Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic #37





Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz

Synopsis: J2 tells Bluestreak an untold story of the Avengers in Asgard. 

Comments: The flashback in this story takes place between pages 20 and 21 of A-Next #1.

 MC2 is really set in the here and now, because smart phones, selfie sticks and even selfies were not a thing in 1998 when A-Next #1 was published. 



Bluestreak and J2 are ignorant of Avengers history, since A-Next #1 established that Jolt and Jubilee were Avengers and that was confirmed again in Spider-Girl #32, along with Speedball. It was ambiguous if he was ever an Avenger in A-Next #1. It's also a bit of retcon that an appeal was sent out to a host of heroes. The appeal was sent out to reserve Avengers, Jubilee and Jolt got the signal as did Stinger because her technology was so similar to Ant-Man's (Scott Lang), a former Avenger. J2 and Speedball did not get the signal and joined because the saw the commotion with the trolls. 








A-Next #1 referenced a glorious celebration in Asgard with a footnote teasing that the story might be told someday. 25 years later...






Among the Asgardians, I can identify Volstagg, Fandral, Balder, and the Crimson Hawks, who were the imperial guard in DeFalco/Frenz's run on Thor. That may be Sif sitting on Thor's left. Valkyrie or a valkyrie (small "v") is also at the feast. I don't see Hogun the Grim or Thena, Thor's daughter. 



J2 is correctly drawn in his grunge phase, with the flannel shirt tied around his waist. J2 says he's anxious to get home because it's a school night. It's not addressed in the story, but at the time many A-Next and J2 stories involving J2 had some considerable suspense around the fact that J2 would run out of power after an hour and involuntarily change back to his secret identity of teenage Zane Yama. Since Asgard is in another dimension, Zane's transformation limitations might not be an issue there. J2 and Thunderstrike start off on good terms and Thunderstrike is not yet annoyed by J2's enthusiasm and he has not found out about J2's secret identity as a middle schooler that would briefly drive a wedge between them. 











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