with the Venom Symbiote (Spider-Girl #82-84).

 

Just when you thought we were finished, along comes Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) #1/Amazing Spider-Man Family #5 and the ‘Who is Gwen Reilly?’ story. The titular ‘Gwen Reilly’ appears out of nowhere at the Parker’s door step, claiming to be Ben Reilly’s daughter. However, this is revealed to be a elaborate scam, with ‘Gwen’s’ real name being Connie Frederickson, a con artist who had previously used the alias Connie Osborn. Connie is the daughter of Kolina Frederickson (Norman’s private nurse mentioned above) and -apparently- Norman Osborn (Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) #3/Amazing Spider-Man Family #7). Recruited into the Order of the Goblin by Fury the Goblin Queen, Connie was given plastic surgery to resemble Gwen Stacy and sent to toy with the Parker’s (Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol.1) #4/Amazing Spider-Man Family #8). However, Connie was killed shortly afterwards by Elan DeJunae who wished to eliminate any one else with a potential claim to the legacy of Norman Osborn and distract Spider-Girl in the process (Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) # 2/ Amazing Spider-Man Family #5, Spectacular Spider-Girl (vol. 1) #8/Web of Spider-Man (vol. 2) #4).

Hopefully now the reason for including Osborn family members established in the Revenge of the Green Goblin mini-series makes more sense. With the extended family via marriages etc I’ll have to work on further family trees, there’s just too many to include here! A huge thanks to my good friend Jesús for all his help. And a shout out to The Green Goblin’s Hideout, which is an excellent source for all things Norman Osborn and proved invaluable to my research.

 

Until I perfect the Goblin Formula and go just a little bit crazy, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

 

 

 

Sharon Carter in the MC2

 

 

 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is out on Disney + and because I now find myself with a little extra time, I thought I might talk about a relevant character requested way too long ago by good friend and reader Jesús Arias when I first covered The Carter Family Tree. So, let’s look at what happened to Agent 13 aka Sharon Carter in the MC2.

 

Sharon Carter is first mentioned in A-Next #10, when we learn that her demise was something that Steve Rogers never quite got over. This of course refers to the events Captain America #233 and clarified in Captain America #237 where Doctor Faustus has brainwashed a group of people including S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Sharon Carter to incite racial violence which culminates in the group self-immolating.

This sudden and unexpected death remained the ultimate fate for Sharon Carter for 15 years, with Steve recalling the painful event right up until long-time writer Mark Gruenwald’s final issue, Captain America #443.

 

However, when Gruenwald’s successor Mark Waid took over the title, he revealed Sharon was secretly alive, having had her death faked in order to send her on a deep-cover mission for S.H.I.E.L.D. While this story takes place prior to the usual point where the MC2’s history diverges, it appears that these events did not play out as they did in the Main Marvel Universe. Sharon’s death remained permanent, as suggested by Steve Rogers dialogue in A-Next #10 and all references to Sharon Carter being in the past-tense. In addition to this, the lack of any mention of events relating to her return such as her all-black uniform or more pessimistic outlook from later stories further support this idea.

 

As I mentioned in The Carter Family Tree, Sharon was originally depicted as the younger sister of World War II veteran Margaret ‘Peggy’ Carter, a fact that now makes little sense in light of the passage of so many decades. While this was partially addressed with a retcon in the Main Marvel Universe which made Sharon the niece of Peggy, the two explicitly remain sisters in the MC2, as stated in flashbacks in the American Dream mini-series and in Spider-Girl #32. That said, I think the only potential explanation is that the MC2’s Peggy Carter was not a WWII-era veteran and lover of Steve Rogers, given that there is no mention of this aspect of her history in any MC2 stories.

 

The legacy of Sharon Carter in the MC2 can not be understated. Without Sharon Carter’s diaries to inspire Shannon Carter, we would not have American Dream. This is made clear not only in the aforementioned A-Next #10 but also in Spider-Girl #32 when Shannon briefly discusses her origin story. We’d get a more in-depth version of Shannon’s origins in the American Dream mini-series where we see Peggy give her sister’s diaries to the recently orphaned Shannon to try to encourage her to attempt rehabilitation.

 

I had gone back and forth on the particulars relating to Sharon’s status in the MC2, but I’m confident I’ve arrived at the most likely answer. Sharon Carter is dead, but her legacy lives on in the next generation of heroes. A huge thanks to Jesús Arias for all the help with researching and debating on this topic.

 

Until I figure out how to plant my feet in the ground, I remain

 

frogoat

Where is Bucky in the MC2?

 

I know, I know! I said I was taking a break, but this is a quick one and I won’t find a better time. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is out on Disney + and I know someone out there is just asking: Where is Bucky in the MC2? So, let’s take a little trip down comic history to find out.

 

James Buchanan ‘Bucky’ Barnes first appeared alongside Captain America in Captain America Comics #1 way back in 1941. When Captain America made his big return in the Avengers #4 it was without his loyal sidekick and friend Bucky. We learn in this issue and later issues such as Avengers #6 and #56 that Bucky died in their final battle with Baron Zemo when an experimental drone plane exploded.

 

As I’m sure you know by now, for the most part the MC2 diverges from the Main Marvel Universe around 1998. Which means the death of Bucky depicted in the 60’s remains his canonical fate unless otherwise indicated. So, the events of Ed Brubaker’s Captain America run, which started in 2004 likely did not occur.

 

Here’s the only reference to Bucky in the MC2 I could find, from the pages of Last Hero Standing #1. I think this aligns more closely with the character’s classic demise, but of course, if anyone wanted to revisit the MC2 and utilize the Winter Soldier retcons, the door remains open.

 

Until I find a way to lose a limb and keep going, I remain

 

frogoat

 

The Falcon in the MC2

 

When I think I’m out, they keep pulling me back in! Consider this a temporary reprieve. With The Falcon and the Winter Solider show now streaming on Disney + I think it’s the appropriate time to cover Sam Wilson aka The Falcon in the MC2.

 

 

 

Unlike many past Avenger entries, the Falcon is not seen or mentioned in the A-Next #7 flashback to the last days of the original Avengers. While not seen or even mentioned, we actually get our first hint of Sam Wilson’s alter ego in Spider-Girl #6. It’s here we have the debut of the Ladyhawks, aka Rosetta and Regina Morgan the twin daughters of crime lord Boss Morgan. The Ladyhawks costume is clearly an homage to the Falcon’s original green costume first seen with his first appearance in Captain America #117.

 

 

 

Additionally, we also got a mention in the letters page of Spider-Girl #11 when a fan asked if the Ladyhawks would have to pay royalties to Sam Wilson for using his motif

 

We don’t learn of the Ladyhawk twin’s origins until Spider-Girl #60, and it’s there that we discover their father was responsible for the death of The Falcon. Following this, Rosetta and Regina decided to use their (apparently) deceased father’s estate to make amends and wage a war on crime.

 

This is further reiterated in Amazing Spider-Girl #7 where we learn that Boss Morgan remains alive and criminally active. When Rosetta confronts her father, her costume’s resemblance to The Falcon’s is brought up along with the hero’s death which, according to Boss Morgan, was ‘quite some time ago’.

 

Meanwhile, over in the Avengers Next #1 we saw the team battle the magically created ‘zombies’ of various Avengers throughout the team’s history. Among these Sylene-created duplicates was a green-garbed fake Falcon who soon crumbles to dust alongside the others when Sylene loses focus. It’s worth pointing out that Sylene used stolen stored samples from the Avengers Compound, suggesting Sam provided these prior to his death.

 

While it’s not actually the MC2’s Falcon, I wanted to mention American Dream’s first encounter with the Sam Wilson of an altered reality in Captain America Corp #2. Shannon clearly recognizes and admires the hero from her world and also refers to Sam -and Luke Cage and Peter Parker- saying they ‘were heroes--Avengers’.

 

Finally, in the Secret Wars MC2 story featured in the Spider-Island mini-series, we see a glimpse of Ladyhawk (presumably Rosetta Morgan) in a new costume, this time inspired by the Falcon’s later red and white costume. Ironically, despite this Falcon costume being far more prominent and iconic, this is the only time the red and white colouring is seen in the MC2 (Spider-Island #4-#5).

 

Initially I thought the Falcon got a raw deal in the MC2 but looking at the overall impact the winged Avenger has had on this universe, I think it’s fair to say he’s well served. Yes, Sam Wilson is dead, but his legacy lives on through the Ladyhawks and their dedication to fighting crime. Furthermore, while it’s not explicitly stated, I think the Falcon is well-regarded among the next generation of Avengers, particularly American Dream who is herself upholding the legacy of Captain America. There remains a lot of untold stories in the MC2, and the Ladyhawks origins are the perfect place to detail the events surrounding Sam Wilson’s demise. Once again, I ask: can we please have a Ladyhawk mini-series?

 

Until I figure out what happened to Redwing, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

 

 

A Status Update

 Deviating from my usual posts, I felt the need to give everyone who reads this blog an update. I'm currently swamped in my non-comic life. Not only do I have a family to look after, I work two jobs -one of which involves frontline health work- and have recently and ridiculously returned to part-time tertiary education to improve my skills. There's a few other things in play at present that I'm not prepared to discuss openly but the gist of it is I'm going to be even more sporadic and infrequent with the MC2 posts in the near future. Hopefully this doesn't come as too much of a disappointment to all of my 3 regular readers. Thanks for your support!

 Anyway, I have to get back to hitting the books. With Great Power Must Also Come Great Responsibility and all that.

Until I find a form of time-travel or  develop a cloning technology that enables me to be in multiple places at once, I remain

frogoat

Big Julie the Gangster Gorilla

 

I’ve mentioned other DC Comics references in the MC2 before but here’s one I think is too obvious to ignore: Big Julie the Gangster Gorilla. Yes, I have apes on the brain because I’m excited for Godzilla Vs Kong!

 

Let’s start by looking at Big Julie’s appearances. Julius S. Bridwell first appeared in J2 #9 a criminal gang leader who drew the attention of Assistant District Attorney Sachi Yama. Sachi swore out a warrant for Big Julie’s arrest which led to a shoot out which led to the criminal being riddled with bullets. With the aid of his associate Weasel Whoanellie, Julius was brought to Doc Hackem, a less than reputable medical scientist. Utilizing a unique ‘brain-transference process’ developed and perfected by Doctor Doom, Hackem transplanted the gangster’s mind into the body of a gorilla.

 

After an initial shock, Bridwell soon saw the benefits of having a more powerful primate physique and returned to his life of crime. Learning that ADA Sachi Yama was scheduled to give a speech at her son Zane’s school, Big Julie attempted to enact his revenge. When things start to go south with the intervention of J2, Bridwell takes Sachi to the roof of the school where he climbs atop a tall tower and attempts to use her as a hostage. This plan fails thanks to a swift and well-placed kick from Sachi Yama which causes Big Julie to drop her. J2 manages to catch his mother and defeat the gorilla gangster while Sachi takes care of his fleeing henchman.

 

Big Juile’s next appearance would unfortunately be his final, in the pages of Wild Thing #3 where the gangster went on a crime-spree utilizing a helmet device to temporarily mutate people into primates, disorientating them in the process and leaving him free to rob them. J2 attempted to stop his enemy only to wind up mutated himself. Failing, Zane persisted in his efforts and was transformed time and time again, eventually managed to land a hit on Bridwell and destroy the helmet device.

 

Now let’s talk about the references. Big Julie’s real name, Julius S. Bridwell is actually two references. The first is a reference to influential Silver Age DC Comics Editor Julius ‘Julie’ Schwartz. Following the publication of a story in DC’s Strange Adventures #8 which featured a man trapped in the body of a gorilla, Julius was reportedly asked to replicate the issues high sales. This led to an era wherein a gorilla would grace the cover of a DC Comics titles each month.

 

The second reference is to Edward Nelson Bridwell, more commonly known as E. Nelson Bridwell, a DC Comics Editor and an Assistant Editor to Julius Schwartz responsible for maintaining and tracking continuity, earning him a reputation as ‘DC’s self-appointed continuity cop’.

Finally, while it’s not a DC reference, we can’t ignore the obvious nod to the original King Kong when Big Julie scales the tower which for some reason is atop Zane’s school building.

 

Sadly, we could have seen Big Julie again, as artist Ron Frenz noted on Facebook:

Happy World Gorilla Day!

Big Julie, The Gangster Gorilla created by Ron Lim and

The Legendary Tom DeFalco for J2: Son Of The Juggernaut!

It was MY intention to bring Julie over to Spider-Girl under the moniker of Silverback! Circumstance (and DeFalco) prevented that from happening but the idea WAS ultimately retooled!

Until I stop loving intelligent great apes because, really, who doesn’t love ‘em, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 sources:

https://youtu.be/2YnbvcKzToc

http://absorbascon.blogspot.com/2006/04/why-gorillas-are-in-comic-books.html

Gorillas in Our Midst: A History of Gorillas in Comics (comicsalliance.com)

http://www.tcj.com/this-interview-ran-in-the-comics-journal-214-july-1999/

https://www.cbr.com/i-cant-cover-what-i-am-is-that-a-gorilla-on-the-cover-i-must-have-it/