Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 Could Introduce An Important Mutant

With the X-Men coming under the Disney umbrella, Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 could be the perfect place to introduce a mutant: namely, Firestar. While Disney’s buyout of 20th Century Fox has excited many Marvel fans, others are worried about what will happen to the existing X-Men properties. For the next year or so, things should continue according to plan for both Fox and Marvel Studios, but beyond that the future is uncertain.

We know Disney wants to keep making Deadpool movies, but it’s pretty clear that the X-Men (and Fantastic Four) will join Marvel’s shared universe before long. Whether that means a series of massive events that merge the continuities of the two franchises or the more likely scenario of the X-Men being rebooted, we’ll probably have to wait until Phase 4 begins in 2019 to know much more. Luckily, the beginning of the MCU’s next era will be the perfect place to start seeding the idea of mutants.

We’ve already suggested that Kitty Pryde should be in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Black Panther should introduce Storm to the MCU. Both of those moves could easily happen without all of the X-Men debuting, allowing mutants to slowly appear in the world before the super-team comes on the scene. But using the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming to introduce a mutant could work even better as, unlike Shadowcat and Storm, Firestar has always been more of a Spidey character than an X-Men one.

FIRESTAR WAS MADE FOR A SPIDER-MAN MOVIE

Anjelica Jones has spent time fighting both against and alongside the X-Men. But her story began thanks to the wall-crawler. Back in 1981, Jones debuted as Firestar on the animated series Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends. Like Hannah-Barbara inventing Black Vulcan because they didn’t want to pay for Black Lightning, NBC was hoping to have the Human Torch on their series. When that didn’t work out, they created Angelica Jones and her alter-ego Firestar. In the show, she’s not only a mutant but was once a member of the X-Men. Alongside dating Peter Parker, Firestar and Spider-Man fight crime and save the world (with occasional appearances by Iceman).

A few years after her TV debut, Firestar appeared in 1985’s Uncanny X-Men #193 for her first comic book adventure. Like on the TV show, this Firestar developed her microwave-manipulating powers while being bullied at a young age. The comics then added the wrinkle of both Professor Xavier and Emma Frost seeking out the new mutant, with the latter eventually recruiting her for the team Hellions. Over time, Firestar would leave the Hellions and work with the X-Men, the New Warriors, and the Avengers. She’s even had an ongoing battle with cancer thanks to her repeated use of her radiation-based powers.

Though Jones has spent the requisite time with the X-Men, she’s much better known as a freelance hero of sorts. Thanks to the MCU having multiple characters who have gained powers without an X-gene – including Spider-Man – it makes even more sense to bring the hero into the web slinger’s franchise. The one potential issue is that Firestar may be owned by Sony rather than Fox. Though Firestar is a mutant, she also debuted on a Spider-Man cartoon. That puts her in a gray area in terms of movie rights, though that hardly seems a stumbling block given that Marvel and Disney are playing ball.

The idea of mutants is sure to be slowly rolled out in the MCU, meaning many of them can emerge with people thinking they’re Inhumans or something else entirely. With a little twist to her origin, we could see Spider-Man help Firestar come to grips with her powers while the two team-up to fight crime. And like in the TV show, Firestar could be a romantic partner for Peter – something that’s already been set up in the MCU.

FIRESTAR ALREADY EXISTS IN THE MCU…SORT OF

Back in 2000, Marvel Comics created an imprint designed to rope in new readers by establishing a brand-new continuity free from decades of baggage. Ultimate Comics has had a big influence on the MCU already with many of the Avengers inspired by the universe. Even Ned Leeds from Spider-Man: Homecoming is essentially a clone of Ganke Lee from Ultimate Spider-Man. Likewise, it seems possible that the Liz Allan of the MCU will soon follow her Ultimate counterpart.

In 2001, Ultimate Spider-Man #4 introduced Liz Allan to the new universe. For years, she didn’t deviate much from the character in the main Marvel universe, serving on and off as a love interest for Peter Parker. But in 2008’s Ultimate Spider-Man #118, Liz Allan became the Ultimate Firestar.

A mutant like her namesake on Earth-616, this Firestar had the same power to turn microwaves into fiery blasts and flight. The issue even featured Firestar, Spider-Man, and Iceman all on the cover as an homage to the character’s debut on Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends. Firestar would remain one of the Ultimate Universe’s young heroes, spending time with the X-Men and other teams. And though there’s no indication which version of Liz Allan exists in the MCU (or if that’s even her last name), it’s safe to assume the character from Spider-Man: Homecoming is following the lead of other Ultimate-inspired character.

Just as the Green Goblin could already exist in the MCU, Firestar has been perfectly set up for the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming. Though she ended the film moving away from New York, the appearance of her mutant powers could be the perfect thing to send her off on a journey of self-discovery. And when that happens, she may just seek out her old friend Peter – and learn that he’s actually Spider-Man. From there, the film could focus on Liz and Peter’s bond as both civilians and super-powered individuals while also teasing the emergence of mutants for a later Phase 4 film.

Laura Harrier wants to become the MCU’s Firestar, meaning it’s up to Kevin Feige and the team behind Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 to make it happen. While the story may already be in the works for a later Spidey film, the upcoming arrival of the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe means the beginning of Phase 4 is the perfect time to start debuting mutants. And with Liz Allan already introduced to the franchise, Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 is poised to bring Firestar into the MCU.