Freebooter's Costumes

Moving forward with my new favourite research-heavy series of posts about the MC2, today we’ll be looking at the roguishly charming member of the MC2’s Avengers, Brandon Cross aka Freebooter. Specifically, we’ll be taking a deep dive through his various appearances to showcase any and all of Freebooter’s Costumes. Without further ado, let’s jump in!

 

Freebooter’s most frequent and recognizable costume is the one he debuted in alongside his fellow Dream Team members in A-Next #4, following a shadowy cameo in A-Next #3. Artist Ron Frenz had this to say during his interview with Adam Chapman’s on the Comic Shenanigans podcast:

‘I remember Freebooter being a no-brainer. I’m an old Space Ghost fan and I like the outline of that mask so that kind of worked for me and I kind of built the costume around it. I was kind of doing a cross between the Swordsman and Hawkeye. I love those characters.’

 

Following in-universe chronological order, Brandon’s earliest costume appears in a flashback during American Dream #3 which details Shannon Carter’s first meeting with former hero and long-time Avenger Clint Barton aka Hawkeye. Clint introduces Shannon to another of his ‘special students,’ Brandon Cross in what appears to be his own training gear. Notably, Brandon appears to already have a preference for both purple and the distinctive design he’ll later don as a hero.

 

In another flashback in the same issue of the American Dream mini-series, we see Brandon training alongside his fellow students and future teammates wearing some fairly standard looking martial arts training uniform or ‘gi.’ It’s nothing special, but to leave it out would be unforgiveable, I’m sure!

 

On the very next page, during the same flashback sequence in American Dream #3, we get our first look at the Freebooter costume in all it’s elegant glory. This appears to be the first time Brandon sees the costume too, as it is gifted to him by his mentor Clint Barton as a gift on the group’s graduation day. This is also where Brandon is given his superhero codename by Clint, for those paying attention.

 

This costume remains unchanged throughout the A-Next series from Brandon’s debut right up until the final issue, and this continues into his guest appearances in Spider-Girl and beyond.  However, there are a few small variations worth pointing out. In A-Next #8 we get a glimpse of Brandon mid-way through changing into his costume, giving us this look of Freebooter without his masked hood, glove or bracer arm-guard. Note that normally Brandon wears his glove on his right hand and his bracer on his left arm.

 

Over in J2 #6 we see slightly different bracer design on Brandon’s left arm, this time with only one large exposed area on the forearm rather than the standard two.

 

 

Here’s Freebooter unarmed and without his belt and bandolier from A-Next #12. Don’t worry, he gets them back!

 

While it’s clearly a colouring mistake, here’s Freebooter from Spider-Girl #13 looking like he’s missing some of his costume at the back.

 

Once again, Felicity Hardy’s daydream sequence in Spider-Girl #52 provides us with another ‘imaginary’ costume design for a member of the Avengers, with this look for Freebooter looking even more swashbuckler-y:

 

While his costume appears unchanged throughout the Last Hero Standing mini-series, we get this one panel variation from issue #4 where Brandon appears to have switched glove hands. I wonder if he’s ambidextrous?

 

Brandon takes time off from the Avengers for a while but a representation of him is glimpsed during Sylene’s plan to remake Earth as a new Asgard in Avengers Next #4. It’s likely another colouring mistake, but here Freebooter appears to have bare hands.

 

 Reappearing in a cameo appearance Amazing Spider-Girl #25, there is another slight variation which, yet again, may simply be the result of a miscolouring. But it does appear to depict the Freebooter costume with two gloves and shoulder pads, so it goes on the list here!

Artist Todd Nauck depicts Brandon’s Freebooter costume a little different from the norm, making the boots shorter similar to Captain America or Hawkeye’s classic costumes (American Dream #5)

 

Even in the Spider-Island mini-series’ MC2 story, where various characters have new or updated costumes, Brandon retains his iconic costume. Here is a shot of Freebooter with his trusty collapsible crossbow by his side from Spider-Island #1.

 

I realize some of these are a bit of a stretch, but at least I was thorough. If you think I’ve missed any, please do let me know! I hope we see more from Freebooter in the future, because the guy has grown on me during my research.

 

Until I master the art of being suave, charming and disarming, I remain

 

frogoat

 

Evolution of Spider Girl in Video Games (Updated)

It was well overdue. Having uncovered a few more previously unknown video game appearances, I decided to do a little tweaking to my original Evolution of Spider-Girl in Video Games video. Unfortunately, I no longer have the raw video files to completely remake and update it as I wanted to, so I've been forced to use the uploaded video itself as my starting point, with a few (hopefully subtle) edits spliced in.


Here's the video and it's description:






A small updated look at the video game appearances of May 'Mayday' Parker aka the Amazing Spider-Girl. I will likely revisit this again in the future if I can get better footage of some of the games featured. The years noted are the year the character appeared (has far as I've been able to ascertain) and are not necessarily the year the game was initially released.Here is a list of the games appearing in this video:

 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (2006)

Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (2010)

Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (2011)

Marvel: War of Heroes (2012) 

Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Spider-Man Unlimited (2014) 

Marvel Heroes 2015 (2015)

Marvel: Avengers Alliance (2015)


 It's still a Spider-Girl World!


Until I unlock the skills and time necessary to produce as many videos and blog posts as I want, I remain


frogoat

Firestar in the MC2

I’ve recently had the opportunity to watch through the entirety of the 1980’s classic animated series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. This experience, combined with the knowledge that it’s a favourite of arias-98105, has prompted me to take a quick look at a character who originated on the show: Angelica Jones aka Firestar in the MC2.

The character of Firestar was created for the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends animated series, from an initial sketch by comic artist extraordinaire John Romita Sr that was refined and finalized by Rick Hoberg. Making her debut in animation with the first episode ‘Triumph of the Green Goblin’ in September 1981 which was followed shortly after with her first comic appearance, an adaption of the episode in December 1981’s Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends #1. But as for the first appearance of Angelica Jones as Firestar in the Main Marvel Universe, that took a few years with Uncanny X-Men #193 in May 1985.

While Firestar would have a superhero career alongside teams including the X-Men, Hellions and most notably the New Warriors, it was her eventual membership as an Avenger that we will be discussing today, particularly as it relates to the History of the MC2 Avengers. As I’ve detailed in previous posts, it appears the events surrounding Heroes Reborn and Heroes Return unfolded in the MC2 just as they had in the Main Marvel Universe. However, with the start of the third volume of the Avengers series, it becomes less clear how closely the two worlds mirror each other after this point. What is likely is that in the MC2, the Avengers team reformed much as they had in Avengers vol. 3 #1-4 with Firestar and her main squeeze Justice joining the group officially in Avengers vol. 3 #4.

 I mention all this to lend context to the limited information we have available regarding Firestar in the MC2. In the Main Marvel Universe, Firestar received a new costume designed by fellow Avenger Janet Van Dyne aka The Wasp. This costume was not well received by Angelica, who found it too revealing and soon made modifications to better suit her tastes (Avengers vol.3 #8). Here’s the original costume as well as the first (Avengers vol. 3 #8), second (Avengers vol. 3 #9) and third (Avengers vol. 3 #13) modifications made to it:

As I’ve discussed previously, we know the original Avengers team’s last mission was nearly 12 years prior to the events of A-Next #1, as mentioned by Jarvis when he recounts the details to the new Avengers. Both Firestar and Justice are seen amongst the assembled Avengers during the flashback where it is decided the team must venture through the portal to the alternate world to halt Doom’s multiversal threat. While it is difficult to discern from this cameo, Firestar appears to be wearing the second or third modified variation of the Avengers-era costume mentioned above, so we know she was by that point a well-established member, either one who was on the then-current roster or simply returning for this major emergency summons (A-Next #7).

Along with her fellow assembled Avengers, Firestar agreed to and embarked on the grave mission which saw only seven members return through the portal. While we don’t get a 100% confirmation, it’s assumed Angelica Jones died along with almost all of the Avengers who went on this final mission, including her lover Justice. Despite the sobering tragedy of such a massive loss, the team did succeed in saving their Earth from the threat of Doom (A-Next #7).

While I believe it’s extremely unlikely that Firestar is somehow alive on the alternate Earth ruled by Doom, it should be noted that the reports of Captain America’s death were greatly exaggerated as revealed in A-Next #10. So that is something to consider, if you are so inclined! A huge thank you to arias-98105, who is a big Firestar fan and provided invaluable help with image research, costume information and fact checking!

 

It’s a shame so many of the Avengers died, but it’s an even bigger shame we never got to see younger heroes like Firestar and Justice reach their full potential in the MC2. At least Speedball made it!

Until I become Amazing Friends with Iceman and Spidey and rent a room from Aunt May, I remain

frogoat

J2's Costumes

Now that I’ve done a post about Bluestreak’s Costumes and discussed both Blue’s and J2’s approximate age as part of a series about the members of A-Next’s Ages, I figured it’s a no-brainer to take a quick look at the different costumes worn by Zane Yama through the years. This should be fun!

For starters, Zane’s most iconic costume is his original J2 costume, which sort of appeared in What If #105, but let’s be honest, that was originally intended to be Zane’s father Cain Marko aka the original Juggernaut as an Avenger. A happy accident led to this retroactively being the first appearance of everyone’s favourite bulky boy hero J2, and I’ll always be grateful for that!

It’s revealed in J2 #1 that the transformation from Zane Yama into his hulking, muscular form doesn’t come with clothes provided:

The first J2 costume makes its proper debut in J2 #1 and A-Next #1, designed by costume designer extraordinaire Ron Frenz. While Zane spray paints an old set of armour belonging to his missing father, he adds regular footwear and poignantly his dad’s favourite shirt as personal touches.

While Zane retains this costume throughout both the J2 and A-Next series, I’d be remiss not to point out the wonder that is…The Masked Midget! This brilliant disguise of young Yama’s has a couple variations, likely depending on whatever colour and design of balaclava or ski-mask is available at the time (A-Next #2, J2 #10).

Whether it counts or not is debatable, but I’ll err on the side of caution by including ‘The Day Juggie Lost Nearly 1000 Pounds’ during his battle with the villainous Parody:

There’s also the masterful mystery man known only as ‘Patch’. I wish I had more information to give you on this character, but he’s shrouded in mystery and intrigue! Thanks, Wolverine! (A-Next #10)

Boy, J2 #10 is a treasure-trove of alternate looks for Juggie Junior, isn’t it? Here’s Sir Jugalot from one of ‘J2’s Funny Fairy Tales for Fools and Felons’ in all his noble glory:

After saving his father Cain Marko from captivity in another dimension, Zane returns his father’s shirt in the pages of Wild Thing #2 and is seen without it in the series subsequent issues (Wild Thing #3-5).

As an aside, it's in Wild Thing #3 that we get another transformation for J2, only this time 'Juggie Goes Ape!' Or as I like to call him the Juggernape.

The no-shirt-around-waist iteration of the J2 costume would stay the norm throughout the characters appearances in Spider-Girl with the exception of a fantasy sequence dreamed up by Felicity Hardy wherein J2 can briefly be seen with a fancy F5-style belt (Spider-Girl #52).

When Ron Frenz became the regular artist on the title and redesigned ol’ Juggie’s costume in Spider-Girl #58, added a new piece of civilian clothing; cargo shorts!

This would become the standard design from this point onward, showing up throughout the Last Hero Standing, Last Planet Standing, Amazing Spider-Girl, Avengers Next, Fantastic Five and American Dream series.

Allowing for a few minor colour changes, these cargo shorts remains the same red-brown colour, though the MC2 story seen in Spider-Island #1-5 clearly depicts Zane rocking blue pants.

That’s it, that’s a wrap! I’ve got nothing else. Let me know if I’ve missed anything or if you have any questions. I’ll keep doing these costume posts as long as people are interested! What’s your favourite J2 costume? Who’s should I cover next?

Until I stop liking shorts even though they are comfy and easy to wear, I remain

frogoat