u/AGreatBigTalkingHead

1) New Rule: No Low-Effort Posts. We're getting more bots and spam posts. They tend to be from brand new accounts, posting images of Spider-Girl (some of them NSFW), usually with the 'Cosplay' flair (even when it's not), and no context/attribution. We put in a new rule to help define what a 'low effort post' is to help crack down on that sort of thing. If you ever feel your post was unfairly pulled, first review the rules to make sure, but then reach out to the mods.

2) Still accepting 'Mayday of the Month' submissions! - If you have an image you want to submit for praise and glory, post it here by June 30.

3) Discord is going! - Maybe you missed we have a Spider-Girl Discord, tied in to this subreddit? It's true! Check the link in our community bar / about section. The more, the merrier!

Time to raise another one to rafters.

How to enter: Reply to this post with your own, original image attached AND/OR post a link to an r/spidergirl post where you already shared that.

Entries that are encouraged:

• Original artwork - drawings, digital art, sculpture, 3D prints, etc.
• Your own cosplay photos
• Merchandise you have - action figures, statues, etc., ideally posed & lit for artistic value.
• Screen captures 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:

When I select the winner, I will reply to their entry on this post and either:

1. Invite them to make a fresh post to r/spidergirl with their image and tell us more about it, OR;
2. Link their original post about the image.

I just want to make sure the winner gets the upvotes!

The winner gets their 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 it is 10 months).

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

One way or another, the Goblin Cult is coming back - and if it all possible, it'll do so by forcing Normie to take his grandfather's place, while also destroying the Parkers. Such is the single-minded devotion of Elan, the Goblin Queen; and she would have got away with it, too, if it weren't for that meddlesome Spider-Girl!

Credit to u/PlayFormal on this one!

Annnnnd that's a wrap! The grid is full. Thanks for playing, everyone!

I like that so many MC2 originals were selected. With any luck, this thread might have got people interested in learning more about the MC2 lore, and might become part of the internet search hive mind as we discussed the characters.

Well, that was an easy one - lots of support for Mr. Nobody in that slot. He's just out to do a job - a very evil job for evil people, and it doesn't bother him in the least.

Now we come to the last slot: Rebel Evil.

This should go to a character who is dangerous and spiteful. They want power, but it needs to be built on the ashes of the current system. What they do is done cruelly and with contempt for systems of order.

Possible archetypes:

• The Vengeful Terrorist
• The Destructive Cultist / Cult Leader
• the Anti-Hero with an Evil Plan to Save the World

Who have we got in the MC2 who belongs?

Funny Face is suggested by a mix of u/ZZtheDark and u/breakfastclubber. He fits the bill - he's impulsive and driven by just a bonkers agenda. The supplied image is from Spider-Girl #85, which I think was his final appearance? Too bad! If there were ever a revival, he should come back.

Next up: Neutral Evil.

This alignment marks a character who is a dangerous pragmatist - self-serving and indifferent to the suffering of others. Will they kill? Sure, especially if it fits their ends, but maybe if it just amuses them, too. There's no code of honor to appeal to like a lawful evil, and there's no easy way to trap them like you would the impulsive chaotics.

I don't think u/pinkponcho3 has weighed in on any alignments yet? But if you're listening, this might be the one for you!

Possible archetypes for Neutral Evil:

• The amoral mastermind
• The apex assassin
• The malacious parasite

Here we go for the penultimate grid space.

Mayhem fits that Rebel Impure space as someone fighting against an oppressor (May... perceived oppressor) and playing by her own, deadly rules. She killed Tombstone and Hobgoblin in the name of more expeditious justice, and has no patience for May's more moral "no one dies!" creed. She has great power, and what does she do with it - try to conquer the city? Y- ...well, sort of, if we count the version of events in "THE END," but- no! Mostly, at first, she just keeps trying to take May's place. It's not so much evil as... petty, which fits the 'impure' line pretty well.

Oddly, I'll give myself credit for suggesting her, but I'm grateful to u/Nycko2002 for supporting it on the subreddit, and u/Floral-jeans for supporting it on our Discord. (I promise as the person adjudicating the winner, I won't try to jump in again!)

Now, to the Chaotic Impure.

This type is someone without grand ambitions, and no manifesto. What they have are impulses, and they don't really care who gets hurt while they follow them.

Possible archetypes:

• A reckless hedonist
• A vicious spoiled brat
• A feral brawler
• An unpredictable, bored thug

Also, this post gets me my 400-day Reddit streak. Wheeee!

Claw was the unanimous choice for Neutral Impure - I'll give this one to u/frogoat4spew and u/ZZtheDark. Claw is a burglar, a shameless flirt, a supreme athletic, and skilled at distraction. And he only caused Spider-Girl trouble the one time, which is too bad - his costume looks great! (I did hear of a short story written into a Spider-Man magazine by DeFalco in which Claw appears).

Anyway, now we're on to the Rebel Impure.

Description: They're anti-establishment and also selfish, greedy, or maybe out to settle a personal score. But they aren't evil - there's no agenda here for mass destruction or conquest.

Some archetypes:

• Vengeful anarchist
• Exploitative hustler
• The bitter legacy hero/villain
• Disgruntled henchman

Good luck!

Richard "Handsome Richie" Valentine is our Lawful Impure. Good fit here, I think. He is a small-time gang boss working in the Black Tarantula's structure. He's no fan of chaos - he just wants to run his criminal enterprise by some old school rules. He has no problem being a smaller fish in the pond. This one goes to u/ZZtheDark

Next up: Neutral Impure.

As a neutral, their ethics are pretty soft; as an impure, they are selfish and lack empathy. This type is just looking out for number one.

Some archetypes:

• The opportunistic scavenger
• The selfish cat burglar
• The spineless informant
• The hit-and-run grifter

Have at it!

Sometimes an enemy, sometimes a ... friend of a frenemy? MC2 Aña has an interesting relationship to Spider-Girl, and she's our Rebel Neutral. Credit to u/Playformal.

Now we turn to Lawful Impure. Who shall it be?

It should be someone who is on the dark side of bureaucracy. They're benefitting from systems, like a corporation, an institution, even a gang. They aren't looking to be the one on top; they just want to make a payday, get back at someone, etc.

Some possible archetypes:

• The bad guy who will sue you for touching them
• The expert in corporate/government loopholes
• The ruthless executive
• The corrupt officer

Good luck!

An innocent, inexperienced toddler is True Neutral - makes sense to me! I'll give this one to u/PlayFormal

Next up: Rebel Neutral.

This archetype is a free spirit. They are actively anti-establishment, but not filled with malice like a villain, nor on a proper crusade like a hero.

• The pure mercenary?
• The thrill-seeker?
• The fixer / broker?
• The obsessive collector?

Curiously, two of the ones I would have put here are already on the board! But let's see what other options you come up with.

Credit to u/Floral-jeans on this one: Gene Thompson is our Social Neutral. While Gene, noted football jock, does occasionally show moments of genuine affection for May, he also seems to value her as a prop for his own ego, and as a possession to fight others over - not a good look.

Yeah, Gene doesn't really care about good and evil, or anything much more than his social standing. I could have seen him trending to 'impure', too, but as selfish as he can be, there... are worse people than him.

Next: True Neutral!

These characters, like all neutrals, are detached from ideological tug-of-war. True Neutrals won't go out of their way to help someone, but they aren't so cruel as to harm someone. Whatever problems there are in the world, the True Neutral figures it's for someone else to deal with.

Possible archetypes:

• A cosmic observer
• An isolationist
• An instinctual beast
• A total bystander

I started a Discord to tie in to this subreddit. If you're so inclined, join!

Discord affords a better synchronous communication opportunity, and is easier for streaming.

I mean for to it complement the sub, not compete with it, so it'll follow the same general rules and hopefully have the same general feeling you know and love! It also has an RSS feed pumping in r/spidergirl posts every time a new one goes up.

Anyway, the join link should be on the right side here, or go to: https://discord.gg/npTHrQa4mC

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?