Union Jack (Marvel Comics)
Union Jack | |
---|---|
Notable aliases | (Brian) The Mighty Destroyer |
Abilities | (James) Superb athlete, expert hand-to-hand combatant, espionage training, skilled in the use of a dagger and a handgun (Brian) Enhanced peak human condition, superb athlete, expert hand-to-hand combatant, ability to project bolts of magical lightning |
Union Jack is the name of three
Following The Invaders, Union Jack has been featured as a regular character in the ongoing series Knights of Pendragon, New Invaders and Invaders Now, as well two self-titled mini-series.
JJ Feild portrayed James Falsworth in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: The First Avenger as a member of the Howling Commandoes.
Publication history
1970s publications
Thomas and Robbins continued to feature Lord Falsworth in a number of volumes, including #12 (January 1977), which sees him watching his daughter head off on her first mission with the team; #14-15 (March–April 1977), which sees him absconding with her and new hero
Thomas and Robbins also first featured Lord Falsworth's son and successor Brian in his previous guise as the Destroyer in Invaders #18-19 (July–August 1977); in the story he explains how he received a variation of the super-soldier formula from a fellow inmate while in a Nazi prison. Thomas and Robbins concluded the plot-line in The Invaders #20-21 (September–October 1977); in the story Brian takes over his father's role of Union Jack to rescue his sister and the rest of the team while Lord Falsworth helps to steal a plane to get them home, and in Invaders #22 (November 1977); in which they are both safely returned to England. Thomas and Robbins also featured Brian in What If? #4 (August 1977); in the story he and Spitfire save Winston Churchill from a Nazi assassination attempt.
Thomas and Robbins continued to feature both Falsworths in the series, with the younger becoming a semi-permanent member of the team with issues #23 (December 1977) & #25 (February 1978); in which he joins them on his first mission, while the older appeared in a supporting role in issue #23 (December 1977), in which he helps Dyna-Mite's search for a cure to his size reduction, and #26 (March 1978); in which he introduces Brian to the restored Aubrey in his role as the new Destroyer.
1980s publications
1990s publications
2000s publications
Lord Falsworth appears as a supporting character in
2010s publications
Kyle Higgins, Alec Siegel and Pepe Larraz featured the Brian Falsworth incarnation in the World War II flashback story Crossfire for the 70th Anniversary Issue Captain America #616 (May 2011); in the story Captain America and Union Jack defend a French town under Nazi siege.
2020s publications
Union Jack is a member of the British super team
Fictional character biography
James Montgomery Falsworth
A peer of the realm as Lord Falsworth, James Montgomery Falsworth is first active as the adventurer and
He is active again as Union Jack during
Although unable to use his legs, James later travels with Spitfire and
Years later, James Montgomery Falsworth contacts Captain America to combat Baron Blood. Falsworth finally sees the end of Baron Blood with the help of Captain America and the third incarnation of Union Jack (Joey Chapman). After this episode, James Montgomery Falsworth passes away from heart failure due to old age.[8]
He is seen again when Baron Zemo travels back in time, in Baron Zemo: Born Better #3.[9]
Brian Falsworth
Brian Falsworth is the son of James Montgomery Falsworth, born like his father in Falsworth Manor in a village north of
Brian gains superpowers through the help of a dying German scientist who tried to recreate the Super Soldier Formula that resulted in
In the wake of the foiled attack, Lord Falsworth and Spitfire deduce Dyna-Mite's identity and sneak into Germany to look for Brian. Ultimately, they find out the truth behind Dyna-Mite, and Roger's memory is restored. Brian, reuniting with his family and reconciling with his father, learns of his father's former costumed identity as Union Jack, dons the costume and battles Nazi soldiers and
Later, Brian is hit by magical lightning when fighting
In the
Joseph Chapman
Joseph "Joey" Chapman's Union Jack is unique in that he is not a member of the Falsworth line or part of any British aristocratic family. Rather, he was born in Manchester, England, as the working class son of a shipbuilder.
Chapman becomes Union Jack when, while visiting Falsworth Manor with his friend, Kenneth Crichton (nephew of Brian Falsworth and later Baron Blood III), he dons the costume to stand in for Kenneth and save the life of James Montgomery Falsworth, Lord Falsworth, who has been targeted by
For a time he fought crime on his own, serving as a hero for the common man as opposed to the aristocratic Captain Britain. Their rivalry was most apparent when they both were chosen as Knights of Pendragon by the Green Knight of Avalon. Captain Britain did not remain a Pendragon for long, but Union Jack stuck with the new team until it broke up when half the team traveled to a parallel world to offer humanitarian aid. During his time with the KoP, Union Jack's physique increased to near Hulk-like proportions and he went through a series of alternate costumes. After the Knights of Pendragon break up and his enhanced musculature returns to normal, he reverts to the classic uniform and returns to fighting crime solo. He also faces a vampire cult led by a vampire who had been created by the original Baron Blood.
Chapman later wears an updated, militaristic costume, and joins the
Powers and abilities
James Montgomery Falsworth was an athletic man who possessed no superhuman powers. However, he was trained in the field of espionage, a veteran of two world wars, and highly trained in armed and unarmed combat. He wore a bullet-proof costume and carried a 6-inch dagger and a
During his initial career as the second Union Jack, Brian Falsworth possessed no superhuman powers. He was a superbly athletic man, but, having been exposed to a variant of the Super Soldier Formula, was enhanced to the peak of human potential, and was highly trained in armed and unarmed combat. Like his father, he wore bulletproof fabric and primarily used a Webley .455 revolver and a 6-inch dagger. After an encounter with Thor later in his career, he gained the ability to discharge bolts of mystic lightning from his fingertips after his body was energized by a lightning strike.[19]
Like those who held the title of Union Jack before him, Joey Chapman is an athlete in peak physical condition. In addition, his strength, speed, and stamina are enhanced by the Power of the Pendragon. Chapman usually carries a handgun of some variety (changing it as appropriate to the mission) and a silver-edged dagger used for supernatural foes.
Other versions
On Earth 4904, Brian Falsworth exists as Byron Falsworth / Major Commonwealth, a
In other media
Film
James Montgomery Falsworth appears in
Video games
- James Montgomery Falsworth appears in Captain America: Super Soldier, voiced by JJ Feild.[citation needed]
- The James Falsworth incarnation of Union Jack appears as a playable character in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.[citation needed]
- The James Falsworth incarnation of Union Jack appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.[citation needed]
- The James Falsworth incarnation of Union Jack appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers.[citation needed]
- The Brian Falsworth incarnation of Union Jack appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Academy.[citation needed]
Collected editions
Union Jack's major appearances have been collected in a number of trade paperbacks:
- Invaders Classic (written by Roy Thomas, with pencils by Frank Robbins and inks by Vince Colletta/Frank Springer):
- Volume 1 (includes Invaders #7-9, July - October 1976, tpb, 248 pages, July 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2706-2)
- Volume 2 (includes Invaders #10-21, November 1976 - October 1977, tpb, 240 pages, July 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3120-5)
- Volume 3 (collects Invaders #22-23 and #25-34, 224 pages, February 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3720-3)
- Volume 1 (includes Invaders #7-9, July - October 1976, tpb, 248 pages, July 2007,
- ISBN 0-7851-2693-7)
- Union Jack (written by ISBN 0-7851-0934-X)
- ISBN 0-7851-1449-1)
- Captain America: Red Menace Volume 2 (written by ISBN 0-7851-2225-7)
- Union Jack: London Falling (written by ISBN 0-7851-2181-1)
- Avengers/Invaders (collects Avengers/Invaders #1-4, hardcover, 96 pages, September 2009, ISBN 0-7851-2942-1)
References
- ^ Markstein, Don. "Union Jack". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Kamen, Matt (February 21, 2020). "Marvel's The Union is a grim metaphor for post-Brexit Britain". Wired UK – via www.wired.co.uk.
- ^ Invaders vol. 1 #7
- ^ Invaders vol. 1 #7-9
- ^ Invaders vol. 1 #11
- ^ Invaders vol. 1 #18-21
- ^ a b c Captain America vol. 1 #254, February 1981
- ^ Captain America vol. 1 #253-254 (January–February, 1980)
- ^ Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo - Born Better at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- ^ a b Invaders #19
- ^ Invaders #18
- ^ Invaders #14-15
- ^ Invaders #15, #18-21
- ^ Invaders #21
- ^ Invaders #26
- ^ Invaders #32-33
- ^ a b Citizen V and the V Battalion (vol. 2) #1 (March 2002)
- ^ Avengers/Invaders at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- ^ Invaders vol. 1 #32-33
- ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z (vol. #8 (May 2008)
External links
- Marvel.com Montgomery Falsworth
- Marvel.com Brian Falsworth
- Union Jack (James Falsworth) at the International Heroes Catalogue
- Union Jack (Brian Falsworth) at the International Heroes Catalogue
- Union Jack (Joseph Chapman) at the International Heroes Catalogue