Marvel Mangaverse
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The Marvel Mangaverse is a series of graphic novels published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2002, with a sequel "New Mangaverse" released in late 2005/early 2006.
The series depicts an alternate Marvel universe (and possibly a splinter version of said universe) in which the characters are drawn and portrayed in a Manga-like style. Three volumes were published for the series, two of which were connected by a continuing story arc with multiple Marvel characters, while the third and fourth series each started a new story and focused on a single character, which were Spider-Man Mangaverse and Jean Grey of an alternate version (apparently) of X-Men Mangaverse.
By 2005, Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005 has given the numerical designation of "Marvel Mangaverse" as Earth-2301. The majority of the artwork in the first volume seemed to bounce between different artists but seemed to be primarily in the hands of Ben Dunn, whose work is best known on the comic series Ninja High School. Dunn also did the entirety of the artwork for volume 2 of Mangaverse.
Contents |
[edit] Volume 1
Plot: Three years prior to the story Dr. Banner discovered the Negative Zone, a dimension which contains vast amounts of energy, and was tricked by the terrorist organization HYDRA into building "the Energy Well", a means of harvesting this energy, to power their weapon of mass destruction. However, when the weapon was fired it created a massive EMP which caused a global blackout for twenty-four hours, killing thousands. During this time of crisis, Prince Namor of Atlantis led an invasion of the surface but was stopped by Iron Man, who disappeared soon after. Toni Stark rescued the now insane Dr. Banner and suppressed any memory of his involvement from his mind with a Cerebral Driver.
[edit] Characters
Iron Maiden - Antoinette "Toni" Stark a former S.H.I.E.L.D agent and the sister of Tony Stark. Also the current owner of Stark Industries. Unlike her brother, Toni has made her identity public and opened defense contracts with the U.S. military. Revealed in the final issue of the first volume to share a loving bond with Bruce Banner. Ascends to another plane of existence at the conclusion with Bruce.
Bruce Banner - Currently reconstructing "the Energy Well" for Stark Industries. Gained the ability to summon gods after being exposed to gamma radiation when the well malfunctioned. Has a love for Toni Stark that is shared by her. Ascends to another plane of existence at the conclusion alongside her
Wasp - Janet Van Dyne is an employee of Stark Industries and the creator of W.A.S.P. (Winged Amplification Surge Plasma) which allows her to fly. Differs from the original Wasp whose powers came from experimentation by Hank Pym, and also could change size via a serum.
Hank Pym - A boy genius/rock star, called to Stark Island to help Banner construct "the Energy Well". Can control ants with his guitar like Ant-Man did with his helmet but like the Wasp is unable to change size.
Black Panther/Falcon - T'Challa came to Stark Island as a representative of the African nation of Wakanda, uses mystic arts to become the half human/half panther hero. He can also change his totemnic power and become this reality's Falcon
Storm - Ororo Munroe was a member of a witch coven where she learned how to summon the elements of weather and now leads the X-Men. Villainous mutant Amanda Sefton was a friend of Ororo but tried to bring back the evil spirit Magnus.
Doctor Strange - Stephen Strange is portrayed very similarly to his regular Marvel Universe counterpart. He is the Master of the Mystic Arts, has a rivalry with Baron Mordo, continually researches new spells, and watches over the world. His assistant is Tigra.
Tigra - Tigra works as Doctor Strange's assistant and "sidekick" of sorts. In this incarnation, she was cursed into her were-tiger form, and must accomplish 1000 good deeds for the curse to be broken.
The Incredible Hulk - not, as in other incarnations, an alternate form of Bruce Banner, the Mangaverse Hulk is merely summoned into existence by Banner. More than 70 feet tall, and drawing heavily from Godzilla, this Hulk serves Dormammu.
[edit] Volume 2
The second Mangaverse graphic novel continued storylines produced in the original series which was later collected as the first graphic novel. This series, at the start, brought back the Mangaverse version of the Fantastic Four, though slightly modified in appearance from the initial look they had in the mid-part of the first volume, though in the final issue they look as they do in volume 2), introduced Galactus as a parasitic life form created by the Skrulls, as well as unveiling The Watcher, who appears to be the closest in characterization to the mainline Watcher than any other Mangaverse character does to their counterparts, a 12 year old Captain Marvel, and gigantic versions of four heralds of Galactus from the mainline Marvel universe, and Mangaverse versions of the Inhumans. An armored individual resembling Doctor Doom made a cameo in these first few issues, who then became the primary villain for the remainder of the series, revealed to be the sister of Black Panther, this version of Doom decimates the Avengers, and it is only through the combined efforts of the Fantastic Four, The Mangaverse Doctor Strange, his assistant Tigra, and the Scarlet Witch (the lone surviving member of the Mangaverse Avengers) to defeat this version of Doom and restore some semblance of order after the mayhem caused by Doom. The Scarlet Witch did not appear in the New Mangaverse storyline (though she was likely slain as were 99% of the world's other heroes), though Tigra and Doctor Strange appeared in the first few pages of the New Mangaverse comic to be brutally murdered by the Hand ninja.
[edit] Spider-Man Mangaverse
The Mangaverse Spider-Man first appeared in the first series, where his origin was very different from the regular Marvel Spider-Man. In the Mangaverse Peter Parker is the last member of the spider clan of ninjas and has been taught martial arts by his sensei, Uncle Ben. After Ben's murder by Venom, an underling of the Kingpin, Peter starts to train in secret so he will be strong enough to exact his revenge. In this version of Spider-Man Aunt May is Peter's mother's sister instead of Uncle Ben being his father's brother. The Mangaverse Spider-Man was brought back for his own mini-series, in which he encounters a cybernetic version of the Black Cat, as well as the Venom symbiote. Interestingly enough, the Symbiote does not become Venom, as there already is an individual using that name in this reality. He is, apparently, Spider-Man's older cousin, as in this timeline Ben and May Parker have a son, one much older than Peter, who first appeared in the original Mangaverse appearance of Spider-Man. Venom is responsible for Ben Parker's death in this reality. The symbiote is given mystical origins this time around and appears to have connections to an 'evil' clan of Ninja who are affiliated with Spiders, apparently they are a counterpoint to Spider-Man's own ninja clan. Norman Osborn, better known to most as the Green Goblin, has a minor appearance in the series. apparently intended as the start of a second story arc, however, this was never resolved due to the ending of the Mangaverse line after the Ronin mini-series.
[edit] X-Men Mangaverse
The X-Men first appeared in the first series of one-shots which were later compiled into volume one of Marvel Mangaverse. Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Mirage and Jean Grey form the core of this group. Rogue doesn't appear to be an actual member of the group, though she does live with them. In this version of the X-Men, it is Wolverine, not Xavier, who has put the team together. He has one set of metal claws, most likely adamantium, and another set, on his left hand, composed of energy. He has white hair and a strange tattoo on his face, possible meant to be the Greek symbol Omega. In this story, Wolverine and Cyclops are brothers, and Wolverine cost Cyclops one of his eyes, while it is hinted that Cyclops cost Wolverine one of his hands. (This seems to be why one of Wolverine's sets of claws is energy while the other is metal. Throughout this story with the exception of a pair of panels, Wolverine was depicted with two flesh and blood hands, but his left hand had claws of energy, not adamantium. The flesh and blood appearance of both hands continued in the final issue of the first arc of Mangaverse). He is also hinted to have had a relationship with Jean Grey, who had begun to favor Cyclops. Several other characters, good and evil, appear in this story, most of whom are forces for evil, including The Beast, Amanda Sefton, Mystique and Nightcrawler.
[edit] X-Men: Ronin
This storyline centered around The X-Men and the Hellfire Club, who were battling on-and-off during the entirety of the story arc, due to the Hellfire Club's continued attempts to abduct Jean Grey and bring her into their group. During this storyline, Storm, who is not a witch in this storyline, but simply a mutant with power over the weather like the mainstream Marvel Universe, develops an attraction to Forge. The Phoenix Force, which was briefly glimpsed when Rogue tapped into it in the first volume of Mangaverse, has a much more important role here as Jean begins to either develop the Phoenix powers, or else is possessed by them. The X-Men's physical appearances is the same except Wolverine now has black hair, no tattoo on his face and a mechanical right hand with energy claws on that hand rather than the energy claws being on his left hand as they were in the first volume (Although not implicitly stated, it seems that the concept of Logan and Scott as brothers and each costing the other a part of their body intricately connected to their offensive capabilities still happens here.) Jean Grey remains exactly as she appeared in the first volume of Mangaverse as do Cyclops, Storm, Charles Xavier and Rogue, Furthermore, Charles Xavier is depicted as the leader of the Hellfire Club, putting him into direct opposition to the X-Men and has two daughters Sage and Emma Frost. The Sentinels are Mecha, piloted by humans, one of whom is Forge, who is killed in battle with both the X-Men, and then more or less obliterated by Jean Grey's newly developing Phoenix powers. The X-Men are advised by Toad who is a very wise and Yoda-like person. As one of Charles Xavier's ex-best friends, Toad is determined to destroy the Hellfire Club and bring Charles back to the X-Men.
[edit] The Punisher Mangaverse
In this self-contained storyline (written by Peter David, and pencilled by Lea Hernandez), The Punisher is a female named Sosumi Brown, who is also the principal of an unnamed private school. In the story (set in Tokyo), The Punisher fights against the Korean Skang Kee crime family, led by Skang Kee Ho. The Skang Kee family uses an Oni (Japanese demon) named Oni Yew to try and stop her, but The Punisher's sister (Hashi Brown) finds out about her secret, and in the process obtains a cursed weapon which she uses to slay the Oni and save her sister. (In the story, it is explained they they are orphans due to the death of their parents in "a tragic pogo stick accident".)
Unlike Frank Castle, Mangaverse Punisher does not use firearms, but martial art skills and a whip, which she uses to punish evildoers into submission; she also has a predisposition for bizare forms of "punishment, including tickling a crime lord's feet with feathers, or spanking someone on the bottom. Also, she uses a costume which makes her resemble a geisha, and wears facial makeup which give off the illusion of her face being a skull. Her base of operations is located within the school where she works; the entrance opens by moving a small skull inside her office.
The Punisher of Marvel Mangaverse was part of the stories collected into volume 1 of the Marvel Mangaverse graphic novels, and has not been seen since the first run of stories.
