Hi everyone. Welcome back for another edition of the Handbook. We’ve got some emails and a post to cover. Plus I answered your question Daron!
Daron’ll have to read the column to get the answer to his question, since it’s me, Chris, speaking to you from the great unknown. Daron had a prior engagement, so I’ve been “asked” to join you once again, Jim.
Speaking of, hey Daron, how has your week been?
The week has been going very well. I just saw The Doors: Strange Days Festival last night, what a great rock concert! Not only did The Doors play, but other classic rock legends like The Yardbirds, Vanilla Fudge, and Steppenwolf kicked ass too. The show was opened by the Pat Traver’s Band, which were cool in their own right. Easily one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen, and it only cost me $15!
Cool. Care to start already?
Ready in: 3, 2, 1…
Then let’s go
Daron asked me this in last week’s column
As far as Mags goes, I always assumed he was from Israel but that may be a mistake. But either way I’d just use him from whatever country he is from. So Jim got the answer to that one?
From the Official Handbook:
Place of birth: Unrevealed, probably somewhere in Northern Europe
He was a survivor of Auschwitz, which, if I am remembering things correctly, is in Poland. He also witnessed the murder of his family and entire village by Nazis as a small boy. So, even without specific country of origin, Magneto counts for Daron’s team.
I had more complaints about choosing Thor and Hercules. But if he moved Herc to say Greece instead he’d still work. Thor, however, is from Asgard, which is not on Earth. Thus, that one is pretty hard to justify.
I was a history major, so I can help out a little more here. Auschwitz was definitely in Poland, and it is probably the most infamous of the concentration camps. Approximately one million Jews were wiped out by the Nazis in Auschwitz.
As for Magneto being from Israel, well, that’s impossible. You see, Israel did not become a nation until 1948–three years after the close of World War II.
So ends the history lesson.
Zod got mad, got green, and asked
Here’s another question Jim —
I’ve been reading Hulk’s Counter-Earth saga (Incredible Hulk vol. 1 #176-178, otherwise known as the “Adam Warlock is Really Jesus” story). I don’t have Hulk 179 and the usual sources (Marvel Chronology Project) aren’t really clear about what happened next on that planet. So…whatever happened to Counter-Earth? Please provide series and issue numbers so I know what to read next.
Thanks much.
Alright. This might be hard.
Marvel Premiere #1-2
Warlock #1-2
Hulk #158
Warlock #3-8
Hulk #176-178
Marvel Two-In One #62-63
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #3-4
Earth X issue?
The original Counter-Earth was created by the High Evolutionary. In the end, Counter Earth was taken from him by the Beyonders.
Franklin-verse began as other-dimensional. Eventually it got shifted into our universe, and took the place of the old Counter-Earth.
The old Spider-Man Unlimited cartoon also took place on Counter Earth.
Being a rather large fan of Hulk, I’ve read every issue of his series. The Hulk’s trips to Counter-Earth were always fun. I enjoyed his battles with the High Evolutionary. One of these days I should pick up the rest of the Counter-Earth appearances to see what happened.
George emails
Hi, Do you think Bucky could beat any of DC’s sidekicks. I mean the guy killed Nazis for a living I think he could take out a least a few of the Robins, right? And for the sake of argument, let’s stick the sidekicks as sidekicks so we’re dealing with Grayson as Robin, not Nightwing.
Thanks for answering this ridiculous question,
Ok here’s who we’ll have in the competition
Battlestar (Lemar Hoskins)
Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)
Bucky I (Bucky Barnes)
Bucky II (Fred Davis)
Bucky IV (Rick Jones )
Bucky V (Rikki Barnes)
D-Man (Dennis Dunphy)
Diamondback III (Rachel Leighton)
Falcon II (Sam Wilson)
Free Spirit (Cathy Webster)
Golden Girl I (Betsy Ross)
Jack Flagg (Jack)
Nomad II (Jack Monroe)
Robin I (Dick Grayson)
Robin II (Jason Todd)
Robin III (Tim Drake)
Robin IV (Stephanie Brown)
Robin V (Carrie Kelly)
Toro I (Thomas “Toro” Raymond)
Vegabond (Priscilla Lyons)
If it is every man and woman for themselves, I’d take Toro above since he actually has powers and would most likely be able to take them all.
But if it’s Buckies (Include Nomad) vs. the Robins (all of them) I would take Bucky I. He was the best Bucky and could take Dick Grayson (the best Robin).
I’d take Bucky too. Especially since we got to see him in some serious combat action (ie. killing Nazis) just recently in Ed Brubaker’s run on Captain America. That was one bad-assed little kid.
X-Men: The End
Slipstream
Real Name: Cameron Davis
Occupation: Slave, Former Adventurer
Place of Birth: Unrevealed location in Australia
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Miles Warbeck (father, Viceroy, deceased), Heather Cameron (sister, Lifeguared), Unnamed Shi’ar Mother
Group Affiliation: Former member of X-Men
Powers: teleporter
Base of Operations: Slavers homeworld
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Hair: blonde
Eyes: blue
First Appearance X-Treme X-Men #6
Cable
Real Name: Nathan Christopher Summers
Occupation: soldier, adventurer
Other Aliases: Nathan Dayspring Askani’son, Chosen One, Stryfe, Nathan Winters, Soldier X
Place Of Birth: Xavier’s School For Gifted Youngsters, Westchester County, New York
Marital Status: Widowed
Known Relatives: Scott Summers (father, Cyclops), Madeline Pryor (mother, Goblin Queen), Christopher Summers (grandfather, Corsair), Katherine Anne Summers ( grandmother, deceased), Alexander Summers (Uncle, Havok), Philip Summers (great-grandfather), Deborah Summers (great-grandmother), Jean Grey (step-mother, Phoenix IV), Tyler (son in alternate future, deceased), Rachel Summers (sister), Alex Summers Jr. (brother), Meg Summers (sister), Emma Frost (stepmother)
Group Affiliation: Ally of Irene Merryweather, Former member of X-Force, New Mutants, X-Men, Former ally of Blacksmith I, X-Man
Powers: Has telepathy and telekinesis.
Base of Operations: Hindu Kush
Height: 6’8
Weight: 350lbs
Hair: white
Eyes: blue
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #201
Stepford Cuckoos
Current Group Leader: None
Former Group Leaders: None
Current Members: Phoebe, two unnamed
Former Members: Sophie (d), Esme (d)
Occupation: students, adventurers
Place Of Birth: Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
Marital Status: single supposedly
Other Aliases: None
Powers: Telepathy
Base of Operations: Xavier Institute for Higher Learning
First Appearance: New X-Men #118
Divinity
Real Name: unknown
Occupation: criminal
Other Aliases: none known
Place Of Birth: Heroes Reborn Earth
Marital Status: unknown
Known Relatives: none known
Group Affiliation: Marauders
Powers: Shape-shifting parasite
Base of Operations: hidden location
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Hair: none
Eyes: white
First Appearance: Heroes Reborn: Ashema # 1
Technarx
Origin Galaxy: unknown
Star System: unknown
Planet: Host homeworld
First Appearance: Heroes Reborn: Doom # 1
Shaitan
Real Name: unknown
Occupation: criminal
Other Aliases: Storm
Place Of Birth: unknown
Marital Status: unknown
Known Relatives: unknown
Group Affiliation: Marauders
Powers: unknown
Base of Operations:
Height: 5’11
Weight: 127lbs
Hair: blue
Eyes: blue
First Appearance: X-Treme X-Men #10
Shakti
Real Name: Shakti
Occupation: Criminal, former battle mage of the Enchanters Guild
Other Aliases: unknown
Place Of Birth: Heroes Reborn Earth
Marital Status: unknown
Known Relatives: unknown
Group Affiliation: Marauders
Powers: sorceress
Base of Operations: hidden location
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Hair:
Eyes:
First Appearance: Heroes Reborn: Ashema # 1
Moonstar
Real Name: Danielle “Dani” Moonstar
Occupation: Captive, Former Adventurer
Other Aliases: None
Place Of Birth: Boulder, Colorado
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: William Lonestar (father), Peg Lonestar (mother), Black Eagle (grandfather, deceased)
Group Affiliation: former member of Valkyrie, MLF, SHIELD, New Mutants, and X-Force
Powers: psionic force
Base of Operations: unknown
Height: 5 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 105 lbs.
Eyes: Dark brown/black
Heir: Black
First Appearance: Marvel Graphic Novel #4
X-23
Real Name: unknown
Occupation: Adventurer
Place Of Birth: unknown
Marital Status: single
Known Relatives: Wolverine?? (possible father)
Group Affiliation: X.S.E.
Powers: Adamantium claws
Base of Operations: unknown
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Hair: black
Eyes: brown
First Appearance: NYX # 3
Warpath
Real Name: James Proudstar
Occupation: Adventurer, student
Other Aliases: Thunderbird II
Place Of Birth: Camp Verde, Arizona
Marital Status: Single
Relatives: Neal (father, deceased), Maria (mother, deceased), Grandfather (unnamed, deceased), John (Thunderbird, brother, deceased)
Group Affiliation: X-Force, Former member of X-Corps, Hellions, New Mutants
Known Relatives: Neal Proudstar (father, deceased), Maria Proudstar (mother, deceased), John Proudstar (brother, Thunderbird I, deceased), grandfather (presumed deceased)
Group Affiliation: X-Force, former member of Hellions I, New Mutants
Powers: Superhuman strength, speed, stamina and durability
Base of Operations: X-Force base
Height: 7’2″
Weight: 350 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
First Appearance: New Mutants Vol.1 #16
Shatterstar
Real Name: Gaveedra-7
Occupation: Adventurer, warrior
Other Aliases: Benjamin Russell
Place Of Birth: presumed unidentified location in an alternate future of Mojo’s dimension
Martial Status: Married
Known Relatives: Windsong (wife)
Group Affiliation: X-Force, Former member of Cadre Alliance, New Mutants, X-Corps
Powers: enhanced senses and physical abilities
Base of Operations: X-Force base
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 195 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Reddish blonde
First Appearance: New Mutants Vol.1 #99
Hela
Real Name: Hela
Occupation: Goddess of death, ruler of Hel and Niffelheim
Other Aliases: None
Place Of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Loki (alleged father), Angrboga (mother, deceased)
Group Affiliation: None
Powers: touch of death
Base of Operations: Hel
Height: 7 ft.
Weight: 500 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Grey
First Appearance: Journey Into Mystery #102
Marie D’Ancanto
Real Name: Marie Jennifer D’Ancanto
Occupation: Shadowcat’s campaign manager, Former Student at the Xavier Institute
Other Aliases: none
Place Of Birth: unknown
Marital Status: single
Known Relatives: unknown
Group Affiliation: Former X-Men student
Powers: none
Base of Operations: Xavier Institute
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Eyes: unknown
Hair: brown
First Appearance: X-Treme X-Men #31
Manoli Wetherell
Real Name: Manoli Wetherell
Occupation: Journalist
Other Aliases: none
Place Of Birth: unknown
Marital Status: single
Known Relatives: unknown
Group Affiliation: none
Powers: none
Base of Operations: unknown
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Eyes: unknown
Hair: unknown
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #226
Alice Tremaine
Real Name: Alice Tremaine
Occupation: spokeswoman for Purity
Other Aliases: none
Place Of Birth: unknown
Marital Status: single
Known Relatives: unknown
Group Affiliation: Purity
Powers: none
Base of Operations: Purity
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Eyes: unknown
Hair: unknown
First Appearance: Mekanix # 1
Courtney Ross
Real Name: Courtney Ross
Occupation: Senior Vice-Presidents of Fraser’s Bank, formerly University student at Thames University, London
Other Aliases: The Ice Queen (her employees’ nickname for her)
Place Of Birth:
Marital Status: single
Known Relatives: none
Group Affiliation: Hellfire Club, Fraser’s Bank
Powers: Courtney was an unskilled but resourceful fighter. She was well versed in financial systems, running a major London bank, and had a hidden talent for stand-up comedy.
Base of Operations: Frasers Bank, London
Height: 5′ 9″
Weight: 140lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond (previously dyed auburn)
First Appearance: Captain Britain Weekly #3
Neal Conan
Real Name: Neal Conan
Occupation: Journalist
Other Aliases: none
Place Of Birth: unknown
Marital Status: single
Known Relatives: unknown
Group Affiliation: none
Powers: none
Base of Operations: unknown
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Eyes: unknown
Hair: unknown
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #226
Ladies Mastermind
Real Name: Regan Wyndgarde/Martinique Jason
Occupation: human Cerebro
Other Aliases: Mastermind
Place Of Birth: unknown
Marital Status: single
Known Relatives: Each other.
Group Affiliation: Sinister
Powers: telepathically scan the minds of others and implant multi-sensory illusions based on their thoughts directly into their minds
Base of Operations: Sinister’s base
Height: unknown
Weight: unknown
Eyes: unknown
Hair: blond/black
First Appearance: X-Treme X-Men #6
Scalphunter
Real Name: James (last name unrevealed)
Occupation: Assassin
Other Aliases: None
Place Of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Unrevealed
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: Sinister’s agents, Marauders
Source Of Powers: Genetic mutation
Powers: extraordinary master of firearms and highly formidable hand-to-hand combatant
Base of Operations: Hidden Location
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 175lbs
Hair: black
Eyes: brown
First Appearance: Uncanny X-Men #210
That’s it for today. I’m running a tad late. Normally post this on Tuesday night but forgot that I left an email unanswered and did that. Hope you don’t mind Daron. You don’t, do you?
Daron doesn’t mind in the least. Now, on the other hand, I mind. :)
Ok I’ll be on time next time. Care to sign off first partner?
It’s been nice working with you again, Jim. It’s unfortunate you never know I’m here until we go to print, but what are you goin’ to do. See you all soon!
My notes
1. More emails people. Don’t mind having a ton of them handy.
2. House of M covered again next week. I’ve got to read both books still.
3. Marvel.com poll: Which is your favorite Fantastic Four book?
That’s it for me. Reporting from the Marvel Universe I’m Jim Trabold. Have a great week.
