Sunday, January 9, 2022

Image Sourcebook: The Jack (I)

Real Name: Abner Ravenworth
Occupation: British Commando
Legal Status: Honored citizen of the United Kingdom
Marital Status: Unknown
Known Relatives: Julia Ravenworth (granddaughter)
Group Affiliation: associate of The Allies
Base of Operations: England
First Appearance: TROLL II #1 (1994)
History:
Abner Ravenworth was a "hand trained" operative under Troll who served England during World War II. In 1944, upon his return from Africa, Major Troll was asked by Winston Churchill to undertake an important mission into the heart of Nazi Germany. Despite considering him "rough around the edges," Troll requested the assistance of The Jack, who had previously embarrassed him in front of his "lady friend" Glory and The Allies in Paris. The pair made their way to Berlin, and the secret lab of Dr. Franz Völger, as he prepared to unleash his "ultimate creation." Bursting in through a skylight, Major Troll and The Jack took on Hitler's legions in pursuit of "Herr Professor," although Jack had to be rescued several times by Troll in the attempt. The Professor escaped to a waiting zeppelin with his towering robot "The Ubernaught" in tow. Standing a couple of stories tall, the Ubernaught nonetheless managed to draw close to the heroes from behind while they stood atop the aircraft. After a brief skirmish, the heroes managed to detonate TNT which appeared to take Völger and his automaton in the conflagration, while Troll's new pilot Eddie swooped in to rescue the pair as they plummeted.

References were made to additional pairings in Stalingrad, Casablanca, and Normandy, but inevitably Major Troll and the Jack parted company, despite Jack's being "one of the best friends, an' best partners, a man could ever have." Fifty years later, Troll was at Youngblood headquarters when he was notified by Ravenworth's granddaughter Julia of Abner's murder. After twenty years in retirement, Ravenworth was prompted to reopen the Volger case, after stumbling upon a plot to replace the world's scientists. He had committed the details to his journal, which was used by his granddaughter and Major Troll to avenge his death.

Height: Average
Build: Athletic
Eyes: White (without visible pupil or iris)
Hair: Brown
Strength level: Presumed normal human strength for his age, height, and build.
Known superhuman powers: None. The Jack appears to possess acrobatic abilities and fair fighting skills, as well as being useful with firearms.
Notes: The Jack's facial features were inconsistent. He sometimes appeared with a Caucasian flesh tone mask open only at the pupilless eyes and mouth, mostly obscuring the nose. Other times in the same sequence, he appeared to wear a blue face mask that matched the rest of his costume, ending at the upper lip with an exposed chin. This was presumably a persistent coloring error or last minute design alteration.
© & ™ 1994 Karl Altstaetter & Robert Napton

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