Why Can't Hope Pym Shrink?

While doing research for my post about the Pym Family Tree in the MC2, I noticed that various sources claimed Hope Pym aka The Red Queen appears to lack the ability to alter her size. At first, I doubted this claim because no references were cited, so I did my own investigation of all of Hope's appearances from A-Next #7 all the way through to her most recent appearances in Spider-Island. Here's a selection:

This is the first time we see Hope with wings but judging by the dialogue, it appears she doesn't possess the ability to shrink down in size like Stinger. In fact, the mention of size changing actually seems to anger her further with her saying 'Stop shrinking on me! That power is rightfully mine--' when Stinger questions why Hope isn't changing size (A-Next #12).

There are a few examples in the Last Planet Standing mini-series where we see Hope at full size in flight or simply using her wrist mounted blasters, but no instances of her shrinking or even growing in size. It's also worth noting Hope is sometimes depicted in flight without her wings.

Another example of (potential) wingless flight from American Dream #3.

And here we have more examples of winged flight with no apparent change in size from Hope. Except for the last page-I just really love the art! (American Dream #5) And last but not least we have Hope's appearances in the Spider-Island mini-series....

...Where I don't think Hope actually does anything super human at all. So, I think it's fair to say Hope lacks the ability to change size in any manner. So what's the deal? Obviously if there was a definitive answer on the page, there wouldn't be a need for all this, but I do have a possible theory.

In A-Next #12 and various other appearances we clearly see Hope's twin brother Henry Pym Jr aka Big Man demonstrating his super human ability to increase in size. Henry even mentions he usually grows to twelve feet in height but can grow significantly larger, similar to his father Hank Pym aka Giant-Man's own abilities. I propose that despite Hope and Henry being twins, only Henry was born with super human abilities from his parents frequent exposure to Pym Particles.

Hope may have developed an inferiority complex growing up in a super powered family. Perhaps Hope's lack of super human powers, coupled with the death of her parents led to her disproportional hatred for the Avengers and her desire to humiliate and kill the next generation of the team.  Hope notably focuses much of her rage on Cassie Lang aka Stinger and  clearly despises the hero's own ability to change size. Presumably this is because Cassie and her father Scott Lang utilize Pym Particles to change their size while Hope either doesn't have access to or does not understand her father's method or formula.

Given the fact that in her civilian identity she oversaw the project that granted Ion Man his abilities and that as Red Queen she maintains a rather sophisticated looking headquarters or laboratory, we can deduce that Hope has both money and intellect. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that what Hope lacked in super powers, she compensated for with high tech gadgets, such as her wrist mounted blasters and artificial wings. Given that we've seen Hope fly both with and without the wings, it's possible they are merely an affectation to honour her mother, and that the ability to fly is achieved through other methods.  

Of course, I could be completely wrong. Let me know what you think! Who knows, maybe one day this will be cleared up and I can move on....

Until I stop dwelling on obscure plot points in 20 year old comics at 3am, I remain

frogoat

   

The Pym Family Tree

Obviously, after having recently watched the Ant-Man and The Wasp movie, I've been doing a little digging into the history of both Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne so that I can present a (hopefully) complete and accurate Pym Family Tree for the MC2 Universe.

Dr Henry 'Hank' Pym first appeared in Tales to Astonish #27, becoming Ant-Man for the first time in Tales to Astonish #35. Over time, Hank's mental health and stability would fluctuate dramatically, causing several issues with his self-esteem, personal life and heroic identity. Through the years Hank would adopt various monikers: Giant-Man (Tales to Astonish #49), Goliath (Avengers #28), Yellowjacket (Avengers #59) and simply Dr Pym. Despite his many successes, Hank is usually only remembered for two things: the creation of Ultron (Avengers #54)and a scene of domestic abuse during a mental breakdown (Avengers #213) which has followed the character to this day. After hitting rock bottom, Hank attempted suicide but was talked out of it by fellow Avenger Firebird (West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #17). In the MC2, Hank is among the Avengers who perished while on the team's final mission (A-Next #7).

Janet Van Dyne became The Wasp when her father, a scientist named Dr Vernon Van Dyne, opened a portal to an extradimensional prison and was murdered by one of it's escaping inhabitants. To avenger her father, Janet sought assistance from Hank Pym, who granted her the ability to shrink in size, shoot bio-electric blasts and fly by means of insect-like wings implanted in her back (Tales to Astonish #44). Janet and Hank worked as crime-fighting partners for sometime before becoming founding members of the Avengers (Avengers #1) and after dating form sometime, were eventually married after Janet agreed to Hank's proposed while he was suffering a schizophrenic episode
(Avengers #60). The two would later divorce in Avengers #213 following the aforementioned spousal abuse. Janet would go on to successfully serve as Chairperson and leader of the Avengers and later joined the West Coast Avengers roster at which time she and Hank resumed a romantic relationship (West Coast Avengers vol.2 #42). In the MC2, Janet was among the few Avengers to returned from the team's final mission but was heart-broken and was later said to have died of a 'broken heart'.

While in university Hank met and fell in love with Maria Trovaya; a Hungarian woman who had immigrated to the United States with her father, Janos. The couple were soon married and Maria convinced Hank to take her back to Hungary for their honeymoon. Sadly, Maria was captured and  killed by some of Janos' political opponents. Hank later learned that Janos Trovaya was also killed in an a suspicious explosion while working in his lab in the United States around the same time. It was at this time that Hank suffered his first mental breakdown, ending up arrested and jailed during his unsuccessful attempts to find his wife. The US embassy negotiated his release and he returned to America as a widow. Upon meeting Janet Van Dyne for the first time, Hank notes she bares a strong resemblance to his deceased wife. (Tales to Astonish #44, Avengers #227).

In the MC2, we learn that Hank and Janet had two children: twins Hope and Henry Pym Jr. As a result of their parents deaths, the two are left orphaned (A-Next #7, A-Next #12). Hope makes her first cameo appearance as a pair of silhouetted legs in A-Next #7 and makes her first full appearance in A-Next #10 where she learns the new team of Avengers have re-activated the portal that led to her parents demise. Hope and Henry Jr under the guise of the Red Queen and Big Man respectively, formed and led the Revengers in an invasion of the Avengers Compound, using their parents old security codes to gain access.  After taking Edwin Jarvis, Tony Stark and Clint Barton hostage, the Revengers launched a surprise attack on the exhausted Avengers team upon their return from the parallel Earth.

Henry began to have major doubts when he witnessed Hope torturing Stinger (Cassie Lang, daughter of the second Ant-Man) and threatening to kill the entire team. While Henry only intended to prove the new Avengers weren't worthy of the title, it became clear Hope had far deadlier plans. Hope blamed the Avengers for the death of her parents, and believed Stinger in particular had tarnished their legacy. Hope was defeated by her own brother Henry, who turned himself over to the Avengers for his crimes (A-Next #12).

Henry Jr was next seen among a gathering of heroes who met to defeat the god Seth (Spider-Girl #58) before joining a government sanctioned team for reformed super villains led by Arthur Weadon to combat threats (Spider-Girl #62, #64-66, #73, #77-78, #93, #95-96 ). As of Amazing Spider-Girl #9, it appears Henry has 'graduated' the program and paid in full for his crimes. Depending on whether you want to count MC2 stories post-Spider-Verse, Big Man also appears in the Spider-Girl story published in Spider-Island #1-5.


Hope next appears in the Last Planet Standing mini series, leading a new incarnation of the Revengers against the Avengers, launching attacks on them despite the ongoing threat to the entire planet posed by Galactus and even resorting to looting during the chaos. The Red Queen returns to menace American Dream, this time only accompanied by Ion Man. The duo monitor American Dream's exploits and team up with the villainous Silikong to defeat the hero but were themselves defeated by American Dream and the Avengers. Depending on whether you want to count MC2 stories post-Spider-Verse, The Red Queen also appears in the Spider-Girl story published in Spider-Island #1-5.

The Pym Twins (that's so much fun to say) appear to be legally adults. For example, Hope's initial appearances suggest she is in charge of the company (Pym Laboratories, perhaps?)  that granted Ion Man his powers and Henry working for Weadon's government sanctioned team. If the twins are, in fact, adults then we must shift the point at which the MC2 diverged from the Main Marvel Universe back even further from the usually cited 15 years. This will be something I'll attempt to address in a later discussion.

Finally, some random bits and pieces I should mention lest I be accused of a mistake: Ultron and his entire kin will be covered in another Family Tree. A reference to Dr Pym's mother being killed is made in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol. 13, though I can't find any specific issue for this mention and it's not present in earlier entries to my knowledge; as such I have left it out. Apart from those seen above in the Pym Family Tree- stories published after the (likely) divergent point for the Avengers of the MC2- have mentioned or depicted other relatives. As these are most likely not relevant to the characters MC2, I will simply list them here for the sake of completeness:

• Hank references an Aunt Sally and Uncle Harry in Ant-Man's Big Christmas #1
• Janet also refers to an Uncle Bertram, an Aunt Ruth and a cousin named Sally in Ant-Man's Big Christmas #1
• Amelia Van Dyne and Blaine Van Dyne are potential relatives mentioned in the special 1939 Daily Bugle #1 special, though may have been mentioned earlier. Let me know.
• Hank mentions that Janet's Mother was left in a vegetative state following a car accident and eventually died (Avengers Academy #7)
• We learn that Hank's paternal grandmother (Angela Pym) encouraged him to pursue wild and creative inventions before her death, that his father and mother (Brad Pym and Doris Pym) tried to push him into more mundane fields such as engineering and medicine (Age of Ultron #10A.I.) 
• Nadia Van Dyne/Pym is the daughter of  Hank Pym and Maria Strovaya, introduced as the Main Marvel Universe's answer to Hope Pym from the MC2 after the release of the first Ant-Man movie (Free Comic Book Day 2016 Civil War II)

Well, I think that's just about it for now! I've attempted to cover everything in brief, but if you feel I've missed a Pym or Van Dyne somewhere along the line, please let me know.

Until I figure out the secret to Pym Particles, I remain

frogoat

What's The Buzz: Spider-Man Unlimited

A somewhat unexpected bit of MC2-related news this time. The Spider-Man Unlimited video game for mobile devices is adding another character to the roster: Jack Jameson aka The Buzz! To be honest, there isn't really any further information to add at this point, but below you can see the official character image produced for the in-game character card.

The games developers have once again surprised me. I didn't expect another MC2 character to be introduced into the game at this point, particularly one without....you know....a spider-motif. Keep them coming, Gameloft! So far we've had May 'Mayday' Parker aka Spider-Girl in her regular costume, her black costume, unmasked and as 'Spider-Woman' post-Spider-Verse; Felicity Hardy in both her Scarlet Spider costumes; Peter Parker as Spider-Venom; April Parker as both Spider-Girl and Mayhem; May Parker of Earth X aka Venom and, of course, May 'Mayday' Porker aka Swiney-Girl.

With the way things are going, perhaps we'll see Darkdevil, Kaine and others from everyone's favourite corner of the multiverse. Seeing as being spider-related doesn't seem to matter as much anymore, may I suggest Stinger?

Until I stop being surprised by obscure and left-field choices in the Spider-Man Unlimited video game, I remain

frogoat

Bill Foster in the MC2

Fresh from seeing Ant-Man and the Wasp at the cinema, I've decided to do a few quick posts looking at the MC2 counterparts to some of the films supporting characters. Perhaps, even one central protagonist later on, if time permits...For today, a brief look at Bill Foster, portrayed in the film by Laurence Fishburne.

 Dr William 'Bill' Barrett Foster first appeared in Avengers #32 where he worked to help Hank Pym who was stuck at a large size. Bill would eventually replicate and modify Pym Particles to become the heroic... erm… Black Goliath, then the second Giant-Man and eventually just Goliath. That last nom de guerre may not apply to the Doctor Foster of the MC2 as it was only adopted in the mid-2000's, well after his sole MC2 appearance in A-Next #2 which was published in 1998.

In A-Next #2 we learn that Bill works for the Maria Stark Foundation as the leader of a team of scientists working on reforestation techniques in the Washington National Park. When a Kree vessel crashes in two sections in the park, Bill asks the newly formed Avengers team to investigate before the military 'sanitizes' the entire area.

During the investigation, Bill is accompanied by his son John Foster who, along with the Avengers encounter the remains of the crashed Kree ship and it's robotic Sentry 666. John finds the pilot of the vessel has died during the crash with the ship precariously teetering over a precipice. When the ship is disturbed by Sentry 666 colliding with it, a bulkhead door shuts on Bill's leg trapping him as the vessel begins to slide off the cliff top.

 In a desperate attempt to save his father, John merges with the ship's systems, becoming part-Kree in the process. As Earth Sentry, John saves his father, destroys Sentry 666 and blows up the Kree vessel. Telling his father he has found direction in his life, John Foster departs, vowing to protect the Earth from the Kree and other threats.

It's a shame we never encounter Bill Foster in the MC2 again. I think the relationship between Bill and his son John was worth exploring further. Come to think of it, we never do find out what the Kree's plans for the Earth were either. Perhaps that's a discussion for another day?

Until I stop plumping the depths of the MC2, I remain

frogoat

Cottonmouth in the MC2

*Before I start, I'd just like to announce I have my laptop back and in working order! So look forward to more wholesome content in the near future!*

Late to the game as ever, I decided to persist in my attempts to shamelessly tie-in to the now less-than-relevant Netflix series Luke Cage. Worse still, I'm not even connecting this post to the latest season of the show. Instead, I'll be talking about an antagonist from the first season: Cottonmouth! (why do I do these things?)

Cornell Cottonmouth was first mentioned in Power Man #18 and made his first appearance the following issue in Power Man #19 (both published in 1974) as a drug lord leader of a criminal organisation. One of Cottonmouth's rival's was 'Boss' Morgan, who I've previously discussed here.

But of course, as this is a blog about the MC2 Universe, let's look at Cornell's appearances in Amazing Spider-Girl #17-#18. When the self-styled 'Crimelord' calls a meeting of the leaders of various criminal organisations, Cottonmouth attends in hopes of winning the auction. The prize? The extensive files of Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin of Crime.

Naturally, the auction is interrupted but the Hobgoblin, who attempts to claim the Fisk Files in exchange for Spider-Girl, who he has captured. When things go awry several times over, Cottonmouth is among the various mob bosses who gets caught in the mix. Eventually, the police arrive and Cottonmouth is arrested, though Detective Drasco cynically states that many of the people arrested at the auction will be out on bail before the paperwork is completed.

It's nice to see a fairly obscure villain like Cornell Cottonmouth getting some panel-time in the pages of the MC2. Until Luke Cage himself makes an actual appearance in the MC2, I remain

frogoat

Stinger and Spider-Girl

If you don't already know, I am unable to post in my usual style owing to a hardware issue with my laptop. Here's a photo of the Marvel Legends Spider-Girl with the recently released Stinger figure. Hopefully I'll be able to post a more in-depth review soon.

MC2 Timelines Meme

Testing out the now-functioning app. In lieu of actual content, please enjoy this awful attempt at a meme.

 

Until I get things up and running, I'm barely remain

frogoat

In lieu of actual content

Due to a laptop hardware issue, I am unable to post with any reliability. Because of the limitations (and constant crashes) of the app, I've unfortunately had no success posting anything at all this past few weeks, despite my frequent attempts. So apologies for that. Here's something to tide you over until I can once again type on a real keyboard.

Misty Knight in the MC2

With Luke Cage Season 2 hitting Netflix, I thought I could take a look at one of the show's best supporting characters (and one of my favourites) and cover their counterpart's non-appearance within the MC2 Universe: Misty Knight.

Fun fact about Mercedes 'Misty' Knight: Despite being first mentioned by her good friend and partner in Nightwing Restorations, Ltd, Colleen Wing in Marvel Premiere #20 and first appearing the following issue in Marvel Premiere #21 both published in 1975, a later retcon in Marvel Team-Up #64 (1977) establishes that an unidentified woman who appeared in Marvel Team-Up #1 was Misty. Due to the retcon being introduced by a completely different creative team, and the woman in question having very little in common with Misty Knight, I think it's best to list Marvel Premiere #21 as her true first appearance. Anyway, back on topic!

As Misty Knight doesn't make an actual appearance within the pages of the MC2, you may be wondering why I'm writing this post at all. Well, it's because much like Luke Cage himself, we know Misty's fate in this Universe despite her lack of appearances.

 In the Main Marvel Universe, Misty Knight had long been romantically linked to fellow crime-fighter, Danny Rand aka Iron Fist. When Danny is drawn out of retirement to face Dragonfist, we learn that Misty has died (Spider-Girl #24).

Furthermore, when Danny confronts a former student in an attempt to stop Dragonfist, we learn that Misty Knight and Danny Rand were, in fact, married and she later died of cancer.

A truly heartbreaking end for such a wonderful character but one that speaks to the mundane and worldly afflictions that claim our own loved ones. Now that I've thoroughly depressed you all, go and enjoy Simone Missick as Misty Knight in Luke Cage Season 2 and pray we get a Daughters of the Dragon spin-off.

Until we learn that Misty isn't really dead in the MC2 and it was just a H'ylthri of K'un-Lun who passed away, I remain


frogoat

MC2: The Lost Issues

While I've briefly touched on the topic before, I think I need to give a bit more attention to those complete (and incomplete) issues of various MC2 titles that never saw the light of day. For today, I'd like to cover the earliest known unpublished issues of titles in the MC2 imprint. Here's what we know:

• Both the Fantastic Five and Wild Thing titles were cancelled prematurely with their fifth issue. 
• Two issues of each title were in various stages of completion at the time of their cancellation.
• There are two pencilled issues of Wild Thing, one of which is already scripted.
• One issue of the Fantastic Five is pencilled, and the other exists as a plot.
• All four issues already had covers produced.
• Editor Mike Marts wished to collect these unpublished issues into a 'monster-size' comic in 2000 but this did not come to fruition due to the sales department vetoing the idea.
• When it was announced that these MC2 titles would be collected in digest form in 2005, there was some hope that the unpublished stories would be included.
• In the event, only one of the aforementioned covers saw print, that of Wild Thing #6 which was presented in the Spider-Girl Presents Wild Thing: Crash Course digest in 2007:

While I was unable to find the original fan interview where most of this was originally confirmed by Tom Defalco, this information was gleaned from a Comic Book Resources article which itself referenced these facts. It can be found here and further information was sourced from here.

 I'm frankly curious why the Fantastic Five digest didn't also feature the cover for it's sixth issue. Perhaps one day these lost stories will see the light of day.


Until I stumble upon these missing stories in the Marvel Vaults, I remain


frogoat

Spider-Geddon Looms

So, I'm about a week behind on my weekly schedule and I don't know when I'll find the time to work on a really meaty post, so in the meantime we'll have to make do with talking about the sure-to-date-very-quickly alternative of *gasp* current events!

Apparently a follow up to the Spider-Verse event, we have a new event called Spider-Geddon from Christos Gage and Jorge Molina. While this storyline officially starts with a mini series called Edge of Spider-Geddon, I really don't care. This story will either be very much like Spider-Verse in tone and style, doing further damage to my favourite character or it will surprise me and be only half as bad. I'm usually fairly optimistic or at least hopeful but I can't muster it nowadays, I'm afraid. I stopped reading monthly comics as a direct result of Dan Slott's atrocious writing and I don't have high opinions of anyone hoping to follow it up with a pointless sequel event. That said, maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised?

As for Mayday herself, she at appears on this promo image in her original costume rather than the last costume she was seen in at the end of the Secret Wars mini-series Spider-Island. I do find it strange that she's not in her modified 'Amazing' era costume with the larger blue areas around the axillary area and smaller eye pieces on the mask. Still, this could be merely artistic choice.

While I don't have much enthusiasm for this upcoming event, I will still check it out in some form when time permits. I felt I had to mention it here, if for no other reason than to (hopefully, but not with great likelihood) be spectacularly wrong on record. Thanks for reading my sleep-deprived rambling, everyone!

Until I find a reason to start reading modern comics again, I remain

frogoat

Spider-Symmetry with Misery

A super-quick one today covering the little homage Ron Frenz pays to Pat Olliffe's work. From Spider-Girl Annual '99 we have a few great images featuring May 'Mayday' Parker aka Spider-Girl and Misery by Pat Olliffe with inks by Sal Buscema:

Then we have these pages by tremendous artist Ron Frenz (again inked by the amazing Sal Buscema) also featuring Spider-Girl and Misery from Spider-Girl #90:

Just some nice examples of the often overlooked care and effort that goes into making these wonderful books. If you spot anymore of these, let me know. There's heaps of them!

Until I stop revisiting old favourites, I remain

frogoat

 

Everybody's Happy

It's often the smaller touches of colour and references that help sell the illusion of the MC2 as a real living and breathing world that the characters inhabit. For today's post, I'll be looking at the fictional sitcom Everybody's Happy.

A show mentioned throughout the MC2, 'Everybody's Happy' was a sitcom about an 'All-American Family' that starred actors Leonard Groote and Melissa Carsdale (Wild Thing #2, Spider-Girl Annual '99). The show was apparently popular enough to have been watched by several of the MC2's denizens (A-Next #11, Spider-Girl #13 Wild Thing #2).

Melissa and Leonard became intimate while working together on the set of the sitcom, with Melissa describing the two of them as 'co-workers...friends...and much, much more.' The couple had shared their ambitions with each other and apparently planned a future together (Spider-Girl Annual '99).

Initially Everybody's Happy was intended to star both Groote and Carsdale as the shows leads. However Groote convinced the show's producer to focus on his character. In the spotlight with his character receiving the major storylines, Leonard became a breakout star, soon dumping Melissa and quitting the show when he was offered a lead role in the film 'Portrait Of A Young Artist' (Spider-Girl Annual '99).

The show was cancelled and Melissa blamed Groote for ruining her career, crushing her dreams and tarnishing her self-respect after she had taught him to act and helped him mold his own career. While things were going south for Carsdale, Leonard's fame continued to rise when he starred in another film called 'The Sensitive Man' (Spider-Girl Annual '99).

Seeking revenge, Melissa attacked Leonard on the set of a new movie as it was filming in New York. Melissa assumed the guise Misery, utilized globes filled with acid, electrified gloves and smoke bombs in her attempt on Groote. Misery was unable to use her final weapon- 'The Grief Machine'- on Groote due to the interference of Spider-Girl, who was placed in the device intended for the actor. Spider-Girl soon broke free and ended Misery's new career as a criminal with a single punch (Spider-Girl Annual '99). Misery would return once more to ensure a bigger ending to her autobiography by attempting to defeat Spider-Girl but was once again thwarted (Spider-Girl #90).

There's probably a few more post's worth of stuff to explore with the character of Misery, so check back soon to see what else I've got in store for you!

Until I stop watching trashy sitcoms and start my new career in acting, I remain

frogoat