Author's Note: Well, it's been a while, but nevertheless, here's the second half of Earth 763's 20th Century. Enjoy!
Part IX: The 20th Century, Part II
1953 CE
William Burnside bases his Master Thesis on Captain America's exploits and also begins his attempts to recreate the Super-Soldier Serum, which he successfully (or seemingly successfully) completes later that year.
In March, James D. Watson and Francis Crick discover the double helix structure of DNA. That same month, Joseph Stalin dies on March 5th. Afterwards, Georgi Malenkov appoints Albert Malik the new head of the KGB and makes him his right-hand man.
In the final months of the Korean War, William Burnside attempts to enter the American army as a new Captain America, but the plans to introduce him are scrapped. Undeterred, William Burnside later takes to the streets of his hometown as a new Captain America. Near the end of the year he comes into conflict with Soviet spies working for Albert Malik, who comes to don the identity of the Red Skull, albeit a Communist Red Skull instead of a Nazi one.
Lonnie Thompson Lincoln is born.
1954 CE
The official beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. Isaiah Bradley is among the activists, his lingering superhuman physicality ensuring that the White Supremacists who target him are unable to actually kill him. Unlike many other Civil Rights activists of the time, Isaiah Bradley makes it clear that he is willing to use violence, if only in self-defense and the defense of others. This will later on put Isaiah at odds with among other activists Martin Luther King Jr., who advocates a path of nonviolence, but his efforts and contributions are nevertheless recognized and appreciated.
The Viet Minh successfully defeat the French and curtail their efforts to regain control of Vietnam. Afterwards, Vietnam is split into the North, led by the Viet Minh, and the South, which contains the remnants of the French-controlled State of Vietnam. Per the Geneva Accords that are written that same year, this is supposed to be a temporary measure until such time as fair elections can be held and allow the Vietnamese to vote on who they want to run their country. Not content to let this happen, Hydra sleeper agents in the US Government play off of the United States' fears of Communism spreading around the world and eventually get enough support to install a puppet dictator in Vietnam named Ngo Dinh Diem.
Gojira is awakened by continued testing of Hydrogen Bombs, with the excess radiation having an unexpected effect on his body. Artificial mutations are induced in the creature at an alarming rate and it becomes over twice it's original size, as well as getting a massive increase in strength and durability plus access to atomic powers. Rising from the depths, this monster first gets it's name, but also comes to be known as "Godzilla". Upon realizing what they've woken up and also unwittingly empowered, the US military attempts to drive it off with nukes and seem to succeed, but Godzilla manages to survive and remains in hiding for half a century.
William Burnside first takes on teenager Jack Monroe as his sidekick, Nomad.
Miles Warren and Wilson Fisk are born.
1955 CE-May Reilly, Raven Darkholme, and Anya Eisenhardt Lehnsherr are born. The Vietnam War begins on November 1st, though it is not until a few years later that the conflict "heats up" and becomes more prevalent in the news and American people's minds.
1956 CE-Having become completely unstable due to the flawed version of the Super-Soldier Serum negatively affecting his mind, William Burnside is captured by the government and put on ice. After this, Jack Monroe retires his Nomad identity.
1957 CE
In the Summer, Ezekiel first encounters a man named Anasi while in Africa. Anasi identifies Ezekiel as a suitable bearer of the Spider's powers and via a mystic ritual bestows the powers of the Spider-Bloodline unto Ezekiel. After spending some time training him, Anasi sends Ezekiel on his way, and then dies less than a month later.
By this year, the laser technology seen in World War II has been successfully converted for more recreational uses, and CDs become commercially available during that year (and 25 years earlier than in real life).
Albert Malik is found dead in a confession booth. Also, cut into his back is the word "Pretender", leading many to wonder if Malik was murdered by the real Red Skull, or else someone in his employ (in fact he was).
1958 CE-Wade Wilson is born. (Aw! Was I cute as a baby? I bet I was!)
1959 CE-William Stryker joins Weapon. Norman Osborn and Doctor Cuellar are born.
1960 CE-Richard Parker, George Stacy, and Pietro and Wanda Maximoff are born.
1961 CE-Reed Richards and Benjamin and Daniel Grimm are born. Anya dies in a fire, an act that tears the Eisenhardt-Lehnsherr family apart and only serves to make Erik all the more embittered towards humanity. Magda leaves him near the end of the year.
1962 CE
Ben Parker, Mary Fitzpatrick, and Victor von Doom are born.
Erik Eisenhardt Lehnsherr and Charles Xavier first meet. Charles also first meets a young Sean Cassidy around this time.
Erik's ex-wife Magda gives birth to Lorna this same year, and then dies shortly thereafter.
In October, the tense 13-day standoff that comes to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis takes place. The event very nearly triggers World War III (and also likely nuclear annihilation), but is miraculously halted. Nevertheless, the event raises national fears of both Communism and Nuclear War, leading to paranoia that will pervade much of American life in the decades to come.
1963 CE
Stephen Strange, Otto Octavius, Curt Connors, Dmitri Kravinoff, William Baker, and David Cannon are born.
Seeing that Ngo Dinh Dien is not, in fact the asset to America that he was supposed to be, President Kennedy gives the go-ahead to have him removed from power (he does not, however, call for his assassination). Nevertheless, on November 2nd, Ngo Dinh Diem is assassinated during a CIA (and Hydra) sponsored coup, an act that causes the already violent and tumultuous political atmosphere in Vietnam to worsen dramatically, with coup after coup happening over the next several months. This in turn leads to the Vietnam War escalating dramatically, and it is here that it first becomes a serious conflict with heavy United States involvement.
On November 22nd, President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. The following day the "Bent Bullet" is taken in as evidence and Erik Eisenhardt Lehnsherr is implicated in the assassination. He claims innocence and in the ensuing years becomes more and more embittered towards humanity. Convinced that they are the enemy, he becomes the Mutant supremacist Magneto.
1964 CE
Susan Storm, Phil Coulson, Quentin Beck, Sergei Kravinoff, Ned Lee, Mac Gargan, and Abner Jenkins are born.
Erik Eisenhardt Lehnsherr is tried in absentia and found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiring to assassinate Kennedy. Federal warrants are issued for his arrest soon after.
The Civil Rights Act is passed, making Racial Segregation illegal. Enraged by this, White Supremacists target several African American communities in various Southern states for violence, but Isaiah Bradley marshals a defense that drives them off. Unfortunately, the now older and somewhat slower Bradley is injured during the fighting.
1965 CE
Charles Xavier begins his efforts to create a means by which he can focus his telepathic power to better locate mutants around the globe as they become more and more commonplace. Meanwhile, while serving in Vietnam, Charles' step-brother Cain Marko deserts from his patrol and comes into possession of the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak, which subsequently transforms him into the Juggernaut. Returning to the States, he goes on a rampage that Magneto and Xavier working together are able to stop. Afterwards, Xavier takes possession of the Crimson Gem to keep it from falling into the wrong hands and Cain Marko is imprisoned. Magneto for his part, uses the design of Juggernaut's telepathy resistant helmet to build his own, which in turn will make him a much more challenging foe for Xavier in the future.
Carl "Crusher" Creel and Spencer Smythe are born. Winston Churchill dies on January 24th at the age of 90.
The Voting Rights Act is passed.
1966 CE-Alex O'Hirn, Yuriko Oyama, and Calvin Montgomery Rankin are born
1967 CE-Bolivar Trask founds Trask Industries. Herman Schultz, Blackie Drago, and George Tarleton are born.
1968 CE
James Rhodes, Carol Danvers, and Eric Williams are born.
The Civil Rights Movement "officially" ends, though obviously efforts are made to improve African American's lives in the US up to and past the present day. Tragically, Martin Luther King Jr. is also assassinated this same year, followed shortly thereafter by Bobby Kennedy.
The disastrous Tet Offensive in Vietnam causes a major shift in how most Americans view the war, with the Anti War movement that had previously mostly included people of the younger generation now including the vast majority of Americans.
Planet of the Apes is released in theaters.
1969 CE-Bruce Banner, Mark Vanko Scarlotti, Karl Lykos, and Jean-Phillipe are born.
1970 CE-Tony Stark is born. Wanda Maximoff first learns of her affinity for magic.
1971 CE-Clint Barton, Bobby Morse, Remy LeBeau, and Emil Blonsky are born.
1972 CE
Luke Cage, Johnny Blaze, Dane Whitman, Greer Grant, and Linda Carter are born.
Arnim Zola first uploads his consciousness into a mechanical body after contracting a fatal illness.
What is traditionally recognized as the modern internet first comes into existence (about a decade earlier than in real life)
1973 CE
Eric Brooks is born from the victim of a vampire bite. As a result he develops all of the strengths and powers of a vampire, but none of their weaknesses. Shang-Chi and Jasper Sitwell are also born this year.
Charles Xavier first begins constructing his school for Gifted Youngsters, which he plans to be a safe haven for later mutants.
Christopher Nord comes to be involved in Weapon as Weapon VIII, code-named "Maverick". Victor Creel also joins as Weapon IX, code-named "Sabertooth".
The US Navy and Airforce begin widespread use of advanced laser cannons, despite complaints that they are still inferior to traditional vulcan guns. For the military forces in Vietnam, it proves to be too little, too late, as America fully withdraws from the country this year. On his return trip home, Logan is coerced into joining Weapon as Weapon X, code-named "Wolverine". Upon joining, he is subjected to a procedure that grafts adamantium onto his skeleton and also erases his memories, causing him to remain with the now Weapon X for several more years.
Desperate to produce an heir, a now 60-year old Heinrich Zemo finally succeeds, and his son Helmut Zemo is born.
1974 CE-T'challa, Frank Castle, Foggy Nelson, and Keniuchio Harada are born. Bluetooth is first invented (20 years earlier than in real life), and because of it's earlier release also has a different name.
1975 CE
Marc Spector, Kurt Wagner, Ororo Munroe, and Leiko Wu are born.
After two years of fighting without American involvement, the Vietnam War finally ends.
Tony Stark builds his first Circuit Board.
Courtesy of Stark Industries, most Luxury cars now have standard GPS navigation and automatic systems for self-parking and collision warning. Another invention made commonplace by Stark Industries and it's sub-companies are household 3D Printers.
1976 CE
Peter Jason Quill, Richard Rider, Brian Braddock, Jean DeWolffe, Eddie Brock, Max Dillon, and Lester (the future Bullseye) are born.
The first ever video game consoles are sold in Japan, and throughout the remainder of the 70s make their way over to the United States.
The United States celebrates it's 200th anniversary.
1977 CE
Matt Murdock, Karen Page, Betty Ross, and Bart Hamilton are born.
Sanger, Gilbert, and Mazam sequence DNA for the first time.
Mainstream Robotics have advanced more quickly than most people realize. The US military now has autonomous weaponized drones (that it assures the world require human confirmation before attacking), and robotic "PAK-mules" in widespread use. While still rare, autonomous "Agribots" are in use on some industrial farms, monitoring crop health and regulating pesticide application. In security, semi-autonomous patrol-bots are poised to start doing foot patrols that once needed human guards. There's even talk of an armed patrol-bot waiting for the legal climate to be more permissive.
Television keeps changing. 3D televisions haven't faded away, but they seem trapped at a fraction of the marketplace. UHDTV is currently popular, but too expensive for most people to afford (and tech reviews note that there are very few viewing options that can take full advantage of the resolution - and that the human eye cannot see the difference anyway). However, early prototypes of holographic projection screens promise a major revolution within 10 to 12 years.
Tony Stark builds his first engine.
In March, Stark Industries unveils their new NW Bioelectric Generator Implant. It takes the natural energies of the body (mainly heat) and converts them into electricity for use in medical devices. The energy is insufficient to power most current devices, but NW design technology promises far more energy-efficient devices in just a few years. Not to be outdone, Trask Industries announces that they are ready to release a new radioresistance treatment. Applied monthly, this serum almost negates the increased cancer risk associated with radiation exposure and may also slightly reduce the effects of chemical carcinogens.
In April, NW panels have begun to reach the industrial market, acting as both power plants and capacitors. Affordable NW Solar devices might reach markets in time for Christmas, but will definitely reach shelves by new summer.
On May 25th, Star Wars is first released in theaters.
In October, Stark Industries reveals the third portion of the NW energy system: the NW motor, designed to operate on the same principles and with unparalleled efficiency. The media is ultimately not very excited by this.
1978 CE-Sam Wilson, John Walker, and Hank Pym are born.
1979 CE
Elektra Natchios, Janet Van Dyne, and Scott Lang are born.
Fifty-two American diplomats and citizens are held hostage on November 4th by a group of Iranian students belonging to the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line that were supporting the Iranian Revolution. US Precision urban drones sweep in silently, immobilizing the terrorists, killing only 8, and leaving the hostages unharmed. This goes a great distance toward winning public opinion for the use of weaponized drones, but also serves to make the critics even more critical.
Stark Industries reveals their new "Omega Chips." These pieces of computer hardware are mathematically "perfect"; without changing the way we approach computer technology (quantum computing, biocomputing, or similar) faster and more powerful computer hardware is impossible. This hardware will be only slightly more expensive than the current "state of the art" and skips about 10 years of advancement along "Moore's Law." In an unusual move, Stark Industries also shares documents relating to failed negotiations with Intel. It seems that Intel was willing to pay very handsomely for exclusive rights, as long as they had the right to NOT produce the chips and just keep them secret.
Howard Stark takes Peggy Carter and her family on a 'world tour" to celebrate Peggy's 60th Birthday.
1980 CE-Hank McCoy, Emma Frost, Johnny Storm, Roderick Kingsley, Cletus Kassady, and Patrick Mulligan are born. The Empire Strikes Back is released in theaters.
1981 CE-Warren Worthington III, Cameron Hodge, Dominic Petrakis, John Allerdyce, Morris Bench, Carlos LaMuerto, Angela del Toro, and Maria Hill are born.
1982 CE-Jean Grey, Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock, the Summers Twins, Tyrone Johnson, Tandy Bowen, and Betty Brant are born.
1983 CE-Anne-Marie is born. Return of the Jedi is released in theaters.
1984 CE-Jim Hammond passes away at the age of 89. Richard Fisk, Arno Stark, and Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine are born.
1985 CE
Gwen Stacy, Eugene "Flash" Thompson, Hobbie Brown, and Randy Robertson are born.
Ororo Munroe's parents die in a plane crash orchestrated by Hydra. Ororo is one of the only survivors of the plane crash and is subsequently forced to fend for herself.
1986 CE
Peter Parker, Felicia Hardy, Mary Jane Watson, Liz Allan, Glory Grant, Jessica Caradine, Harry Osborn, Ryan (the future Hybrid), and Pitor Rasputin are born.
Tony Stark graduates from MIT at the top of his class.
Phil Coulson's father dies.
Some time between now and the following year, Nathaniel Essex first begins working for Apocalypse.
A movie about a talking cartoon duck called "Howard the Duck" is released in theaters. Rumored to be a shameless rip-off of Disney's Donald Duck, the film is met with abysmal box office and savage reviews upon release, and goes on to be viewed as both a farce and a "so bad it's good" type film.
1987 CE-Stephen Strange's hands are badly damaged in a car accident. Unable to continue as a professional neurosurgeon, he spends the next year and a half attempting to find someone who can fix the damage, but all of his efforts are for nought, which in turn causes him to sink into despair. Jemma Simmons and Leo Fitz are born
1988 CE
Bobby Drake is born.
Scott and Alex Summers are seemingly orphaned and also separated when the plane their family is on crashes. Scott suffers a serious head injury during the crash that will make him incapable of controlling his later Mutant powers without the aid of a Ruby Quartz visor.
Wolverine regains his lost memories and promptly flees from Weapon X. He spends the next 15 years on the run from Weapon X forces, who never cease in their attempts to recapture him.
A now near-penniless and very self-loathing Stephen Strange learns of a mystic known as the Ancient One who can supposedly heal his hands for him. By this point desperate enough to try anything, Strange goes to Tibet to see the Ancient One. This begins his training in the Mystic Arts, though Strange does not yet realize this.
Peter Jason Quill's mother dies of Cancer.
1989 CE-Trask Industries holds a press conference demonstrating their new cybernetic arm. It incorporates NW bioelectric generators to power the fully robotic prosthetic and takes very little Physical Therapy to learn to use. It has full human-normal strength and motion, and far greater durability. It has nearly normal pressure sensation in the hand, and some pressure sensation and temperature detection throughout it's pastel blue "skin." Trask Industries brings out a number of experimental recipients, including a former acrobat who demonstrates the arm's versatility, and a quadriplegic man who can now control an arm (attached to his shoulder).
Kitty Pryde is born
1990 CE-Yuriko Oyama is forcibly indoctrinated into the Weapon X program as Weapon XI, code-named "Lady Deathstrike". Calvin Montgomery Rankin is indoctrinated shortly thereafter as Weapon XII, code-named "Mimic". Oliver Osnick is born.
1991 CE
Charles Xavier first meets a young Jean Grey.
Scott Summers becomes one of Charles Xavier's first students at his school.
Howard and Maria Stark both die in a car-crash secretly orchestrated by Hydra, and Tony subsequently inherits Stark Industries.
Jean-Phillipe and Wade Wilson are indoctrinated into Weapon X and become Weapons XIII and XIV, code-named "Fantomex" and "Deadpool".
1992 CE-Jean Grey becomes the second Mutant enrolled at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. Hank McCoy follows shortly thereafter as the third. Stephen Strange completes his training under the Ancient One and is by this point given the title of Sorcerer Supreme. Scott Washington is born.
1993 CE-Towards the end of the year, Reed Richards and Victor von Doom meet for the first time. Also this year, Phil Coulson's mother dies and Wanda Maximoff begins learning magic under Doctor Strange.
1994 CE
Peter Parker's parents leave him with his aunt and uncle and then depart under mysterious circumstances. They are subsequently killed in a plane crash of suspicious origin.
Clarice Ferguson is born
Reed Richards and Victor von Doom begin construction of their portal to the Negative Zone
Warren Worthington's mutant power begins to manifest.
1995 CE
Eric Brooks first begins his war on the Vampire race under the moniker "Blade".
Peter Parker and Felicia Hardy first meet in the Forest Hill Queens neighborhood they both live in. They soon become friends.
Bruce Banner and Betty Ross first meet and soon begin dating.
1996 CE
Warren Worthington is first brought to Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Charles Xavier also first beings training the Mutants at his school in how to fight around this time, employing in his efforts a training ground with automatons called "The Danger Room".
By this point, the existence of Mutants is a wide-spread truth, and with Mutants seeming to become more and more commonplace by the day, Anti-Mutant paranoia and hysteria explodes into often brutal violence with many fatalities, to the point that robotic "peacekeepers" called Sentinels are created by Trask Industries. Despite having the stated purpose of keeping "order" between Mutants and humans, many Mutants see the Sentinels as nothing more than oppressors, and proof that the world at large hates them and wants them gone. Anti-Mutant hate groups also appear, chief among them the Christian Fundamentalist zealots known as the Purifiers, and the masked thugs known as the Sapien League.
The Anti-Mutant political party "Friends of Humanity" is founded.
Matt Murdock's father is killed and a young Matt becomes determined to fight injustice and the crime that plagues his city. He subsequently joins the Hand and spends the next seven years training under them.
1997 CE
The first and to date only successful clone of Wolverine is conceived, dubbed "X-23" due to being the 23rd attempt at cloning Weapon X. Accelerated aging ensures that she is able to be trained in combat in a mere three years after her creation.
Bobby Drake is brought to the Xavier Institute as it's fifth student
Peter Parker and Felicia Hardy begin Middle School, with the latter moving away so as to be closer to her new school. She and Peter will not see each other again for a decade.
Carlos LaMuerto is bitten by the black tarantula that bestows to him the powers of the Tarantula bloodline. Vowing to never again be weak, he begins his life of crime and powermongering in earnest, eventually becoming the supervillain Black Tarantula.
1998 CE-Blade tracks down and kills the vampire Deacon Frost, who he learns was also the vampire that had infected his mother.
Anne-Marie's Mutant powers manifest, causing her to accidentally hurt her then-boyfriend when she kisses him. Horrified of what her powers do and ashamed of herself for what she is, she runs away from home.
1999 CE
Doctor Karl Lykos, an old friend of Charles Xavier's, first discovers the Savage Land and begins researching and documenting his findings there.
Grant Ward joins SHIELD as a Hydra sleeper-agent.
Jack Fury passes away at the age of 80.
The Phantom Menace is released in theaters to a polarizing (and mostly negative) critical reception, and widespread condemnation from general audiences and long-time fans alike (many of whom cease to be so after the film's release).
2000 CE
Charles Xavier's five students have their first real mission in the Savage Land. Doctor Karl Lykos is transformed into the pterodactyl monster Sauron and attacks the X-Men. After they defeat him, he is subsequently imprisoned by SHIELD until such time as a cure for his condition can be found.
X-23 begins training under William Stryker and other high-ranking Weapon X figures' observation. In an effort to keep her from rebelling the way Wolverine did, implants are placed in her head and she is also subjected to other forms of brainwashing and mind-control.
Peter Parker and Felicia Hardy begin High School, the former going to Midtown High. Peter also has his Bar Mitzvah this year.
"Inspired" by his old friend Charles, Magneto begins recruiting Mutants of his own, and forms the Brotherhood of Mutants, a Mutant supremacist terrorist organization. His first recruits include his own children, and also the Mutant thugs Toad, Pyro, and Avalanche.
A Mutant named Angelo Unuscione boasts that his powers make him "untouchable". He is killed by members of the Sapien League two days later.
Author's Note: Yes, I know, 2000 is part of the 21st Century, but I included it here because 2001 is the beginning of "The Heroic Age" in my Marvel Universe, and I wanted that to have it's own section all to itself. Thus, the first year of the 21st Century where the Heroic Age hasn't happened yet is included here instead.
With a lot of the characters born here, I deliberately had their birth dates be either the year they first appeared in real life comics, or in the case of Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, Maria Hill, and a few others, the years they were born in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Others, like Peter Parker and Felicia Hardy, were given birthdates that just made sense for them.
My referencing the Howard the Duck film is to drive home that in my Marvel Universe, he only exists as a fictional character within the bounds of the god awful 1980s film that came out in real life.
