The Lu Family Tree

For this MC2 Family Tree, we'll be coving May 'Mayday' Parker's former rival on the basketball court, Nancy 'Lucky' Lu and her family.

Nancy Meeko Lu first appears in Spider-Girl #23 as Central High's star basketball player. Demonstrating why she had earned the nickname 'Lucky' with her uncanny fortune on the court, May became suspicious (and perhaps a little jealous) when she and the rest of Midtown's team were beaten.

As Spider-Girl, May followed Nancy home, hoping to uncover something sinister, only to discover Nancy and her family appeared to be the very definition of an all-American family, complete with annoying brother and adorable sister. Eventually, Spider-Girl observes Nancy using her powers to prevent a child from being hit by a car. Confronted, Nancy admits she's a mutant with low-level telekinetic abilities and that she has no interest in being a super hero. We also learn that Nancy was approached by the X-People but turned them down as she wishes to lead a normal life and become a doctor.

Spider-Girl's parting words about not using her powers for anything foolish causes Nancy to quit her basketball team. This news has the unintended consequence of leaving May feeling guilty and contemplating the unfair advantage her naturally super-human power's may give her when competing.

But that's not the last we'd see of Nancy Lu, oh no! After spotting Jack Jameson with Nancy Lu in Spider-Girl #29 May learns that Nancy may be transferring to Midtown High's school district as a result of Mr. Lu changing jobs.

 In Spider-Girl #30 May runs into Nancy with JJ at the Daily Bugle and later Coach Thompson asks Davida and May to convince Nancy to join Midtown's basketball team. Again in Spider-Girl #31, we see JJ and Nancy out together but it's seems Nancy doesn't start at Midtown High until Spider-Girl #32 when we see her and JJ heading to lunch. Nancy makes friends with Davida and May even enjoys a one-on-one game of basketball with her in Spider-Girl #33. May realizes she genuinely likes Nancy despite her previous misgivings. The three girls discuss shoes in Spider-Girl #34 and Nancy joins May's friends for an outing in Spider-Girl #35. Everything is going very well.  So naturally, it won't last.

Nancy learns of Coach Thompson's plan to use May and Davida to recruit her to the school team. When May attempts to explain things to Nancy lashes out with her powers, knocking May into a locker and storming off.

After a failed attempt and a heated encounter with JJ, Nancy apologizes to May in Spider-Girl #43 and we don't see her again for a while.

Spider-Girl #61 is the beginning of a major turning point when Coach Thompson takes Davida off the basketball team's starting line-up in favour of Nancy Lu.

Things only get worse from here on out. During an altercation with Davida in Spider-Girl #64, Nancy instinctively uses her powers to defend herself, exposing herself as a mutant to the school.

Things reach a head in Spider-Girl #67 when Nancy's locker is vandalised and graffitied with anti-mutant messages. At home, Nancy's parents argue over their daughters situation and Nancy's siblings are ostracised at school. Later while attempting to get some air, Nancy is accosted by several hooded figures.

The group attacking Nancy Lu are revealed to be fellow students from Midtown High. When The Buzz (aka JJ) and Spider-Girl intervene, Nancy reveals she's more afraid of hurting others due to a lack of control of her abilities than being hurt herself. Afterwards, Nancy makes the decision to go with the X-People to better master her powers.

And for a while, it seemed like we would never see Ms Lu again. That is until she reappeared in Spider-Girl #92 in a very different role, that of the mutant hero in training: Push. May briefly runs into Nancy Lu before the two both run off to switch into their hero attire in order to stop a imposter-Magneto.

I love how Nancy's X-People costume resembles the original X-Men's first costumes as a nod to her status as a novice hero. Unfortunately Nancy has only appeared in one further story to-date. In a plot-line that references Nancy's own outing as a mutant, student Sara Hingle's story takes a turn for the worse when she ends up recruited and manipulated by Magneta and her Sisterhood of Mutants (Amazing Spider-Girl #22-24).

Unfortunately that's the last we see of Nancy Lu to date. Another nice touch with Nancy's costume now more in keeping with the rest of X-People. From one-off rival to supporting character to full-fledged super heroine, Nancy is a wonderful example of how the MC2 takes small roles and makes them into something truly inspiring. Nancy never stops striving to be a good person and still aims to be a doctor regardless of how others wish to pigeon-hole her into a single category.

A few little tidbits before I wrap this up. Nancy's middle name -Meeko- is given in Spider-Girl #67. Push doesn't appear in Last Planet Standing, which came out within months of her super heroic debut in Spider-Girl #92. If you look closely in Spider-Girl #23, you'll notice Nancy has a cat. I wonder if they accompanied her to the X-Mansion?

I think the idea of the Lu family as 'The All-American Family' is a nice statement in and of itself, while also reflecting aspects of May's own home life. Nancy could have very easily been written as a one-dimensional rival character instead of the nuanced individual we saw develop over time. For that, I'm grateful.

Until I figure out a blogging schedule that includes sleep, I remain

frogoat

Please Support Mayday!

While it's been listed on Amazon for a few months now, the recent Marvel Solicitations for July have confirmed that the original Spider-Girl series will be collected in large trade paperbacks starting with Spider-Girl: The Complete Collection Vol. 1. Writer and co-creator Tom Defalco has asked fans to support this first volume via pre-ordering to help insure we get a second volume.

The Amazon listing can be found here:

https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Girl-Complete-Collection-Vol-1/dp/1302912488/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523981147&sr=8-3&keywords=spider-girl+the+complete+collection+vol.+1

Presumably any pre-order will help so if you can spare it, please consider placing an order now.

Until I stop shouting Make Mine Mayday! I remain

frogoat

Got Milk?

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.

Adam Kubert

This first example comes from a somewhat odd place. A series of nine trading cards were released as part of the 'Got Milk?' marketing campaign by America's National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board in 1999. They feature milk-moustachioed depictions of Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, She-Hulk, Spider-Man, Venom and Daredevil in addition to the set we are covering here. (Sources are linked here.)

Yes, that's right! We get the obvious set of three MC2 cards featuring next generation characters such as the cast of A-Next, Spider-Girl and....er....Doctor Doom?! What the heck is he doing in there? I can't post this without pointing out the obvious error of Thunderstrike aka Kevin Masterson wielding a hammer. Considering the MC2 imprint was new at the time this was released, I can forgive Adam Kubert's slip-up, especially since it's honestly such a nice piece and I really like his take on the characters, particularly Spider-Girl. Unless I'm mistaken, the colours are by Paul Mounts, who does a great job making those colours pop out at you. I wonder if there exists a version of this artwork without the slogan and milk-moustaches? 

For completeness' sake let's look at the back of the cards, shall we?

I guess that's it for now. Remember to drink your milk, kids, so you grow up big and strong! 

Until I stop trying to find these on eBay, I remain

frogoat

The Hulk's Destiny

Reading and re-reading the various MC2 comics sometimes yields small and unexpected nuggets, facts and tidbits. For example, when Doctor Strange reforms the original Defenders in A-Next #3, we learn a little about what's happened to Stephen Strange, Namor and the Incredible Hulk in the past 15 years. Doctor Strange has been stripped of his role as Sorcerer Supreme under unrevealed circumstances and replaced by the youthful Doc Magus. Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner has seen his kingdom Atlantis destroyed by Doctor Doom, whom Namor is believed to have killed soon after in a fierce battle. Meanwhile Dr Bruce Banner, better known to the world as the monstrous Hulk has settled down in the suburbs to raise his son, David. That is, of course, until Doctor Strange shows up...

After the Defenders clash with the new Avengers team, Doc Magus questions why Strange orchestrated the encounter. Despite giving his reasons and explanations for everything else, when it comes to the Hulk Doctor Strange simple says 'He has a destiny to fulfill.'

 

Nothing really comes of this statement for several years until Last Hero Standing #5 when the Hulk- after wreaking havoc while mind-controlled by Loki in the latter's attempt to bring about an end to the 'Age of Heroes'- takes out his revenge on the Asgardian god for ruining his formerly happy life. 

So, was this the Hulk's destiny: being banished to everlasting Limbo with good ol' Loki? Or perhaps this prophesized destiny has yet to be completed? Was there more to Doctor Strange's  machinations than we know? Maybe it's nothing and I'm simply overthinking things...again.

Until I find run out of things to love in the MC2, I remain

frogoat

Mayday's Diary

While re-reading through some MC2 comics, I realized I hadn't talked about a small narrative device that actually plays a small part in the plot years later. As we learn in a short back-up story from Spider-Girl Annual '99 (written by editor Bill Rosemann, instead of Tom Defalco himself) May 'Mayday' Parker keeps a diary.

In this first appearance of Mayday's Diary, it's used to recap readers on the events of the past year's-worth of published Spider-Girl stories, presented in May's own words.

Mayday's Diary is again used as a framing device when the series was relaunched with Amazing Spider-Girl #0, providing a more plot-relevant recap of the events of the previous Spider-Girl series.

Finally making the leap to a physical in-story appearance, Mayday's Diary shows up in Amazing Spider-Girl #25 when 'April Parker' uses it to catch herself up on recent events in 'her' life.

  

Probably apropos of nothing, but the diary looks different here, though there is still a flowery-theme.

Perhaps May's old dairy simply ran out of blank pages and this is a new one she started in Amazing Spider-Girl #0?



I realize this is nothing earth-shattering or exciting, but it helps ground a fictional character like Mayday in the real-world when she uses such a mundane, everyday item like a diary. A nice touch. I may be mistaken but I believe these are the only instances we see Mayday's Diary. Please do let me know if I'm wrong.

Until I get replaced by my symbiote-clone hybrid, I remain

frogoat

The Brady Family Tree

I'm going to try to turn in a post every week at least for the foreseeable future. Fingers crossed, people! Today's post covers the Brady Family Tree. That's the family of the MC2 supporting character Meagyn Brady, before anyone mistakes this blog for one about the Brady Bunch or something.

Meagyn Brady first appeared in the fan favourite story An Invisible Girl! from Spider-Girl #53. In the issue we are introduced to Meagyn, a lonely girl with low self-esteem and very little confidence in May's year who goes unnoticed by her peers and has no friends or admirers. The only person in Meagyn's life who truly saw her for who she is was her father, who encouraged her to have faith in herself and fostered her love of superheroes, fantasy and role-playing games.

Unfortunately, Mr Brady (first name unrevealed) became ill and died. Mrs Brady (first name also unrevealed) sank into depression after burying her husband, and stopped acknowledging her daughter. Left with no one, Meagyn began to feel as though nobody saw or noticed her, losing her self-esteem in the process.

Meagyn sensed a kindred spirit in Felicity Hardy so after overhearing a conversation between Mayday and Hardy, attempted to join in with what she assumed was a role-playing game. In actuality Felicity was helping Mayday with some Spider-Girl-related business. Following the pair, Meagyn ended up at the scene of a super-battle. Believing the fleeing villain Quickwire would pass her without noticing, as most people did, Meagyn did not move, inadvertently preventing Quickwire's escape when he collided with her. 

Praised for her apparent act of heroism, Meagyn went home reinvigorated. Excited to tell her mother of her adventure, Meagyn began to energetically recount her story, only to lose confidence and become invisble again when her mother continued to not notice her.

Although Meagyn's story ended there, she does appear a few times in later issues, usually with useful information overheard covertly. While it's obviously used as a metaphor in the issue, it is also entirely possible Meagyn also has genuine super powers which manifested after the loss of her father.

Until I run out of interesting characters from the MC2 to explore and discuss, I remain

frogoat

The Blue Wail

A quick little thing I'd like to share. The MC2 introduces a lot of new 'lore' to the established characters of the Main Marvel Universe, much of which is only referenced or hinted at. One such piece of lore is Phil Urich's alter ego after he was forced to hang up the mantle of the 'good' Green Goblin. I'm referring, of course, to his least loved  super hero identity (even by him, it would seem): The Blue Wail! *crickets* Oh, just look at this...

Spider-Girl #3 is the first and to date, only appearance of this costumed identity. Yup. Not only do we never see this identity of Phil's again, unless I'm mistaken it's never mentioned again either. Interesting to note that when he lost his Goblin gear, Phil still seemed to have an affinity for the sonic motif. This would help to explain how Phil appeared to have his Lunatic Laugh sonic abilities in Spider-Girl #5 without the use of any equipment. Did Phil gain sonic scream powers in the unseen years between giving up the Green Goblin role and his present day civilian self in the MC2? Or did he always have them?


On a side note, the Blue Wail costume design bares more than a passing resemblance to another MC2 sound-based super: Reverb. Reverb was the name one of the Hobgoblin's henchmen -Rudolph- gave to himself when donning the high-tech sound-based suit (Amazing Spider-Girl #2).

At first I thought the resemblance must be more than mere coincidence. However the origin of the tech appears to be the Brotherhood of Scriers, who gifted a sonic device to the Hobgoblin when he was tasked with killing Spider-Girl. The sonic device would be utilized to fatal effect when Hobgoblin killed the former Venom symbiote when she -the symbiote- defended the recently wounded Mayday in Spider-Girl #100.

Still, it's possible a connection could exist between the Blue Wail suit worn by Phil Urich and the sonic technology the Scrier's possess which the Hobgoblin later repurposes. There's a potential story in there somewhere, I'm sure. The untold story of Phil Urich's failed attempts at playing hero.


Until I figure out where Phil got that scar, I remain


frogoat

Luke Cage in the MC2

With more recent years, Luke Cage has gained a great deal of exposure and recognition, with both his own self-titled Netflix series and the crossover mini-series The Defenders being notable examples. Much of the recent surge in popularity can likely be attributed to the Brian Michael Bendis run on the Avengers, during which Luke first joined the team in 2005 with New Avengers (vol. 1) #3.
Despite his long-time crime-fighting partner and friend Danny Rand aka the Iron Fist appearing on a few occasions, Luke Cage has only had one brief appearance in the MC2 and it's not even really him...let me explain.

In Avengers Next #1 (January 2007) the MC2's current roster of Avengers are unable to stop the theft of various Avengers blood and tissue samples by the teleporter known as Warp. These samples are delivered to Sylene, a sorceress and the daughter of Loki, who uses the samples to create 'magical clones' to attack the Avengers as a diversion.  

Logically, if these were samples from past and present Avengers members and Luke Cage's 'magical clone' appears amongst the shambling monstrosities, Cage was at some point a member of the team in the MC2. This is likely a nod to Cage's longstanding membership over in the Main Marvel Universe. We get the only mention of the real Luke Cage shortly after, when American Dream points out that the monstrosities can't be actual corpses, 'Not with duplicates of Haweye, Cage and the rest of us who are alive.'

And that's about all we know of the Hero for Hire. He's still alive in the MC2 and he was a member of the Avengers prior to the current team founded in A-Next #1. It also seems Luke is known simply as 'Cage', in the same way he was referred to in the 90's. To stray into the world of wild speculation, the most likely placement for Luke's time on the team would be at some point between the (admittedly vague) divergence point between the Main Marvel Universe and the MC2 before the original team was almost entirely wiped out on their last mission. Alternatively, Cage may have served as a member of the interim team that existed for some 18 months afterwards alongside members such as Speedball, Nova, Jolt, Jubilee and the Steel Spider.

Possibly completely irrelevant, but I felt I should point out that Cage's copy is wearing a version of his original costume, complete with tiara. Whether this indicates when the sample was collected from the hero or that he returned to his original costume at some point is unclear. Considering other 'magical clones' aren't wearing their heroic counterparts current costumes, this is probably nothing more than an artistic choice.

If anyone has any insight on this, admittedly very minor point of continuity, please let me know! Until I stop picking apart the very fabric of the MC2-niverse, I remain

frogoat

The Harkness Family Tree

I had a lot of fun with this one. It was mostly straight forward and who doesn't like reading about witches?! So here we have the long and unbroken line of The Harkness Family Tree!

Agatha Harkness made her first appearance way back in Fantastic Four #94 as the governess employed by Sue and Reed Richards to look after their young son, Franklin Richards. It became apparent that there was more to Agatha than it first seemed and in time the Fantastic Four learned Agatha was indeed a witch. Agatha also became a tutor to the Scarlet Witch. Later, it is revealed that Agatha was far older than she appeared, apparently encountering a powerful being known as Scrier some five centuries before the fall of Atlantis and much later having governed the witches of Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem Witch Trials. Eventually, she led them into the mountains of what became Colorado where they built the town of New Salem in seclusion.

At some point, Agatha bore a son to an unidentified (though apparently evil) man. Nicholas Scratch first appeared in Fantastic Four #185 wherein he led the people of New Salem in a plot to execute his mother for exposing the existence of the town. The Fantastic Four revealed Agatha had never spoken of New Salem and Scratch's own hand in revealing the existence of New Salem to them (Fantastic Four #186). Scratch's evil was revealed and he was banished to the Dark Realm, though as I'm sure you can guess it wasn't the last we'd see of him.

Agatha reveals Nicholas is her son (Fantastic Four #186)

During the events of Fantastic Four #186, the Fantastic Four first encounter Scratch's enforcers, the Salem Seven, a group of skilled magic users who can transform themselves to gain powers and who collectively were capable of great magical feats. Brutacus, became a leonine creature; Gazelle gained enhanced hearing, agility and gymnast skills; Hydron gained a fish-like appearance and projected high pressure water blasts; Reptilla became a serpentine creature with snakes for hands; Thornn grew sharp spines capable of exploding or releasing neuro-toxins; Vakume could become intangible, absorb energy and create vacuums and Vertigo had the ability to disrupt others equilibrium.

Curiously, the Salem Seven only refer to Nicholas Scratch as their master in their early appearances. It's not until Vision and the Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #3 that we learn Scratch is the father to all of the Seven, by way of various unidentified wives, also making Agatha their grandmother. It's also here that we learn the little that we know of Nicholas' own father. During this story, Agatha is burned at the stake and apparently killed, though this was apparently only temporary because she resurfaced sometime later very much alive, an ability her entire family seem to have inherited.

The only other potential family member I came across in my research for this Family Tree was a witch named Abigail Harkness from Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century. However her first (and only) appearance is in in X-Men: Hellfire Club #1 which was cover dated January 2000, beyond the usual MC2 divergence point, so I have not included her in the Harkness Family Tree above.

Aerika Harkness, also known as the Crimson Curse first appeared in A-Next #3 and was fully revealed in A-Next #4 as a member of the Dream Team. A sorceress who used elemental powers, we learn that Aerika is descended from an unbroken line of highly skilled practitioners of the magic arts, the Harknesses of Salem in A-Next #8. We don't have any specifics about how Aerika is related to the Harkness family at this time. The Crimson Curse apparently dies during an encounter with an alternate reality Dr Doom in A-Next #11, however she does make an appearance during the 2015 Secret Wars event very much alive.

I spoke to co-creator Ron Frenz about this and he revealed that this was due to the nature of the reality of the Battleworld aka Doomworld. The event established that the Main Marvel Universe/616 Victor Doom made the Battleworld reality with him as the sole existing Dr Doom in existence, meaning the Crimson Curse couldn't have been killed by an alternate Doom in this version of reality. A big 'Thank you' to Ron Frenz for talking with me and clarifying this point.

I'll be damned if I can figure out who Scratch's dad could be. Until then, I remain

frogoat