Infinity Crisis Aftermath: History Lesson-199999
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their owners. This is purely for fun.
This one-shot can be considered a companion piece to my previous stories Temporal Tete-a-Tete History Lesson-51 as well as The Pighead's Another Side of the Glimpses. In the latter's story, a mysterious being known as the Wild Card had destroyed the icebergs on an Earth that seemingly was nothing but water and said icebergs.
That same story had revealed that when those icebergs were destroyed, it affected the histories of various Earths in the Infinity Crisis multiverse. For me, I saw an opportunity. In Temporal Tete-a-Tete, I revealed that the Infinity Crisis versions of Earth-51 (The DC Extended Universe...I hate that name for it) and Earth-199999 (The Marvel Cinematic Universe). In History Lesson-51, I went into more detail about the alterations to Earth-51's history, showing its new history was now similar to that of the Pre-Flashpoint DC comic universe. And I wanted to spare Jonathan Kent because that scene with Man of Steel was stupid, and Batman v Superman itself was stupid.
I figured that since I laid out the new history of the Infinity Crisis DCEU, it was only fair that I do the same for the MCU as well. I wanted to keep in mind changes established in other stories, but also keep as true to the MCU canon as possible while incorporating stuff from the comic Marvel Universe's history. TV Tropes has a timeline of the MCU that was very handy and helpful. I like to think of this story and History Lesson-51 as "companion" stories.
Chronopolis
The door of the chamber slipped open, and Kang the Conqueror walked into the room. Instead of his green-and-purple armor, he was clad in a pair of green pajamas, a purple robe, and matching slippers. He was holding a large green cup of coffee with the words "Multiverse's Best Conqueror" on it. Ravonna had gotten it for him as a gag gift on his last birthday, and he thought it was hilarious. He sipped his coffee as he noticed said woman looking over a wall of screens. She was wearing a yellow t-shirt and black sweatpants, with pink fuzzy bunny slippers.
"Good morning, my Lady." He greeted. Ravonna turned around and smiled at the man.
"Good morning, my Lord." She greeted back.
"I see you are looking over the timeline."
"Yes." Ravonna nodded. "I have also noted that Wanda Maximoff has been regularly doing her therapy sessions with Doc Samson."
"That is good to hear." Kang said. "A mentally healthy and happy Wanda Maximoff is better for the multiverse." He glanced at the other screens. "You have found more alterations to the timeline?"
"Yes." Ravonna nodded. "I've been cataloging them. It's been...quite a lot of work."
"It would not hurt to take a break, my Lady." Kang insisted. "You'd benefit from a little rest."
"It's been a bit of work, but...it's also been quite exciting, my Lord." Ravonna smiled excitedly. "You have to see some of these additions."
"Such information would be quite useful..." He said to himself.
"Most of the historical changes seemed to be concentrated on the 20th and 21st centuries, my Lord." Ravonna answered. "Especially when it comes to the history of costumed superheroes in the United States. Originally, there were not many superheroes before the Avengers formally debuted. But now..." She waved at the screens. "There's a lot of them!"
"Hmmm..." Kang rubbed his chin in thought. "This is fascinating. Epoch and I had discussed how his timeline was altered. Looks like this one was changed just as much. Earth-199999's superhero history is now much more vast."
"Indeed, my Lord." Ravonna nodded. "The changes are quite fascinating. There have been some major changes, mainly around Shang-Chi and the Inhumans, but most of the changes have been minor things. In fact, most of the changes can be classified as...additions."
Kang raised an eyebrow. "Additions?"
"It's like someone just...pasted extra stuff into the timeline, for lack of a better explanation." Ravonna said.
"Should we review them?" Kang asked.
"I don't think it would hurt to do so, my Lord." Ravonna nodded.
"Then we shall." Kang agreed. "Computer, show us an abridged history of American superheroes on Earth-199999 in the 20th and 21st centuries."
"Working..." The computer answered. "The dawn of the 20th century would see the rise of the first superhuman of the century: Hugo Danner."
"Danner?" Kang blinked.
"Danner was born on Christmas Day in 1894." The computer explained. "When he was developing in his mother Matilda's womb, his father Abednego injected him with an experimental serum. As a result, from a young age, Danner demonstrated great strength and durability. At the age of eighteen, he left his home to go to college and travel the world. He would go on to fight in World War I. It was during there he met a group of superheroes known as the Freedom's Five."
"Freedom's Five..." Kang muttered. Ravonna looked them up on her tablet.
"Karl Kaufman, the Phantom Eagle. German-American pilot. Rene Dusquesne, the Crimson Cavalier. Reformed French criminal, skilled swordman, marksman, and fighter. Thomas Falsworth, Union Jack I. English nobleman, skilled fighter. As for Sir Steel, there were actually two. The first Sir Steel was Ned Chapel, an English blacksmith who used an enchanted sword and suit of armor. He was killed early on in the war. The second was Hugh Fitzwilliam Dare. Like Falsworth, he was an English nobleman. And he was deadly with a sword. And finally, Silver Squire. Gordon Fitzwilliam Dare. He used a magical shield and mace." Ravonna told him. Kang nodded.
"Danner found inspiration and purpose after meeting and working with the Freedom's Five." Kang's computer continued on. "He was briefly captured by the Germans, who experimented on him. Among the scientists who examined him was a young Abraham Erskine. Erskine was appalled by the treatment Danner underwent, and helped him escape. But the information that was obtained from him would lead to the development of the Super-Soldier Serum. After World War I, Danner would continue to have adventures and travel the world. Most notably, in one of those adventures, he would father a daughter with an Amazon tribeswoman in South America." The computer showed an image of an indigenous Amazon woman, who was tall, muscular, and quite beautiful. Her long dark hair had a white bang.
"We'll have to look into this." Kang reminded.
"She would become a prominent superheroine in her native Brazil, as well as a major activist for Indigenous rights there." Ravonna said. "She inherited her father's enhancements, including slowed aging."
"In 1939, a scientist named Phineas T. Horton would create and debut what he considered a modern marvel: A synthetic man seemingly indistinguishable from humans. The android had one flaw: when exposed to oxygen, the artificial man would burst into flame. Horton was too driven by quick fame and fortune to correct the flaw. He showed his creation to a group of reporters in November of that year, calling it the Human Torch."
"I can imagine people reacted well to him." Ravonna rolled her eyes.
"The press demanded Horton destroy the Torch, but Horton instead buried him. The concrete would leak, allowing the Torch to be freed." The computer showed an image of people running away from what appeared to be a man made of flame. "Despite this, the Human Torch would in a short time become a hero, as well as adopt the human identity of James 'Jim' Hammond. Even though the emergence of the Human Torch is considered the beginning of the 'Golden Age' of American superheroics, there were costumed characters operating shortly before the Torch's debut. Most notably, 1938 saw the debuts of the first Angel and Rocketeer."
"The Angel and the Rocketeer." Kang snorted. "Sounds like a comic book created by a group of drunken madmen."
"The first Angel was Thomas Holloway, my Lord." Ravonna pulled up an image of a man in a blue costume and red cape. The brunet man's identity was hidden by a blue domino mask. The costume had yellow gloves, and dark blue boots and trunks. The costume had an emblem of a red circle and yellow wings. "He was a doctor who attended the deathbed of the Old West-era gunslinger Matthew Hawk, born Matthew Liebowitz. He is more famously known as the Two-Gun Kid. When he died, Holloway was given the Kid's guns and mask, as per the instructions of his will. Inspired by the Kid's tales of fighting criminals, he became the Angel. The cape is believed to be mystical, granting him the power to fly. He mainly operated in New York City."
"And the Rocketeer?"
Ravonna pulled up the image of said hero, wearing a brown jacket, white jodhpurs, and black gloves and boots. The head was covered by a golden helmet with big black eyes and a fin on it. "The first Rocketeer was Clifford "Cliff" Secord. A stunt pilot by trade, Secord found a jetpack that was hidden in an airfield by some men working for prominent criminal Edward "Eddie" Valentine. The jetpack was a prototype created by Howard Hughes as a potential weapon against the Nazis. Long story short, Secord used the jetpack to help stop a Nazi plot. He would go on to be a member of the Liberty Legion during World War II."
"The computer said he was the first Rocketeer." Kang recalled.
"There have been several." Ravonna nodded. "Most of them are members of Secord's family. His descendants." Kang nodded.
"Very well. Tell me more about this 'Golden Age'." Kang ordered his computer.
"In 1940, the Torch and the then-prince of the underwater nation of Talokan, K'uk'ulkan, battled in New York City." The computer showed an image of the first Human Torch and Namor battling it out in the skies over New York City. "The surface world would know K'uk'ulkan by another name: Namor the Sub-Mariner."
"How did he become known as Namor?" Kang asked.
"A Spanish tourist who witnessed this clash would refer to Prince K'uk'ulkan as 'El Hombre sin Amor' for the ferocity he displayed when he fought the Human Torch." Ravonna explained.
"The Man without Love." Kang translated.
"And from that, the surface world called him Namor." Ravonna nodded. "He gained the 'Sub-Mariner' nickname during World War II, because he was essentially a human submarine."
"The fight would be ended thanks to the efforts of a police officer named Betty Dean." The computer showed an image of a smiling blonde woman in a blue garrison cap. It then showed her in a blue police uniform standing next to Namor and Jim Hammond as the two shook hands. "Dean would go on to convince Namor the Nazis would be as much of a threat to Talokan as they would be to the rest of Earth. After the war ended, she would eventually marry a man named Blake Prentiss. Dean-Prentiss would go on to be a highly-regarded reporter and science fiction author before passing away on July 23, 1975."
"Namor was not supposed to emerge in the 1940s." Kang said.
"And the original Human Torch was never activated in this timeline, either." Ravonna said. "At least, in the original history. But there it is. And since Namor and James Hammond crossed paths..."
"It leads to the Invaders." Kang realized.
"In March 1942, Steve Rogers undergoes the Super-Soldier empowerment process, becoming the first Captain America. Due to the death of Abraham Erskine, Steve Rogers is the only man to receive the proper version of the Super-Soldier Serum."
"The success of Rogers would lead other nations to try and create super-soldiers of their own. Most notably Weapon X in Canada, and Project X in Russia." Ravonna added.
"In December of 1942, Captain America, Namor, and Jim Hammond ended up joining forces to save the life of then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill. Churchill suggested the three superheroes come together as a team to fight the Nazis. He was also the one who gave them the name of the Invaders."
"Who did the Invaders save Churchill from?" Kang asked. The computer showed an image of a muscular man with blond hair in a crew cut. He wore a blue costume with yellow piping down the arms and legs, a gold collar, and yellow gloves and boots. The costume showed a chest emblem of a black Nazi swastika in a red circle.
"William Lohmer, aka the first Master Man. He was a member of a German-American bund that aided the Nazis. The physically weakest member of his bund, he was the subject of an experiment involving a Nazi attempt to duplicate the Super-Soldier Serum. It was partially successful. Wilhelm was physically stronger and more powerful than Steve Rogers, but his powers were unstable, occasionally causing him to revert to his original frail form."
"And from there, the Invaders fought in Europe during the war, mainly alongside a group of soldiers they liberated from a HYDRA work camp called the Howling Commandos." Ravonna added.
"The United States itself was protected from supervillains and Nazi spycraft thanks to a home-front defending superhero team called the Liberty Legion, also formed in 1942." The computer added. "Prominent members included various superheroes of the era, including the original Angel and the first Rocketeer." Kang and Ravonna looked at the image of a large grouping of superheroes.
"Jack Frost...Red Raven...Blue Diamond...Miss America...the Thin Man...the Black Marvel..." He muttered.
Ravonna smiled. "Daniel Lyons, the original Black Marvel. He is considered one of America's, if not first, Native superheroes." Kang raised an eyebrow at her. "His maternal ancestry was of the Blackfeet Nation."
"Ah." Kang nodded.
"There would be several Black Marvels over the years. All Native American." Ravonna added. "The latest one is Randi Reevis." She showed an image of a woman in a black costume with a yellow utility belt, boots and gloves. The costume had a red cape, and a cowl that hid her face except her for her long black hair. Her eyes were covered by mirrored lenses. "She is of Blackfeet ancestry herself. She is active in her native Montana."
"I see." Kang nodded. "Hmmm, this Earth has many more superheroes than I thought."
"Other countries had their own superhero teams protecting their borders during the war." Ravonna added. "Canada had the Canadian Home Guard, and the United Kingdom had the Crusaders. Those groups would be predecessors of their modern superhero teams: Alpha Flight and the Britannia Project, respectively."
"The Invaders' ranks would grow." The computer showed an image of a blonde woman in a yellow costume with a red fiery mask. Next to her, there was an image of a man wearing a blue costume with a full-face cowl. On his chest was the British Union Flag. "Jacqueline Falsworth, aka Spitfire. And Andrew Falsworth, aka the second Union Jack. Another brother, Joshua Falsworth, became the Nazi-allied vampiric supervillain named Baron Blood."
"Wasn't one of the Falsworths one of the Howling Commandoes in this timeline?" Ravonna asked.
"Correct. James Montgomery Falsworth." The computer confirmed. "In this timeline, Spitfire and Union Jack II were his siblings. Their father Thomas was the previous Union Jack, active during World War I." Kang nodded.
"Alright. Continue on."
"During the war, the Invaders and the Howling Commandos had undergone numerous adventures. World War II would also be a key formative event for another person: A young boy named Max Eisenhardt."
"Magneto." Ravonna gasped.
"Born to a German Jewish family, Eisenhardt would end up imprisoned in the Auschwitz concentration camp. He lost his father Jakob, mother Edie, and sister Ruth in an attempt to escape the ghetto of Warsaw. His experiences in the camp would convince the boy that humanity has no room in their hearts for anything they considered different. He would go on to escape the camp in the revolt of October 1944 alongside a Romani girl named Magda."
"Further historical records would show that he would try to live a quiet life in the Ukraine afterwards. Magda bore him a daughter named Anya. A mob fearing Eisenhardt's power burned down the house he lived in with Magda and Anya inside. An enraged Eisenhardt killed the mob with their powers, believing his wife and daughter were dead." She looked over her notepad. "He was half-right. Magda did die in the fire, but Anya survived. She would go on to live with her mother's Romani relatives."
"In 1945, Howling Commando James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes is presumed killed in action. He would actually be revealed to have survived and been brainwashed into becoming the HYDRA operative known as the Winter Soldier. Steve Rogers, the first Captain America, is also presumed lost when he crashes the Red Skull's super-bomber Valkyrie into the Arctic Circle. As the war ended and the 1940s transitioned into the 1950s, the Liberty Legion and the Invaders broke up. Spitfire and Union Jack would return to England. Invaders members Namor and Human Torch joined forces with Liberty Legion members the Whizzer and Miss America to become the All-Winners Squad."
"The squad would be led by William Naslund, formerly the Crusader known as the Spirit of '76." Ravonna added. "He returned to his native US after the war ended, and then-President Harry S. Truman named him the new Captain America. However, his time as the new Captain was short. He was killed in action in 1946 by a rogue android named Adam II. The mantle of Captain America would then be taken up by reporter Jeffrey Mace, who previously adventured as the Patriot. He would retire from heroics in 1949."
"There was another man by the same name involved with SHIELD." Kang said.
"That Jeffrey Mace was a descendant of the Patriot." Ravonna clarified. "The former superhero passed away from cancer in 1983." Kang nodded in understanding.
"Also in 1949, an American criminal known only as the Crime Boss tried to kill the Torch with a chemical he had obtained from the Soviet Union known as Chemical X-R. The chemical rendered the Torch inert. He would bury the Torch in the Nevada desert. Unfortunately for the Crime Boss, the site the Torch was buried at was used to test atomic weapons."
"The 1950s would be a time of transition." The computer continued.
"I thought this was the abridged version." Kang said. "I know I asked for the abridged version."
"It is, my Lord." Ravonna answered. "Whoever altered this timeline did a lot to it."
"Wow." Kang blinked in amazement.
"In 1950, the All-Winners Squad broke up. Namor returned to Talokan. Whizzer and Miss America married and retired. With the Korean War, America continued to try and create super soldiers. A group of black soldiers were used as test subjects to recreate the serum. It only yielded one true success: Isaiah Bradley. In 1951, he battled the Winter Soldier in Goyang, Korea. The battle ended with Bradley taking the Soldier's mechanical arm. A group of super-soldiers, despite the attempted serum recreation making their bodies unstable, were sent on missions in the war, only to end up captured and locked in a POW camp. Isaiah Bradley learned that the heads of the program planned to destroy the base with a bomb strike. He defied orders and rescued the men. Sadly, they all died from the unstable serum afterwards. Because of his defiance, as well of racial fears regarding a Black man having the power of Captain America, Bradley would be imprisoned for three decades. He would be subject to further experimentation by Hydra infiltrators. He would go on to be considered one of the bearers of the Captain America mantle in future decades."
"He wore a makeshift Captain America costume when he rescued his comrades." Ravonna explained. "But there would be another man active as Captain America during the 1950s after Jeffrey Mace's retirement: William Burnside."
"Burnside..." Kang repeated.
"William Burnside was a man obsessed with Captain America, thanks to hearing of the Invaders' wartime adventures as a youth. His obsession with the Captain would lead him to get PhDs in American History and Chemistry."
"I thought William Burnside was an Englishman." Kang said.
"You're thinking of the mathematician, my Lord. Born 1852, died 1927." Ravonna smiled. "There was also an Irish mathematician of the same name. Born 1839, died 1920." Kang nodded.
"During his research, he was able to find a sample of the Nazi variant of the Super-Soldier Serum that empowered Master Man. Using his knowledge of chemistry, he was able to modify the serum. He went to the United States government, offering the serum and his services as the next Captain America, to be used as a patriotic rallying symbol for the War."
"I take it he was unaware of Isaiah Bradley." Kang surmised.
"The general public would not be aware of Isaiah's story until the early 21st century, my Lord." Ravonna confirmed.
"However, the government had turned him down. It was 1953, and with the Korean War ending thanks to an armistice, the FBI stepped in, recruiting Burnside as an agent. He would be partnered with another agent that was just as obsessed with Cap as Burnside was: Jack Monroe. Burnside and Monroe took the modified serum. It gave them stable powers, but over time, it would have another effect."
"Mental instability." Ravonna explained. "Burnside and Monroe underwent plastic surgery to resemble Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes, respectively. Burnside became the new Captain America and Monroe the new Bucky. But thanks to the new serum, the two men became paranoid, seeing Communists and subversives everywhere." She tapped some commands into her tablet. "The American government would continue working on the serum. In fact, that work would lead to the variant used to empower John Walker, aka USAgent of the Thunderbolts."
"The Korean War would also be a key historical event for another man: Adam Bernard Brashear." The computer showed an image of a black man in a 1950s-era Marine Corps dress uniform. "He would serve in this conflict. During his time fighting in this war, he would befriend another soldier named Connor Sims. After this war, Brashear would become the head of a scientific endeavor to harness anti-matter. Part of the process was building a bridge between his universe and the universe that would later be identified as the Negative Zone. The device exploded, bathing Brashear and Sims in energy."
"I take it this Connor Sims was involved in the project as well." Kang deduced.
"Affirmative. Sims's body seemingly dissolved into energy. Brashear would become a living antimatter reactor. This transformation also gifted Brashear with superhuman abilities: Superhuman strength, durability, various energy powers, and slowed aging. Inspired by the wartime heroism of the Invaders and the Liberty Legion, Brashear would use these powers to defend the innocent as the Blue Marvel." Brashear was now shown in a dark blue costume with light blue boots and gloves, a white cape, and matching head-covering cowl. The costume had an emblem of a black "M" in a white circle with a black border.
"Whatever happened to Sims?" Ravonna asked.
"Sims was believed dead for decades. But he will returned in the 21st century as an energy being called the Anti-Man, driven to eradicate humanity by his fury regarding the racist treatment Brashear endured because of his era."
"Hmmm..." Kang rubbed his chin. "Blue Marvels tend to be one of the more...challenging heroes I have faced."
"In December 1953, an atomic test would cause the reactivation of the Human Torch and boosted his powers." The computer added. "The Torch would continue his crimefighting career alongside a new partner: Mary Mitchell, the Sun Girl." The computer showed an image of a blonde woman in a yellow tunic with a black belt that had a gold sun-shaped belt buckle, blue leggings, yellow boots, blue gloves, and a blue domino mask.
"Mitchell was a scientist who was also an early mutant." Ravonna said. "She had photokinetic powers and slowed aging."
Kang nodded at that. "Unusual for Sun Girls, but hardly strange within the context of timelines like these. Continue on, computer."
"In 1955, The Human Torch and Sun Girl were returning from a case when the Torch started losing control of his powers. Mitchell theorized that this was caused by the atomic exposure that reactivated him in 1953. Fearing harming others with his growing powers, Hammond flew to the deserts of the western United States and released his power in a massive nova burst, plunging into the sands, completely inert. The general public believed it to be an atomic test. Mitchell found the Torch's body and buried it in the desert. In that same year, the FBI would capture the now-crazed Burnside and Monroe and place them in a cryogenic facility in the American South called Deep Freeze." The computer finished. "An employee of the facility would end up being a hero in his own right."
"Patrick Carney, the Yankee Clipper." Ravonna added. "Carney worked there as an engineer. By 1955, he was trusted enough to learn of the facility's true purpose."
"In 1955, seeing the suspended Burnside and Monroe made Carney want to be a hero himself. One night, he was driving home, and he nearly hit a severely-injured woman who suddenly appeared on the road, a time-traveler named Cassandra Locke. Despite her injuries, Locke was able to warn the future hero about an alien invasion in her native 28th century. She also told him about his destiny to be a herald of a new generation of superheroes. Locke would die of her injuries in a hospital, but not before giving her time-travel belt to Carney. Over the next several months, Patrick Carney studied the belt, discovering the device could enhance his strength and durability. He would then become a superhero in 1956: The Yankee Clipper."
"Wasn't there a baseball player that used the name Yankee Clipper?" Ravonna asked.
"Yes, Joe DiMaggio." Kang nodded. "He retired in 1951. And the Yankee Clipper's rise helps lead to the birth of the First Line."
"Correct. In 1958. The original roster composed of the Yankee Clipper, the Black Fox (Robert Paine), Liberty Girl (Beverly Trent), Effigy (Jake Scott, in actuality a Skrull named Velmax), and Nightingale (Theresa Fenty). Over the next thirty years, the group's roster would expand and change. Two notable members were the original Ant-Man and Wasp, Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne. They joined in 1969."
"Interesting..." Kang said. "But it makes sense considering Pym and Van Dyne's place in this timeline."
"In 1959, SHIELD brought together a group of adventurers to take down an organization called ICON, consisting of Nazis who escaped the Nurenburg Trials. This group would go on to be referred to informally by superhero historians as the 'Avengers of 1959'. This group would help inspire Nick Fury to create the more famous Avengers Initiative."
"Who were in these 'Avengers of 1959'?" Kang asked.
"Self-proclaimed 'Brigand for Hire' Dominic Fortune, former Howling Commando Dum Dum Dugan, wartime heroine the Blonde Phantom, the Talokanil warrior known as Namora, archaeologists Henry 'Indiana' Jones Junior and Wan "Short Round" Li, former Canadian Home Guard member Clara Creed, immortal monster hunter Ulysses Bloodstone, and Russian big game hunter Sergei Kravinoff, who will go on to menace the first and second Spider-Men as Kraven the Hunter."
"Considering that the Blue Marvel started his superhero career not long before the First Line formed, I think we can assume he was involved with them on occasion." Ravonna thought out loud.
"The Blue Marvel was an associate and honorary member of the First Line." The computer confirmed. "During a battle in 1962, his mask was torn, revealing that he was a Black man. This caused a great amount of controversy. Then-President John F. Kennedy asked the Blue Marvel to retire. It was an action that pained Kennedy, and he secretly awarded Brashear the Presidential Medal of Freedom as a sign of gratitude towards him. Kennedy's asking the Blue Marvel to retire would haunt him until his death in Dallas." The computer said. "Brashear still would occasionally adventure. Most notably, he worked with a group that would be referred to as the "Mighty Avengers" in 1972. Most notable members include the sorcerer Kaluu, vampire-slaying dhampir Eric "Blade" Brooks, and mystical human-ursine hybrid explosives expert known only as The Bear."
"...The Bear." Kang muttered in disbelief.
"The Bear." Ravonna nodded. She shrugged. "I know."
"In 1962, Henry Pym discovered the Pym Particle, which changed the distance between atoms. He discovered that he could use it to shrink and grow, leading him to become the first Ant-Man. A year later, he would use the particles to grant similar powers to his future second wife, socialite Janet Van Dyne. She would become the first Wasp in 1963."
"Second wife." Kang said.
"His first was a Hungarian scientist named Maria Trovaya." Ravonna explained. "Shortly after the two married, she was kidnapped by KGB agents. Pym failed to save her. Unknown to him, Trovaya was pregnant. She would bear him a son." She showed him an image of a blond-haired man. "Sadly, Trovaya died from complications of childbirth. With her last breath, she named him after Pym: Henry Petrovich."
"What happened to him?" Kang asked. "And why is his surname Petrovich?"
"The child was taken in by a Russian agent named Ivan Petrovich." Ravonna said. "He defected with the baby boy to the United Kingdom. He would raise the young boy as his own son. Petrovich would marry an English woman, and Henry would grow up with a couple younger half-siblings as a result." She looked over at her tablet. "From a young age, Henry would show himself to have a brilliant intellect much like his biological parents. However, during his time studying engineering at Oxford University, something happened."
"What?"
"Mental illness runs in the Pym family line." Ravonna answered. "Henry started showing symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. As a result, he would spent much of his life in and out of mental hospitals."
Kang nodded. "So, Pym has as a son he is unaware of."
"1968 sees the birth of two future Avengers. James Rhodes, the War Machine, first Iron Patriot, and future Iron Man, is born on October 6 to Terrence and Roberta Rhodes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Robert Bruce Banner, the first Hulk, is born to Brian and Rebecca Banner on December 18 in Dayton, Ohio."
"Banner's childhood was...a sad one." Ravonna said. "Brian Banner was an expert on radiation. He feared that he had altered his DNA thanks to exposure and as a result, he was convinced that his son Bruce was secretly a monster. When Bruce demonstrated signs of high intelligence at an early age, Brian was convinced his fears were rational, and heavily abused the boy. His fury led to him murdering Rebecca. The trauma would lead to Banner developing a form of disassociated identity disorder."
Kang watched footage of the Hulk and Abomination fighting in Harlem. He then noticed another monitor. This one showed an older Hulk, now bald on top of his head with long white hair growing out of the sides and matching beard, sitting on a throne in a ruined world. "Perhaps Brian Banner's fears were not unfounded." He turned to Ravonna. "Where is the Abomination now?"
The redheaded woman tapped on her tablet. "During his time in prison, Emil Blonsky's Abomination form mutated further, and he gained the ability to reassume his human form. He started a support group for his fellow prisoners, and was paroled. He has gone on to found a spiritual retreat called Summer Twilight."
"So, he's basically a counselor now." Kang noted.
"Pretty much." Ravonna nodded. "Let's go to the 1970s."
"On May 29, 1970, Anthony "Tony" Stark is born to Howard and Maria Stark in Long Island, New York."
"In 1971, the Norse God Loki, after losing a bet to Thor, hijacks Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, going from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, Washington. Using the alias 'D.B. Cooper', Loki ransoms $200,000. He allows the passengers to leave in Seattle, then demands the plane fly to Mexico City. After the plane takes off, Loki parachutes away over the Washington skies, but Heimdall is able to retrieve him."
"That explains that legend." Kang noted.
Ravonna laughed. "HA! I won the bet! Sir Raston owes me money!"
"Heh. He has terrible luck with bets. And he never learns." Kang sipped his coffee.
"In 1972, a terminally ill Arnim Zola transfers his mind into a SHIELD bunker's computer systems in New Jersey, allowing him to escape the Grim Reaper. He then starts plans to create 'Project Insight'."
"In 1974, in another attempt to create a super-soldier, the Soviet Union transforms prominent neurosurgeon Tania Belinsky into Starlight." The computer showed an image of a dark-haired woman wearing a red costume with a white utility belt, and white boots and gloves. The costume had a chest emblem of a white 5-pointed star. The costume had a cowl that let her hair free and was topped by a white fin. "In 1976, she was sent to Hawaii on a mission to retrieve a Soviet scientist who defected to America. During the mission, her powers went out of control, threatening to kill her and destroy Honolulu. The scientist she was after helped stabilize her temporarily, and put her in cryogenic stasis until her powers could be stabilized permanently. Her stasis pod would remain in the Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. Her condition would eventually be stabilized by scientist Louise Fisher."
"Starlight would find a new life becoming one of Honolulu's superheroes alongside the Flash and Green Lantern." Ravonna added.
"In 1974, Howard Stark discovers a new element, but lacks the technology to manufacture any meaningful amounts of this new element. He would go on to design a diorama of the fairgrounds of the Stark Expo he held that year in the hopes that his then-four year old son Tony Stark will eventually be able take advantage of technological developments in the future to make the new element."
"In 1978, Kree soldier and scientist Mar-Vell comes to Earth in disgust over the Kree/Skrull War. After finding the Tesseract on Earth, she takes on the name Dr. Wendy Lawson, posing as an Earth scientist for the purpose of using it to create a faster-than-light starship to aid the Skrulls. That same year sees the birth of Samuel Wilson to Paul and Darlene Wilson in New Orleans, Louisiana. He would go on to be the first Falcon and the sixth Captain America."
"Let's go to the 1980s." Ravonna smiled.
"You are excited to get to the 80s, aren't you?"
"I love the 80s." Ravonna said.
"In 1980, the being named Ego, aka the Living Planet, visits the Earth using a human avatar. Ego mates with a human woman named Meredith Quill. This union would result in the birth of Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord of the Guardians of the Galaxy in Jefferson City, Missouri."
"In 1983, Theodore Kord starts adventuring in Hawaii as the Blue Beetle. He starts off as a sidekick of Hawaiian heroine and First Line member Tandy Waihe'e, aka Firefall."
"In 1984, a non-corporeal alien would crash in Chequamegon Bay, Wisconsin after its craft was shot down. The incident would be investigated by rookie SHIELD agent Phil Coulson. The alien would use a cloned body of a deceased man named Scott Hayden to communicate with humanity. Coulson and a woman named Jennifer Hayden would aid the alien in returning to his homeworld. During their journey, the 'Starman', as Coulson would refer to him, and Hayden shared a brief romance. This would result in Hayden being pregnant with a son she named William. His hybrid nature would make him potentially one of the most powerful superhumans of his era."
"Incredible." Kang said. "I've fought several Starmen. But you usually do not find them in timelines like this."
"William Payton, the Starman, would eventually become an Avenger in good standing." Ravonna recalled. "The alien 'Starman' would befriend Coulson, asking him to watch over Jennifer and their son. When Payton manifested his own superhuman powers on a hiking trip with some friends, Coulson helped him understand his abilities."
"In 1985, rock musician Ronald Entwistle, aka Ronnie Rocker, ends up lost in the Amazon rainforest after his plane crashes on the way to a concert Rio de Janeiro. Trying to find help, he would discover Nova Roma, a hidden city populated by descendants of Ancient Roman colonists who interbred with local native tribes. It was there he first encountered the lifeforce-sucking mutant named Selene. She had set herself up as Nova Roma's tyrannical queen. An adventurer and sorcerer in his own right, Rocker aided the resistance there in deposing her. In the process, Ronnie's guitar became a powerful magical item, channeling a magical force Ronnie would call 'The Power of Rock'."
"The Power of Rock." Kang snickered. "That sounds like the creation of a bad fanfic writer who listens to too much 1980s heavy metal."
"He would go on to use the guitar to help fight evil all over the world during the height of his musical career." Ravonna added. "He also would be associated with the First Line in their later years."
"In 1987, a Soviet ICBM is launched at Washington, D.C. Henry Pym and Janet Van Dyne, Ant-Man and the Wasp I, intercepted the missile. The missile is stopped, but at the cost of the seeming death of the Wasp. In reality, she was trapped in the Quantum Realm, where she would meet a group of heroes that would eventually be known as the Micronauts."
"Led by starship commander Arcturus Rann, they include Prince Argon and Princess Marionette, gladiator Acroyear, and insectoid thief Bug." Ravonna added. "The group eventually became a second family to Scott Lang's daughter Cassie, aka Stinger and Stature." Kang nodded.
"Very well." He said. "Continue on."
"In 1988, Peter Quill is taken from Earth by Yondu and the Ravagers. Also in that year, the First Line would engage in what would be their final battle." The computer said, showing an image of the First Line facing a dark-haired woman wearing a low-cut purple dress and headband. "They faced off against the immortal sorceress Selene as she attempted to help unleash a demonic invasion of Earth."
"So, there was a previous attempt at causing the Inferno now." Kang said. "And Selene is no immortal. She's more of a parasite. Feeding on the life force of others to avert her own death." He sneered. "Pathetic."
"This battle resulted in the deaths of all the First Liners, except for two: Pixie and Yankee Clipper. During the battle, the Clipper's power belt reacted to a magical blast from Selene, causing him to be yanked forward in time."
"His first time jump took him from 1961 to 1985." Ravonna added.
"Pixie and Yankee Clipper were mistakenly assumed to be dead by the sorceress. As revenge for the First Line foiling her, she cast a spell causing the world to forget they ever existed. Pixie retained her memories of the First Line due to her Eternal nature. Traumatized and heartbroken by the deaths of her teammates, she would live as a civilian."
"She would re-emerge thanks to the Avengers' first encounter with the Eternals." Ravonna told Kang. "And that event would eventually lead to this." She showed Kang an image of the Avengers, Doctor Strange, the Yankee Clipper, Pixie, the Ozel Ozlazur Flash, and the Tana Moon Green Lantern battling Selene. "This battle here will lead to the world's memories of the First Line being restored."
"According to this new history, the first Ant-Man and Wasp were First Line members." Kang recalled. "Which means that they do not remember being members of the Line thanks to Selene's spell, right?"
"Correct." The computer answered. "Their memories of their First Line membership would have been restored when Doctor Strange undid Selene's spell." It then continued on.
"In 1989, Pietro and Wanda Maximoff were born to sorceress Natalya Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, and Magneto. Maximoff had a tryst with the mutant, unaware of his true identity."
"Eisenhardt has certainly aged well." Kang remarked.
"As he grew up, Eisenhardt would show to be a brilliant mind in various sciences, including genetics." Ravonna explained. "He discovered a way to slow his aging down. Fearing Magneto getting his hands on her twin children, she entrusted them in the care of her twin brother Oleg. He and his wife Iryna raised them as their own children, until they were killed in an airstrike in 1999. Natalya herself died in 1997, stopping a sorcerer named Necrodamus."
"As a possible side-effect of Selene's spell, there was little superheroic activity in the 1990s, although the decade would see the empowerments of Jessica Jones and Matthew Murdock." Kang's computer continued. "December 1991 saw the assassination of Howard and Maria Stark at the hands of the Winter Soldier. In May of 1992, the then-king of Wakanda, T'Chaka, confronts his brother N'Jobu in Oakland, California. N'Jobu had betrayed Wakanda by helping Ulysses Klaue steal vibranium from the country to arm African-Americans. The encounter ends with T'Chaka being forced to kill N'Jobu and abandon N'Jobu's American-born son: Erik Stevens."
"What happened to Erik Stevens' mother?" Kang asked.
"Erik's mother Alyssa Stevens died in prison. Also in 1992, Russian supersoldier Alexei Shostakov and former Black Widow Melina Vostokoff come to the United States as part of a deep-cover mission to gather intel on HYDRA research on mind control. They pose as an American family, with young Red Room trainees Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova in the role of their daughters. Despite the family being an act, Shostakov and Vostokoff come to genuinely view Romanoff and Belova as daughter figures. They would complete their mission in 1995."
Ravonna chuckled. "That's actually kind of sweet. In a bizarre way."
"Mm." Kang nodded.
"Also in 1995, Carol Danvers returned to Earth as part of the Kree's elite Starforce. During this point, she learns of her real past and the truth of the Kree-Skrull War. Inspired by these events, as well as tales of the Avengers of 1959, Nick Fury proposes the Avenger Initiative."
"There was a minor alteration of these events." Ravonna said. "In the original timeline, Starforce member Minn-Erva died. But in the new timeline, she escaped her ship just before it was destroyed thanks to a short-range teleportation device of her own creation. She would end up marooned on Earth in the decades since, only being able to contact the Kree again thanks to the Dusting."
"In 1999, the United States launched air strikes on Novi Grad, Sokovia. This event caused the deaths of Oleg and Iryna Maximoff. They were raising Oleg's nephew and niece Pietro and Wanda Maximoff. The then-ten year old twins were trapped in the wreckage with an inert Stark Industries missile for two days."
"It's believed that the missile was made inert by Wanda unknowingly demonstrating her immense mystical potential." Ravonna shrugged. "Which makes sense. Her mother Natalya was the previous Scarlet Witch, after all."
"Another timeline alteration." Kang nodded.
"August 10, 2001 would see the birth of Peter Parker, the first Spider-Man. He would be the only child of CIA agents Richard and Mary Parker. It also saw the young Daniel Rand begin his training to become the latest Iron Fist."
"In 2002, Robert Redford Parsons is born in Cleveland, Ohio." The computer shows an image of a brunet teenage boy.
"In 2003, Ronnie Rocker is murdered by Selene in England. The general public believes the musician was killed in a car accident. With his dying breath, he magically binds his spirit to his magical guitar, and it flies off, ultimately ending up in a pawn shop in Cleveland, Ohio. This year also sees the birth of Shang-Chi's sister Xu Xialing in China."
"In 2005, an accident with gamma radiation would transform Bruce Banner into the being that becomes known as the Incredible Hulk. This year also saw Elsa Bloodstone leave her family mansion, forfeiting the right to inherit the Bloodstone, a mystical artifact that among its mystical powers, provided immortality."
"In 2006, Richard and Mary Parker are killed in a plane crash. While made to look like an accident to fool the general public, the real cause was HYDRA sabotage."
"Her father was Ulysses Bloodstone, the monster hunter." Ravonna explained. "He was immortal thanks the Bloodstone, having first gotten it embedded in his chest circa 8250 BC."
"In 2009, Kamala Khan is born in New Jersey to Yusuf and Muneeba Khan, their second child. In the future, her djinn heritage combined with latent Inhuman genetics will allow her to become Ms. Marvel."
"In Spring 2010, after a demonstration of the "Jericho" missile system, Tony Stark is captured in Afghanistan by the terrorist organization the Ten Rings. With the aid of fellow captive Yinsen, Tony Stark builds the first Iron Man armor, ushering in a new age of superheroics. In fall of that year, T'Chaka retires as King of Wakanda."
"In 2011, Stark battles Ivan Vanko and Hulk battles the Abomination. Thor gets exiled to Earth."
"In 2012, Marc Spector becomes the latest avatar of the Egyptian moon god Khonshu. Steve Rogers is found in the Arctic and thawed. The Avengers are formed, battling Loki and the Chitauri. Scott Lang is arrested and imprisoned. He had found the corporation he worked for stole money from his customers and returned it. The year ends with Iron Man battling the false Mandarin and the Ten Rings."
"In 2013, Roberto "Robbie" Reyes becomes the new Ghost Rider. Thor battles Malekith. Also in that year, Fu Manchu sends his son Shang-Chi to the United States on an assassination mission. He completes the mission, but is so horrified by his actions, he flees and poses as an ordinary Chinese-American citizen in San Francisco named 'Shaun Cho.'."
"In 2014, Baron von Strucker and HYDRA experiment on Sokovian citizens with Loki's scepter. Among the test subjects are Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. The experiments activate their dormant mutant genes, allowing them to survive the experiments. Steve Rogers battles the Winter Soldier, and SHIELD collapses. Matt Murdock becomes Daredevil. Jessica Jones also attempts to become a superheroine, but ends up mentally enslaved by Zebediah Killgrave."
"In 2015, Luke Cage emerges as a defender of Harlem. With the emergence of new Inhumans on Earth, Attilan's king Blackagar Boltagon sends Triton to bring endangered Inhumans to Attilan. The new arrivals, combined with a growing disdain for the ancient caste system help cause unrest in the city."
"Also in 2015, the Avengers would battle Ultron in Sokovia. The ranks are expanded with the addition of the Vision, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch. Quicksilver is killed saving civilians. His spirit would be guided to the extradimensional Speed Force by the soul of Natalya Maximoff so he could be reborn. Hulk leaves Earth. Daniel Rand takes up the mantle of the Iron Fist. Scott Lang becomes the second Ant-Man. Luke Cage, Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones unite as the Defenders. Afghanistan War veteran Frank Castle begins his activities as the Punisher. Peter Parker gains his powers and becomes the first Spider-Man. Robert Parsons buys a guitar in a pawn shop in Cleveland, unaware it was Ronnie Rocker's magic guitar. He becomes Cleveland's local superhero: Kid Razor."
"In 2016, neurosurgeon Stephen Strange gets injured in a car accident. The injuries to his hands end his career. Yelena Belova is freed from her mind control by a fellow Black Widow, and takes up her mission to free the Widows from the thumb of General Dreykov. In Lagos, the Avengers accidentally wreck a skyscraper, causing significant civilian casualties. This event, as well as the collateral damage to New York, Sokovia, and the Triskelion, the Sokovia Accords are ratified by the United Nations."
"This event led to the seeming collapse of the Avengers." Ravonna added.
"Yes, that has unchanged." Kang nodded.
"After the collapse of the Avengers, Natasha Romanoff reunites with her 'sister' and 'parents' to take down General Dreykov. Also in 2016, T'Challa stops Erik Killmonger from using the resources and technology of Wakanda to wage war on the rest of the world."
"Another minor change here." Ravonna said. "In the old timeline, 'Killmonger' was a nickname for Erik Stevens. Now, it was still a nickname. However, in the new timeline, he found it so amusing that he legally changed his name to Erik Killmonger." Kang nodded.
"In 2017, the rogue Inhuman royal Maximus uses this unrest to help ferment a rebellion that allows him to steal the throne of Attilan. Black Bolt and his relatives are scattered in Honolulu, Hawaii. The other members of the royal family are able to make alliances and friendships with various humans living in the city. With their aid, they are able to restore Black Bolt and Medusa to the throne."
"This is a major change." Ravonna explained. "In the original timeline, this ended with Maximus trapped in an abandoned Attilan. In the new modified one, Maximus tried to crash Attilan into Honolulu. Thankfully for the Big Apricot's citizenry, the Royal Family and their human allies were able to keep the city from being crushed by Attilan. It would end up on the Pacific Ocean as Honolulu's unofficial neighbor."
"After this, one of the Inhumans who aided Maximus would exile herself to Honolulu in remorse for her actions: Ozel Ozlazur."
"Quite fascinating how a changed timeline can alter the fate of a person." Kang noted. "In the old unaltered timeline, she would have been nothing special. But in this new one, she is now a significant superheroine."
"Indeed, my Lord." Ravonna agreed with a nod. "She became one of the first of a new generation of superheroes in Hawaii."
"In 2018, King T'Challa of Wakanda and spy Nakia conceive a son. The two agree that their child should be raised away from the country to help protect him from the pressures of the throne, so Nakia raises him in Haiti under the name 'Toussaint'."
"After Toussaint Louverture, I assume." Kang noted. "A key figure in Haiti's independence movement. Appropriate."
"Both Queen Mother Ramonda and Princess Shuri are informed of this event shortly after Prince T'Challa's birth."
"Another timeline change." Ravonna noted. "Shuri originally was unaware of her younger brother until 2025."
"2018 also sees the event that becomes known as the Infinity Crisis." The computer intoned. "When Thanos causes the Snap."
"This is where it really goes off the rails, as they say." Ravonna said. "You see, in the old timeline, the Snap just affected Earth-199999. But now, it was shown to affect a significant part of the multiverse."
Kang narrowed his eyes at the image of Thanos snapping his Infinity Gauntlet-covered fingers in Wakanda. "That is impossible. I've encountered several versions of the Infinity Stones. They're supposed to be useless baubles outside of their native realities."
"Indeed." Ravonna said. "I'm not sure how this happened, myself. I discovered more alterations to the timeline here. Hope Pym survived the Dusting in the new timeline. Same with Shuri."
"In the Infinity Crisis, the Avengers joined forces with the heroes of Earths 1, 38, and 51 join forces to stop Thanos and undo the Dusting."
"And in the old timeline, the Avengers did it on their own...five years later." Ravonna noted.
"During the Infinity Crisis, the exiled Maximus the Mad returned to Hawaii, taking a Kree fleet with him. This event prevented the weakened Royal Family from aiding in the Second Battle of New York. The Royal Family drove off the Kree and Maximus was presumed deceased in the aftermath. These events saw talk show host Tana Moon become Earth-199999's Green Lantern thanks to being chosen by a power ring from Universe-51. Shortly after this, Ozel Ozlazur begins adventuring as Earth-199999's Flash. In the wake of the Infinity Crisis, the Sokovia Accords are repealed."
"And from there, the future goes more off the rails." Ravonna said. "The X-Men, She-Hulk, Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four, they end up debuting far earlier than in the older timeline. The roster of the Thunderbolts is very different. Yelena Belova becomes a temporary companion of the thirteenth incarnation of the Doctor. Interdimensional teamups become much more common, with the Avengers teaming up with Supergirl and the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Phil Coulson's SHIELD agents join forces with Green Arrow of Earth-1 and his allies to face the Skrulls. And most recently, the emergence of the Eternals." Kang looked at another wall of monitors, showing some future events. One showed Captain America, Namor, and the Fantastic Four fighting a mind-controlled Jim Hammond.
"Jim! It's us!" Captain America yelled at the fiery man. Namor whirled his head at Reed Richards.
"Who has desecrated him in this manner?!" The Talokanil god-king demanded.
"Some joker callin' himself the Mad Thinker." Ben Grimm answered.
One showed Captain America and Starlight talking at a porch.
"I envy you Steve." The Russian woman admitted. "You got a country to return to. Mine is now a memory."
"You've done good work in Hawaii." Cap reassured. "I think there may be a home for you there."
A third showed the X-Men fighting demons in the streets of New York City.
A fourth showed Spider-Man, Deathlok, Iron Fist, Iceman, and Firestar facing down rioting New Yorkers while a madman in a red-and-black costume slaughters people.
A fifth showed The Avengers fighting a group of supervillains in their compound.
A sixth showed an older Ozel Ozlazur Flash racing through the streets of Honolulu. With her was another speedster, a teenage girl. She had a costume similar to Wally West's Kid Flash costume, with the yellow replaced with green, and the red replaced with purple. Her cowl revealed brown hair in a bob.
"Looking good, Arzel!" Flash grinned, giving her little sister the thumbs up.
A seventh showed Wanda, Pietro, Vision, and the ghostly Natalya Maximoff facing Agatha Harkness, Necrodamus, and Chthon at Mount Wundagore.
An eighth showed the Avengers fighting Skrulls.
A ninth showed a team of superheroes forming in California, headquartered in a compound with a familiar "A" logo, led by a revived Jim Hammond. Among them were the Kate Bishop Hawkeye, Moon Knight, Namora, and America Chavez.
A tenth showed another group of heroes, including a new Blue Beetle, Flash, Green Lantern, Starlight, and the Yankee Clipper, gathering around a table. The table having a logo of an "F" and an "L".
"The new First Line having its first meeting!" Flash whooped.
An eleventh showed an invasion of shadowy demonic creatures, the heroes of Earth-199999 and several other worlds all joining forces to stand against them.
A twelfth showed an elderly British woman talking to Henry and Hope Pym, Janet Van Dyne, and Scott and Cassie Lang.
"I have a son?!" Hank Pym asked in shock.
"Yes." The woman said. "And he needs your help."
A thirteenth showed Steve Rogers, Sharon Carter, and Bucky Barnes fighting a crazed William Burnside and Jack Monroe.
A fourteenth showed Tony Stark and Shuri in Chicago talking to a teenaged Black girl about the suit of red-and-gold armor behind her.
A fifteenth showed Jim Rhodes donning the Iron Man armor and his niece Lila donning a modified version of the War Machine armor.
Kang's eyes gleamed as he watched the monitors. Ravonna noticed the gleam, and she realized what was going on.
"I think this version of the Avengers will be quite the challenge, my Lord." Ravonna smiled.
"Indeed. I look forward to facing them." Kang admitted, a smile on his face. "I have killed many versions of them, but I have always regarded them with great respect. Because they always challenged me. I had to earn every one of those victories. Whoever altered this Earth's history...I will have to thank them. I think these Avengers...will be the greatest challenge I ever faced."
"Oh, wowwwww..." The two heard a voice call out. Kang and Ravonna turned around and saw a brunette woman in a pink dress and high heels look around. By the way she was swaying, and the drink in her hand, the woman was clearly quite tipsy. "Look at all the TVs!"
"What in the..." Kang blinked in confusion.
"Who...who are you?" Ravonna asked.
"Oh, I'm Madisynn King." The woman said, a big smile on her face. "Madisynn is with two Ns and one Y. But it's not where you thiiiiiiink..." She started to try and dance a bit.
"...how did you get in here?" Kang inquired.
"Well, I was attending this magic show, and the magician gave me this rabbit. It was totally a stuffed rabbit, by the way. He then, liked opened up this portal. A bunch of demons came out, and I stumbled into the portal..." As Madisynn explained how she got there, Kang and Ravonna looked at each other in disbelief.
"...I think we may need to up the security here." Ravonna admitted.
"Oh, for God's sake..." Kang facepalmed.
Smallville, Earth-51
A gray-haired man looked at the copy of the Daily Planet in his hands. He sipped his coffee and smiled at the article he was reading.
"That's my boy." Jonathan Kent chuckled to himself. I can't believe I was once so afraid of what would happen to my son if his powers were revealed to the world. His saving me from that tornado was an eye-opener.
"Seeing what our son is up to, honey?" Martha Kent asked with a smile as she sat at the table, her own coffee in her hands.
"Yeah." Jonathan nodded. "I can't believe I was so afraid. I mean, considering the long history of superheroes we have had and all..."
"I'm just grateful Clark was able to save you." Martha smiled, patting Jonathan's back.
"Who would have thought those kids Clark hung out with would have taught him to do that?" He smiled.
"I'm glad they did." Martha agreed. The two heard a noise of someone landing. The two farmers went to the door and opened it. Standing there was a young Latina woman with short dark hair, wearing a red sweater vest and blue blouse and jeans, and red sneakers. Slung over her shoulder was a brown bag.
"Kara!" Jonathan said as he and Martha hugged the young woman. Kara Zor-El smiled and returned the hugs.
"Hey, guys." The Kryptonian young woman said. She walked in and took a seat.
"How's Metropolis been, young lady?" Jonathan asked.
"Fine. Clark's been helping me settle in. So has Lourdes and Eddie." Kara said. "It's a big city. Reminds me of Argo back home...on Krypton..." She looked at the newspaper. "Cousin Clark making the news again."
"Yup. We saw that news report of your big debut." Martha said.
"Started another scrapbook." Jonathan added, showing Kara a blue book. She opened it and frowned at the photo. It depicted her in her Supergirl costume: A blue long-sleeved top with the Superman "S" logo, the red from it going over her shoulders and into piping over her sleeves. A golden belt held up a red skirt. Her costume was completed by a pair of blue leggings and red boots. On her head was a blonde wig with a red headband.
"Not a fan of the skirt, or the wig." She admitted.
"Helps hide your identity, Kara." Martha said. "People will be expecting you to be a blonde thanks to it."
"Yeah, but still..." Kara shrugged. "Can I at least ditch the skirt? That costume already looks like the 1980s threw up on me. I'd ask Lourdes, but her ideas for costumes are a bit..."
"Revealing?" Jonathan offered, sipping his coffee. He had seen La Encantadora on the news.
"Yeah." Kara nodded. "In fact, she sketched out some ideas for me." She pulled out some drawings from her bag and showed them to the two farmers.
"Oh, my..." Martha blinked as she and Jonathan looked at them.
"That Encantadora woman does realize she's not designing swimsuits, right?" Jonathan added. He tilted his head and turned one of the drawings sideways. "At least, I think these are swimsuits..."
"I honestly wonder that myself sometimes." Kara nodded with a chuckle. "Just because that woman has no problem fighting crime with her big ol' ta-tas hanging out doesn't mean I want to."
"Well, I'm sure she means well." Martha said as she handed the pictures back to Kara, who put them back in her bag.
"She does, but...she's...Lourdes." Kara sighed. "I pointed out my issues with her designs, and she was all like..." She started imitating the reformed villainess's accented voice. "'...you make fun of me with my outfit, but yours are indestructible! Besides, you got a killer bod, why not flaunt it?' Sheesh." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I've been looking into a new vigilante making the rounds in Metropolis."
"Really?" The Kents said.
"Yeah." Kara nodded. "He's some Batman-wannabe who hangs around Suicide Slum. He calls himself the Gangbuster..."
Whoof, this was one of the more demanding stories I've written. It was actually more challenging than History Lesson-51, ha ha! I wanted to, like in that one, provide plenty of info about the new altered MCU timeline, but also leave room for future IC writers to expand on. I also didn't want to contradict the MCU timeline on TV Tropes, which I drew from here. Basically, I just wanted to establish that the Wild Card's alterations to the history of Earth-199999 was basically adding on more stuff.
The future events Kang's monitors are not necessarily shown in chronological order. See what classic Marvel storylines some of them pay homage to. ^_^
The Marvel Universe version of Hugo Danner first appeared in Marvel Preview #9 (Winter 1976), by Roy Thomas and Tony DeZuniga, adapting the first half of Philip Wylie's Gladiator. Hugo Danner having a daughter with an Amazonian tribeswoman is a nod to the fanfic "Giant Size Avengers" by D. Read it, it's good.
The Freedom's Five first appeared in Invaders #7 (April 1976), by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins. So did Baron Blood and Spitfire.
The Liberty Legion first appeared in Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976), by Roy Thomas and Don Heck, using pre-established Timely Comics-era heroes.
The Britannia Project first appeared in The Union #1 (December 2020) by Paul Grist and R.B. Silva.
I had to take a couple liberties with the Falsworth family history due to the MCU version of James Falsworth being one of the Howling Commandos. And as for Baron Blood, I changed his first name to "Joshua" due to his comic first name John's similarity to James.
The original Black Marvel, Dan Lyons, first appeared in Mystic Comics #5 (March 1941), by Al Gabriele. Randi Reevis is an original character of mine. I thought it would be neat to see a new Black Marvel that was actually Native American, as the original was a white dude that was empowered by a Native American ceremony that could be seen as...problematic. The Golden Age can be well...offensive. Her name is an homage to Blackfeet actor Steve Reevis. You may remember him from the 1996 film Fargo.
Betty Dean dying in 1975 is a reference to the cover date of the comic in which she was killed off: Super-Villain Team-Up #2 (July 1975). She was created by Bill Everett, and her death was chronicled by Tony Isabella and Sal Buscema.
Adam Brashear/The Blue Marvel first appeared in Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 (November 2008) by Kevin Grevioux and Mat Broome.
Mary Mitchell, Sun Girl, first appeared in Sun Girl #1 (June 1948), created by Ken Bald.
William Burnside has a bit of a...complicated history. In the 1950s, Atlas (formerly Timely, eventually Marvel), tried to revive Captain America, but the revival didn't quite catch on. Those 1950s stories showed Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes fighting communists, billed as "The Commie Smasher". When Captain America was revived again in Avengers #4 (March 1964), it was revealed that Steve Rogers was in suspended animation after World War II, seemingly rendering those 1950s stories non-canon. And then Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema came along. They introduced Burnside in Captain America #153 (September 1972) as a way to canonize those 1950s stories by establishing he was Captain America in those stories, posing as Steve Rogers. Funny enough, his birth name would not be established until Captain America #602 (March 2010).
When I was putting together this timeline, I remembered that the Infinity Crisis MCU version of the Thunderbolts had USAgent in it, and he was given a variant of the Super-Soldier Serum, and his variant gave him mood swings and increased mental volatility. I don't know if that was an intentional nod by Michael Weyer in Generation Gaps, but it made me think of William Burnside. And as I put the timeline together, I felt it made sense to link Master Man to Burnside by having an unstable variant of the Super-Soldier Serum. So, yeah. In this version of the MCU, the variant of the Serum in John Walker's veins is the "grandson" of the variant used to empower Master Man. It all fits together. It's all connected, as they used to say.
Sir Raston was one of Kang's Anachronauts, his elite group of warriors from various points in time. He and the other Anachronauts first appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #25 (1992) by Mark Gruenwald and Herb Trimpe. Fun fact, he was one of the Black Knights. The second one, after Sir Percy of Scandia and centuries before Nathan Garrett and Dane Whitman.
Starlight/Tania Belinsky first appeared in Defenders #35 (May 1976) by Steve Gerber and Sal Buscema.
Necrodamus first appeared in Defenders #1 (May 1972) by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema.
The Yankee Clipper, Pixie, and the rest of the First Line first appeared in Marvel: The Lost Generation #12 (March 2000) by Roger Stern and John Byrne. Nightingale's birth name was never revealed, so I gave her one. As for Liberty Girl, I gave her the surname "Trent".
Necrodamus first appeared in Defenders #1 (August 1972) by Steve Englehart and Sal Buscema.
Erik Killmonger's mother dying in prison comes from the director's commentary of the first Black Panther film. I gave her her name.
Ulysses Bloodstone first appeared in Marvel Presents #1 (October 1975) by Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, and John Warner.
Ivan Petrovich first appeared in Amazing Adventures #1 (August 1970) by Gary Friedrich, John Buscema, and John Verpooten.
Gangbuster/Jose Delgado first appeared in Adventures of Superman #428 (May 1987) by Marv Wolfman and Jerry Ordway.