u/AGreatBigTalkingHead

Not as much commentary on this slot, but I think Chesbro emerged as a likely one for here, with honourable mention to Mainframe. I'm just happy an MC2 original got on the board, either way.

Now we do Social Neutral.

A Social Neutral wants the world to be stable because they want to be comfortable in it. They are great at navigating society's rules, and accept that some degree of schmoozing and currying favor is just a necessary part of getting ahead. Social status means a lot to them. They are not driven to be part of the grand struggle between good and evil. This character is more likely to say, "Hey, man, I just work here," or, "Hmm, how will this affect my poll numbers?"

Some possible archetypes:

• The corporate sponsor
• The sensationalist journalist
• The popular kid in school
• The clock-punching bureaucrat

We had a decent set of entries last month for the first Mayday of the Month. Time to try again!

How to enter: Reply to this post with your own, original image attached. It must be themed around MC2 characters.

Examples of entries that are encouraged:

• Original artwork - drawings, digital art, sculpture, etc.
• Your own cosplay photos
• Merchandise you have - action figures, statues, etc., ideally posed for artistic value.
• Screen caps within games

Examples that will not count:

• Non-MC2, non-Earth-982 things
• AI-generated images
• NSFW images
• Images that are of other people's art / cosplay (make your own!)
• Entries from someone making multiple entries - just put in one, please.

How the winner will be announced:

This time, rather than post the winning entry myself, I will let the winner know that they can post their Mayday of the Month when I select them; I want to make sure they get the upvotes from their work. I will add the mod-only "Mayday of the Month" tag to their post after they do it. Hopefully their post takes a moment to explain how/why they made their image.

The winner gets their winning entry posted to our highlights for the month of June, and joins the Maydays of the Month sidebar carousel for the next 10 months (10 is the limit to images I can store on there, so, that's why 10).

Thanks for playing! Check back, this post should have some interesting stuff to browse through!

It was a pretty resounding result for Kaine as the Rebel Moral. I had someone else in mind there, but that's the beauty of discussion!

Next up: LAWFUL NEUTRAL.

In the superhero genre, Lawful Neutral can be a little frustrating for both sides. They like rules, laws, and codes so much that they won't take a moral side (little care for what is right or wrong, just what the rules, or rules-makers they follow, say). They may be incorruptible, but you may also not be able to appeal to their better nature.

Archectypes:

• A protocol-bound AI?
• A mercenary with a strict code?
• Someone who adheres to the letter of the law but not the spirit
• An unswervingly loyal servant?

I've got a couple of MC2 characters in mind who would be perfect here. Let's see who you're all thinking!

This was a hard one because we wanted to find a spot for Peter and it feels like we're running out of likely spots, and MJ feels like she belongs here. So I will cop out a little bit here, and take u/PlayFormal's suggestion to use both - also crediting u/CrazyPersonowo (first appearance!) and u/ZZtheDark as boosters for Peter Parker.

For me, MJ's insistence that April need a family and to be cared - despite all the awful things April has done - puts her squarely in the neutral moral section. She's not trying to change the world, but she is looking out for her family.

Peter would have been a different alignment in his youth, but in middle age, his role in the story is to be a responsible advisor; whenever he steps out of this role (as Spider-Man, or as Wild Card), he tends to be reminded (harshly) that these aren't his glory days anymore. He is (and for his own good, needs to be) Neutral Moral.

Next up: REBEL MORAL.

Rebel Morals in this fiction are often "cool," "edgy," sorts who are a foil or contrast to more clean, popular, or by-the-book types. They probably have a strong anti-authority streak, yet they are motivated to do what is right.

Some possible archetypes:

• The defiant rogue
• The street-punk vigilante
• The disgraced whistleblower
• The grumpy lone wolf

I can think of at least a couple of MC2 characters we haven't discussed yet who probably fit this. Go to work, friends!

One of Spider-Girl's frenemies, Special Agent Arthur Weadon is a government agent running a top-secret program that puts captured super crooks to use. I will credit u/PlayFormal and u/Floral-jeans as the selectors here (it was the only character anyone mentioned!).

I often think Weadon's story is incomplete, as we do not get to see his authority suitably challenged. He is one of those characters whom Spider-Girl never really converts into a proper ally (though they do share common goals). I can't help but see him in his sweatervests and think of Ned Stark in GoT, waving a signed statement from the deceased king in the queen's face as if the law will protect him from her ambition (spoiler alert: it does not). The power Weadon wields is not his own; he seems like a frail, doughy paper-chaser playing puppetmaster, and that seems like it would eventually be his undoing. We just never got to see it play out in the MC2. But hey, maybe there's more backstory to him we just never got to see that explains why he's the right guy for his job. Weadon is a character with unused potential, for sure.

As a supporting character, Weadon does have a long run, starting in Spider-Girl #52 and staying on through Spectacular Spider-Girl #1 (vol. 2).

Now, we pivot to the next blank space: Neutral Moral.

To understand this designation, know that Neutral Morals are fundamentally conscientious people. They may show a healthy sense of self-preservation; they definitely are not martyrs in the way a Good character might be. Indeed, there is no grand fight against injustice from this type - but they won't ignore someone in need. They take things as they come, and aren't strongly inclined toward any particular agenda.

• The reluctant person with powers?
• The helpful blue-collar?
• The tired but sage veteran?
• The fiercely loyal friend?

Make your case! I think there are a bunch of MC2 characters who could fit here...

I admit, I had never read the Wild Thing series until she was suggested as the Chaotic Good here - and really, encouraging people to read stories (for a first or second time) is one point of this activity!

Anyway, Rina Logan is interesting as a teen hero and I wish she and May had crossed paths in a more meaningful way, more often. Add that to the lists we often do when prompted, "What would you do if you got to write a new Spider-Girl series?"

Now, on to our next space: Lawful Moral.

This type of charater is tethered to the laws of society; they may be more pragmatic compared to the Lawful Good types, who see justice as a universal thing that moves beyond any one planet or group of people, but the Lawful Moral is more grounded, and tied to a system. In a world like Spider-Girl's, this is someone who has great faith in whatever system they're in, and that it will bring about the best result - but only if you play by the rules.

Some possible archetypes to guide your thinking:

• A by-the-book officer or detective
• A sanctioned government agent
• The public defender
• The reluctant administrator

From Spider-Girl #33 (February 19, 2017), and Amazing Spider-Girl #19 (March 28, 1996).

Are there other examples?

This was a hard one! Normie Osborne will slot into the social moral space, but hey, there was a robust discussion about it that had him cast as a rebel - really depends whether you look at early Normie, or Normie over the majority of the series after he breaks with the Goblin tradition in SG #27.

Now we move on to finding our Chaotic Good!

Chaotic doesn't have to be 'crazy'; Chaotic Good types don't care for order and structures, as lawful types do; to them, the law is too slow, and often controlled by the corrupt. They will defy the law - sometimes in extreme ways - to do 'good.' The have more faith in their own moral compass.

• An altruistic guerilla?
• Someone running an underground railroad?
• A digital Robin Hood?
• The crimefighting saboteur?
• The wrathful advocate?

What kinds of MC2 characters might fit that mold?

u/breakfastclubber picked Social Impure for Crazy Eight and had the votes to make that the entry on the chart! This clipping I found fits a Social Impure; Crazy Eight seems more concerned about image and reputation rather than loyalty, per se, and won't bat an eyelash at harm to others - but worries constantly about the welfare of his dear brother!

Given the choice, u/breakfastclubber wanted us to place Normie Osborn on the grid next! Ah, what a complicated guy! What era of Normie Osborn do you place? What facet? I sure hope this inspires discussion. I can try to leave this one open a couple of days to see what we get.

Ah, Canis. Takes a beating, blows up a lot of things, and technically loses - all so he can be the *ahem* top dog. Epitome of a pyrrhic victory.

u/Floral-jeans took the votes on this one, and wants to do CRAZY EIGHT next round. Can we still find a spot? Make your suggestions, try to defend them, ( u/ZZtheDark really wanted to debate it last time!) and we'll see who gets the votes.

A crook who cares for his family, and another Spider-Girl original. Where's Crazy Eight going?

With just enough votes to carry, it's u/ZZtheDark who won last round and placed Darkdevil on Rebel Good. Their selection for next round: Canis!

A key villain in one of my favorite arcs, "Marked for Death," Canis had designs on being the next Kingpin, and for a time, manipulated Spider-Girl into helping him.

Where is he going on the grid? Discuss, read up, and upvote, please!

The winner for this round was u/Either-Sympathy-9514, who was tied for upvotes and was first to comment with Chaotic Neutral.

As u/Floral-jeans (who also tied for votes) put it, Mr. Abnormal is, "...in it for the love of the game!" Unlike some of Weadon's other ex-villains pressed into government service, Mr. Abnormal seems... pretty ok with it, as long as he gets to mess around!

u/Either-Sympathy-9514 picked Darkdevil for our next subject to place!

Note: when we start running low on spaces, I might have to just start choosing the next space myself. But we have a little while until we get there!

Thanks for playing, and please, please, PLEASE be generous with your upvotes to commenters you agree with!

BT shows 'lawful evil' perfectly in this clipping from Amazing Spider-Girl #27, where he at once beats up a bunch of goons for daring to beat up Spider-Girl and knock her out, due to a miscommunication in his intentions when he wanted her 'located.' Capturing her was technically the job they (through Chesbro) were hired to do! BT still ensures the goons are given medical care, and paid double for their work! Oi, what a rollercoaster of complexity that man is...

Next up: as chosen by last round's winner u/ZZtheDark, we're placing of the Spider-Girl original villains, and later 'reformed' member of Weadon's ex-villain team, Mr. Abnormal!

Check out his appearances in SG #15 and #25.

Part of the fun of doing this is getting to dive into the MC2 and find comic panels that suit the alignment we're assigning a character. I think this one fits Scarlet Spider being a chaotic - hurled by Kaine to a height and speed that could prove fatal, forcing Spider-Girl to save her, Felicity reacts like it's a fun ride. Felicity naively covets the life of high adventure and adoration she thinks being a masked hero will bring.

u/Floral-jeans got the votes on this one (with other comments agreeing or partly agreeing with their winning answer) and chose BLACK TARANTULA as our next placement (see him in image #4).

Where's BT going? Upvote whoever has an answer you agree with. Most votes wins! (try to pick one alignment, and feel free to explain it! Let's be big ol' geeks!)

u/ZZtheDark got the upvotes for suggesting Stinger as SOCIAL GOOD on the alignment grid, and so the chart is updated.

Next up at their request: We place Felicity Hardy / the MC2 Scarlet Spider! Make your case in the comments for where she goes. Please be generous with your votes in the comments, that's how I'm picking the winner!

Spider-Girl is NEUTRAL GOOD! It fits; she'll work with the bad guys if it means no one dies on her watch. She has a strong capacity to forgive bad guys for what they have done.

Last round the thread tilted hard to Neutral Good for Spider-Girl herself, and I gave credit to u/PlayFormal for being the first to post with that alignment in a field where upvotes were too spread out to have a definitive winner. The next choice of character or alignment to place/fill was theirs, and they selected SOCIAL GOOD.

So, who in the MC2 are you seeing there? Remember, this would be a character who sees a system of legitimate authorities as generally a force for good, but they aren't so rigid in this belief that they won't work outside of that structure as needed to keep innocents safe.

Credit to u/Floral-jeans for the pick of Carnage as CHAOTIC EVIL! Funny Face was pretty close, but I have a feeling he can find a place on this board.

Thought I'd switch up how we're doing it for this next round and bring out the star of the show: Spider-Girl / May "Mayday" Parker. Nova took up 'Lawful Good' and I think he belongs there. What about May?

Make your case, and we'll see who has the votes.

Carnage image from Amazing Spider-Girl #10.
May Parker / Spider-Girl image from Amazing Spider-Girl #15.

This winning submission comes from u/Floral-jeans! We had several entries on our inaugural Mayday of the Month, and I loved them all - this one's just the first among equals this time.

Thanks so much for playing, and we'll do another one next month. Keep an eye out for the thread in mid-late May.

Nova as suggested by u/frogoat4spew carried the Lawful Good upvotes. Now on to the next one. Swipe to see Nova being peak Lawful Good in Spider-Girl!

Canadian friends (and I guess Americans too) can get this volume at a pretty decent rate right now, if you're fast! Not sure what the shipping to the US is, but it can't be all that bad for the savings.

https://bookoutlet.ca/book/keeping-the-faith-spidergirl-volume-5-modern-era-epic-collection/defalco-tom/9781302959821B