compound
Well-Known Member
I'd like to see a 12-issue mini-series titled Ultimate Marvels (a nod to the 'ground level' series that partly inspired Astro City). It would consist of self-contained stories about super-powered characters in the Ultimate universe -- some who are mutants, others altered humans -- who choose NOT to become public super-heroes or -villains, in the conventional sense. The activities of each character would be monitored (in secret) by SHIELD agent Carol Danvers, the Ultimate equivalent of the 616/mainstream continuity's Ms. Marvel.
In each issue, Agent Danvers will assess the risk or threat posed by each individual, then decide an appropriate course of action: to either leave the character alone, or to introduce herself as their new 'handler' and to inform them that SHIELD is aware of their unique abilities.
Here are some possible ideas for the personalities she will encounter:
* Jamie Madrox, a fun-loving college student who somehow manages to juggle an inhuman number of extra-curricular activites, as if he could be several places at one time!
* Jessica Jones, a pink-haired, disaffected slacker/punk wasting away her life in an unrewarding convenience store job. Jones comes to SHIELD's attention when she foils a botched robbery using her (mutant?) super-reflexes. Danvers establishes that Jones' lack of motivation would limit the danger she poses, despite her considerable abilities. However, as a matter of personal sympathy, she befriends Jessica as 'herself', rather than as an Agent of SHIELD. (This will mirror the camaraderie they share in the 616 universe, as depicted in Bendis' Alias.)
* Abe Jenkins, a down-on-his-luck electrical engineer, with a good-hearted but demanding pregnant wife. Jenkins is a John Turturro-esque 'loveable loser' type [credit to ourchair for this description], who never seems to catch any breaks in life. He chances upon a rejected prototype SHIELD armor, patterend after The Wasp's physiology, complete with a low-voltage electrical 'sting'. He attempts to use the armor for petty robbery, justifying it as a means of getting back at a system that's biased against him. However, the armor's usefulness is limited by Jenkins' own inability to competently pull off his crimes (forgetting to run off with the loot; losing his nerves when the cops arrive, etc.). After observing him for several hours, Agent Danvers concludes that "once a loser, always a loser" -- Jenkins is too ineffectual to be any real threat. In fact, the 'Beetle' armor is little more than a placebo giving him the courage to break the law -- in terms of practicality, "he might as well be using a very strong cattle prod to knock up liquor stores". Thus, she chooses to leave him be.
* Sean Cassidy, a by-the-book, working-class Irish cop who keeps his mutant sonic scream a well-guarded secret from his colleagues, despite its usefulness on the mean streets of New York City. Cassidy's principled insistence on hiding his powers is slowly driving him into alcoholism. Could a meeting with Agent Danvers prompt him to rethink his approach?
In each issue, Agent Danvers will assess the risk or threat posed by each individual, then decide an appropriate course of action: to either leave the character alone, or to introduce herself as their new 'handler' and to inform them that SHIELD is aware of their unique abilities.
Here are some possible ideas for the personalities she will encounter:
* Jamie Madrox, a fun-loving college student who somehow manages to juggle an inhuman number of extra-curricular activites, as if he could be several places at one time!
* Jessica Jones, a pink-haired, disaffected slacker/punk wasting away her life in an unrewarding convenience store job. Jones comes to SHIELD's attention when she foils a botched robbery using her (mutant?) super-reflexes. Danvers establishes that Jones' lack of motivation would limit the danger she poses, despite her considerable abilities. However, as a matter of personal sympathy, she befriends Jessica as 'herself', rather than as an Agent of SHIELD. (This will mirror the camaraderie they share in the 616 universe, as depicted in Bendis' Alias.)
* Abe Jenkins, a down-on-his-luck electrical engineer, with a good-hearted but demanding pregnant wife. Jenkins is a John Turturro-esque 'loveable loser' type [credit to ourchair for this description], who never seems to catch any breaks in life. He chances upon a rejected prototype SHIELD armor, patterend after The Wasp's physiology, complete with a low-voltage electrical 'sting'. He attempts to use the armor for petty robbery, justifying it as a means of getting back at a system that's biased against him. However, the armor's usefulness is limited by Jenkins' own inability to competently pull off his crimes (forgetting to run off with the loot; losing his nerves when the cops arrive, etc.). After observing him for several hours, Agent Danvers concludes that "once a loser, always a loser" -- Jenkins is too ineffectual to be any real threat. In fact, the 'Beetle' armor is little more than a placebo giving him the courage to break the law -- in terms of practicality, "he might as well be using a very strong cattle prod to knock up liquor stores". Thus, she chooses to leave him be.
* Sean Cassidy, a by-the-book, working-class Irish cop who keeps his mutant sonic scream a well-guarded secret from his colleagues, despite its usefulness on the mean streets of New York City. Cassidy's principled insistence on hiding his powers is slowly driving him into alcoholism. Could a meeting with Agent Danvers prompt him to rethink his approach?
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