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/

 

 

 

  

 

 

The Vision in the MC2

 

Now that WandaVision has begun streaming on Disney+ it feels like a good time to take a look at the MC2 incarnations of the show’s protagonists. For this next entry, we’ll be taking a look at the density-changing synthezoid Avenger known simply as The Vision.

 

Banner by Erundel: https://www.instagram.com/erundelsart

The Vision first appears in the MC2 when the MC2 itself first appeared in the pages of What If #105. This was in the form a one-panel cameo appearance on a screen communicating with an Avengers team comprised of Jolt, J2, Jubilee, Speedball and Thunderstrike. Most people tend to brush this off as an oddity that doesn’t fit the canon due to the team’s membership including characters who declined to stick around following the events of A-Next #1. However, I like to think this brief scene took place shortly after the end of that issue, with the older members being summoned back to Avengers Compound to give a formal report to The Vision about their adventure.

 

The first proper appearance of The Vision comes in the form of a flashback in A-Next #7. By this point, I’m sure you know the one: the last days of the original Avengers team. We learn that not only did The Vision join the team on their final mission, he was among the few to return alive. I’m speculating here, but I think this traumatic event took its toll on the synthezoid, as he seemingly retires from super heroics after making it home.

 

It takes a very long time to see The Vision in the synthetic-flesh, with him finally appearing in the pages of Last Hero Standing #3. It’s here we get the explicit mention of his current occupation as a special advisor to President G.W. Bridge. In this role, Vision is sent to investigate the possibility the disappearances present a threat to nation security. Once again, I want to point out the interaction between the Scarlet Witch and The Vision here. This probably warrants it’s own entire post.

 

When Loki mind-controls the Hulk to keep the assembled heroes from uncovering his plans, Vision attempts to stop him using his density manipulation abilities. It does not go well for him (Last Hero Standing #4).

 

The Vision does manage to stick around long enough to witness the passing of his fellow Avenger, Captain America and thanks to the magic of Thor, his ‘rebirth’ in the form of a star to inspire future generations (Last Hero Standing #5).

 

In Last Planet Standing #1, The Vision is placed in charge of the Avengers by G.W. Bridge following Reed Richards deep space warning message about a planetary threat. The Vision delivers the news to the assembled team of Avengers, who do not respond well to political interference (Last Planet Standing #2).

 

With the Fantastic Five back on Earth, Vision places the Avengers on standby much to the team’s chagrin. When the Fantastic Five engage Galactus’ herald Dominas, the Avengers ignore The Vision’s direction to remain on standby and head out to assist (Last Planet Standing #3).

With Galactus now on on Earth and the combined forces of the super hero community working to penetrate his force field and combat his doomsday weapon’s launch, Vision decides to join the fray. Tragically, will attempting to phase through the force field to shut it down, The Vision is killed (Last Planet Standing #4).

 

While not seen on-panel, following the birth of a new entity composed of the Silver Surfer and Galactus which could harness a new form of energy known as The Power Essential, The Vision was reassembled alongside others killed during the battle and the destruction repaired. He was said to be convening with Mr Fantastic, Mainframe and President Bridge (Last Planet Standing #5).

 

The Vision next appears at a secret meeting discussing the grave threat posed by the newly-returned Doctor Doom with the President of the United States G.W. Bridges, Mainframe and Tony Stark. After the crisis is ended, The Vision assesses the situation, noting Doctor Doom’s robot army have suffered a planet-wide systems failure, which Stark concludes is the work of Reed Richards (Fantastic Five vol 2 #5).

 

The final appearance to-date for The Vision in the MC2 is a tiny cameo in American Dream #4 where he is seen on a screen alongside other Avengers and reserve members searching for American Dream, though he does not take part in their later rescue mission.

 

I think the MC2’s Vision is a great character who we’d only scratched the surface with in terms of character exploration. There is a lot left unsaid between him and Wanda aka The Scarlet Witch and it appears The Vision feels he can continue to be of service by working with the President of the United States rather than as an active super hero. I can’t be the only person to notice he still demonstrates emotion more than once. I feel he’s suppressed a lot of his past trauma.

 

Until I manage to phase through solid matter like a wraith, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

Scarlet Witch in the MC2

 

Now that WandaVision has begun streaming on Disney+ it feels like a good time to take a look at the MC2 incarnations of the show’s protagonists. For this entry, we’ll be taking a look at the Avengers resident chaos witch, Wanda Maximoff aka The Scarlet Witch.

 

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The Scarlet Witch made her first appearance in the MC2 in the A-Next #7 in a flashback to the last days of the original Avengers team. We learn that not only did Scarlet Witch join the team on their final mission, she was among the few to return alive. After mourning their fallen comrades, Iron Man and the Scarlet Witch worked tirelessly for months to seal the portal permanently against future attacks. Unfortunately, to achieve this the Scarlet Witch was sealed within a stasis pod, holding the aperture shut (A-Next #7-8). 

 

It’s worth pointing out Wanda’s appearance was foreshadowed as early as A-Next #4, when Crimson Curse began to sense her presence and became more pronounced in A-Next #6. This culminated in Wanda being discovered within her stasis pod by Crimson Curse, American Dream and Thunderstrike. Notably, the unconscious Wanda (dubbing herself ‘Guardian of the Great Beyond, Protector of the Dark Barrier’) utilized various physical manifestations of the Avenger known as Wonder Man to protect herself and the portal (A-Next #8).

 

By freeing Wanda from her stasis pod, the new Avengers team inadvertently sever her connection to the portal, leaving the world vulnerable to the threat on the other side (A-Next #9). Wanda remains in her comatose state, having been moved to a hospital where she is watched over by Edwin Jarvis and later Tony Stark (A-Next #10).

 

It seems Wanda remained in this coma until kidnapped and magically restored by the villainous Asgardian Loki as part of his plot to end the Age of Heroes. Wanda along with many other heroes is corrupted by Loki’s spell until later freed. What’s most fascinating to me about the Scarlet Witch’s awakening are the reactions of Wanda’s former team mates such as Tony Stark and especially Vision. Sadly, it appears Wanda didn’t get the chance to speak to Captain America before he died (Last Hero Standing #1-5).

With so many members off with injuries or otherwise absent, the Scarlet Witch is recruited by Stark to fill out the Avengers roster. The Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man and Hawkeye are joined by Stark's 'personal bodyguard’ James Rhodes on a mission to investigate and apprehend Normie Osborn. Things go awry when Rhodes (now more machine than man) is inadvertently hit by Wanda’s hex bolt, triggering a violent rampage. After Rhodes is subdued, Wanda and the others conclude they would be better use as teachers and mentors to the new Avengers team (Spider-Girl #93-#95). 

 

Despite this, Wanda continues serves as an active member of the depleted Avengers team during the events of Last Planet Standing. During a conflict with the villainous Revengers team, Wanda is offended when she encounters Magneta, who modelled herself after Magneto, the Scarlet Witch’s father (Last Planet Standing #1). Upon learning of the coming threat, Wanda opposes Vision and objects to playing second fiddle to the Fantastic Five (Last Planet Standing #3) and, alongside the Silver Surfer, later proves instrumental in breaking through Galactus’ force field. While it’s not confirmed, the combination of the Scarlet Witch’s reality manipulation powers and the Silver Surfer’s power cosmic may have played a part in birthing the entity that forms in the wake of Galactus’ failed attempt at universal destruction (Last Planet Standing #5).

 

Not an active member of the Avengers this time around, the Scarlet Witch only appears briefly this time, as a magical energy duplicate created when Sylene attempts to recreate Asgard on Earth in Avengers Next #4-#5.

 

I think there’s a lot left unexplored with Wanda Maximoff in the MC2, with her strained relationship with the Vision, her connections to Tony Stark and her re-adjustment to life after awakening from her coma. That said, the Scarlet Witch remains one of the most powerful, present and willing members of the original Avengers. Maybe someday we’ll see more from Wanda in the future.

 

Until I cast a little hex to alter the very fabric of reality, I remain

 

frogoat