The Secret Origin of Mettle

[cyberghostface]

Some people were curious about Mettle in the previous post, so I figured I'd post his "origin" story from Avengers Academy #4.









Oh, Norman. You rascal.

Anyways, when Mettle later encounters Norman in jail:

Comments

[philippos42]

I really hate Norman Osborn. He's such a cliché storm.

[lucky_gamble]

Long live stereotypical villains!

[blackruzsa]

What I hate is how easily people can be taken by Norman, and how INCREDIBLY FRIGGING CONVINCING HE IS :|

[crinos]

He's like the Orochimaru of Western comics.

Yeah, what?

[autumn_lily]

The freedom to have awkward inept sex with your inferiors without killing them? I can give you that.
Wh-what?


Don't do it Ken! You don't want to see that O face!

Re: Yeah, what?

[baihu]

Oh gawd...oh gawd...OH GAWD WHY DID YOU REMIND ME OF THE O FACE!?

OSHIT IT'S IN MY MIIINDDD!

Re: Yeah, what?

[cyberghostface]

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

Ya know, I think superheroes are the new mutants. Instead of an origin, they get some trauma that reveals their powers, then angst, then costume.

...it works for mutants, less for superheroes, IMO.

[thokstar]

Spiderman and Batman are wondering how this is different from the status quo.

[crinos]

Anyways, when is this series getting on Marvel digital, it looks kick ass?

Digital comics or trades, I will be getting this.

[sarno001]

You know, I can never get over Osborn's hair. What is it supposed to be? Cornrows? Or did he just go to his stylist and say, "Make me a goddamn tiger!"

[darklorelei]

I've always assumed it's supposed to be like Joseph Cotten's.

[autohobbs]

Crouching Osborn hidden Dragon.

[mcity]

It's supposed to be waves. Y'know, that hairstyle that went out of fashion before most of the readers were born? You could handwave Norman, but there's no real excuse for his trendy son to have the same haircut.

[silverzeo]

.... i think we need a Spidey Says right now...

[mullon]

I'm going to chalk it up to them being new that they actually are listening to Osborn.

[silverzeo]

And yet, it seems like they haven't watch Star Wars at all...

[thanekos]

Norman's almost Purple Manning, there.

[neuhallidae]

Kinda hilarious, given that Luke beat down the Purple Man during the failed prison escape.

[cainofdreaming]

You know what would have made this better? Laughter.

As in the kids laughing out loud when leaving, muttering to themselves (still quite audible for Normy) "Can't believe we wasted a quarter hour trying to waste this creep. Clear as day that the worst thing could happen to him is getting to live in this fantasy world he's in. Making us better? Guy who gets regularly beat up by someone who dresses up as spider?"

[psychopathicus_rex]

I still say that the guy looks too much like Red Skull. That aside, while I don't really LIKE the way that Norman Osborn has developed in the last few years - he's the Green Goblin, dammit, not Hannibal Lecter - I can't deny that he's quite the magnificent bastard here.

[stig]

This is probably the best comic story with a title based on a Coldplay song ever...or, thusfar.

[aelflar]

So can`t Mettle use..a mask or something? You know, to fit in more? I was never much beyond "meh" when it came to skull-faced characters. I blame Skeletor, who was pretty stereotypical. Oh wells, I don`t wanna judge the poor guy, I mean we`ve just met...

Also, 5th page, 1st panel, it should be "Mettle, brah, don`t do this!" XD

[amaniwolf]

Unfortunately no, as Osborne had all the rest of his skin taken off and he's now all shiny metal all the time,...well that and huge.

[geoffsebesta]

I can't get over how consistently a large variety of people write Osborn very, very well.

I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it.

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

Now if only they did it during Dark Reign...

[halloweenjack]

Honestly, maybe it's the bar being set so low by Dark Reign and assorted nonsense, but this isn't bad, either in general or with regards to Norman in particular. Yeah, he's crazy and everyone knows it, but it's not like Pym hasn't also done some pretty reprehensible shit in the not-so-distant past, and they're not just buying it blindly, either. Maybe they'll get to chatting with Scott Summers or Hank McCoy and hear about the time that Professor X faked his death and left them on their own because he was preparing for the Z'Nox invasion and didn't want to be bothered. Mentors can be cold, manipulative assholes.

[darkblade]

Did no one think to comment on the fact that his skin was the same shade of red as his metal bones? I know he's Hawaiian but that shade of Power Ranger red can't be natural.

[aelflar]

I think he`s got a standard case of Colour Coded for Your Convenience.

[sir_mikael]

I want Ben Grimm to mentor Mettle or something. He's dealt with exactly these issues for years and seem to have adjusted pretty well. Not to mention he's awesome and would be a great mentor to anyone.

[amaniwolf]

Now that is a great idea! That gets my vote!