Jack Monroe (character)
Jack Monroe | |
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Nomad, Scourge |
Jack Monroe is a
Publication history
A character with a complicated history, Jack Monroe's origin involves a complex series of
Although the character's first real appearance is as "Bucky" in Captain America #153, the origin of the character, first revealed in Captain America #155 (again by Englehart and Buscema), identifies him as the "Bucky" that appeared in Captain America comics which were originally published in the 1950s.
When they were first published between 1953 and 1954 those Captain America stories, which were written by
The 1950s stories were thus considered outside of official canon until Englehart's 1972 Captain America storyline (#153–156; September–December 1972), which attempted to resolve the discrepancy by showing how a teenager (Monroe is simply referred to as "Bucky" throughout, the name "Jack Monroe" was introduced in later stories) and an
This complicated origin is the reason that some sources list Young Men #24 (December 1953; the first appearance of the communist hunting Captain America and Bucky) as Monroe's first appearance, though the issue was originally intended to depict the original Bucky. A later story, What If #4, (August 1977), further complicates the Bucky history by introducing another "Bucky" (Fred Davis) that takes on the role in 1945, many years before Monroe assumes the title, which makes Monroe the third "Bucky" chronologically.
Monroe was mostly portrayed as essentially having the same powers as the first Captain America, Steve Rogers. This has long been a matter of contention in the comics as Monroe received his powers from the same sample of the Super-Soldier Serum that gave the 1950s Captain America superhuman strength. He became super strong but after being exposed to stabilizing rays (similar to the Vita-rays Steve Rogers received) his strength normalized to peak human.
In Captain America #153–156 "Bucky" and his partner are briefly reawakened decades after being put in suspended animation, but are subdued by Falcon and the original Captain America. In Captain America #232–236 (April–August 1979) — by writers Roger McKenzie, Jim Shooter and Michael Fleisher and artist Sal Buscema — "Captain America" is revived and brainwashed into becoming the fascistic "Grand Director", who shoots and apparently kills his former partner Bucky and later apparently commits suicide. Writer J. M. DeMatteis resurrected the "Bucky" character in Captain America #281 (May 1983), which is the first comic that names him as "Jack Monroe". That story reveals that the gun was loaded with blanks, and the cured Monroe is given the Nomad identity by Steve Rogers in Captain America #282 (June 1983). Nomad then becomes Captain America's partner for the next two years of published comics. DeMatteis' successor as writer of the series, Mark Gruenwald, had Nomad end the partnership in Captain America #309 (September 1985). Gruenwald said he did this "because Nomad made Cap seem old. Cap had to take the mentor relationship with Nomad, and he was coming off as everyone's favorite father figure rather than as the active vital superhero."[3]
However, Gruenwald continued to feature the character in Captain America intermittently. He features in Captain America #324–325 (December 1986–January 1987), and after Steve Rogers is stripped of his Captain America identity, Nomad appears in a storyline which continues for over a year of Captain America stories (#336–350; December 1987–February 1989) where Nomad is one of Rogers's partners as he continues being a superhero under the identity of "The Captain". During this storyline Nomad is depicted as a tetchy and insolent character who takes an instant disliking to
The character next starred in the eight page story "Angel in the Snow" in
In 1990, Nomad starred in an eponymous four-issue miniseries, written by Nicieza and penciled by
"
In Thunderbolts #49 (April 2001) it was revealed that he was in fact placed in suspended animation and was revived and temporarily brainwashed into being a new version of the Scourge character. Monroe is next shown by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Steve Epting in Captain America vol. 5 #3 (April 2005) being shot dead by a mysterious assailant, later revealed to be the original Bucky, now known as the Winter Soldier. Captain America vol. 5 #7 (July 2005) by Brubaker and artist John Paul Leon then reveals the events of the last few days of Monroe's life.
Subsequently Marvel published a Jack Monroe story in Thunderbolts From the Marvel Vault #1 (June 2011) written by Fabian Nicieza and illustrated by Derec Aucoin, which followed Jack Monroe after his time as Scourge.[5]
Fictional character biography
Jack Monroe was born in
Burnside is later revived and brainwashed by the psychologist
It is later revealed that Faustus had loaded the gun with blanks as he intended to use Monroe in a later plot which was never realized. Monroe was subsequently taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and seemingly cured of his psychotic symptoms. Monroe then sought out Steve Rogers, and dons a Bucky costume to help him defeat the female terrorist Viper.[8] Monroe is then given Rogers' former Nomad identity, and Monroe dons the Nomad costume to battle the Viper alongside Captain America.[9] Nomad next battled the Slayer.[10]
Nomad then became Captain America's partner, and battled the
Nomad later obtained a new costume, and battled the
Nomad battled
Going solo again, Nomad began a war against drug dealer Umberto Safilios.
At one point Monroe spends an extended period in
Nomad later teams up with the
During his time on the road, Nomad confronts the Hate-Monger, Man-Thing and even the mother of Bucky herself, who had been brainwashed into a trained assassin sent to kill him. The assassination training is done by the 'Favor Broker', an adversary who plagues Nomad throughout much of his series.
Nomad is eventually believed dead after a confrontation with his old hometown's Nazi militia (Monroe's father had been a Nazi sympathizer during World War II) but it was revealed that he was in fact placed in suspended animation. An innocent bystander's body was used to replace his.[28]
Some time later,
After returning to his original Nomad costume and identity, Monroe began to relapse into some psychotic episodes and symptoms. At this time, Monroe had checked in on his former ward he called Bucky who had since been adopted. Jack is shot dead by a mysterious assailant as he leaves a bar.[31] The cyborg assassin Winter Soldier is ultimately revealed to be Monroe's assassin.[32]
Powers and abilities
While Jack Monroe's strength, endurance, reflexes, and agility were not beyond the limits of the human body, they were superior to that of any Olympic athlete who ever competed. As a result of not going through the Vita-Ray process, his transformation eventually drove him insane and gave him a form of cancer.
As Nomad, he wore a pair of stun-discs on each shoulder near the collarbone. These 6-inch (150 mm) tool-steel alloy discs could be thrown as projectile weapons.
Monroe has extensive experience in hand-to-hand combat, having received personal tutoring by Captain America. He is also an expert marksman.
As Scourge, he had access to an array of equipment based on devices confiscated from costumed criminals, created for the Scourge identity by the
Reception
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2017) |
Comic Book Resources placed him as one of the superheroes Marvel "wants you to forget".[33]
References
- ISBN 978-1465455505.
- ^ "Captain America #76". Grand Comics Database. 2018-12-15. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
- Fictioneer Books. pp. 5–23.
- ^ McElhatton, Greg (January 1993). "The Busiest Man in Comics". Wizard (#17). Wizard Entertainment: 45.
- ^ "Thunderbolts: From the Marvel Vault (2011) #1 | Comic Issues | Marvel".
- ^ Captain America #153–156
- ^ Captain America #232–236 (April–August 1979)
- ^ Captain America #281 (May 1983)
- ^ Captain America #282 (June 1983)
- ^ Captain America #293–294
- ^ Captain America #295
- ^ Captain America #297
- ^ Captain America #298–300; October–December 1984
- ^ Captain America #309 (September 1985)
- ^ Captain America #324–325 (December 1986–January 1987)
- ^ Captain America #336 (December 1987)
- ^ Captain America #340
- ^ Captain America #342–344
- ^ Captain America #345 (September 1988)
- ^ Marvel Comics Presents #14
- ^ Captain America Annual #9 (1989)
- ^ Nomad #1–4 (November 1990–February 1991).
- ^ Nomad vol. 2 #1
- ^ Nomad vol. 2 #4–6, Punisher War Journal #45-47, Daredevil #307-309 (August–October 1992)
- ^ Infinity Crusade #1–6
- ^ Nomad vol 2 #7 (November 1992)
- ^ The Secret Defenders #1–3 (1993)
- ^ Nomad vol. 2 #25
- ^ Thunderbolts #49 (April 2001)
- ^ Thunderbolts #34–50 (March 2000–May 2001)
- ^ Captain America vol. 5 #3 (April 2005)
- ^ Captain America vol. 5 #7 (July 2005)
- ^ Smith, Gary (20 August 2017). "15 Superheroes Marvel Wants You To Forget". CBR. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
External links
- Jack Monroe at Marvel.com