History of the MC2: Heroes Reborn/Heroes Return

Usually I use the History of the MC2 to chronicle the past events of specific individuals and teams. This time, I'll be making a far more vague entry just to outline a few things I've been considering for some time.

Onslaught was a massive crossover event published in 1996 that saw the Avengers, Fantastic Four and even Doctor Doom apparently perish saving the world from the psychic entity known as Onslaught. It's revealed that Franklin Richards used his amazing abilities to create a pocket dimension to save his parents and all the other heroes. The reborn heroes would awaken in this pocket dimension to live out new lives, unaware of their pasts. This event was called Heroes Reborn.


In this new world, the Fantastic Four and Avengers came about under different circumstances, there doesn't appear to be any mutants, there's apparently two Thor's (one created by Franklin and the real Odinson) and iconic events play out differently. These were all published as the second volume of each of the titles; Fantastic Four Vol. 2 #1-12, Avengers Vol. 2 #1-12, Iron Man Vol. 2 #1-12 and Captain America Vol. 2 #1-12. Long story short, the heroes were all eventually returned to the Main Marvel Universe and things went back to some semblance of normality with Heroes Return. The Fantastic Four and Avengers reformed in their respective third volumes and that's where I want to point out a few things relating to the MC2.

Despite the common belief that the MC2 uniformly branches off from the Main Marvel Universe around the time the Spider-Man titles published the Gathering of Five storyline in 1998, the truth is far more complex and far less clear. For example, I've mentioned the Pym Twins once or twice but you'll notice I left out any mention of their birth in the History of the MC2: The Avengers because- given there is supposedly only a 15 year gap between the Main Marvel Universe and the MC2- they shouldn't be adults. Yet, they appear to be full grown adults in A-Next and subsequent appearances.


So, what's my point? Unlike comics published in the 1960's, 70's and 80's, the 90's aren't as clear cut. The heroes of MC2's history is almost entirely identical to that of their Main Marvel Universe counterparts when it comes to comics published from the 60's to the 80's but the 90's are where we start to see changes. So the MC2's Janet and Hank Pym must have conceived Hope and Henry Pym Jr while their Main Marvel Universe counterparts were experiencing the events published during the early 90's. Hopefully that didn't just confuse everyone. Additionally, despite these changes, events must have continued to unfold for MC2 Janet and Hank (and indeed the whole Avengers team) in very much the same way as they did in the Main Marvel Universe. In fact, the same could also be said assumed for the Fantastic Four of the MC2 as well. Why?

This seemingly throwaway line from Franklin Richards during a flashback in Fantastic Five (Vol. 1) #4 goes a long way toward confirming that the events of Onslaught, Heroes Reborn and Heroes Return occurred in the MC2 in some way, shape or form. Ergo, we can deduce that most of the events leading up to that point in the MC2 unfolded parallel to the Fantastic Four of the Main Marvel Universe. We can stretch this to other similar references in A-Next #7, which shows flashbacks to the original Avengers final mission in the MC2. As the team's roster and costumes are very similar to those of the Main Marvel Universe Avengers post-Heroes Return, we can reasonably assume both share similar histories up to that point, with events unfolding vastly differently afterwards.


Much as I'd like to continue pulling at this thread of thought, I think it best to leave things there for now. Needless to say, if you take away anything from this, it's that the 90's (and the very early 2000's) are up in the air and not as set in stone as the rest of the MC2 characters shared history with the Main Marvel Universe. Therein lies the fun of speculating.

Until I find another reason to ramble on about what I'm sure no one else cares about, I remain

frogoat

MC2: The Lost Issues Part 2

Just a quick entry today, this time continuing to sift through various sources for further information on MC2 comics that never saw the light of day. Previous posts about this topic include Wild Thing #6: The Untold Story and MC2: The Lost Issues.

While reading through Comic Creators on Fantastic Four by Tom Defalco, a book published in 2005 featuring interviews with various writers, artists and other creatives who've contributed to the Fantastic Four through the decades. During an interview with artist Paul Ryan, the Fantastic Five came up:

A few years after you left FF, you were reactivated to do Fantastic Five. How did it feel to be called back into service?

I remember Fantastic Five fondly. I was having problems over at DC at the time, so for somebody to call up and say they actually wanted to use me on something felt good. It made me feel wanted and the idea of doing the next generation of the Fantastic Four appealed to me. It was just kind of exciting to screw up again, so to speak: to see if my FF uniform still fit, When Fantastic Five was cancelled, I had just finished pencilling #6, which was never inked, and I was waiting for a plot for #7. The second issue had just come out.

What do you remember about Fantastic Five? Just that we were finishing up old continuity?

Yeah, there was that. We - I should say the esteemed writer - tied up the loose ends as far as Hyperstorm; what happened to him and so forth. There was a final showdown between Hyperstorm and Franklin. Didn't Reed and Sue suffer some debilitating effect from that battle? I think we found them on a space station somewhere. I still have a great spread which shows the Fantastic Five riding their space scooters to the location. There was a very emotional, very poignant ending to that story, too. Sue was still in suspended animation because nobody could figure a way to bring her out without killing her, and Reed was a mess. I remember that they were gonna turn the ship over to the kids.

It would have ended up being Kristoff, Ben's twins, Franklin and Johnny and Lyja's kid.

Right. We were gonna see that transition over the twelve issues, so that by #12 they would be the new Fantastic Five. I remember that in issue #6 we had the kids facing their baptism of fire. We had costumes for them too. And you brought Alicia back as a new herald for Galactus; I recall that the continuity of the time had Alicia dating the Silver Surfer.

It's honestly fascinating to learn that we would have seen a whole new line-up for the Fantastic Five comprised of the next generation by the end of the series twelfth issue had it not been cancelled prematurely. Despite this idea never seeing print as originally intended, it's worth noting that we do see the concept retooled in both Spider-Girl #86-88 and in the Fantastic Five mini-series years later.

Additionally, while we do eventually see Galactus in the MC2 in the Last Planet Standing mini-series, sadly we never got to see Alicia Masters as his cosmically-powered Herald. Presumably she would have debuted in the aforementioned unpublished Fantastic Five #6 as Paul mentions a 'baptism of fire' for the young heroes. It's so unfortunate that Paul's last completed issue for the series never saw print.

I'll keep my ear to the ground and both eyes open for any more information that might be found about these lost issues.

Until I become a Herald of Galactus, I remain

frogoat

Sachi Yama in the 616

A quick little entry today and a slightly different slant of a series I've been doing for sometime now. Today, I'll be looking at a native MC2 character who was integrated (albeit briefly) into Earth-616, better known as the Main Marvel Universe: Sachi Yama, the mother of Zane Yama aka the heroic J2.

A little bit of history first: During the late 90's and early 2000's through several appearances it looked as though the Juggernaut aka Cain Marko was being transitioned into a less villainous character. While it wasn't always consistent (and continues to be inconsistent) the push to make him more likeable was evident.


A salient example of this, the mini-series X-Men Forever from writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Kevin Maguire. A primary character through the time-jumping events of the series, Juggernaut comes to realize he had wasted his life. By the conclusion of X-Men Forever #6 Cain is returned to jail but is soon released, having made an agreement with the Commission on Superhuman Activity to work as a bounty hunter in exchange for a reduction of his sentence. One of the conditions of his work furlough release states he must report to a Ms. Yama.

This is a nice nod to the established history of Sachi Yama in the MC2. Sachi first appears in J2 #1 where we learn that she fell in love with and eventually married Cain Marko. This is further elaborated on in J2 #7:

Sadly, this new direction for the Juggernaut was dropped almost immediately and to my knowledge we haven't seen Sachi Yama appear in the Main Marvel Universe since. It'd be interesting to hear what Mr Nicieza had planned for Sachi and ol' Juggy.

Until I decide to reform and join the X-Men, I remain

frogoat

Carnage in the MC2

So the Venom film is still in theatres and I've noticed people are still talking about it, making YouTube videos and generally discussing anything tangentially related to the symbiotic Spidey villain, including discussing a character who may appear in the movie's post-credits scene. Guess I'll jump on the bandwagon by talking about the spawn of Venom, the murderous maniac Carnage in the MC2!

Despite all the previously discussed appearances of the Venom symbiote in the MC2, we didn't learn anything about what happened to it's offspring until Amazing Spider-Girl #9-12 where S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill tasks Special Agent Arthur Weadon and his team of former villains with safeguarding the transport of an item referred to only as 'Specimen 297'.

Naturally, things go awry when the convey Weadon's team are guarding is attacked and Specimen 297 is taken. When Spider-Girl intercepts those attempting to make off with Specimen 297, a stray shot pierces the container, allowing it's contents to escape. We learn that the operatives are actually S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on a top secret mission and that the Carnage symbiote is now loose.

With the Carnage symbiote newly bonded to a host, it attacks Midtown High students at the Café Indigo. However, Carnage is prevented from killing anyone by his new host and after seeing Courtney Duran afraid, flees.

Also worth noting is that the Carnage symbiote mentions being split into many splinters by the scientists studying it. Digging into the who's and why's of S.H.I.E.L.D. transporting the dangerous alien symbiote specimen through New York or why another group within the organisation was sabotaging the operation, it suffices to say that it was politically motivated...

Events take a dark turn when Carnage appears at the Parker's family home while Peter Parker is looking after his infant son, Benjy. Sensing danger, Peter attempts to sneak Benjy out of the house only to be accosted by Carnage. When Mayday and Mary Jane return home, they find Peter and Benjy gone and an ominous message on the wall...

While threatening baby Benjy, we see that Carnage's new host is resisting the symbiote's murderous tendencies, and we learn the reason he came to the Parker home: Mayday. Ignoring Peter's pleas, Carnage takes Benjy and heads off, promising to fulfill a promise to his host.

Tracking down Carnage, Spider-Girl and the symbiotic villain battle until Mayday appeals to the host: Moose Mansfield. We learn that Carnage has promised to help Moose's dying father in exchange for his co-operation.

Carnage heads to the hospital, driven on by Moose's desire to help his father. This is followed by one of my all time favourite sequences of storytelling ever, ending with a shocking reveal...

Yup, Kid Carnage! Spider-Girl attempts to neutralise her baby brother while avoiding Carnage long enough to reach the sonic gauntlets the police had recently confiscated following a super-battle. Unfortunately, Agent Weadon's team show up to apprehend Spider-Girl. Somewhat more fortunately, Carnage makes short work of the team.

When Spider-Girl points out Carnage might be able to actually cure Moose's father of cancer, Moose convinces the symbiote to head back to the hospital with the promise of compliance. Having bought time, Mayday organises for her father to pick up the sonic gauntlets and armour from the Midtown South Police Precinct and meet her at the hospital.

Carnage makes his way through the hospital toward Mr Mansfield, encountering Moose's girlfriend Courtney and cousin Donna as he fights through security. Spider-Girl holds him off so that Peter can use the sonic device to stop Carnage. But Peter freezes at the sight of  Benjy, fearing his infant son will be harmed.

Forced to take over, May uses the sonic device on Benjy, driving the symbiote off of her brother but also causing him to lose his hearing. Racing after Carnage, May forces the symbiote from Moose moments before it could bond with his father and save his life.

With the Carnage symbiote dead, May's baby brother Benjy deaf and Moose's father on the verge of death, the story reaches it's conclusion. While Specimen 297 appears to be destroyed, we are left to wonder if the other 299 remaining specimens will be destroyed.

Which leads us to Spider-Girl: The End where we are shown a possible future where May 'Mayday' Parker died, which led to April Parker aka Mayhem killing several villains and eventually the hero American Dream. This prompted the government to hand over samples of the Carnage symbiote to Blackworks Paramilitary Services in an effort to create an army of 'Bio-Predators' to combat Mayhem.

Possibly as a result of using mercenaries, these Bio-Preds went rogue, becoming a swarm of destruction that absorbed or killed everyone in their path. Immune, Mayhem atoned for her crimes helped defend humanity against these creatures, but eventually mankind was forced underground to survive. In a last ditch effort, Mayhem was sent back in time to avert the series of events leading to the end of the human race.

I think it goes without saying that clearly the government did not destroy the remaining 299 Carnage Specimens. Never trust a politician.


Until I bond with the spawn of an alien symbiote, I remain

frogoat