JESTER
Real Name: Jonathan Powers
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation: Criminal, mercenary;
formerly company owner, performance artist, actor
Group Membership:Jester's own gang
Affiliations:
Wally Ballou, Big Max,
Roger Browne, Cobra (Klaus Voorhees), Jacob
Conover,
General Theodore Cross, Felix, Nancy Foreman,
Francis, Freddy, Lemuel Frye,
Gary,
Gladiator
(Melvin Potter), Ceres Goldstein,
Hannigan, Jackson, Joe,
Elaine
Kendrick,
Laura Lee Landers,
Lawrence,
Mikkyo "Demon Baby",
Mr. Hyde,
O'Malley,
Purple
Man,
Richard Raleigh,
Rivera, Bert Rose, Screwball,
Sid,
Abe Simons, Sons of
the Serpent,
Ace Taggert, Tinkerer,
Wally Tompkins, Blake Tower, Steven
Urban
formerly James Martin,
Tubby
Enemies: Al, Sharif Amanat, Ms. Bainwood, Carpenter, Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Isabel Delmon, Sally Draper, Flint, Santiago Garcia, Geman, Heather Glenn, Debbie Harris, J. Jonah Jameson, Jeffrey Jefferson, Johnson, Jessica Jones, Alex P. Keaton, Benedict LaForge, Len Lemon, Steven Lewis, James Martin, Kuljit Mithra, Moon Knight (Marc Spector), Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, Paladin, Karen Page, James Priest, Rabinowitz, Rafael Scarfe, Spider-Man (Otto Octavius), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Christine Tomp, Tubby, Zachary S. Tudameyer, Damian White, White Tiger (Ava Ayala)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Played Cyrano de Bergerac, other acting roles
Base of Operations: New York City, New York
First Appearance: Daredevil I#42 (July, 1968)
Powers/Abilities: Jester has used a vast array of weapons in his criminal pursuits, including a bludgeoning yo-yo, swords, slippery marbles, voice-powered mini-robots, a fully-equipped submarine, transistors, gas-filled popcorn kernels, antiseptic-spraying flying discs, expanding ping pong balls, catapult traps, remote-controlled bumper cars, manipulative media equipment, an exploding mannequin, a deadly jack-in-the-box, illusory reflections, collapsing stairs, an elaborate Murder Maze, an airship, exploding balls, a spring-loaded boxing glove, a sonic yo-yo, helicopters, flame-wielding toy soldiers, electric-shock-wielding robots, drill-bit-tipped toy planes,
Jester is handy and creative with electronics, designing and/or honing many of his weapons, though the Tinkerer has designed many of his weapons for him.
For a time, Jester was possessed by the "Demon Baby", granting him superior strength.
Jester trained himself in swordsmanship, gymnastics, body-building, champion diving and swimming, fencing, and physical culture extensively. Jester has had groups of criminals in his employ.
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 190 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue
History:
(Daredevil I#42 (fb) - BTS) - A struggling actor for years, Jonathan Powers finally got cast as Cyrano de Bergerac in a New York City play, starring with Nancy Foreman. During his poor performance, however, the crowd booed him off-stage and he was fired.
(Moon Knight I#13 (fb) - BTS) - The director who fired Powers was James Martin.
(Daredevil I#44 (fb) - BTS) - During his acting career, Powers starred in several other productions that were also major flops.
(Daredevil I#42 (fb) - BTS) - Powers was furious. He spent the following months learning swordsmanship, gymnastics, body-building, and physical culture, ignoring others advice that he should be studying acting. His frustration mounted when the only job he could find was as a stooge on camera for a performer called Tubby, who continued humiliating Powers by tossing pies in his face. Unable to take it anymore, he struck Tubby in the face and decided to seek a life of crime. He costumed himself as the Jester, equipping himself with weapons specially designed to look like toys. Jester went on a crime spree, developing a name for himself in the criminal community. He was written about in the Times by Steven Urban.
(Daredevil I#42) - Jester robbed a bank then, pleased with
himself, knocked a driver out with a yo-yo, stealing his car to get
away. Back at his headquarters (which was decorated with a
larger-than-life portrait of his costumed self), he surveyed his
success and his deadly toys, thinking over his origins. Jester heard
that mayoral candidate Richard Raleigh was making an enemy of the
Jester, so Jester attacked him in his campaign headquarters. He found
Raleigh waiting for him, and Raleigh offered Jester ten thousand
dollars to attack district attorney candidate Franklin "Foggy" Nelson.
Though he was planning to double-cross Raleigh, Jester attacked Nelson
and his companions Matt Murdock, Debbie Harris, and Karen Page in the
park. Though he easily hit Nelson, Jester decided to take the blind
Murdock hostage, demanding Nelson to drop out of the race or Murdock
would be harmed. Though Jester had heard Daredevil had recently been
killed, Murdock told Jester there was a new Daredevil in town. Jester
returned Murdock to his headquarters and went to get ropes. When he
returned, he found Daredevil waiting. They began sparring and Daredevil
successfully evading Jester's sword thrusts. Daredevil quickly grew
impressed with Jester's fighting skills. They continued to fight and
Jester fled when he thought Daredevil was unconscious. Jester drove
back to Raleigh, furious about having to fight Daredevil, but Daredevil
attacked him anew. They burst through the door and found Raleigh dead.
Jester made Daredevil fall with tossed marbles, then jumped through the
window, vowing revenge.
(Daredevil I#44) - Jester robbed a jewelry store, using a diminutive voice-responsive robot he'd designed to aid him in the heist. When the police arrived, Jester gladly left his heist behind, thrilled in the hunt itself and not worried about the rewards. He developed a plan to kill his Jonathan Powers identity and frame Daredevil. Powers went to the police and told them that he would be revealing Daredevil's true identity that night on the George Washington Bridge. The media, including cameraman Joe, got word and attended the event. Powers planted a submarine at the edge of the bridge, then posed as a man on the bridge who needed aid. As the media recorded it, Daredevil moved to save Powers, who made it look as if Daredevil was attacking him. Powers fell off the bridge, seemingly to his death, and escaped in the submarine, and Daredevil was publicly accused of murder. Later, Jester used his toys to hold up a TV station and told the cameras that he would prove himself a hero by apprehending Daredevil. Then he activated a transistor that he'd placed on Daredevil's costume, bring Daredevil to him in Central Park. He used gas-filled popcorn kernels to knock Daredevil out and turned him over to the police.
(Daredevil I#45) - As the police surrounded, Daredevil managed to kick Jester, dislodging the rest of the kernels, which expelled their sleeping gas and allowed him to escape. Jester decided to put his criminal career on hold and focus on apprehending Daredevil. While riding on the subway, figuring he should spend some time with the common folk, Jester spotted a man with Daredevil's boots. He called out to the crowd that Daredevil was on the train, so the hero quickly fled, punching Jester aside. Jester pursued Daredevil to the Statue of Liberty, where he tossed antiseptic spraying flying discs at him. They engaged in an agile battle from the Statue's crown. When a man from a helicopter, Johnson, was going to fall to his death, Daredevil moved to save him and was rearrested. Jester, a champion diver and swimmer, fell safely in the water.
(Daredevil I#46) - Jester saw someone posing as him on a live television show and grew furious. He donned his costume and rushed to the studio, where he forced his way in. He attacked the false Jester, who took off his costume to reveal himself as Daredevil. Jester tossed an expanding ping pong ball to encase Daredevil in, but the hero managed to pop it and then pin Jester, who drew a yo-yo and fought Daredevil off. Daredevil unmasked the Jester on live television and revealed that Powers had staged his own murder. Jester was arrested and Daredevil pardoned.
(Daredevil I#61 (fb) - BTS) - Out on parole, Jester teamed up with Mr. Hyde and Cobra. They stole antique toys from the Guggenheim Museum for him.
(Daredevil I#61 (fb)) - Cobra, Hyde, and Jester traveled to New Jersey and offered to rent a carnival from Lemuel Frye. Frye agreed to steer clear of the carnival for a day, but they caught him peeking in on them later and grew angry. Hyde promised to pay Frye if he lured Daredevil to them.
(Daredevil I#61) - The villains laced the entire carnival with death-traps and saw Daredevil approach that night with Frye. Jester triggered a catapult trap on Daredevil, then operated the bumper cars with his remote. Jester sent Frye flying off, presumably to his death, but Daredevil escaped. The villainous trio soon pursued Daredevil into the house of mirrors, where he briefly evaded them. When Karen Page arrived with the police, the trio surrendered.
(Daredevil I#133 (fb) - BTS) - Putting a master plan in play, Jester forced a scientist with sophisticated editing equipment to create slanderous commercials that would sway public opinion into distrusting the government and ruining Franklin "Foggy" Nelson. Jester learned to operate the equipment himself.
(Daredevil I#125 - BTS) - A humiliating ad about Franklin "Foggy" Nelson started running, showing Foggy getting a pie in the face.
(Daredevil I#129 - BTS) - Television ads that claimed John and Robert Kennedy were still alive began appearing, shocking the nation.
(Daredevil I#130 - BTS) - False news ads claimed that Foggy Nelson had withdrawn from the election. This news was enough to give Blake Tower the win.
(Daredevil I#131 - BTS) - Radio reports leaked out through Abe Simons that the recent wars the country had fought in were only hallucinatory hoaxes.
(Daredevil I#133) - Wearing a new costume, Jester killed
his tech. man. He monitored the ongoing chaotic news through men like
Wally Ballou. Media reports rolled in about the Kennedys being alive,
the US invading Saudi Arabia, and historical events being entirely
false.
(Daredevil I#134) - Jester released news that Daredevil had killed cops, and altered a report of Daredevil to make it sound as if he was threatening the city.
(Daredevil I#135) - Jester monitored the paper, where
he saw the political reactions of General Theodore Cross, anchormen
Roger Browne and Wally Tompkins, and reporter Jacob Conover to his
crimes, as well as ongoing hoaxes about the Kennedys, false historical
events, and a new war. In addition, he noted his own interview, in
which he claimed Daredevil had framed him, and a picture of Laura Lee
Landers on the beach. Jester planned his final revenge against
Daredevil that night. On the news, he revealed his plans to hunt down
Daredevil, purposefully super-imposing the signal so that the hero and
the police could track him down. Cops, including Bert Rose and
O'Malley, found Daredevil standing over a facsimile of Jester's body
and they ordered him arrested. Jester soon heard from Blake Tower on TV
that Daredevil had been apprehended, and he commended himself for his
brilliance. Jester then put another false program out that made it look
as if Daredevil had attempted a jailbreak by helicopter, with cops Freddy and Jackson opening fire on him.
(Daredevil I#136) - Jester detonated his "corpse" from afar, even as Fletcher, Daredevil's cell mate, grew confused about the supposed jailbreak as he'd seen Daredevil there all night. Pleased with himself, Jester listened in as Daredevil tried convincing the mayor and Blake Tower that Jester was behind it all. He prepared and released a media announcement from the president that stated that all cops were criminals. Jester then called a meeting of several criminal heads to unite them in pillaging the city. When Jeffrey Jefferson doubted him, Jester forced him into the prepared Murder Maze, which contained a deadly jack-in-the-box, illusory reflections, collapsing stairs, and various death traps; Jefferson quickly perished. The other criminals agreed to loot the streets and give 50 per cent of their profits to Jester. When Daredevil attacked, Jester ordered him captured and prepared to publicly hang him.
(Daredevil I#137) - As Jester provoked the crowd, Daredevil tried to escape and managed to knock back many of Jester's armed men. The crowd turned against Jester, so he and his men fled in his airship. Jester, who planned to sell off sections of the city to criminal factions, called on Carpenter to share his complaints. After hearing that Carpenter doubted Jester's success rate, Jester madly tossed an exploding ball at Carpenter, killing him. He noted the success of criminal Big Max and gauged the commitments of other men. Jester soon released another message from the president about avoiding Wall Street, from where his men, including Gary and Francis, accidentally led Daredevil to Jester's hideout. Jester tossed an exploding ball at the hero, then hit him with a spring-loaded boxing glove. When Daredevil punched Jester, he feigned surrender, but gassed the hero instead and dropped him in the Murder Maze. Daredevil shockingly escaped the maze alive, frighening some of the Jester's men including Felix, and avoided Jester's stooges and a sonic yo-yo (his men had special earplugs to protect themselves). Jester tried escaping on his special fireman pole platform, but Daredevil still apprehended him and exposed his plots to the public.
(Daredevil I#154) - Purple Man took control of the inmates of Ryker's Island and forced them to do his bidding. Cobra, Mr. Hyde, Jester, and Gladiator were sent against the hero while Purple Man kept Heather Glenn hostage. After Daredevil caught Jester's thrown yo-yo, Jester was thrown by Daredevil into Hyde, who punched Jester into the ground. Paladin aided Daredevil in the ensuing defeat of Purple Man.
(Moon Knight I#13 (fb) - BTS) - Powers befriended fellow inmate Ace Taggert, who desired revenge on Moon Knight (Marc Spector). They realized they'd be released about the same time. Powers promised to help Taggert get revenge on Moon Knight if he followed a plan to get revenge on James Martin, who was returning to Broadway, first.
(Moon Knight I#13) - At Powers' insistence, Taggert agreed to get all of the Jester's equipment ready for their move on Martin so they could act when Powers got released days later, and Powers promised they'd move on Moon Knight after Martin. When Powers was released, he found all his equipment ready and donned his costume, and that Taggert had set his equipment around their target. Jester moved for Broadway in costume, hitting a man who yelled at him with a yo-yo. Jester was thrilled when he saw Daredevil and Moon Knight battling outside the theater, and he rushed in to take care of Martin. He met Taggert inside and told him to wait in a truck across the street. Jester then had his toy soldiers burn a hole in the wall and, after tripping the actors up with marbles, had the robots take the theater hostage. When Martin spoke up, the robots administered an electric shock, then Jester jumped out and revealed himself, demanding that the audience cheer for him as he fenced. Jester ordered Martin to get the box office cash and the audience to bring him their valuables. Outside, Taggert reported, over the walkie, that the police were on their way, and the Jester ordered him to bring the helicopter. When Daredevil burst in, Jester released a box of exploding popcorn filled with knockout gas, not knowing Daredevil had nose filters. Jester drew his fence and parried the hero's billy club. As Moon Knight defeated the robots, avoiding their drill-bit-tipped toy planes, Jester hit Daredevil with his yo-yo and punched him repeatedly, but Daredevil managed to get the best of him. Jester went running for his helicopter and grabbed on to the rope ladder, not knowing that Moon Knight had apprehended Taggert and switched copters. The copter let Jester down among the police and he was rearrested.
(Captain America I#291 (fb) - BTS) - At some point in the past Jester took out a life insurance policy from the Guardian Life Insurance Company.
(Daredevil I#218 (fb) - BTS) - Hearing that famous actor Benedict LaForge was coming to New York to do a live television broadcast as Cyrano De Bergerac, Jester put a plan in motion. He convinced the prison to start a fencing club, then hired a con for four cartons of cigarettes to pose as him in a fencing match.
(Daredevil I#218) - While the con was fencing Hannigan,
Jester escaped in the laundry, past guard Al. Benedict LaForge arrived at the airport,
fraternizing with the cameras and Matt Murdock there, before getting
picked up by Jester, who tied him up and rushed in costume to perform
as Cyrano. Daredevil checked Jester's home for LaForge and fought off
three men Jester had hired to protect his place, all wielding his
deadly toys. In front of the cameras, Jester gave a stirring
performance as Cyrano. When cops, including Rafael Scarfe and Flint,
who had found an escaped LaForge, arrived to arrest Jester, Daredevil
posed as Jester and held the cops off, giving Jester time to finish his
big speech in front of the cameras. When he was finished, he willingly
turned himself over to the police again.
(Daredevil II#20) - Powers was released from prison, having served full-term. When the guards teased him about his costume, he threw it in their faces and promised to turn over a new leaf.
(Daredevil II#21) - When Powers heard Daredevil was being sued, he laughed.
(Daredevil II#22 (fb) - BTS) - Jester was hired by Elaine Kendrick of Murdock and Nelson to act as a process server for Daredevil.
(Daredevil II#21) - Powers donned his costume and interrupted a televised baseball game, interrupting patrons such as Sid and Rivera, telling the public he would be giving a free performance at a bank later and inviting Daredevil to come. At the bank, Jester was careful not to rob the place, but encouraged donations from the crowd as he played with a harmless yo-yo, a knife that squirted red ink, and a bomb filled with flour. When Daredevil arrived, he chased Jester across the city until Jester was pinned. Jester then served the hero with his papers.
(Daredevil II#22) - Powers advertised his new business, Jest-In-Case, from process-serving to parties, for the cameras.
(Daredevil II#75 (fb) - BTS) - Jester met Lawrence, a man who practiced ancient ritualistic rites. After they negotiated, Lawrence summoned up a strange demonic baby to possess Jester, giving him a power boost of increased strength.
(Daredevil II#74 (fb) - BTS) - Jester attacked a bank in broad daylight, taking many hostage.
(Daredevil II#75 (fb)) - Daredevil attacked the bank and traded blows with Jester, who was soon overcome with pain and vomited up the baby. Daredevil punched the demon away and Jester fell into a coma.
(Superior Spider-Man#6) - Jester teamed up with Screwball and the duo publicly humiliated J. Jonah Jameson on live television by pantsing him and pushing a pie in his face. The duo then stole financial information from anyone accessing their web videos. Spider-Man (secretly Otto Octavius) attacked the duo, who broadcast the fight, but when they teased and bullied him, Spidey grew furious and savagely attacked the villains, leaving them badly wounded.
(Daredevil III#31) - Jester used his real name, Jon Powers, and infiltrated the jury on the case against Ms. Bainwood, who was found not guilty for killing an unarmed black teen. Jester helped incite a riot when a video feed showed prosecutor James Priest releasing the names and addresses of the jury members: Sharif Amanat, Damian White, Alex P. Keaton, Sally Draper, Christine Tomp, Steven Lewis, Zachary S. Tudameyer, Isabel Delmon, Len Lemon, Kuljit Mithra, Santiago Garcia, and John Powers. Daredevil sought out Jester's apartment and found a man hanging inside in a Daredevil shirt.
(Daredevil III#32) - Jester waited with anticipation while Daredevil realized the body was a ruse, posed to look like Foggy Nelson with a suicide note, and it made Jester angry when he didn't fall for it. The Sons of the Serpent put more pressure on Jester to incite a race riot, so he released a video of Mayor J. Jonah Jameson to further the violence.
(Daredevil III#34) - Threatening to burn the Darkhold, Daredevil forced the Sons of the Serpent to surrender Jester, and he was delivered, bound and gagged, to the police.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Civil War II#0 (fb) - BTS) - Jester was arrested by a double agent for planning a crime.
(Civil War II#0) - She-Hulk represented Jester in court, arguing for his innocence. Later, he was reportedly killed in jail by other inmates.
(Spider-Men II#2) - Jessica Jones and Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) battled Jester.
(Invincible Iron Man III#598 - BTS) – Ceres Goldstein built a new prototype for the Jester uniform.
(Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#78 (fb) - BTS) - Jester's received upgrades from a mysterious backer and dressed men up like him to commit robberies together.
(Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#78) - White Tiger beat up Jester and his men, but Jester knocked her into a pool with his hammer when she got distracted by Loki, who then teleported her to Svartalfheim as part of a scheme.
(Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#79) - White Tiger returned to Earth to finish the fight.
(Vengeance of the Moon Knight II#9) - Jester was in the Bar With No Name when Moon Knight entered, threatening those inside.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan.
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Jester should not be confused with
Jester has no known connections to
Al
(Daredevil I#218 - BTS) - Guard Al opened the gate for a laundry truck that secretly contained Jester inside.
--Daredevil I#218 ([Daredevil I#218]
Wally Ballou
(Daredevil I#133 - BTS) - Wally Ballou reported the odd news Jester was filtering into the public.
(Daredevil I#137 - BTS) - Daredevil interviewed with Wally about the Jester's schemes.
--Daredevil I#133 (133 - BTS, 137 - BTS
Big Max
(Daredevil I#137 - BTS) - Jester noted the success of
criminal Big Max and gauged the commitments of other men. Archer Emmet
later chose to forget about Big Max and his gang when Daredevil
accosted him. Mike Slate, who'd been shot, subsequently called Big Max,
telling him that Joyce Mallory had been seen with a young boy who
needed medical help. Big Max, showing concern for the boy, then sent a
man to put Daredevil on the case.
--Daredevil I#137 - BTS (#139 - BTS,
Roger Browne
(Daredevil I#135) - In a Daily Bugle edition responding to recent media hoaxes, Roger Browne, anchorman for Channel 8 Eyewitness News, claimed that video quotes of him were not actually him.
--Daredevil I#135
Carpenter
(Daredevil I#137) - Jester called on Carpenter to share his complaints. After hearing that Carpenter doubted Jester's success rate, Jester madly tossed an exploding ball at Carpenter, killing him.
--Daredevil I#137
General Theodore Cross
(Daredevil I#135) - In a Daily Bugle edition responding to recent media hoaxes, General Theodore Cross revealed that the reports on soldier hypnosis were preposterous.
--Daredevil I#135
(Daredevil I#137) – A criminal working for Jester, Felix was shocked when Daredevil survived the Murder Maze.
--Daredevil I#137
Fletcher
(Daredevil I#136) - Fletcher, the cell mate of Daredevil, grew confused when he saw reports that Daredevil had attempted a jailbreak, as he knew Daredevil had been there all night.
--Daredevil I#136
Flint
(Daredevil I#218) - Cops Rafael Scarfe and Flint responded to Jester's kidnapping of actor Benedict LaForge. They soon found an escaped LaForge, but were distracted when Daredevil posed as Jester and held the cops off (including Geman and Rabinowitz), giving Jester time to finish his big speech in front of the cameras. When he was finished, Jester willingly turned himself over to the police again.
--Daredevil I#218
Nancy Foreman
(Daredevil I#42 (fb) - BTS) - Nancy Foreman starred across Jonathan Powers when he played Cyrano, but he received poor reviews and was kicked out.
--Daredevil I#42 (fb) - BTS
Gary and Francis
(Daredevil I#137) - Jester released another fake media message from the president about avoiding Wall Street, from where his men, including Gary and Francis, accidentally led Daredevil to Jester's hideout.
--Daredevil I#137
|
Geman and Rabinowitz (Daredevil I#218) - Officer Flint ordered cops Geman and Rabinowitz to block the exits while trying to apprehend the Jester. --Daredevil I#218 |
|
Hannigan
(Daredevil I#218) - Hannigan faced a con posing as Jonathan Powers in a fencing match in jail.
--Daredevil I#218
Jeffrey Jefferson
(Daredevil I#136) - Jester called a meeting of several criminal heads to unite them in pillaging the city. When Jeffrey Jefferson doubted him, Jester forced him into the prepared Murder Maze, which contained a deadly jack-in-the-box, illusory reflections, collapsing stairs, and various death traps; Jefferson quickly perished.
--Daredevil I#136
Joe
(Daredevil I#44) - Cameraman Joe was at the police station when Jonathan Powers announced he would be revealing Daredevil's true identity that night on the George Washington Bridge. He and his partner decided to check it out since it was a slow news night. There, they witnessed Daredevil attack Powers and seemingly knock him to his death.
--Daredevil I#44
Johnson
(Daredevil I#45) - While flying over the Statue of Liberty in a helicopter, Johnson saw the fugitive Daredevil and Jester battling. Johnson lowered on a rope ladder to investigate, but the ladder got caught on the Statue's crown and Johnson nearly fell, but Daredevil save him. Johnson, though impressed with Daredevil, turned the hero over to the police.
--Daredevil I#45
Benedict
LaForge
(Daredevil I#218 (fb) - BTS) - Hearing that famous actor Benedict LaForge was coming to New York to do a live television broadcast as Cyrano De Bergerac, Jester put a plan in motion.
(Daredevil I#218) - While Benedict LaForge arrived at the airport, fraternizing with the cameras and Matt Murdock there, before getting picked up by Jester, who tied him up and rushed in costume to perform as Cyrano. LaForge later escaped and was rescued by cops Rafael Scarfe and Flint. Jester was later arrested.
--Daredevil I#218 (218 (fb) - BTS, 218
Laura Lee Landers
(Daredevil I#135) - In a Daily Bugle edition responding to recent media hoaxes, Laura Lee Landers posed on a beach in Sydney, Australia.
--Daredevil I#135
James Martin
(Daredevil I#42) - James Martin was a Broadway director who took a risk by casting the glory-seeking Jonathan Powers as Cyrano. When the audience laughed Powers off the stage, Martin fired him.
(Moon Knight I#13 (fb) - BTS) - Powers eventually became the Jester. Years later, Martin prepared to make another Broadway debut.
(Moon Knight I#13) - During Martin's debut performance, the Jester attacked and robbed the audience, using his deadly robots to hold them hostage. The shocked Martin stumbled to retrieve the box office cash when ordered, but Jester was soon stopped by Moon Knight (Marc Spector) and Daredevil (Matt Murdock).
--Daredevil I#42 (Moon Knight I#13 (fb) - BTS
Sam
(Daredevil I#45) - Police officer Sam and his partner cornered the fugitive Daredevil in an alley. Frustrated by the hero's banter, they moved in to arrest them, but Daredevil stopped them with a few blows and rushed away.
--Daredevil I#45
Sid and Rivera
(Daredevil II#21 - BTS) - Sid, a cameraman, and Rivera, a baseball player, were among the crowd assembled for a baseball game interrupted by the Jester.
--Daredevil II#21 (BTS
Abe Simons
(Daredevil I#131 - BTS) - Radio reports leaked out through Abe Simons that the recent wars the country had fought in were only hallucinatory hoaxes.
--Daredevil I#131 (BTS
Ace Taggert
(Moon Knight I#13 (fb) - BTS) - Criminal Ace Taggert was apprehended by Moon Knight (Marc Spector), and he promised to kill Moon Knight when he was released. After serving two years for armed robbery, Ace was to be released from prison as a model prisoner. While incarcerated, he met Jonathan Powers, the Jester, who promised to help Taggert get revenge on Moon Knight if he followed the Jester's plan.
(Moon Knight I#13) - Powers reminded Taggert that he would also be getting out in four days and that they could attack Moon Knight together, also getting revenge on James Martin, one of Powers' foes. Taggert promised to get all of Jester's equipment in running order, though he was reluctant to not move on Moon Knight quicker. Taggert set up the trap at Broadway days later and met the Jester there, complimenting him on his deadly toys. As he waited in the truck across the street, Taggert noticed cops coming and informed Jester on the walkie. Jester ordered Taggert to get the helicopter, but Moon Knight knocked him out.
--Moon Knight I#13 (13 (fb) - BTS, 13
Wally
Tompkins
(Daredevil I#129) - Though it seemed beyond belief, anchorman Wally Tompkins reported that he'd received news that John and Robert Kennedy were reported alive. Tompkins recognized that this news was only speculation and could have major ramifications on the country.
(Daredevil I#135) - In a Daily Bugle edition responding to recent media hoaxes, NBS anchorman Wally Tompkins stated that someone was altering the news.
--Daredevil I#129, 135
Tubby
(Daredevil I#42) - Tubby was a low-brow comic in New York who hired Jonathan Powers to be his stooge on stage. He repeatedly hit Powers with pies in the face as the audience laughed, until Powers finally had enough and punched Tubby, quitting.
--Daredevil I#42
Steven Urban
(Daredevil I#42 - BTS) - Steven Urban wrote about Jester's crime spree in the Times.
--Daredevil I#42 (BTS
images: (without ads)
Daredevil II#21, p13, pan5 (main)
Daredevil II#20, p14, pan6 (unmasked)
Daredevil I#42, p1, pan1 (original costume)
Daredevil I#133, p2, pan4 (2nd costume)
Daredevil I#218, p16, pan2 (as Cyrano)
Daredevil I#42, p8, pan5 (Tubby)
Daredevil I#135, p2, pan1 (Cross)
Daredevil I#135, p3, pan2 (Browne)
Daredevil I#129, p6, pan5 (Tompkins)
Daredevil I#135, p3, pan5 (Landers)
Daredevil I#135, p16, pan4 (Freddy & Jackson)
Daredevil I#136, p3, pan1 (Fletcher)
Daredevil I#136, p11, pan1 (Jefferson)
Daredevil I#137, p5, pan5 (Carpenter)
Daredevil I#137, p8, pan3 (Gary & Francis)
Daredevil I#137, p13, pan4 (Felix)
Daredevil I#218, p19, pan2 (Geman and Rabinowitz)
Daredevil I#218, p4, pan5 (LaForge)
Daredevil I#218, p2, pan6 (Hannigan)
Daredevil I#218, p17, pan2 (Flint)
Daredevil I#45, p7, pan1 (Sam)
Daredevil I#218, p19, pan2 (Johnson)
Moon Knight I#13, p4, pan1 (Taggert)
Daredevil I#42, p8, pan1 (James Martin)
Daredevil I#44, p7, pan2 (Joe)
Appearances:
Daredevil I#42 (July, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Gene Colan
(penciler/inker)
Daredevil I#44-45 (September-October, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor),
Gene Colan (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker)
Daredevil I#46 (November, 1968) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Gene Colan
(penciler), George Klein (inker)
Daredevil I#61 (July, 1970) - Roy Thomas (writer), Gene Colan
(penciler), Syd Shores (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Daredevil I#125-126 (September-October, 1971) - Marv Wolfman (writer),
Bob Brown (penciler), Klaus Janson (inker), Len Wein (editor)
Daredevil I#130-131 (February-March, 1972) - Marv Wolfman (writer), Bob
Brown (penciler), Klaus Janson (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Daredevil I#133-137 (May-September, 1976) - Marv Wolfman (writer), Bob
Brown (penciler), Jim Mooney (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Daredevil I#154 (September, 1978) - Roger Mackenzie (writer), Gene
Colan (penciler), Steve Leiahoia (inker), Bob Hall (editor)
Moon Knight I#13 (November, 1981) - Doug Moench (writer), Bill
Sienkiewicz (penciler/inker), Denny O'Neil (editor)
Captain America I#291 (March, 1984) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Herb Trimpe
(pencils), Jack Abel (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Daredevil I#218 (May, 1985) - Denny O'Neil (writer), Sal Buscema
(penciler), Ian Akin, Brian Garvey (inkers), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Daredevil II#20-22 (September-November, 2001) - Bob Gale (writer), Phil
Winslade (penciler), James Hodgkins (inker), Stuart Moore, Nanci
Dakesian (editors)
Daredevil II#74-75 (August-September, 2005) - Brian Michael Bendis
(writer), Alex Maleev (penciler/inker), Axel Alonso (editor)
Superior Spider-Man#6 (May, 2013) - Dan Slott (writer), Humberto Ramos
(penciler), Victor Olazaba (inker), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Daredevil III#31-32 (November-December, 2014) - Mark Waid (writer),
Chris Samnee (artist), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Daredevil III#34 (January, 2015) - Mark Waid (writer), Javier Rodriguez
(penciler), Alvaro Lopez (inker), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Civil War II#0 (July, 2016) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Olivier
Coipel (artist), Tom Brevoort, Wil Moss (editors)
Spider-Men II#2 (October, 2017) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Sara
Pichelli (artist), Nick Lowe (editor)
Invincible Iron Man III#598 (May, 2018) – Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alex
Maleev, Stefano Casselli (artists), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Marvel's Voices Infinity Comic#78-79 (November 22nd-29th, 2023) - Alex Segura (writer), Alba Glez (penciler), Elisabetta D'Amico (inker), Sarah Brunstad (editor)
Vengeance of the Moon Knight II#9 (November, 2024) - Jed MacKay (writer), Devmalya Pramanik (artist), Devin Lewis (editor)
First posted: 03/03/2011
Last updated: 11/20/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel
Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you
should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
Felix
Freddy & Jackson