Jester (Marvel Comics)
Encyclopedia
Jester is the name of several Marvel Comics
supervillains.
.
. He was a struggling actor of huge ego who finally got his lead break as the leading character in an off-Broadway revival of Cyrano de Bergerac. Panned by critics, jeered by the audience, and disdained by his fellow performers, Powers was fired after one performance. Obsessively, he continued to study the various arts and crafts that he thought would make him a great actor, things like gymnastics and body building. He took everything—except acting classes. Still, Powers was able to find employment as a stooge in a children's television show taped in New York.
Finally getting fed up with having pies thrown in his face, Powers decided that if the audience wanted laughter, he would give it to them. Contracting the criminal weapons-maker known as the Tinkerer
to make him a number of gimmicks, Powers fashioned himself a goofy harlequin-like disguise and called himself the Jester. Becoming a professional criminal, the Jester was hired by Richard Raleigh to kill Foggy Nelson
. The Jester was opposed by Daredevil
. The Jester then framed Daredevil for the "murder" of Jonathan Powers, and battled Daredevil again. Alongside the Cobra
and Mister Hyde
, he battled Daredevil once more.
The Jester later broadcast false news reports smearing Foggy Nelson's political campaign and undermining public trust in the government and the media. He battled Daredevil once more. The Jester was later employed by the Purple Man
; alongside Cobra, Mister Hyde, and Gladiator, he battled Daredevil and Paladin
. He later battled Moon Knight
and Daredevil as well.
For a time, the Jester tried to improve his life and restart his career as an actor. As Jonathan Powers, he portrayed Cyrano de Bergerac on television, presumably abandoning the Jester identity. However, his attempt to reform failed miserably. Late in Brian Bendis
' run on Daredevil (Decalogue story-arc), it is revealed that Powers allowed himself to be host to a demon (one conjured up by a would-be Ninja), gaining great strength in the process. When the demon leaves him, Powers is apparently left comatose.
. He used a variety of modified toys and gimmicks, including a yo-yo with a weighted knob and steel cable which emits earsplitting sounds when whirled at high speed; ball bearing marbles; exploding gas-filled "popcorn"; plastic flying discs which squirt an anesthetic drug; rubber balls containing plastic explosives; an extendible artificial hand equipped with an electrical charge; an artificial hand that can be fired from a small air-cannon; and other devices.
Powers also employed 2 foot (0.6096 m) miniature robots, equipped with items such as laser weaponry and diamond drill-bits, which were remotely controlled by a radio-linked microprocessor. He also employed a specially designed one-man submarine.
Powers is a well-trained hand-to-hand combatant, acrobat and fencer. He is trained in gymnastics, swordsmanship and unarmed combat. He is also a minimally talented actor.
crossover
which took place during the original's failed retirement from super-villainy.
. Among the arsenal granted to him by Doom, the "long-lived" Hulk Robot
created years prior by a pair of college students and the Eternal
Uni-Mind
. Jester recruited a team of villains made up of himself, the Hulk Robot, The Fenris
twins, Hydro-Man
, and Rock of The Hulkbusters
to form the Assembly of Evil
. The team was defeated by Cloak and Dagger
and several intervening Avengers
.
This Jester appeared during the super-hero Civil War as a member of the Thunderbolts Army
. As part of the Thunderbolts Army, Jester was among the supervillains who helped capture unregistered heroes. Jester did this due to nanobots in his system which would electrocute him if he didn't do as he was told.
The Jester and Jack O'Lantern
are sent to bring in Spider-Man
. They pursue the hero through the sewers. Spider-Man ends up badly injured and subdued as the two move in for the kill. Both Jack and Jester are then shot dead by the Punisher
. This fight and these deaths are also detailed in the Punisher: War Journal title.
Mr Hyde
later exhumed the body to find a way around the nanotechnlogy.
The Civil War: Battle Damage Report one-shot established this Jester's real name as Jody Putt. He also received in an entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
A-Z Vol. 6 hardcover.
' Crazy Gang
.
was sent to an alternate Earth, known as Earth-238, by Merlyn
. Together with Saturnyne
, he hoped to save this world from the corruption that threatened it; instead they encountered Earth-238's Mad Jim Jaspers
, a lunatic with the ability to warp reality. Serving Jaspers were the Crazy Gang which included The Jester.
The Jester, also known as the Clown, is a very agile fighter and sometimes the self-proclaimed leader of the Crazy Gang. His Earth-238 counterpart was known as Coco. This group of superhumans were based on characters from Lewis Carroll
's Through the Looking-Glass
. Captain Britain and Saturnyne individually managed to escape this Earth. Jaspers and the Crazy Gang, including Jester, were killed when Earth-238 was destroyed by Saturnyne's successor, Mandragon.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
supervillains.
Jonathan Powers
Jonathan Powers was the first of several costumed criminals to use the identity of the Jester. He was primarily an enemy of DaredevilDaredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
.
Fictional character biography
Jonathan Powers was born in Hoboken, New JerseyHoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
. He was a struggling actor of huge ego who finally got his lead break as the leading character in an off-Broadway revival of Cyrano de Bergerac. Panned by critics, jeered by the audience, and disdained by his fellow performers, Powers was fired after one performance. Obsessively, he continued to study the various arts and crafts that he thought would make him a great actor, things like gymnastics and body building. He took everything—except acting classes. Still, Powers was able to find employment as a stooge in a children's television show taped in New York.
Finally getting fed up with having pies thrown in his face, Powers decided that if the audience wanted laughter, he would give it to them. Contracting the criminal weapons-maker known as the Tinkerer
Tinkerer
The Tinkerer is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics Universe...
to make him a number of gimmicks, Powers fashioned himself a goofy harlequin-like disguise and called himself the Jester. Becoming a professional criminal, the Jester was hired by Richard Raleigh to kill Foggy Nelson
Foggy Nelson
Franklin P. "Foggy" Nelson is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe, part of the supporting cast of Daredevil ; Foggy is Matt's best friend. The character was created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett....
. The Jester was opposed by Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
. The Jester then framed Daredevil for the "murder" of Jonathan Powers, and battled Daredevil again. Alongside the Cobra
Cobra (comics)
The Cobra is the alias of two fictional comic-book supervillains that appear in the Marvel Comics universe.-Klaus Voorhees:Klaus Voorhees, the original Cobra, was also known as The Human Cobra and is currently known as the original King Cobra...
and Mister Hyde
Mister Hyde (comics)
Mister Hyde is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain. His first appearance was in Journey into Mystery #99, 1963.-Publication history:...
, he battled Daredevil once more.
The Jester later broadcast false news reports smearing Foggy Nelson's political campaign and undermining public trust in the government and the media. He battled Daredevil once more. The Jester was later employed by the Purple Man
Purple Man
The Purple Man is a Marvel Comics supervillain. Originally a foe of Daredevil, he was introduced in Daredevil vol. 1 #4...
; alongside Cobra, Mister Hyde, and Gladiator, he battled Daredevil and Paladin
Paladin (comics)
Paladin is a Marvel Comics character, a mercenary. While he claims that Paladin is his real name, he often goes by the name Paul Denning . Though not precisely a supervillain, his mercenary activities often bring him into conflict with superheroes.-Publication history:Paladin first appeared in...
. He later battled Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
and Daredevil as well.
For a time, the Jester tried to improve his life and restart his career as an actor. As Jonathan Powers, he portrayed Cyrano de Bergerac on television, presumably abandoning the Jester identity. However, his attempt to reform failed miserably. Late in Brian Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
' run on Daredevil (Decalogue story-arc), it is revealed that Powers allowed himself to be host to a demon (one conjured up by a would-be Ninja), gaining great strength in the process. When the demon leaves him, Powers is apparently left comatose.
Powers and abilities
Jonathan Powers is an athletic man with no superhuman abilities. His main weapons are a set of various joke gimmicks converted into deadly weapons, designed by the TinkererTinkerer
The Tinkerer is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in comic books set in the Marvel Comics Universe...
. He used a variety of modified toys and gimmicks, including a yo-yo with a weighted knob and steel cable which emits earsplitting sounds when whirled at high speed; ball bearing marbles; exploding gas-filled "popcorn"; plastic flying discs which squirt an anesthetic drug; rubber balls containing plastic explosives; an extendible artificial hand equipped with an electrical charge; an artificial hand that can be fired from a small air-cannon; and other devices.
Powers also employed 2 foot (0.6096 m) miniature robots, equipped with items such as laser weaponry and diamond drill-bits, which were remotely controlled by a radio-linked microprocessor. He also employed a specially designed one-man submarine.
Powers is a well-trained hand-to-hand combatant, acrobat and fencer. He is trained in gymnastics, swordsmanship and unarmed combat. He is also a minimally talented actor.
Jody Putt
A successor of Powers appeared during the Acts of VengeanceActs of Vengeance
"Acts of Vengeance" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through several titles published by Marvel Comics from December 1989 to February 1990.-Publication history:...
crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
which took place during the original's failed retirement from super-villainy.
Fictional character biography
This Jester was given his weaponry by Doctor DoomDoctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
. Among the arsenal granted to him by Doom, the "long-lived" Hulk Robot
Hulk Robot
The Hulk Robot is a Marvel Comics robot that is modeled after the Hulk.-Fictional character biography:Rusty and Arthur are two Maryland Institute of Technology students who constructed the Hulk Robot to be the mascot for their school's all-star game, but Dr. Timothy Ryan considered it dangerous and...
created years prior by a pair of college students and the Eternal
Eternals (comics)
The Eternals are a fictional race of superhumans in the Marvel Comics universe. They are described as an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth. The original instigators of this process, the alien Celestials, intended the Eternals to be the defenders of Earth which...
Uni-Mind
Uni-Mind
The Uni-Mind is a fictional composite being in the Marvel Universe. The Uni-Mind and the Eternals were the creation of Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
. Jester recruited a team of villains made up of himself, the Hulk Robot, The Fenris
Fenris (comics)
Fenris are two fictional characters from the Marvel Comics universe, namely German twins Andrea and Andreas von Strucker. They are the children of supervillain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker of HYDRA and the half-brother of Werner von Strucker. Andrea is female, Andreas is male...
twins, Hydro-Man
Hydro-Man
Hydro-Man, also spelled Hydro Man , is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics...
, and Rock of The Hulkbusters
Hulkbusters
Hulkbusters is the name of three fictional organizations that have appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. All three groups exist within Marvel's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe, and are so-named for their attempts to battle the monstrous Hulk.-The U.S...
to form the Assembly of Evil
Assembly of Evil
The Assembly of Evil is a Marvel Comics supervillain team.-History:During the Acts of Vengeance, where villains of all types tried to defeat heroes that they don't usually fight, the second Jester was contacted by a Doctor Doom robot to create a team to defeat the Avengers...
. The team was defeated by Cloak and Dagger
Cloak and Dagger (comics)
Cloak and Dagger are a fictional comic book superhero duo in the . They were created by writer William "Bill" Mantlo and designed by artist Edward Hannigan.-Publication history:...
and several intervening Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
.
This Jester appeared during the super-hero Civil War as a member of the Thunderbolts Army
Thunderbolts (comics)
The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
. As part of the Thunderbolts Army, Jester was among the supervillains who helped capture unregistered heroes. Jester did this due to nanobots in his system which would electrocute him if he didn't do as he was told.
The Jester and Jack O'Lantern
Jack O'Lantern (Marvel Comics)
Jack O'Lantern is the name of four fictional supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. Later incarnations of the character were also referred to as Mad Jack.-Jason Macendale:...
are sent to bring in Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. They pursue the hero through the sewers. Spider-Man ends up badly injured and subdued as the two move in for the kill. Both Jack and Jester are then shot dead by the Punisher
Punisher
The Punisher is a fictional character, an anti-hero appearing in comic books based in the . Created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr., and Ross Andru, the character made its first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 .The Punisher is a vigilante who employs murder,...
. This fight and these deaths are also detailed in the Punisher: War Journal title.
Mr Hyde
Mister Hyde (comics)
Mister Hyde is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain. His first appearance was in Journey into Mystery #99, 1963.-Publication history:...
later exhumed the body to find a way around the nanotechnlogy.
The Civil War: Battle Damage Report one-shot established this Jester's real name as Jody Putt. He also received in an entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
A-Z Vol. 6 hardcover.
Crazy Gang Jester
Another Jester was a member of Mad Jim JaspersMad Jim Jaspers
Sir James Jaspers is a fictional character created by Dave Thorpe and Alan Davis for the Captain Britain stories in Marvel UK comics and later developed by Alan Moore....
' Crazy Gang
Crazy Gang (Marvel Comics)
Crazy Gang is a fictional group of supervillains, appearing in Marvel Comics. They are mostly petty thieves, but will work as mercenaries. The Crazy Gang has fought Captain Britain and Excalibur.-Publication history:...
.
Fictional character biography
Captain BritainCaptain Britain
Captain Britain , briefly known as Britannic, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe, he first appeared in Captain Britain Weekly, #1...
was sent to an alternate Earth, known as Earth-238, by Merlyn
Merlyn (Marvel Comics)
Merlyn is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He claims to be the Merlin of British Legends and has served for many years as the Omniversal Guardian, a function his daughter Roma took from him...
. Together with Saturnyne
Saturnyne
Opal Luna Saturnyne is the name of a fictional comic book character created by Dave Thorpe and Alan Davis for their Captain Britain stories. She is the Omniversal Majestrix of Otherworld, and a servant of Roma, charged with the safety of the Omniverse....
, he hoped to save this world from the corruption that threatened it; instead they encountered Earth-238's Mad Jim Jaspers
Mad Jim Jaspers
Sir James Jaspers is a fictional character created by Dave Thorpe and Alan Davis for the Captain Britain stories in Marvel UK comics and later developed by Alan Moore....
, a lunatic with the ability to warp reality. Serving Jaspers were the Crazy Gang which included The Jester.
The Jester, also known as the Clown, is a very agile fighter and sometimes the self-proclaimed leader of the Crazy Gang. His Earth-238 counterpart was known as Coco. This group of superhumans were based on characters from Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson , better known by the pseudonym Lewis Carroll , was an English author, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. His most famous writings are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass, as well as the poems "The Hunting of the...
's Through the Looking-Glass
Through the Looking-Glass
Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There is a work of literature by Lewis Carroll . It is the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland...
. Captain Britain and Saturnyne individually managed to escape this Earth. Jaspers and the Crazy Gang, including Jester, were killed when Earth-238 was destroyed by Saturnyne's successor, Mandragon.