#c: mary jane watson

[murder-popsicle]

continued from here with @bokketo

Jane hadn't been looking for a tag-along, but at least this woman seemed to be quick on the uptake, not paralyzed by terror the way some prisoners would have been. The former Winter Soldier knew full well that she was an intimidating presence, and she'd seen the brief flash of fear in the redhead's eyes when Jane had first broken down the door. But the woman had tamped it down and taken her hand, and now -- well, now Jane had another responsibility to deal with.

Before stepping back into the corridor, she did a quick visual sweep of the room, but it held nothing of interest. So she returned to her original object, tugging the redhead along behind her. Servers. Explosives. A mental catalog of what, exactly, was being stockpiled here. At the very least, this place didn't seem to be involved in research and development. It was clearly little more than a glorified warehouse.

Steve would probably want her to escort this woman out and then come back, but time was of the essence. Jane would just have to make sure her sidekick didn't get killed.

"You any good in a fight?" Jane asked. The woman didn't look like much, but Jane knew that that didn't mean anything; Natasha didn't look like much at a glance, either. She could guess, though, that the woman was at the very least unarmed. HYDRA wouldn't have taken a prisoner without disarming her. Not that Jane planned to hand over one of her own weapons. Just because the woman had been a prisoner didn't mean there was any reason to go trusting her with a blade or gun. "Because if you're not good in a fight, you should just stick close to me and let me handle these bastards."

#bokketo #c: mary jane watson #v; revenge road trip

[roguestorm]

It’s like they took away all of MJ’s defining character traits — her fun and outgoing nature, her love of the spotlight (which is rooted in insecurity), her career as a model and actress— in order to make her a complex and strong female character and like!!! she already was!!!

#m.txt #literally they took the model of ‘serious reporter gf dedicated to the truth’ from Lois Lane and just slapped it on a redhead #not understanding that a) that is not the only possible model for strong interesting female love interests #b) Superman and Spider-Man are different characters who require different supporting characters to balance them out #and c) Lois Lane works because she is cool as hell and an interesting character #I find the character in Spider-Man PS4 and PS5 to be a decent but bland character overall #but as an MJ adaptation??? drives me crazy!!! #mary jane watson #spider man ps4

[squids-comics]

This is the first ever panel Mary Jane Watson appeared in and it's really funny:

It makes sense from a modern day viewpoint to have her introduction to be a big reveal. But this comic is from the 1960's. Not only is this before Peter has ever met her, he's currently dating someone else (Daily Bugle receptionist Betty Brant).

#c #comics #comic books #dc comics #web comics #mcu #marvel mcu #comic panels #marvel comics #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #spider man #peter parker #mary jane watson #mary jane parker #j jonah jameson #stan lee #steve ditko

[wintcrstcrfall]

for @savagemusings​ (peter)

​Mary Jane knew she had to lay low but the idea seemed simpler when put in words rather than actions. The young woman wasn’t someone who knew rest and this trait of hers had started to boil up as the days were ticking away. One early evening she had had enough and finally left her apartment to go on a somewhat short walk across the nearby park. If she had to be completely honest, she had expected for her paranoia to be bigger but MJ managed to only nervously look behind her shoulder a couple of times. By the time the redhead headed home it was already dark and the quiet seemed even scarier across the short sideway street she took. If it were any other moment Mary Jane would’ve probably missed one particular soft sound but now, with her straining all of her senses, the woman jumped almost immediately. “Is anyone there?”, MJ’s voice rose only for a moment while she stepped carefully in the shadows before actually seeing who was in them and hurrying their way without a second thought. “Oh no, are you-... are you okay?! What happened?”

#c: peter #{{ ~ peter x mary jane ~ }} #{{ ~ interactions. ~ mary jane watson. ~ }} #~ here we gooooo *eye emoji*

[ablackwidowsbite]

MJ, do you think Clint would be a good househusband for you, or would you miss him too much?

"I think he would be great. But I do like it when he can come with me to shoots if I have to leave. If he doesn't mind still going with me then I would love it. But then he already spoils me by making me food too. Or ordering out and pampering me."

#c; mary jane watson #;ship: you hit the jackpot hawk: MaryJaneClint

[spinxeret]

˜”°•.˜”°• LITTLE OL' MARY JANE'S IN THE SPOTLIGHT ! •°”˜.•°”˜

indie / highly selective / private MARY JANE WATSON-PARKER of Marvel Comics' SPIDER-MAN . written by garrett, he/him 28+. anti-quesada, anti-slott, anti-wells. c

#( support muh brand )

[toofunktastic]

Here’s a dump of things I’ve gifted elsewhere but haven’t gifted here yet

Six - Second US National Tour (Boleyn)

April 2, 2023 - madeapactwithsatan

Matinée

Cast:

Gerianne Pérez (Catherine of Aragon), Zan Berube (Anne Boleyn), Alina Faye (Jane Seymour), Cecilia Snow (s/b Anna of Cleves), Aline Mayagoitia (Katherine Howard), Sydney Parra (Catherine Parr)

Notes:

Never to be posted on any form of social media including, but not limited to, YouTube/Instagram/TikTok

https://mega.nz/folder/7kUDAJSJ#6nS_R4lKk9AZNfbXmbOsrQ

Six - Second US National Tour (Boleyn)

April 5, 2023 - madeapactwithsatan

Cast:

Gerianne Pérez (Catherine of Aragon), Zan Berube (Anne Boleyn), Amina Faye (Jane Seymour), Terica Marie (Anna of Cleves), Aline Mayagoitia (Katherine Howard), Sydney Parra (Catherine Parr)

Notes:

Includes BCEFA speech. Recorded from front row. Dropped my phone right after Heart of Stone, but I picked it up before anything major happened. Never to be posted on any social media including, but not limited to, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

https://mega.nz/folder/Th0ghSQa#pYEP5D2mEqM_Y5UU4SZ0qw

Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations

US National Tour

January 17, 2024 mat

Madeapactwithsatan's master

Cast:

**Jeremy Kelsey (u/s Otis Williams)**, E. Clayton Cornelious (Paul Williams), Harrell Holmes Jr. (Melvin Franklin), Jalen Harris (Eddie Kendricks), Elijah Ahmad Lewis (David Ruffin), **Treston J. Henderson (u/s Dennis Edwards)**, Felander (Lamont), **Brian C. Binion (u/s Berry Gordy)**, Ryan M. Hunt (Shelly Berger), Tiffany Francès (Josephine), Devin Holloway (Smokey Robinson/Slick Talk Fella/Damon Harris), Devin Price (Al Bryant/Norman Whitfield), **Nazarria Workman (u/s Diana Ross)**, Shayla Brielle G. (Mama Rose/Florence Ballard/Tammi Terrell), Brittny Smith (Johnnie Mae/Mary Wilson), Devin Holloway ("Gloria" Soloist/Interviewer/Delivery Man/Richard Street)

Notes: Amazing cast for this show. However it is a jukebox musical and thus has the normal issue of singing along, talking, phones ringing (and maybe even me sighing and saying to shut up). Gift upon request, but do not post any form of social media.

https://mega.nz/folder/r88XBRaB#sYHUFtMg8v4hcv1nNF-_iA

Mrs. Doubtfire - First US National Tour

February 10, 2024 matinée

madeapactwithsatan's master

Cast:

Rob McClure (Daniel Hillard), Maggie Lakis (Miranda Hillard), Giselle Gutierrez (Lydia Hillard), Cody Braverman (Christopher Hillard), Emerson Mae Chan (Natalie Hillard), Aaron Kaburick (Frank Hillard), Marquez Linder (u/s Andre Mayem), Romelda Teron Benjamin (Wanda Sellner), Leo Roberts (Stuart Dunmire), David Hibbard (Mr. Jolly/Judge), Jodi Kimura (Janet Lundy)

Notes:

This is a show I saw. Gift upon request. Do not post anywhere on any social media.

https://mega.nz/folder/Xl1BwQQY#BVT-MB9tf-ouXzrV49ebTQ

Waitress - Broadway Remount

September 16, 2021 - madeapactwithsatan

Cast:

Sara Bareilles (Jenna), Charity Angel Dawson (Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Joe Tippett (Earl), Dakin Matthews (Joe), Eric Anderson (Cal), Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Nora Lincoln Weiner (Lulu), Tyrone Davis Jr., Matt DeAngelis, Henry Gottfried, Molly Jobe, Max Kumangai, Anastacia McCleskey, Stephanie Torns, Nyla Watson

Notes:

Very responsive crowd.

https://mega.nz/folder/fks0EAxR#zP0Yvhqp0Z5sK0jhueYrnw

Waitress - First US National Tour

February 13, 2018 - madeapactwithsatan

Cast:

Desi Oakley (Jenna), Charity Angél Dawson (Becky), Emily Koch (u/s Dawn), Bryan Fenkart (Dr. Pomatter), Jeremy Morse (Ogie), Ryan G Dunkin (Cal), Larry Marshall (Joe), Nick Bailey (Earl), Maiesha McQueen (Nurse Norma), Kimberly Tobin (Lulu), Kyra Kennedy (Francine Pomatter), Grace Stockdale (Mother), Jim Hogan (Father)

Notes:

Emily's third show as Dawn.

https://mega.nz/folder/r0Vl3TTL#pBQPDf9g5QGc3AXu_W6efQ

Waitress - Second US National Tour

March 29, 2022 - madeapactwithsatan

Cast:

Jisel Soleil Ayon (Jenna), Dominique Kent (Becky), Gabriella Marzetta (Dawn), David Socolar (Dr. Pomatter), Brian Lundy (Ogie), Andrew Burton Kelley (u/s Cal), Shawn W. Smith (Earl), Michael R. Douglass (Joe), Dayna Marie Quincy (Nurse Norma), Stephanie Feeback (Francine Pomatter), Olivia London (Mother), Woody White (Father), Elvie Ellis (Ensemble), Jake McCready (Ensemble), Zoë Brooke Reed (Ensemble)

https://mega.nz/folder/GpEwSJTC#giJ1UwBntSOxlshQ-DeOlg

Frozen

March 29, 2024

First US National Tour

madeapactwithsatan’s master

Caroline Bowman (Elsa), Lauren Nicole Chapman (Anna), Jeremy Davis (Olaf), Dominic Dorset (Kristoff), Preston Perez (Hans), Dan Plehal (Sven), Evan Duff (Weselton), Savannah Lumar (Young Elsa), Emma Origenes (Young Anna), Katie Mariko Murray (Queen Iduna), Kyle Lamar Mitchell (King Agnarr), Tyler Jimenez (Pabbie), Renée Reid (Bulda), Jack Brewer (Oaken)

Notes: It’s frozen so obviously there are a couple of kids talking, but otherwise not too much disruption. Includes BC/EFA speech. Gift upon request, but do not put on any form of social media.

https://mega.nz/folder/2hdRALbY#EuDCQU-2J5TCmVsxUg9yKQ

#broadway #waitress #waitress the musical #frozen #frozen the musical #six #six the musical #ain’t too proud #mrs doubtfire #Mrs Doubtfire the musical #audio gift #musical theater #musicals #musical

[worst-t4t-couple]

ALL Pairings are out! Long post, so look under the cut!

Round 1 1/4

Sweep, cap’n, k_k VS Jay Walker, Nya

Vee, Marsha VS Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle

Cherry Blossom Joe VS Doofinsmerch, His Ex-Wife

Percy jackson, Annabeth Chase VS Jack O Valentine, Sol Badguy

Josuke Higashikata, Yasuho Hirose VS Lug, Anode

leorio, kurapika VS Nepeta Leijon, Equius Zahhak

Luz Noceda, Marcy Wu VS Varian, Hugo

Swap, Neo VS Queen Roger and Fly Minetti

Daffy, Bugs VS Vash, Wolfwood

Ren Amamiya and Goro Akechi VS Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson

Sam, Max VS Hunter, Willow

Stepan trofimovich, Varvara Petrovnad VS Rex Salazar, Noah Nixon

nellie lovett, sweeney todd VS Tim Drake, Bernard Dowd

bubby, dr coomer VS Neku, Beat

Dave Miller, Jack Kennedy VS Kermit, Mrs. Piggy

Cleo, Etho VS Zelda, Link (Rip)

Chip, Gillion VS X, Zero

kagayama shigeo, hanazawa teruki VS Kris, Berdly 

Caranthir, Haleth VS Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood

Marc Anciel, Nathaniel Kurtzberg VS Miyamoto Uran, Sapphire

Texas, Church VS Solid Snake, Otacon

Gundham Tanaka, Sonia Nevermind VS Phillip Carlyle,Anne Wheeler

Soos, Melody VS Red, Blue

Jungleberry Cookie, Royal Berry Cookie VS Blaze, Sonic

LDshadowlady, Smallishbeans VS Mr. Neighbor, Wegg

clark kent, lois lane VS Popeye, Olive Oyl

Round 1 2/4

Brandon Quark,  Doctor Robotnik VS Elrond, Celebrian

Yoo Joonghyuk, Kim Dokja VS stanford pines, fiddleford mcgucket

Pepa & Félix Madrigal VS Duskie & Hibiscus

Emu Otori, Rui Kamishiro VS momoe and kaoru

C!fundy and c!hbomb VS Anne Boonchuy, Sasha Waybright and Marcy Wu

Agent 3 and Agent 8 VS c!schlatt & c!connor

Zoro Roronoa and Sanji Vinsmoke (Black leg Sanji) VS Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy

Herbert West & Daniel Cain VS Snorkmaiden & Mymble Jr 

charles "trip" tucker and t'pol VS Mytho & Princess Tutu (NOT duck; just her princess form)

Gregory House and James Wilson VS luz and amity

Paintbrush and Lightbulb VS Vriska Serket & June Egbert

geordi and data VS peter sqloint and rumi sqloint

Q!ElMariana and Q!Slimecicle VS Poor Boy and Love Interest

Scar and Grian VS Jolyne/Anasui

Kian Stone, Rolan Deep and Timothy Rand VS Dr. Boris Habit and Kamal Bora

red guy and duck VS MK & Red Son

jonathan harker and mina murray harker VS Zagreus/Thanatos/Megaera

Crowley and Aziraphale VS Denki Kaminari and Kyoka Jiro

Tuor and Idril Celebrindal VS Snorpy and Chadlo

jack harkness x the tardis VS Mizuki akiyama and mafuyu

Jackieboyman and Marvin the Magnificent VS Arashi Narukami and Mika Kagehara

Barbie, Ken VS ron and desiree delite

Steven Universe & Connie Maheswaran VS Magnus Burnsides and Julia Burnsides

Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla VS castiel and dean winchester 

Eda and Luz’s mom VS Jadzia Dax & Kira Nerys

c!Tubbo and c!Ranboo VS Rex Salazar & Circe 

Round 1 3/4

Pixal + Zane VS Apollo Justice + Klavier Gavin 

The Monarch and Dr. Ms Monarch VS Juno Steel and Peter Nureyev

Kaito and Meiko VS Kamille Bidan & Fa Yuiry

Sun Wukong and Six-Eared Macaque VS Skwydd & Cricket

Sasha Nein and Milla Vodello VS Wade Ripple & Ember

Byakuren Hiijri and Toyosatomimi no Miko VS Cosmo, Wanda

Roboky and Venom VS Cellbit and Roier

Numerous BFDI ships VS Hiccup, Astrid

Beatrix and Casey VS anakin skywalker and captain rex

Raven and Beast Boy VS Neo and Trinity

Mario, Princess Peach VS Rashmi Jamil and Amelie Maçon

Denji, Asa Mitaka VS Vivi Yukino and Lewis Pepper

Benrey and Gordon VS Lace and Hornet

Beren and Luthien VS neku sakuraba, joshua kiryu

Shin and Noi VS Morticia and Gomez Addams

Paul Matthews and Emma Perkins VS Moomin, Snufkin

james t kirk + s'chnn t'gai spock VS  Nico Robin and Franky

Dave Strider and John/June Egbert VS Moominmamma & Moominpappa

Edward Nygma and Oswald Cobblepot VS shaun riley and liz

louis and lestat VS Spamton, Jevil

fox mulder and dana scully VS will t riker + deanna troi [+ worf rozhenko]

Amy Rose, Metal Sonic VS Quackity and Slimecicle

Diego Brando & Hot Pants VS Elrond and Celebrian and Gil-Galad

mia fey & diego armando/godot VS Luigi and Prince Peasly

C!Quackity, C!Karl, and C!Sapnap VS Sonic, Shadow

Drey Ferin and Finn Tidestrider VS Edward Elric and Winry Rockbell

Round 1 4/4

Shaggy and velma VS Surge the Tenrec and Amy Rose

Yamato/Portgas D. Ace VS audrey & seymour

Randy Jade and Oliver Swift VS Tsukishima Kei and Yamaguchi Tadashi

Lup and Barry Bluejeans VS Reimu and Marissa

Mizuki Akiyama & Rui Kamishiro VS Jimmy The Robot and Mc Bat Commander

C!Quackity and C!wilbur VS Espresso cookie and Eclair cookie

Junpei, Akane Kurashiki VS Obi-Wan Kenobi & Satine Kryze

Raine Whispers and Eda Clawthorne VS Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsen

Maxwell 'William' Carter and Charlie W. VS Mothwing and Leafpool

Naruto Uzumaki & Sasuke VS Baxter Stockman and The Alien Computer 

Keith Kogane and Lance McClain VS Wood Man and Robbie Rotten

Scott and Barda Free (Mister Miracle and Big Barda) VS John Notwoodman + Nick Lushwood

Caranthir and Haleth VS Susie and Noelle

orpheus and eurydice VS The doctor, Rose

luke skywalker and mara jade VS Princess Daisy and Luigi 

time and malon VS Simon (Scissor) and Spoon

Dave strider, Karkat Vantas VS Miles “moles,” Edgar, and Madeline

Mary Anta and Reginald Tetra VS Koichi Haimawari and Kazuho Haneyama

Yoshi and Birdo VS lazlo & nadia

Celebrimbor and Annatar VS Rendog and DocM77

Jesse + Jane VS Adira Tal and Gray Tal

Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson VS Dazai Osamu and Nakahara

Jessie and James VS jeff and britta

Anji Mito and Baiken VS Shiver and Frye

ALL of MLP* VS ALL of TF2*

*Minus any familial relationships

#Pairings

[thequeerlibrarian]

Read in 2023

January

1. Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian - 5/5 ⭐

2. The Silmarillion by Tolkien - 4/5⭐

3. Seide und Schwert by Kai Meyer - 5/5⭐

4. Lanze und Licht by Kai Meyer - 5/5⭐

February

5. Drache und Diamant by Kai Meyer - 5/5⭐

6. Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

7. The Art of Starving by Sam J. Miller - 5/5⭐

8. The Magician’s Nephew by C. S. Lewis - 4/5⭐

9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

March

10. Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare - 5/5⭐

11. The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis - 2.75/5⭐

12. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

April

13. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

14. One last stop by Casey McQuiston - 3.5/5⭐

15. You Deserve Better by Anne-Marie - 3.75/5⭐

16. Lady Smoke by Laura Sebastian - 5/5⭐

17. Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

18. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

May

19. The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis - 5/5⭐

20. The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis - 4.75/5⭐

21. King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

22. Rule of Wolves by Leigh Bardugo - 5/5⭐

June

23. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Book by Suzanne Collins - 5/5⭐

24. Summer poems by Hermann Hesse - 5/5⭐

July

-

August

25. Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen - 4/5⭐

September

26. Harry Potter 1 reread for work

27. Harry Potter 2 reread for work

October

28. Harry Potter 3 reread for work

29. Babel by R.F. Kuang - 4.5/5⭐

30. Poems ll by Hermann Hesse - 4/5⭐

31. Poems by Shakespeare - 4/5⭐

32. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio - 5/5⭐

33. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka - 4/5⭐

34. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 4.75/5⭐

35. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - 4/5⭐

36. Watership Down by Richard Adams - 4.5/5⭐

37. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum - 4.5/5⭐

38. Star Wars: Stealth by Karen Miller - 5/5⭐

November

39. Star Wars: Wild Space by Karen Miller - 5/5⭐

40. Crush by Richard Siken - 5/5⭐

41. Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno - 4/5⭐

42. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers - 4/5⭐

43. I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee - 5/5⭐

44. Was fehlt, wenn ich verschwunden bin by Lilly Lindner - 5/5⭐

45. Dracula by Bram Stoker - 4/5⭐

46. Hamlet by William Shakespeare - 4/5⭐

47. Die Farbe der Rache by Cornelia Funke - 4.5/5⭐

48. Star Wars: Siege by Karen Miller - 5/5⭐

December

49. The girl who decided to go for it by Alice Bromell - 5/5⭐

50. Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen - 4/5⭐

51. Star Wars: Jedi Quest - Path To Truth by Jude Watson - 4.5/5 ⭐

52. Macbeth by William Shakespeare - 3.5/5 ⭐

53. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - 5/5⭐

54. Murtagh by Christopher Paolini 4.5/5⭐

55. Star Wars: Jedi Quest - The Way of the Apprentice by Jude Watson 4/5⭐

56. Star Wars: Master & Apprentice by Claudia Gray 4.5/5⭐

57. Just eat it by Laura Thomas 5/5⭐

58. The picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 5/5⭐

59. Star Wars: Padawan by Kiersten White - 5/5 ⭐

60. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

61. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

62. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

63. Star Wars: A New Hope Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

64. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

65. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Graphic Novel - 4/5⭐

66. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - 5/5⭐

67. Star Wars: The Trail of the Jedi by Jude Watson - 4/5⭐

68. Star Wars: The Dangerous Games by Jude Watson - 4/5⭐

69. Über mir die Wolke by Clara Louise - 4/5⭐

70. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - 5/5⭐

71. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater - 5/5⭐

Dnf:

✖️ Star Wars Episode I

✖️ A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J Maas

✖️ A Touch of Darkness by Scarlett St. Clair

✖️ Luft nach unten by Aron Boks

#updated #read in 2023 #reading wrap up #to be updated #for later

[john-bracket]

Significant Jother Prelims!

The prelims for Jacket 4 will come in two waves after the winner’s bonus poll ends on Sunday, so get your votes in there.

First, there will be the prelims to decide between love interests for Johns/Jacks/Variants who had multiple submitted. There are eight of those matches, and they will be released throughout the day on Monday, July 10.

Then, there will be the prelims to decide which single nomination significant jothers will make the bracket. If a nomination was submitted multiple times as the only love interest, they are already in. There are 11 polls of four significant jothers, and the winner of each will make the bracket. Prelims were seeded by submission order, and those polls will be released throughout the day on Wednesday, July 12.

Match-ups below the cut!

Monday Match-ups: Who shall win the jand?

Prelim #1: Martin Blackwood (11) vs Georgie Barker (1) for Jonathan “Jon” Sims (The Magnus Archives)

Prelim #2: Jason Mendoza (5) vs Derek (1) for Janet (The Good Place)

Prelim #3: Mercymorn (2) vs Alecto (1) vs Augustine (1) vs Mercymorn + Augustine (0 but throuple rights) for John Gaius (The Locked Tomb)

Prelim #4: Zatanna Zatara (2) vs King Shark (2) for John Constantine (DC)

Prelim #5: Nisha Kadam (2) vs Moxxi (1) for Handsome Jack (Borderlands)

Prelim #6: Brad Majors (2) vs Frank-N-Furter (1) for Janet Weiss (Rocky Horror Picture Show)

Prelim #7: Shayera Hol (1) vs Mari McCabe (1) for John Stewart (DC)

Prelim #8: Rafael Solano (1) vs Michael Cordero (1) for Jane Villanueva (Jane the Virgin)

Wednesday Match-ups: I don’t have a funny name

Prelim A: Phryne Fisher for Jack Robinson (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries) vs Kitty for Johnny Thirteen (Danny Phantom) vs Marguerite Baker for Jack Baker (Resident Evil) vs James “Jamey” Emerson Fletcher for Mary “Jacky” “Bloody Jack” Faber (Bloody Jack)

Prelim B: Naomi Herne for Evan Lukas (The Magnus Archives) vs Pete Tyler for Jackie Tyler (Doctor Who) vs Agnes Montague for Jack Barnabas (The Magnus Archives) vs Eric Bittle for Jack Zimmermann (Check, Please!)

Prelim C: Anna Bates for John Bates (Downton Abbey) vs Rose DeWitt for Jack Dawson (Titanic) vs Wendy Torrance for Jack Torrance (The Shining) vs Samatha Carter for Jack O’Neill (Stargate SG-1)

Prelim D: Joan of Arc for JFK (Clone High) vs JFK for Joan of Arc (Clone High) vs Elvira for Don Juan (Moliere) vs Pocahontas for John Smith (Pocahontas)

Prelim E: Penta Roujeat for Jack Wright (Namesake) vs Jethro Bodine for Jane Hathaway (Beverly Hillbillies) vs George Jetson for Jane Jetson (The Jetsons) vs Peter Parker for Mary-Jane Watson Parker (Marvel)

Prelim F: Thor for Jane Foster (Marvel) vs David Read for Jane Read (Arthur) vs Marla Singer for Jack/The Narrator (Fight Club) vs Sophie Aubrey for Jack Aubrey (Master and Commander)

Prelim G: Jay Nakamura for Jon Kent (DC) vs Satinder Hall for Ivo Keys (Shaderunners) vs Edward Rochester for Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre) vs Co Bao for John Rambo (Rambo)

Prelim H: Rosemary for Jack/Raider (Metal Gear Solid) vs Vriska Sekret for John Egbert (Homestuck) vs Maddie Fenton for Jack Fenton (Danny Phantom) vs Minnina for Jonathan Ratker (Dracula Starring Mickey Mouse)

Prelim I: Clary Fairchild for Jonathan Christopher “Jace” Herondale (The Mortal Instruments) vs Marisol Garza for Jonathan “Jon” Cartwright (The Shadowhunter Chronicles) vs Jo Lupo for Zane Donovan (Eureka) vs Robert Martin for Janet van de Graff (The Drowsy Chaperone)

Prelim J: Rebecca St. Claire for Jack Secord (Warehouse 13) vs David for Giovanni (Giovanni’s Room) vs Lucy Moderatz for Jack Pullman (While You Were Sleeping) vs Petra Solano for Jane “JR” Ramos (Jane the Virgin)

Prelim K: Scott Summers for Jean Gray (Marvel) vs Hessa for John the Baptist (The Wife of John the Baptist) vs Helen Wick for John Wick (John Wick) vs Patrick Bateman for Jean (American Psycho: The Musical)

#yeehaw #proper tags what are those #they’ll be on the individual polls #but there are over fifty here so #also let me know if I messed up anything #so I can correct it before I make the polls #don’t ask how long this took

[inevitablemoment]

“it’s not as bad as it looks.”

Word Count: 1,026

Warnings: Stab wound, fainting, blood loss, brief mention of secondary infertility and miscarriages, brief mention of premature birth, brief mention of temporary deafness, brief mention of neonatal health issues, brief mention of the COVID-19 pandemic

Fandom: Spider-Man (Raimi films)

Pairings: Peter Parker x Mary Jane Watson

It seems to be a running trend of mine this month to write for new fandoms. So, over the past few weeks, I’ve just fallen down the rabbit hole of anything Spider-Man, and right now, the Raimi trilogy has quite a hold on me. A good percentage of this fic is me dumping my post-trilogy headcanons on you.

Enjoy!

————————

Mary Jane was no stranger to exhaustion. But the last however-many hours had been challenging her ability to keep herself going on minutes of sleep.

It was one of the two days of the week on which her alternate would perform, as well as a parent/teacher conference day for the kids’ school district. She and Peter decided to make it a family day before they would have to go to meet with their teachers.

Then, there was this flash of sparkling gold, a few seconds of darkness... and then another flash of gold.

They were still on Time’s Square, with their first stop planned to have been the Disney Store, but she couldn’t place just why it felt so different from a few seconds ago.

Peter had been the first of them to notice one of the newspaper stands, all of the papers blasted with headlines talking about how Spider-Man was a murderer and a criminal. Before she could roll her eyes, she realized that the man-- or, rather, boy-- on the image was not her husband.

Although Mary Jane and the three older children-- seventeen-year-old twins Maisie and Annie (soon to be eighteen), and thirteen-year-old Benji-- were silently thinking the same thing, three-year-old Susan had blurted out, “That’s not Daddy.”

The children, of course, knew of their father’s secret identity as the web slinging hero-- Mary Jane could only imagine how difficult it would have been for them to keep such a secret from their own children when they resided in the same house-- and had been taught from day one to keep it. Though it was tempting to brag about it to their friends.

“We’re still in New York, just not-- our New York,” Peter had tried to explain.

Even as he tried to explain the concept of a multiverse, most of the scientific jargon went over Mary Jane’s and the children’s heads-- at least, except for Maisie.

Peter immediately went to buy the newspaper bearing the likeness of his other... self? Honestly, Mary Jane didn’t know how else to describe it.

“Whoever the Peter Parker in this universe is, he needs my help,” Peter said. “I... I know he does. And not just about this. Something... something’s gonna happen.”

Mary Jane took his hand. “What do you need me to do?”

“Take the kids and find someplace safe,” he told her. “I’ll call you whenever I can, but if you have to move, tell me where you are--”

“I will,” Mary Jane promised.

“I’ll come with you!” Maisie offered.

“Me, too!” Annie offered. “We can help--!”

“No, you’ll be safer if you stay with your mom,” Peter told them. “Okay?”

Maisie was visibly grinding her teeth in frustration, but Annie-- ever gracious and accommodating, the only one of the twins who never had to be scolded twice for the same misdeed-- said, “I understand, Dad.”

Peter hugged the twins, kissing the tops of their auburn heads, before he addressed Benji.

At thirteen years old, Benji looked every bit his father’s son, but had a solemn and quiet disposition that reminded both of his parents of the man that he was named for.

Benji-- their miracle baby after two miscarriages.

Whom they almost lost during a high risk pregnancy, an emergency C-section in Mary Jane’s twenty-eighth week...

“Benji, I need you to listen to your mom while I’m gone,” Peter instructed. “Can you promise that?”

“Yes, Dad,” Benji promised.

Peter picked little Susan up from the stroller. Their little surprise, conceived and born in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic, but had been welcomed into the family with open arms.

“Daddy, you leaving?” Susan asked, her small voice breaking Peter’s heart.

“Just for a little bit,” he said. “I’m going to help someone, but I swear that I will be back as soon as I can. I need you to be good for Mommy and your sisters and brother, okay?”

“Okay,” Susan agreed.

Annie helpfully took Susan into her arms, allowing her parents to share an embrace

“Whatever’s going on, I promise that we’ll be home soon,” Peter swore to her. “I love you, M.J.”

“I love you, too,” Mary Jane said, kissing him. “Stay safe, Tiger.”

Over the next several hours, Peter kept sending her texts, telling her about what was going on. After Susan continued begging, he answered a video call, looking like he was in some sort of lab. She caught sight of two other men in the background-- the baby-faced boy that she had seen, and the other looking like he was ten years younger than her Peter, both of them wearing their own versions of her husband’s suit. The boy from the pictures looked significantly beat up, making her stomach sink as she wondered what in her Peter’s history had just happened for him.

Almost an hour after the video call, everyone else around them began talking about “Spider-Man livestreaming with the Daily Bugle.”

One man had been gracious enough to show Mary Jane the video. It wasn’t her Peter, though. But as she heard the Peter of this world speak, her heart breaking for him as she heard his voice.

“Mom, is Dad there?” Maisie asked, looking over her mother’s shoulder.

“I... I don’t see him, Mayday,” Mary Jane said.

She couldn’t even recall how much time passed before she saw that flash of gold again. But, in an instant, they were standing in the living room of their townhouse.

Peter-- her Peter-- was standing before her.

Without a second thought, she rushed into his arms. The kids almost turned the hug into a full tackle, but he didn’t seem to mind. Mary Jane’s hands began to run up and down his back before she felt something on her hands. She pulled her hand back, and her stomach dropped.

Blood.

“Peter, what happened?” she asked.

“MJ, it’s not as bad as it looks, I swear,” Peter tried to reassure her.

But, he failed as he began to keel over.

“I’ll call 911,” Annie was the first to jump to the occasion, while Mary Jane put her hand over where she had found the wound.

Please... please be okay...

#juneofdoom #June of Doom #June of Doom 2023 #No. 5 #Day 5 #Day Five #It's not as bad as it looks. #Spider-Man #Post-No Way Home #Peter Parker #Peter-2 #Mary Jane Watson #SpiderJane #My Fics #TW Stab Wound #TW Blood #OTP: Standing In Your Doorway #OTP: Go Get Em Tiger #My Writing #OC: Maisie Parker #Maisie Parker #Mayday Parker #Annie Parker #OC: Benji Parker #Benji Parker #OC: Susan Parker #Susan Parker

[kwebtv]

E. N. G.  -  CTV  -  October 31, 1989 - March 19, 1994

Drama (96 episodes)

Running Time:  60 minutes

Stars:

Sara Botsford as Annie Hildebrandt

Mark Humphrey as Jake Antonelli

Art Hindle as Mike Fenell

Jonathan Welsh as Eric MacFarlane

Neil Dainard as J. C. Callahan

Karl Pruneras Dan Watson

Cynthia Belliveau as Terri Morgan

James Millington as Seth Miller

Mary Beth Rubens as Bobbi Katz

George R. Robertson as Kyle Copeland

Sherry Miller as Jane Oliver

Theresa Tova as Marge Atherton

Clark Johnson as Clarke Roberts

Rachael Crawford as Janice Roberts

Lisa LaCroix as Kelly Longstreet

Victor Garber as Adam Hirsch

#E.N.G. #TV #Drama #CTV #1990's #Sara Botsford #Mark Humphrey #Art Hindle

[victorianwhitechapel]

The International Day of Families is observed on 15 May every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 and reflects the importance the international community attaches to families. The International Day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

In human society, family (from Latin: familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as members mature and learn to participate in the community. In most human societies, the family is the primary locus of attachment, nurturance, and socialization.

The women victims of brutal attacks in and or around London’s Whitechapel area between 1873 and 1891 were daughters, granddaughters, nieces, aunties, mothers, grandmothers, cousins... Here's a list of all their known relatives:

Annie Smith Chapman:

Parents and siblings: Daughter of George Smith and Ruth (née Chapman). Older sister of Emily Latitia (b. 1844), George William Thomas (c. 2nd June 1844 ~ d. June 1854), Miriam (c. 25th January 1852 ~ d. June 1854), William (c. 1st February 1854 ~ d. June 1854), Georgina (b.1856), Mirium Ruth (b.1858), and Fountain Hamilton (b. 1861).

Husband and children: Married John Chapman (1869 – 1884). Mother of Emily Ruth (b. 25 June 1870 - d. ca. 1882), Annie Georgina (b. 5 June 1873), John Alfred (b. 21 November 1880).

Extended family: Uncle Thomas Smith. Daughter-in-law of George and Ann Chapman.

Catherine Eddowes

Parents and siblings: Daughter of George Eddowes and Catherine (née Evans). Younger sister of Alfred (c. 2nd August 1833), Harriet (c. 3rd October 1834), Emma (b. 30th November 1835), Eliza Gold (c. 14th May 1837) and Elizabeth Fisher (b. 1838). Older sister of Thomas (b. 9th December 1844), George (b. 1846 – d. 1885), John (b. January 1849 – d. 18th March 1849), Sarah Ann (b. 1850), Mary Ann (b. 1852) and William (b. 1854 – d. 1854).

Husband and children: Had a relatioship with Thomas Conway (1862 – 1881). Mother of Catherine Ann "Annie" (b. 18 April 1863), Thomas Lawrence (b. 8 December 1867), George (b. 15 August 1873), Frederick William (b. 21 February 1877). Common-law wife of John Kelly (1881 – 1888, her murder).

Extended family: Uncle William Eddowes, uncle Thomas Eddowes, aunt with unknown name, paternal grandfather Thomas Eddowes. More ancestors can be found here. Son in law was Louis Phillips (married to daughter Annie). Her great-great-great-grandaughter is Jean Smith and her daughter is Tracey Marks.

Emma Elizabeth Smith

Children: A son and a daughter.

Elizabeth Gustaffsdotter Stride

Parents and siblings: Daughter of Gustaf Ericsson and Beatta Carlsdotter. Younger sister of Anna Christin (b. 1840), older sister of Carl Bernard (b. 1848) and Svante (b.1851).

Husband and children: She gave birth to a stillborn daughter result of her 7th month pregnancy (21 April 1865). She married John Thomas William Stride (1869 – 1881) and the couple had no children.

Extended family: Daughter-in-law of William Stride and Elenor Monk Stride. Her husband had 8 more siblings. PC Walter Stride was her nephew by marriage. Her sister-in-law was Olena, married to her brother Carl Bernard; and her brother-in-law was Bernhard Olsson. Descendants relatives are John and Sally Edmonds (Sally is related to John Stride).

Alice Pitts McKenzie

Parents and siblings: Daughter of Charles Pitts and Martha (neé Watson). Younger sister of William (b. 1833), John (b. 1838), Martha (b. 1840) and Jane (b. 1843), older sister of Charles (b. 1847) and Thomas (b. 1850).

Husband and children: Married to Joseph Kinsey (1863 – 1867, his death). Mother of Joseph James Kinsey (b. 21 July 1866 – d. 12 October 1866). She was in a relatioship with John McCormack (1883 – 1889, her murder).

Mary Ann Walker Nichols

Parents and siblings: Daughter of Edward and Caroline Walker. Sister of Frederick and Edward Jr. One of them died on June 1886.

Husband and children: Wife of William Nichols (1861 – 1881). Mother of William Edward (b. 17 December 1864 – d. 1866), Edward John (b. 14 July 1866), Percy George (b. 18 July 1868), Alice Esther (b. December 1870), Eliza Sarah (b. December 1876), Henry Alfred (b. 4 December 1878).

Extended family: Her maternal aunt was Mary Webb. Maureen Nichols is a descendant.

Martha White Tabram

Parents and siblings: Daughter of Charles Samuel White and Elisabeth (neé Dowsett). Younger sister of Sarah Elizabeth (b. 1832), Henry (b. 1837), Esther (b. 1839), Stephen (b. 1842) and Mary Ann (b. 1847).

Husband and children: Married to Henry Samuel Tabram (1865 – 1875). Mother of Frederick John (b. February 1871) and Charles Henry (b. December 1872). Had a relationship with Henry Turner (1876 – 1888).

Extended family: Her parents-in-law were John and Hannah Tabram. Her sisters-in-law were Anna or Hannah and Mary, and her brothers-in-law were Thomas and William (Mary, Thomas and William Tabram were triplets). She has a step-son, Henry, from Henry Samuel's first marriage to Mathilda.

Frances Coles

Parents and siblings: She was the daughter of James William Coles and Mary Ann (née Carney). Her older sisters were Mary Ann (b. ca. 1853) and Selina Adelina (b. 25th October 1855 – d. 1897), and her youngerbrother was and James Jr. (b. 30th August 1862 – d. ca. 9th January 1889).

Extended family: Baby niece Selina Adelina (b. and d. 1877), daughter of her sister Selina.

Rose Mylett

Parents and siblings: Daughter of Henry Mylett and Margaret (nee Haley). Younger sister of Mary (b. 1855) and William (b. 1857), older sister of John (b. 1863).

Husband and children: Common-law wife of Thomas Davis (c. 1880 ~ 1883). Mother of Florence Beatrice "Flossie", "Florrie" (b. 22 October 1880), and Henry (b. 29 June 1883 – may had died in infancy).

Emily Atkins Horsnell

Parents and siblings: Unfortunately itis not known at the moment the names of Emily Atkins parents. She had a sister, Mrs. Ekins.

Husband and children: Emily was married to Alfred Horsnell (1880 – before 1886). She was the mother of Emily Horsnell (b. 1881).

Mary Kelly

Parents and siblings: Daughter of John Kelly. She had seven brothers (one of them called Henry) and at least one sister (not known if older or younger).

Husband and children: Married to a man with surname Davies (1879 ~ 1881, his death). They had no children.

Ada Elbury Wilson

Parents and siblings: Daughter of Henry Edwin Elbury and Emma (née Fry). She was the sister of Charles and Henry (don't know if older or younger), and the older sister of Rose, Emma and Thomas.

Husband and children: Ada married Samuel Wilson (1889 – 1891) and it is not known if they had children.

Extended family: A niece named Zoa Lavinia Elbury, daughter of her brother Henry.

Elizabeth Jackson

Parents and siblings: Daughter of John and Catherine Jackson. Younger sister of Annie and May, sister of James (not known if older or younger).

Husband and children: She was in a relatioship with John Fairclough (1888 – 1889, her murder) and was murdered when she was eight months pregnant.

#International Day of Families #Special dates #family #victims #19th century #victorian women #violence against women #Annie Chapman #Catherine Eddowes #Elizabeth Stride #Mary Ann nichols #Alice McKenzie #Martha Tabram #Frances Coles #Rose Mylett #Emily Horsnell #Mary Kelly #Ada Wilson #Elizabeth Jackson #women's history #history of women #father #mother #sibling #brother #sister #wife #husband #relationship #child

[kitausuret]

Yet another writing ask: 7, 9, 17, 36, 38! There's too many fun questions....

7. Favorite ao3 tag... Honestly? This might seem like a cop-out but, Established Relationship. It's my favorite to use AND to seek out. Like especially some ships, Peter Parker/Mary Jane Watson comes to mind, I don't really have any interest in reading or writing their getting together. Give me that married life. (This applies to other ships of mine too lmao just skipping straight to the domesticity like 🏃💨)

9. Thoughts on cliffhangers... mean but exciting. I don't typically end chapters on big cliffhangers, I think the only time I've done that in Dust to Dust was between chapters 4 and 5. Everything else has, at least in my opinion, been pretty reasonable? Like, oh it's the end of the day, time for the end of the chapter. Other people do cliffhangers a lot and I think they're fun especially if the fic is updating on a schedule. How people update on a schedule I have NO idea but kudos to them.

17. Past or present tense... past, past, past. Always past. Not sure why, I just always feel weird trying to write in present tense? Most of the books and literature I've read have been third person limited past tense (often with alternating POV) so I tend to write what I've read, since that's how I learned.

36. How do you come up with fic titles, and what's the one I'm most proud of... So, honest to god, lately I've been just snapping up either a line or a title of a song and calling it good. Like especially if I feel it has the vibe of the fic. Sometimes I've also just taken a phrase or saying and turned it around a little for the title. I have a few titles I'm very (or weirdly) proud of though lmao: - Put Your Best Foot Forward (a fic about... well, you can probably guess, because I think I'm hilarious) - Baby, it's -270.45°C Outside (the temperature of the vacuum of space, because. because the fic takes place in space.) - One Shy of a Royal Flush (because there were four of them... get it? *cymbal crash*) - Medal of Honor for Your Good Looks (a quote ripped directly from Amazing Spider-Man #574) - Careless of the Consequence (a line from one of my favorite RUSH songs, from one of my favorite albums, and I think that "Kid Gloves" is on both my Eddie and Flash playlists, so yeah, I liked this title. I think it embodies both these beautiful, stubborn idiots quite well.)

38. This never happened vs. this happened but fix-its... honestly I do both?? I tend to lean to the latter. Like when I do one of my many many MANY fics set after ASM #800 it's usually like, "Flash gets seriously injured BUT the Anti-Venom/Val/the Venom symbiote saves him", or in the case of Dust to Dust "Venomverse still happens BUT Mania and Venom develop a closer connection and she convinces Eddie to reach out to Flash". I think the closest I've gotten to just outright yelling, "nope, nope, nope" was Life is What You Make It where I completely overhauled Dylan's origin. I also have only 1 fic that acknowledges in any way shape or form the events of "Venom: First Host" and it will probably never get published, so I guess that's the other one I just close my eyes and pretend does not exist.

Thanks for all these super fun asks!

Ask me about my writing!

#asked and answered #kita talks writing

[ubaid214]

In the annals of scientific history, women have played pivotal jobs in surrounding our understanding of the world. Despite facing numerous barriers and prejudices, these trailblazing people have built groundbreaking discoveries, pressed the limits of knowledge, and flat the way for potential generations of scientists. This short article goes into the lives and benefits of some of the most powerful girl scientists for the duration of history.

Marie Curie (1867-1934): Marie Curie, a pioneering physicist and chemist, remains one of the very most popular researchers of all time. She was the first person to win a Nobel Treasure and the sole person to gain Nobel Rewards in two various medical fields – physics and chemistry. Curie's research on radioactivity laid the building blocks for numerous breakthroughs in nuclear science and medicine, revolutionizing our knowledge of the atom.

Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958): Rosalind Franklin was a British biophysicist whose work was crucial to the discovery of the double helix design of DNA. Despite her significant benefits, Franklin's position was usually overshadowed by her guy colleagues. Her revolutionary X-ray diffraction images of DNA presented important insights into their framework, putting the foundation for John Watson and Francis Crick's popular model.

Ada Lovelace (1815-1852): Ada Lovelace, frequently called the world's first pc programmer, was a mathematician and writer. In the 1840s, she collaborated with Charles Babbage on his technical general-purpose pc, the Analytic Engine. Lovelace's notes on the Diagnostic Engine involved what's now regarded the initial algorithm designed to be refined by a machine, getting her the name of the very first pc programmer.

Linda Goodall (1934-present): 人探し 名簿 Jane Goodall is just a famous primatologist and conservationist known for her amazing study of chimpanzees in Tanzania. Her meticulous findings of chimpanzee behavior pushed the prevailing scientific notions of times and provided valuable insights to the cultural and familial structures of the primates. Goodall's function revolutionized our comprehension of dog behavior and conservation biology.

Emmy Noether (1882-1935): Emmy Noether was a German mathematician whose perform greatly affected theoretical physics. Despite facing discrimination as a lady in academia, she produced significant benefits to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. Noether's theorem, called in her recognition, established a simple connection between symmetries and conservation regulations in science, sleeping the groundwork for much of modern theoretical physics.

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011): Wangari Maathai was a Kenyan environmentalist and political activist who created the Natural Belt Action, an business centered on environmental conservation and women's rights. Maathai's efforts to advertise reforestation and sustainable progress earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, making her the very first African woman to get this honor.

Hypatia of Alexandria (c. 360-415): Hypatia was a Greek mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who existed in Alexandria, Egypt. She is known as one of the primary scholars of her time, creating significant benefits to arithmetic and astronomy. Hypatia's intellectual achievements were amazing, particularly provided the societal limitations positioned on feamales in the old world.

Conclusion: The stories of the exceptional girls serve as pointers of the immense benefits that girls have built to the area of technology through the duration of history. Despite facing systemic barriers and discrimination, they persevered, pushed conventions, and remaining indelible scars on their respective fields. Once we celebrate their achievements, it is vital to acknowledge the significance of range and inclusivity in technology and strive to generate settings where all people may succeed and donate to the advancement of knowledge.

[phantom-le6]

Ramble of the month February 2024: 90’s MCU phase 5 – transitioning from Secret Wars to Infinity Wars

Having spent much of last month and a fair bit of this one working on submissions to literary agencies for my autism book, this month’s ramble and the one for next month took a bit of a back seat, and as such I’ve still not been able to vary myself away from delving further into my hypothetical Marvel and DC film universes.  Apologies to anyone who, like me, were hoping to vary things more.  However, hopefully what we cover in this ramble and the next will make up for it, and as April will be Autism Awareness time, I can guarantee something different for then.

By this point, I’m sure readers don’t need as much of a recap on what these posts to do with my 90’s-based MCU are about.  Long story short, I’ve done what the meme makers don’t; looked at the comic book and real-world history of Marvel from that era to create an actual 90’s based MCU instead of putting 90’s actors into a present-day MCU.  However, as we’re into a fifth phase and well past the 1990’s, we should at least quickly review phases 1-4 first.

Phase 1:

1992: Fantastic Four, Hulk, Iron Man

1993: Thor, Spider-Man, Ant-Man & The Wasp

1994: Captain America: Fantastic Four 2, Iron Man 2

1995: X-Men, Avengers, Daredevil

Phase 2:

1996: Spider-Man 2, Thor: Land of Enchantment, Silver Surfer

1997: Hulk vs Wolverine, Fantastic Four: Doomsday, Iron Man 3

1998: Captain America: Society of Serpents, Daredevil 2, X-Men 2

1999: Avenger 2, Spider-Man 3, Doctor Strange

Phase 3:

2000: Fantastic Four: World War III, Thor: Ragnarök, Daredevil 3

2001: Hulk: Rise of the Leader, X-Men: Fall of the Mutants, Avengers: Under Siege

2002: Doctor Strange 2, The Captain, Spider-Man 4

2003: Captain Britain, Fantastic Four: Enter the Negative Zone, Ghost Rider

Phase 4:

2004: Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Secret Wars: Part I

2005: Excalibur, Defenders, Ghost Rider 2

2006: X-Factor, Secret Wars: Part II, Heroes For Hire

2007: Namor the Submariner, Doctor Strange 3, Iron Man: Enter The Mandarin

As discussed in previous rambles, phase 1 was all about establishing the MCU and its characters, phase 2 was about the expansion and development of the continuity, while phase 3 was mostly about many characters and teams losing, being put on the back foot and so on.  Phase 4 then covered Secret Wars, which temporarily deprived Earth of some major MCU heroes to put them through a real alien war, and in the process also allowed some other heroes to come to the fore.  Phase 5 then becomes about following on from some of those plot threads while beginning the set-up for this MCU’s version of the Infinity War.  So, let’s quickly show you the phase 5 slate and then get right into the details of these would-be films.

Phase 5:

2008: Spider-Man 5, Fantastic Four: Unthinkable, Ms Marvel

2009: Elektra, Black Panther 2, Defenders 2

2010: X-Men: Proteus, Spider-Man 6, Ant-Man 2

2011: Silver Surfer 2, Avengers vs X-Men, Ghost Rider 3

Spider-Man 5 (2008) Directed by Matthew Vaughan

Peter Parker/Spider-Man = Wil Weaton

May Parker = Marg Helgenberger

Flash Thompson = Ben Affleck

J. Jonah Jameson = J.K. Simmons

Joseph "Robbie" Robertson = Denzel Washington

Betty Brant = Parker Posey

Ned Leeds = John Barrowman

Eddie Brock = Wentworth Miller

Randy Robertson = Taye Diggs

Harry Osborn = Ryan Phillipe

Mary-Jane Watson = Alison Hannigan

Herman Schultz/Shocker = Patrick Muldoon

Felicia Hardy/The Black Cat = Elisha Cuthbert

Roderick Kingsley/Hobgoblin = Michael Keaton

Quentin Beck/Mysterio = Nathan Fillion

Captain Jean DeWolff = Jessica Biel

Detective Stanley Carter/”Sin Eater” = James Marsden

In the first three Spider-Man films, we built up to Peter befriending the Osborns and dating Gwen, only for the Green Goblin/Death of Gwen story arcs to play out in Spider-Man 3.  The fourth film then gave Peter a clash with the Sinister Six as he struggles to come to terms with Gwen’s death.  Following Secret Wars, Peter now has the alien costume, and so film 5 is basically the alien costume story arc.  Sounding a little too much like the Raimi/Maguire Spider-Man 3?  Trust me, it’s not like that and for two key reasons.  Firstly, I’m not trying to shoe-horn Venom in for the third act, just set him up for another film.  Second, I’ve chosen Wentworth Miller of Prison Break and The Flash fame to play Eddie Brock, and that’s far from being our only change.

In this film, Peter’s occupied trying to stop a series of illusion thefts being committed on behalf of a new “kingpin”, who turns out to be the Hobgoblin, while also having to track down a notorious serial killer called the “Sin Eater”.  As the alien costume influences Peter ever more, the question becomes less will he stop all the criminals, but rather will he become one.  Matters are further complicated when costume thief Black Cat begins seducing Spider-Man and the alien costume pushes Peter to accept this despite his relationship with Mary-Jane.  The film culminates with a chance clash with the Shocker revealing the alien nature of Peter’s costume, forcing him to finally fight it off.  Eddie Brock gaining the symbiote is then handled in a credit’s scene.

Direction-wise, I picked Matthew Vaughan as he’s a proven superhero film director due to his work on X-Men: First Class.  He’s the fourth director to take a hand on Spider-Man solo film in this hypothetical MCU, with John Hughes having directed the first two, and 3 and 4 being handled by Frank Darabont and Martin Campbell, respectively.

Fantastic Four: Unthinkable (2008) Directed by Roland Emmerich

Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic = Tom Hanks

Susan Storm (Richards)/Invisible Woman = Meg Ryan

Johnny Storm/Human Torch = David Spade

Ben Grimm/Thing = Bryan Cranston

Alicia Masters = Heather Graham

Agatha Harkness = Angela Lansbury

Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom = Goran Višnjić

Hauptmann = Ronald Guttman

Nick Fury = Tommy Lee Jones

Black Bolt = Pierce Brosnan

Medusa = Elizabeth Hurley

Crystal = Dina Meyer

Gorgon = J.G. Hertzler

Karnak = Alexander Siddig

Triton = Orlando Bloom

T'Challa/Black Panther = Chadwick Boseman

Namor McKenzie/The Submariner = Christian Bale

Barbara "Bobbi" Morse/Mockingbird = Rebecca Romijn-Stamos

Jericho Drumm/Brother Voodoo = Doug E. Doug

Having had the Fantastic Four directed by Leonard Nemoy (films 1-2), Steven Spielberg (films 3-4) and Ridley Scott (film 5), this MCU closes out their share of films under the stewardship of Roland Emmerich, notable for such films as Independence Day, White House Down and Midway.  This film adapts the events of the storylines ‘Unthinkable’ and ‘Authoritative Action’, but leaves the events of ‘Hereafter’ to the comics and begins introducing the Infinity Stones.  Since non-comics fans and fans who haven’t read those stories won’t get those references, let’s do a quick summary.

In the comics, Doctor Doom turned to magic for an attack on the Fantastic Four, which resulted in Reed and Sue’s son Franklin being taken to hell, and the team having to storm Latveria to get him back.  During the incident, Doom scarred Reed before being dragged into hell.  Afterwards, Reed seized control of Latveria to dismantle Doom’s arsenal and craft a permanent prison for Doom, one in which Reed would serve as warden.  However, when the rest of the team tried to stop Reed, Doom somehow began to possess each in turn, ultimately forcing Reed to kill Ben Grimm just to stop Doom.  The events of the Hereafter arc involved a trip into the afterlife to bring Ben back, in the process healing Reed’s scars.

In this film, Franklin is kidnapped and taken to a demon dimension, and Sue leads a rescue team comprised of her, Ben Grimm, Brother Voodoo and the Black Panther to save Franklin while Reed and Johnny attack Doom, aided by the Inhumans and Namor the Submariner.  The attack seemingly defeats Doom, after which Reed leads the F4 to Latveria, seizing control of the nation.  Fearing Doom is somehow influencing Reed, Nick Fury of SHIELD intervenes along with Mockingbird, Voodoo, Namor and T’Challa, only for the seemingly captured Doom to begin telepathically controlling the other F4 members.  Ultimately, Reed manages to force a feedback that wipes Doom’s mind, but in the process, Ben Grimm dies as he does in the comics.  With Ben’s death, the Fantastic Four decide to step back from hero work, becoming a think tank called the Future Foundation.

The bulk of the film’s cast is from past films, with the only new addition being mystical nanny Agatha Harkness, played by Angela Lansbury in better keeping with the comics version of the character.  As for the Infinity Stone I mentioned, that would be the mind stone, which Doom uses to control the various F4 members until Reed works out Doom is channelling the stone’s power and creates the feedback.

Ms Marvel (2008) Directed by Gates McFadden

Carol Danvers/Ms Marvel = Melissa Joan Hart

Michael Barnett = Brian Krause

J. Jonah Jameson = J.K. Simmons

Frank Gianelli = Rory Cochrane

Tracey Burke = Kate Mulgrew

Tabitha Townsend = Kyla Pratt

Lynn Andersen = Amanda Seyfried

Mystique/Raven Darkholme = Connie Nielsen

Rogue = Anna Paquin

Avalanche = Alessandro Gassmann

Fred J Dukes/Blob = Vince Vaughan

Pyro = Hugh Jackman

Irene Adler/Destiny = Sally Field

When it comes to trying to tackle Carol Danvers in films, one story that’s yet to hit the big screen is the story of her downfall against the X-Man Rogue back when Rogue was part of Mystique’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.  Indeed, the 90’s animated series of the X-Men is the only adaptation to handle this, and they did it by neatly sidestepping some disturbing backstory.  Long story short, there was a story arc in the Avengers comics around the late 70’s/early 80’s where Carol (then codenamed Ms Marvel) was mind-controlled and raped by an extra-dimensional being so he could be reborn in a body compatible with Earth, then after fast-growing to adulthood, his presence caused a bunch of time disruptions.  When Carol then agreed to go with this being, the Avengers made no effort to prevent this.

When Chris Claremont wrote Rogue into Avengers Annual 10 and showed Rogue rocking Carol’s powers, the question that came to be asked was why Carol hadn’t sought out the Avengers upon returning to Earth, and the answer was made clear.  The team hadn’t shown any real concern for Carol during her strange accelerated pregnancy, and then let her go off with a blatantly mind-controlling rapist from another dimension.  As such, telling the story of Carol clashing with Rogue and the Brotherhood should never be an exact re-telling.  Claremont’s story in Avengers Annual 10 was as much about correcting what the writer of the main comics at that time had written, and with film adaptations, you’re better off just taking a different path entirely.

In this case, we’re showing Carol working as an investigative journalist for a Daily Bugle-owned women’s magazine, who uses the Ms Marvel identity to tackle crime where needed.  This is based on her original run in the comics, so we have Jameson borrowed from the Spider-Man films while using the magazine staff from the comics for supporting roles.  As for the villains, roles from past films like Mystique and Pyro are combined with newly cast actors to give us our second MCU Brotherhood.  The film draws in a mix of acting talent, with Melissa Joan Hart reprising the role of Carol Danvers, and Trek alumni Gates McFadden directing the film.  McFadden has played the mutant Plague/Pestilence for three X-films before this and has some directing experience, making her a good choice for this project.

Elektra (2009) Directed by Roxann Dawson

Elektra Natchios = Leonor Varela

Stick = Scott Glenn

Stone = Sigourney Weaver

Kirigi = Daniel Henney

Frank Simpson/Nuke = John Cena

Matsu'o Tsurayaba = Hiroyuki Sanada

Kwannon = Kelly Hu

Turk Barrett = Gary Dourdan

The story of Elektra following her death in Daredevil is one Fox didn’t quite get right, in large part because they tried to incorporate plot elements and tropes that didn’t tonally fit with the character.  Having used two Daredevil films to set her up before giving the character a one-shot solo film, I think the best thing is taking those bits out.  Instead, we get the Hand going after the Chaste with Elektra in the middle, and when Elektra proves more than they can handle, they bring in the pill-popping assassin known as Nuke.  It’s a straight-up martial arts action film initially, but then becomes a more Punisher-like action film when Nuke comes on the scene.

Trek alumni Roxann Dawson takes the helm because she’s one of the few women I know of that would be directing anything back around this time.  Considering that films with female leads are often better handled by female directors, it makes sense to try and make this the case wherever possible.  The cast is either retained from past films of picked to be more comic-accurate.  Case-in-point, picking American actor Scott Glenn to play Stick rather than English actor Terrence Stamp.

Black Panther 2 (2009) Directed by Tim Burton

T'Challa/Black Panther = Chadwick Boseman

Shuri = Tatyana Ali

Ramonda = Alfre Woodard

T'Chaka = Courtney B. Vance

W'Kabi = Chiwetel Ejiofor

Okoye = Nia Long

Zuri = Joseph Marcell

M'Baku = Idris Elba

Nakia = Lupita Nyong'o

Monica Lynne = Kerry Washington

Baron Macabre = Sterling K Brown

Jerome Beechman/Mandrill = Joaquin Phoenix

Nekra Sinclair = Toks Olagundoye

Kevin Plundarr/Ka-Zar = Chris Hemsworth

Shanna O'Hara = Scarlett Johansson

Zaladane = Jolene Blalock

Everett Ross = Martin Freeman

In Black Panther 2, T’Challa becomes allied with Ka-Zar of the Savage Land when it turns out his hidden jungle in Antarctica houses a cache of Vibranium to rival Wakanda’s.  Most would-be Vibranium hunters baulk at trying to gain the Antarctic variety due to the dinosaurs, but soon both nations are threatened when the woman-controlling mutant Mandrill, his adoptive sister Nekra, the Savage Land priestess Zaladane and Wakandan criminal Baron Macabre team up.  Due to the inclusion of some of these villains, I opted to switch from Tim Story to Tim Burton from a directing stand-point.  This film also features a change of role for a couple of real-world MCU alumni.

Defenders 2 (2009) Directed by Stephen Sommers

Dr Stephen Strange = Johnny Depp

Namor McKenzie/The Submariner = Christian Bale

Bruce Banner/Hulk = John Cusack

Silver Surfer = David Wenham

Valkyrie = Diane Kruger

Kyle Richmond/Nighthawk = Josh Duhamel

Patsy Walker/Hellcat = Mena Suvari

Wong = Will Yun Lee

Clea = Keira Knightley

Jericho Drumm/Brother Voodoo = Doug E. Doug

Dr Anthony Druid = Mark Strong

Daimon Hellstrom = James Van Der Beek

Dr Tania Belinsky (Belinskaya)/Red Guardian = Beatrice Rosen

Dr Arthur Nagan = Julian McMahon

Dr Jerold "Jerry" Morgan = Stellan Skarsgård

Ruby Thursday = Alyssa Milano

Harvey Schlemerman/Chondu the Mystic = Stanley Tucci

Shuma-Gorath = Geoffrey Rush

The Defenders, Marvel’s superhero non-team, return for a second instalment at this point, and I’ve picked Stephen Sommers as director based on him directing a live-action GI Joe film around the same time.  In this film, the few routinely active Defenders learn via immigrant Russian doctor and superhero Red Guardian that a team of scientists called the Headmen have stolen the Reality Stone from AIM in an effort to seize world power for themselves.  Allying with Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Defenders seek to stop the Headmen while Clea joins with Brother Voodoo, Dr Druid and Daimon Hellstrom to try and bring back Doctor Strange from the extra-dimensional limbo he sacrificed himself to in Doctor Strange 3.  At the same time, the Silver Surfer seeks the Hulk.  The whole team then comes together when the Headmen open a portal for Shuma-Gorath, in the process transforming into their strange comic-style appearances.

Everyone from Dr Druid on down in the cast list is new.  As for why we’re skipping over the original male Red Guardian and focusing on the second female iteration for this MCU, there’s two reasons.  First, the second female iteration served as a Defender in the original comics, and second, these MCU rambles are focused on the main film continuity, which in this version of the MCU is strictly cinematic.  TV shows, while allowed as tie-ins, are optional content, and while I’d happily allow a TV show to dive in on Black Widow and some other characters, I think a film was and is a bit much for a character with so little solo comics content.

X-Men: Proteus (2010) Directed by LeVar Burton

Storm/Ororo Monroe = Halle Berry

Polaris/Lorna Dane = Jeri Ryan

Wolverine/Logan = Tom Cruise

Peter Rasputin/Colossus = Henry Cavill

Remi LeBeau/Gambit = Zachary Levi

Cyclops/Scott Summers = Patrick Swayze

Jean Grey = Milla Jovovich

Warren Worthington III/Archangel = Neil Patrick Harris

Beast/Hank McCoy = Alec Baldwin

Robert Drake/Iceman = Michael Weatherley

Banshee/Sean Cassidy = Liam Neeson

Dr Moira Mactaggert = Olivia Williams

Mystique/Raven Darkholme = Connie Nielsen

Rogue = Anna Paquin

Avalanche = Alessandro Gassmann

Fred J Dukes/Blob = Vince Vaughan

Pyro = Hugh Jackman

Irene Adler/Destiny = Sally Field

Professor Charles Xavier = Patrick Stewart

Kevin Mactaggert/Proteus = Iain De Caestecker

Joseph Mactaggert = John Hannah

Rahne Sinclair/Wolfsbane = Bonnie Wright

Danielle Moonstar = Selena Gomez

Jubilee = Chloe Bennett

Everett Thomas/Synch = Christopher Massey

Douglas Ramsey/Cypher = Devon Bostick

With the third X-Men film Fall of the Mutants having split the X-Men up, and a combination of the Secret Wars duology, Excalibur and X-Factor films following events for the divided team, this fourth X-Men film is intended to reunite some of the scattered team into a new whole.  It also gives Rogue her defection from the Brotherhood following the events of Ms Marvel.  In this film, Moira Mactaggert’s son Proteus emerges as a dangerous mutant and begins a rampage across to Scotland.  With Excalibur unavailable, X-Factor is summoned while the X-Men pursue Mystique’s Brotherhood to Scotland.  The two teams meet up and reunite when they find Professor X is also with Moira, having been recuperating on Muir Island since being released from a SHIELD hospital (this is set-up over end-credit scenes for Fall of the Mutants and X-Factor).

Direction-wise, the X-Men have been handled initially by Jonathan Demme and then Jonathan Frakes in films bearing their team’s name, while Excalibur was helmed by Christopher Nolan and X-Factor by LeVar Burton.  For this film, I’ve put Burton back in the director’s chair.  Casting-wise, I imagine same fans will be perplexed by my choice of Chloe Bennett for Jubilee.  This is because Bennett is of a mixed ancestry that includes having a Chinese mother, and while the ideal is always to try for exact representation from the comics, there aren’t many actresses active in Hollywood around the time of this film with even one parent of Chinese descent, let alone two.

As such, the question becomes which do you compromise; Jubilee’s racial background or her nationality?  My choice, compromise slightly on racial background and bring in some plot threads relating to prejudice against people of mixed race.  Quite honestly, characters of mixed race are among those groups under-represented in film and TV, so if I have to compromise, let me at least try and do so in a positive way.

Spider-Man 6 (2010) Directed by Matthew Vaughan

Peter Parker/Spider-Man = Wil Weaton

May Parker = Marg Helgenberger

J. Jonah Jameson = J.K. Simmons

Joseph "Robbie" Robertson = Denzel Washington

Betty Brant = Parker Posey

Ned Leeds = John Barrowman

Eddie Brock/Venom = Wentworth Miller

Randy Robertson = Taye Diggs

Mary-Jane Watson-Parker = Alison Hannigan

Flash Thompson = Ben Affleck

Felicia Hardy/The Black Cat = Elisha Cuthbert

Sha Shan Nguyen = Grace Park

Captain Jean DeWolff = Jessica Biel

Anne Weying = Michelle Williams

Principal Harrington = Viggo Mortensen

Lance Bannon = Hayden Christensen

Gloria "Glory" Grant = Candice Patton

In the sixth of our Spider-Man films, and the last to both start and end with Peter Parker wearing the webs, we showcase Peter and MJ preparing for their upcoming wedding, but the pair are stalked by Eddie Brock, who has now joined with the Venom symbiote and seeks to make Peter’s life hell.  He attempts to manipulate the Black Cat into being his co-conspirator as well, preying on her jealousy after the symbiote-free Spider-Man resists her seduction.  The story ultimately culminates in Venom trying to force Peter into a no-win situation where he has to choose who to save; Mary-Jane or Felicia.  Matthew Vaughan returns to direct, and we get a few extra supporting cast members in lieu of the various villains of Spider-Man 5.

Ant-Man 2 (2010) Directed by Peyton Reed

Hank Pym/Ant-Man = Michael Douglas

Scott Lang/Ant-Man II = Paul Rudd

Maggie Lang = Judy Greer

Cassie Lang = Joey King

William Cross/Crossfire = Ethan Hawke

Taskmaster = Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Alex Gentry/Porcupine = Nick Offerman

Janice Lincoln/Beetle = Naya Rivera

Having left Ant-Man alone in terms of solo films since phase 1, phase 2 marks a return for Hank Pym, who by this point has been out of action since a mental break-down forced him to retire.  Now of sound mind again, he tries to deal with tech thief Crossfire, who steals the prototype for a new, more aggressive variant of the Ant-Man suit, the Yellowjacket.  However, Hank’s old suit is not safe to use as it clashes with his neuro-chemistry, risking more mental break-down.  Even worse, it’s been stolen.  In tracking down the Ant-Man suit, Hank encounters desperate divorced father Scott Lang, who stole the suit to get money to cover his daughter’s medical treatment.

With this film, the aim is to pass the mantle of Ant-Man to Scott Lang in a more comics-accurate manner, while at the same time preserving certain casting that the MCU got right, hence why Pym, Scott and Maggie are all retained from the real MCU.  In terms of Cassie, I switched to Joey King as she’s had a remarkably steady record of employment for a non-Disney child actress, and I think she’s a great choice to take up this role for the remainder of this hypothetical MCU.  Direction-wise, I figured it best to stick with the choices of the real MCU and go for Peyton Reed, having had to go with Sam Raimi on the 90’s-made first Ant-Man of this MCU.

Silver Surfer 2 (2011) Directed by JJ Abrams

Silver Surfer = David Wenham

Thanos = Josh Brolin

Mentor = Michael McKean

Eros/Starfox = Joel McHale

Gamora = Zoe Saldana

Drax the Destroyer = Dean Cain

Adam Warlock = Chris Pine

Pip the Troll = Peter Dinklage

Nebula = Emma Stone

Mar-Vell/Captain Marvel = Jude Law

Following the events of Defenders 2, the Silver Surfer finds himself drawn into yet more Infinity Stone adventures when Kree hero Captain Marvel and the android Drax the Destroyer come to Earth with Adam Warlock, keeper of the Soul Gem.  Hot on their heels are Thanos and Nebula, each of whom has begun to seek the Infinity Stones.  Worse still, Mar-Vell is dying of cancer.  The film is meant to advance the Infinity Stones plot while also adapting the death of Mar-Vell from the comics, not to mention setting up for the Guardians of the Galaxy to appear in the next phase.

For direction, I’ve picked JJ Abrams based on his Star Trek and Star Wars work making him a decent choice for a space-based hero like the Silver Surfer.  In terms of casting, we have a few reprises from past films in this 90’s MCU and from the real MCU.  However, some shifts have also occurred, most notably with Drax due to wanting to use his original comics origins over the revised MCU/later comics version.  The would-be autistic representation of Bautista and Gunn’s Drax quickly become so much farce, so as an autistic person, I’d just as soon avoid that and go down the android route, thanks very much.

Avengers vs X-Men (2011) Directed by Jonathan Frakes

Cyclops/Scott Summers = Patrick Swayze

Jean Grey = Milla Jovovich

Storm/Ororo Monroe = Halle Berry

Wolverine/Logan = Tom Cruise

Peter Rasputin/Colossus = Henry Cavill

Remi LeBeau/Gambit = Zachary Levi

Warren Worthington III/Archangel = Neil Patrick Harris

Rogue = Anna Paquin

Steve Rogers/Captain America = Brad Pitt

Thor = Dolph Lundgren

Janet Van Dyne/Wasp = Catherine Zeta Jones

Iron Man/Tony Stark = Tom Selleck

Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk = Lucy Lawless

T'Challa/Black Panther = Chadwick Boseman

Sam Wilson/Falcon = Will Smith

Peter Parker/Spider-Man = Wil Weaton

Professor Charles Xavier = Patrick Stewart

Carol Danvers = Melissa Joan Hart

Mystique/Raven Darkholme = Connie Nielsen

Avalanche = Alessandro Gassmann

Fred J Dukes/Blob = Vince Vaughan

Pyro = Hugh Jackman

Irene Adler/Destiny = Sally Field

Frank Bohannan/Crimson Commando = Harrison Ford

Louis Hamilton/Stonewall = James Brolin

Martin Fletcher/Super-Sabre = Peter Fonda

Dr Valerie Cooper = Malin Åkerman

Sebastian Gilbreti/Bastion = Bruce Greenwood

Congressman Rev. William Stryker = Eric Roberts

Forge = Jimmy Smits

There have been two occasions in Marvel comics where the X-Men and Avengers have been drawn into direct conflict, at least using multiple issues of a comic and to my knowledge.  The first is the 1980’s mini-series X-Men versus Avengers, where the Avengers attempted to arrest Magneto to resume his trial before the world court, while the Soviet Super-Soldiers sought to arrest Magneto for his actions in X-Men #150.  As Magneto was part of the X-Men at the time, this naturally put all three teams at odds with each other.  The second occasion was the AvX storyline in which Cyclops, Emma Frost, Namor, Colossus and Magik became possessed by the Phoenix Force, something the Avengers tried to prevent and later combat.

While this film draws on the basic concept of both series, that something sets the Avengers and the X-Men at odds with each other, it’s not about arresting Magneto or issues with the Phoenix force.  Instead, the issue is Rogue; her status as a mutant terrorist is used to convince the Avengers to apprehend the X-Men.  This is bad timing, as the X-Men are working with Rogue to help restore the mind of Carol Danvers.  The masterminds of the plot are rabid anti-mutant politician William Stryker and government advisor Sebastian, who in reality is a new form of sentinel in disguise.  Luckily, government advisor and secret mutant Forge is suspicious of Bastion and convinces NSA director Dr Valerie Cooper to set up a contingency plan.

As a result, the film builds to a climax where, after the intervention of Spider-Man ends a major fight between the two teams, Bastion unleashes his prime sentinels.  Enter Mystique’s expanded Brotherhood in their guise as community service government heroes Freedom Force, and the stage is set for a truly epic battle.  Direction-wise, I opted for Jonathan Frakes to helm this entry, and while many actors are reprising roles from past films, everyone from Crimson Commando on down is new to the MCU as of this film.

Ghost Rider 3 (2011) Directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider = Connor Trinneer

Roxanne Simpson = Jessica Alba

Eric Brooks/Blade = Jamie Foxx

Rachel Van Helsing = Cote De Pablo

Daimon Hellstrom = James Van Der Beek

Vlad Tepish/Dracula = Mads Mikkelsen

Lilith = Felicity Jones

Mephistopheles = Jeffery Combs

Phase 5 of our 90’s MCU closes out by bringing Johnny Blaze’s time as Ghost Rider to its conclusion, in a story where Johnny teams up with Blade, Rachel Van Helsing and Daimon Hellstrom against Dracula and his daughter Lilith, who are secretly in league with Mephistopheles.  The film is partly an original plot and partly an adaptation of the end of the original Ghost Rider run of comics, though it’s far from being the last Ghost Rider film of this MCU.  Just as the comics would have others take up the Ghost Rider curse after Blaze, so too will this MCU move onto those later riders in turn.  Having used Tim Burton on the first two Ghost Rider films in this MCU, I’ve picked Mark Steven Johnson who handled the 2007 Nicholas Cage Ghost Rider film to take on this third instalment of 90’s MCU Ghost Rider.

This wraps up our look into phase 5 of this 90’s-based MCU; next month, we’ll cover phase 5 of our alternate DC movie universe.  Until then, ta-ta for now.

#fancast #mcu