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Marvelous May – And The Winner Is…!
Welp, Marvelous May has come and gone. And now, after all this, it’s time to announce the winner of this month-long fan-vote tournament. And so, our winner, and #1 Marvel Superheroine is…!
…GRANNY GOODNESS!!!
…Nah, I’m kidding, it’s Kamala. lol
And really, was there ever any doubt? This young woman has won the hearts of damned near every single person to read her book. She has earned her position as this generation’s favourite Marvel superheroine, a member of the Avengers, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and the winner of the 2016 Marvelous May fan-vote tournament of superheroines. So congratulations to Kamala Khan, AKA Ms. Marvel. 🙂
And a big hand for everyone else who competed, as well.
Aaaaannnd I’m pretty sure this’ll be the last time I ever do something like this. lol That said, I’m glad I did it, and I’m very thankful for everybody who voted. But, now that this is over, be sure to check back in for updates on my Nuzlocke run, as well as my thoughts on DC Universe Rebirth #1, AND one last send-off/rant for DC’s The New 52. Ja né!
Marvelous May – Wasp vs She-Hulk
Welcome back to Marvelous May, and today, we’re looking at two of the most famous superheroines in the history of Marvel:Â Janet van Dyne, AKA The Wasp, vs Jennifer Walters, AKA She-Hulk!
Wasp
She is one of the founding members of the Avengers, and in fact, the one to come up with the name of the team, which has stuck all the way to 2016. When Janet van Dyne’s father was murdered by an alien, she came to one of his colleagues for help: Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man. After making it clear just how badly she wanted justice for her father’s death, Pym used his Pym Particles to transform Janet into his new partner in crime fighting. As the two began working together, Janet quickly fell in love with her partner, and the two even got married…and divorced after Hank’s multiple mental breakdowns eventually led to him striking her. Yeah, there’s a reason I’m not a fan of mainstream comics Hank Pym: He’s a psychotic asshole who never learns from his mistakes. Janet, on the other hand, has grown into a seasoned superheroine and at one point even held the position of Avengers chairman (and yes, I KNOW that’s supposed to be chairwoman, don’t even get me started, lol). Like Ant-Man, she can shrink herself to become tiny and communicate with insects, but unlike her male counterpart, she can also fly while small and can fire twin bio-electric ‘stings’. She’s also very talented as a fashion designer, and has actually redesigned her own costume multiple times, and is, in fact, the one who brought her opponent here today into the Avengers. And while the chances of seeing her suit up in the MCU aren’t great, I’d be negligent if I didn’t point out that that doesn’t mean we won’t see A Wasp. 🙂
She-Hulk
Once a rather meek lawyer, Jennifer Walters’ life was changed forever when she had a blood transfusion from her cousin in order to save her life. Thing is, her cousin is Bruce Banner…as in THE HULK. So yeah, gamma irradiated blood transfusion. Naturally, it resulted in a new Hulk being born: The She-Hulk! Becoming She-Hulk, she grows an extra 9 inches and gains 500+ pounds of pure muscle and bone tissue, and possesses inhuman levels of strength, durability, stamina, and speed. Unlike her cousin, though, she maintains a much greater degree of self-control, and retains her intelligence. Also, rather than becoming a massive hulking beast, she’s more like…well, a really hot, green-skinned bodybuilder. Could this change be influenced by sexist needs to show off women? Well, MAYBE, but there IS an in-story explanation: It’s the nature of the Hulk transformation. For Bruce Banner, the Hulk represents all the anger and rage he feels, and appears as his exact opposite: Towering, monstrous, and while not exactly stupid, lacks a LOT of Dr. Banner’s intelligence. Likewise, She-Hulk was Jennifer’s opposite: Confident, strong, needing little-to-no reassurance from others, and being perfectly comfortable and open with her body. Over the years, though, Jen’s been able to grow more confident in herself through her actions and heroics, and is currently the leader of the all-women contingent of the Avengers, the A-Force.
And let the voting commence! You have until May 8th to let me know in the comments below who you want to see face the winner of Captain Marvel vs Emma Frost. In addition, you can click the links below to learn more about these two, and you can feel free to check back to vote on the next match-up: Quake vs Thor… … …Jane Foster, that is. Not Thor Odinson. I know Loki can change between male and female, but I don’t think that’s a Thor thing…Ja né!
Marvelous May – The Finalized Roster
Well, the time is nearly upon us, folks. Jyger’s Rant’s first-ever fan-vote tournament will begin in four days. As such, it’s now time to reveal the final roster of heroines that will compete in this tournament. Here are the 16 individuals who will battle it out, with the winners determined by you, the audience.
Quake, Mayday Parker, Ms. Marvel, Storm, Wasp, Squirrel Girl, Emma Frost, Gamora, Rogue, She-Hulk, Jean Grey, Jane Foster, Spider-Gwen, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, and Spider-Woman
And, after finalizing the roster, I also set up the tournament brackets to determine who will face who at the start of May.
And that’s everything. Be sure to check back in on May 1st as the tournament begins with Captain Marvel vs Emma Frost. Ja né!
Who Do You Think Of When You Think Of The Avengers? Please Comment Below
Y’know, something that seems to happen a lot in comics is that superhero teams will go through multiple iterations with varying members that switch in and out of the roster. The Justice Society, the Justice League, the Avengers, the X-Men, the Teen Titans, the New Warriors, etc. Now, a word that’s been going around a lot lately is ‘iconic’, specifically as it pertains to individuals bearing legacy hero aliases or variations of superhero teams. Ultimately, though, what it boils down to is which version you think of first. Like, for example, I love the idea of people like Sam Wilson, Miles Morales, and Kamala Khan taking up the names of Captain America, Spider-Man, and Ms. Marvel. Thing is, though, as much as I love it and hope they stick around for the long-haul, unless your first exposure to the Star-Spangled Avenger was the book All-New Captain America, you’re probably gonna think of Steve Rogers first before Sam Wilson. And that is in no way a knock at Sam, it’s just how it is. Steve has now had five individuals who have taken up the shield in varying absences and has always found a way to retake it every time, meaning that in his 74 year existence in comics, he’s spent the vast majority of it as Captain America, and is therefore likely to someday become Cap again. The movies don’t really help much there either, since Marvel always tries to have their comics reflect elements of the movies for the sake of new readers that got into the characters and stories through the movies, except in rare cases. Like, I don’t expect Carol Danvers to become Ms. Marvel again now that she’s got a movie in the works as CAPTAIN Marvel, so Kamala is probably safe in her current role.
Still, that raises an interesting question: Is there a universally accepted definition of who the most iconic versions of heroes and/or members of superhero teams are? Because every comic is conceivably someone’s first, so who knows? Maybe some people’s first exposure to Captain America is the Sam Wilson version? And hey, Free Comic Book Day is meant to get new readers on board with comics, so it’s entirely possible that the first version of the Avengers for some people is the one that debuted there, assuming they don’t watch the movies of course. Likewise, people who don’t read the comics and only watch the movies would think of that team of heroes as the Avengers first and foremost, and would probably be shocked to learn that Captain America wasn’t a founding member, Hulk left within a couple of issues and didn’t return until 2012, and Black Widow didn’t join the team until a full 10 years and 100+ issues into the Avengers’ history.
As such, here’s the question I pose to you all: Who do you think of when you think of the Avengers? Do you think of the original five founding members of Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, Iron Man, and the Hulk? Perhaps Cap’s Kooky Quartet of himself, Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch? Maybe the A-Next team from the MC2 Universe, consisting of J2, Mainframe, Stinger, and Thunderstrike? Or maybe you don’t even think of one single version of the team, but rather different members that have been on various incarnations of the team, like Spider-Man, Vision, Wolverine, Luke Cage, or Doctor Strange?
So, basically what I want is for you to list the first five to ten characters you think of when you hear the word ‘Avengers’. Keep in mind, there is no wrong answer here. It all depends on who you think of. List them in the comments section below, and we’ll see who everyone thinks of, and if there are any universally considered iconic members of the Avengers. Ja né!
Jyger’s Favourite 5 – 5 Superhero Teams I’d Like To See In Marvel Post-Secret Wars
So, a while ago, I talked about characters I’d love to see make it into the new Marvel Universe when the dust settles and Secret Wars is over. As such, let’s talk a bit about some superhero teams I’d love to see either be a thing or continue to be a thing post-Secret Wars. Now, technically, we already know of one team that’ll exist, as we’ve learned that Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Vision, Ultimate Spider-Man, Iron Man, Nova, and Thor will be teaming up as the All-New, All-Different Avengers. But will that be the ONLY Avengers team? I highly doubt it, honestly. And frankly, there’s at least ONE other Avengers team that exists in the new universe. So, might as well start there. These are the five superhero teams I’d like to see in Marvel Comics post-Secret Wars, starting with the aforementioned Avengers team I’d like to see post-Secret Wars…
Potential Members: Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, Spider-Woman, Black Widow, Storm, Medusa, Angela, Wasp, Sif
As I’ve said before, a team of Marvel’s greatest superheroines? YES PLEASE! 😀 That said, while I get the feeling the version in Secret Wars will pretty much be damned near EVERY Marvel superheroine, I’m thinking the post-Secret Wars team should be a bit more streamlined. Captain Marvel, She-Hulk, or Storm would all be good choices to potentially lead the team, while the rest of the team should really be varied in terms of powers and walks of life. Of course, Black Widow works great as the least super-powered of the group, Angela or Sif would be good choices for representatives from Asgard, and there should at least be one Mutant and one Inhuman. And of course, there’s always room for long-time Marvel heroines like Wasp or Spider-Woman.
Potential Members:Â Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Rogue, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, Sabretooth, Quicksilver, Wolverine
Honestly, I see no reason to put the kibosh on this team. In fact, it might even be to the benefit of those that want to see Steve Rogers and Thor Odinson continue as key players of the Marvel Universe if they rejoined the team. Rogue, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, and Quicksilver all work as members too. As for Sabretooth, I can see him sticking around, though it may make things awkward if Wolverine DOES, in fact, return from the grave and rejoin his old team, considering their long and bloody history. And speaking of which…
Potential Members: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Havok, Beast, Emma Frost, Angel, Dazzler, X-23, Iceman
Would not shock me if, after Secret Wars, the All-New X-Men are more or less done away with, but that their future selves are influenced by their actions and thus end up in Cyclops’ camp. Would certainly make for an interesting scenario if Jean Grey, back in her adult form, was brought back, and now is on the same team as Cyclops and Emma Frost. Still, hopefully with the reboot, we can start to see Cyclops distance himself from his douchey and at times blatantly evil behaviour and try to make something better of himself. As for the other X-Men, well…
Potential Members: Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Rachel Grey, Jubilee, Psylocke, Colossus, Pixie, Rogue
As I said before, I’m pretty sure the return of Wolverine is all but inevitable. As such, seeing him return to the X-Men would be a huge plus. And while I showed the logo for Astonishing X-Men, really, it doesn’t HAVE to be. It could be Amazing X-Men and be just fine. And, of course, all the big names in that particular camp of X-Men would be among its roster, though I wouldn’t be shocked to see some of the other students at the mansion and other X-Men join in from time to time. Now, while I would like to see Adjectiveless X-Men continue, there is one OTHER superheroine team I’d like to see get picked back up for the new Marvel Universe…
Potential Members:Â Valkyrie/Annabelle Riggs, Misty Knight, Dani Moonstar, Warrior Woman, Clea, Elsa Bloodstone, Ren Kimura, Nova (Frankie Raye)
I’m sorry, but I gotta know what the hell next happened with these characters! I haven’t seen them since the book ended, except for Valkyrie, and her appearances (that I’m aware of) didn’t allude to Annabelle or the team at all! Did they stick together? Did they split up? Are they still fighting Caroline and Morgana le Fey? Did Valkyrie, Annabelle, and Red get into some kinda twisted love triangle? Did they eventually end up fighting Galactus like Cullen Bunn wanted? WHAT’S HAPPENING?! lol
Anyway, those are five teams I’d love to see make it into the new universe. Got one that wasn’t here? Lemme know in the comments, and we’ll see what becomes of the Marvel Universe in September. Ja né!
Secret Wars 2015 – Next Summer For Marvel Might Be A Little Weird
So, Marvel’s been doing this weird thing where they’ve been posting teasers for summer of 2015 involving old events. Stuff like Secret Wars, Civil War, Planet Hulk, and so on. I really have no idea what the heck is going on, honestly. At first, it seemed like they were gonna do a rehash of Secret Wars, which I wouldn’t necessarily mind. Then Civil War teasers came up, minded that, because I’m not exactly a fan of that story at all, and I hate the fact that they’re apparently gonna do it for Captain America 3. After I saw teasers for ‘Years Of Future Past’, I was like, “Okay, NOW they’re just messing with us. There’s NO WAY they’re rehashing this many events all at the same time.” Then I started reading more about Secret Wars 2015, and how it apparently involves the Multiverse, and a possible clash between various versions of heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Wasp, Thor, and so on. Furthermore, it comes at the end of the current Time Runs Out story-arc, meaning this could wind up being the ultimate (no pun intended) conclusion to the situation with the incursions.
Secret Wars 2015
Now, I have a theory about what’s going on, but I really have no way to be sure if I’m even close to what they have planned. My theory is that Secret Wars 2015 is the big summer event, and at the same time, the other teased ones are side-stories that give further resolution to all of those prior events, maybe even a few other ones, and they all kinda tie into one another somehow. OR, since this is a Multiverse story, maybe it’s telling how these events may have occurred on these other Earths. Either way, as I suggested, this could be the end result of what’s been happening with the incursions, and considering that at least a couple of Earths have been destroyed, and we’ve had Spider-Men from across the Multiverse getting killed in the events of Spider-Verse, it’s entirely possible that this story could mark the end of the Marvel Multiverse, OR a simple revamping of it to where there’s only a set number of Earths (like the DC Multiverse), OR this is some kind of universal reboot…which I would HATE, and I’ll explain why in a later article. Regardless of what exactly happens, though, I think we can safely say that summer of 2015 is gonna be WEIRD for anybody that picks up Marvel Comics.
Is it just me, or does the blond Hulk look kinda familiar…Brother? 😛
Anyway, what do you YOU guys think is going on? Leave a comment below stating what you think is happening, and we’ll see in about, oh, 8-10 months or so if you’re right. Ja né!
Jyger's Rant 