Union Jack
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Union Jack is a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He is considered a champion of the United Kingdom The title of "Union Jack" has been used by three characters portrayed as living in three different eras.
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Union Jack (James Montgomery Falsworth)
The original Union Jack, James Montgomery Falsworth, first appears in comics in The Invaders #7. He was created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Frank Robbins. He fights both alone and as a member of the team Freedom's Five.
Character biography
A peer of the realm as Lord Falsworth, James Montgomery Falsworth is first active as Union Jack during World War I. During his adventures, he encounters the mysterious Baron Blood, a vampire saboteur for the Germans. After the war, Lord Falsworth retires to his ancestral home in England to raise a family.
He is active again as Union Jack during World War II. He becomes a member of the Invaders after the original Human Torch saves his daughter - Jacqueline Falsworth - from Baron Blood. Jacqueline is revived by a blood transfusion from the Human Torch which grants her the power of super-speed. As a result, she becomes the costumed hero Spitfire (a title she still holds in the 21st Century). After the attack, Lord Falsworth offers up his mansion as the Invaders' base of operations.
After Baron Blood's attack on Jacqueline, James discovers the vampire is actually his brother, John. During a battle, Blood crushes Union Jack's legs under a boulder, effectively ending his career as a hero. Before the battle ends, James is able to impale Blood on a silver-veined stalagmite.
Although unable to use his legs, James travels with the Invaders to Germany. There they meet up with James' son, Brian. Originally thinking his son a traitor, James learns that Brian fights against the Nazis as the costumed hero, the Destroyer. As a result, the two reconcile their differences and James passes the mantle of Union Jack on to Brian, at which point Brian abandons his Destroyer identity.
However, the father outlives the son when Brian is killed in an automobile accident in 1953.
Years later, James Montgomery 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.*Captain America (vol. 1) #254 (February, 1980)*
He is seen again when Baron Zemo travels back in time, in Baron Zemo: Born Better #3.
Powers and abilities
James Montgomery Falsworth possessed no superhuman powers. However, he was trained in the field of espionage, a veteran of two world wars, and a highly effective combatant. He wore a bullet-proof costume and carried a 6" dagger and a .455 caliber Webley revolver, both of which he used with great skill.
Union Jack (Brian Falsworth)
The second Union Jack, Brian Falsworth, is the son of James Montgomery Falsworth. He first appears as the Destroyer in Invaders #18, and becomes Union Jack in Invaders #21. He was also created by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins. His sister, Jacqueline Falsworth, is the British superheroine known as Spitfire.
Unlike Union Jack, who is a character retconned into the World War II time line, the Destroyer actually is an original Golden Age character. The Destroyer first appeared in Mystic Comics #6 (October 1941), published by Marvel Comics' predecessor, Timely Comics. In Roy Thomas' 1970s series The Invaders, the Destroyer's Golden Age identity of Kevin "Keen" Marlow is explained away as an alias. The Destroyer is notable for being one of the first creations of industry legend Stan Lee.
Powers and abilities
During his initial career as Union Jack II, Brian Falsworth possessed no superhuman powers. He was an athlete, but, having been exposed to a variant of the Super Soldier Formula, was enhanced to the peak of human potential, and was a highly skilled combatant. Like his father, he primarily used a Webley .455 revolver and a 6" dagger. After an encounter with Thor later in his career, he gained the ability to project bolts of mystic lightning from his fingertips.*Invaders (vol. 1) #32-33*
Other versions
Earth-4904
Named Byron Falsworth, Falsworth is Major Commonwealth*Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z vol. #2 (May 2008)* a Captain Britain Corps member who featured in Mighty World Of Marvel vol. 2 #13.
Union Jack (Joseph Chapman)
Union Jack (Joseph Chapman) The third person to take on the role of Union Jack is Joseph "Joey" Chapman. He first appears in Captain America #253. He was created by writer Roger Stern and artist John Byrne.
Character biography
Chapman's incarnation as the current Union Jack is unique in that he is not a member of the Falsworth line or part of any British aristocratic family. Rather, Joey Chapman, born in Manchester, England, is 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 Baron Blood.
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 travelled 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 KoP break up and his enhanced musculature returns to normal he revert to the classic uniform and returns to fighting crime solo. He also faces a vampire cult lead by a vampire who had been created by the original Baron Blood.
Chapman later wears an updated, militaristic costume, and joins the modern incarnation of the Invaders, led by Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch. For a time, Chapman became romantically involved with his New Invaders team mate, Spitfire. They have since resolved to be friends and he remains active in the UK's espionage community.
Powers and abilities
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 endurance 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.