UNION JACK
Real Name: Lord James Montgomery Falsworth
Identity/Class: Human, citizen of the United Kingdom
Occupation: Costumed adventurer, special operative of his majesty's government, country squire
Group Membership: None
formerly financial supporter of the V-Battalion, Invaders (Bucky/James
Barnes, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Human Torch/Jim Hammond,
Sub-Mariner/Namor McKenzie, Toro/Thomas Raymond), Freedom's
Five (Crimson
Cavalier/Jean-Luc Batroc, Phantom
Eagle/Karl Kaufmann, Sir
Steel/Ned Chapel, Silver
Squire/Clarence Armantage)
Affiliations: Fat Cobra, David Lloyd George, Hellfire Club, Hotchkins, Iron Fist (Orson Randall), Liberty Legion (Blue Diamond/Elton Morrow, Jack Frost, Miss America/Madeline Joyce, Thin Man/Bruce Dickson, Whizzer/Robert Frank), Namora (Aquaria Nautica Neptunia), Cornelius Shaw, Esau Shaw, V-Battalion (Angel/Thomas Halloway, Destroyer/Roger Aubrey, Golden Woman/Gwendolyne Sabuki, Human Top/David Mitchell, Iron Cross/Helmut Gruler, Silver Scorpion/Elizabeth "Betty" Barstow)
Enemies: Baron Blood (John Falsworth), Baron Zemo (Helmut Zemo), Ursula Frankenstein, Hellfire Club (Harry Manners, Sir Waltham Pierce and unrevealed others), Herr Samurai, Adolf Hitler, Martian Masters, Jacob Shaw, Herman Zemo
Known Relatives: Lord William Falsworth (father, deceased), Lady Falsworth (wife, deceased), John Falsworth (Baron Blood, brother), Brian Falsworth (Union Jack, son), Jacqueline Falsworth-Crichton (Spitfire, daughter), Kenneth Crichton (Baron Blood, grandson), Lord Cedric Crichton (son-in-law, deceased), John Chrichton (great-grandson)
Aliases: Masked Spy-Buster, "Monty" called by Esau Shaw
Base of Operations: Falsworth Manor, Dymhurst, north of London, United Kingdom
First Appearance: Invaders I#7 (July, 1976)
Powers/Abilities: Union Jack possesses no known
superhuman abilities. A gifted, natural athlete, he is trained in
various forms of unarmed combat. In battle he wields a vintage Webley
revolver pistol and a silver dagger. Union Jack was known for his quick
wit and powers of deduction that did not dim as he aged.
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 240 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black, later white
History:
(Invaders I#9 (fb) - BTS) - When they were still children, Montgomery and his younger brother John would regularly play in the caverns near their ancestral home Falsworth Manor.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb) - BTS) - As a young lad in 1907, Montgomery Falsworth learned London had come under attack by alien invaders from Mars. After the invaders had disappeared the British government used the newspapers to cover up the invasion to prevent international panic from breaking out. Falsworth didn't know that he would face the Martian Masters himself a decade later.
(Invaders I#9 (fb)) - Days before the world was plunged into the Great War in 1914, Montgomery and his brother John suffered a personal loss when their father, Lord (William) Falsworth, died in bed. While Montgomery took over as lord of the manor, his younger brother felt there was no real reason for him to remain. He left Falsworth Manor to explore the European continent. Eventually, John would visit Transylvania where he was turned into a vampire by the one and only Dracula.
(Invaders I#7 (fb)) - At the start of the Great War,
Montgomery Falsworth became a special operative of the British
government. Serving at his majesty's pleasure, his mission was to strike
terror into the enemy's hearts by appearing as the very personification
of the British flag and nation. Known as Union Jack, Falsworth was
lauded in the American tabloids as a 'masked spy-buster'. Despite his
lack of superhuman abilities, his skills with knives, pistols and hand
to hand combat made him a force to be reckoned with.
(Invaders I#8 (fb) - BTS) - At the start of his costumed career, Union Jack would spend many nights canvassing London to act against possible saboteurs.
(The Marvels Project#7 (fb)) - Union Jack was seen wielding a machine gun while fighting the Germans from the trenches during the Great War.
(X-Men: Hellfire Club I#3 (fb) - BTS) - Falsworth was
repeatedly approached by the Hellfire Club to join them, but knowing of
the organization's ties to the German Kaiser he kept them at arm's
length.
(Cable I#50 (fb) ) - In 1915, Falsworth attended a sumptuous soiree
thrown by Hellfire Club higher up Harry Manners who tried to impress
with delicacies and beautiful women in spite of wartime rationing.
Falsworth played it cool and accepted his offer to stay the night,
quietly drugging the female companion Manners had arranged for him.
Changing into Union Jack, he scoured the grounds looking for clues about
the rumor Manners was working for the German Kaiser and planned to
destroy London. Inside a basement, he got into an altercation that
alerted Manners and his guards. Disgusted by Manners' proud boasting
about how he would happily destroy all of London to make a profit, Union
Jack took out both him and his armed guards. Suffering a gunshot to the
shoulder during the altercation, Union Jack pressed on to locate the
device Manners claimed could destroy the capitol. UJ ultimately stumbled
upon the machinery that kept Apocalypse's harbinger in stasis. Unable to
destroy or deactivate the complex alien born technology, Falsworth
decided it was best to leave it be for the time being.
(X-Men: Hellfire Club I#3) - On December 6th, 1915 Falsworth attended
the funeral of brigadier general Cornelius Shaw. At the gravesite, he
saw Cornelius' son Esau talking with the Hellfire Club's inner circle
members Sirs Waltham Pierce and Harry Manners. Falsworth warned his
friend about the Hellfire Club and their ties to Britain's enemies.
(X-Men: Hellfire Club I#3 (fb) - BTS) - Nathaniel Essex genetically
altered Esau Shaw's younger brother Jacob, turning him into a
shapeshifter as part of his scheme to infiltrate the Hellfire Club.
Realizing his older brother would refuse membership, he decided to kill
him in order to be invited to the elite organization in his stead. After
killing his brother, Jacob resumed the form of an attractive young woman
and seduced Waltham Pierce.
(X-Men: Hellfire Club I#3) - Union Jack was stunned to find the
dead body of Esau and, based on the clues left on the scene, concluded
Waltham Pierce was the killer. He confronted the man in his home as he
was entertaining two young women (one the disguised Jacob Shaw). Before
UJ could arrest Pierce for conspiracy to undermine the crown, sedition
against government bodies and Esau's murder he was shot by the woman who
fled through the window. Watching her fall, she changed to Jacob Shaw
much to UJ's astonishment. He recorded the bizarre incident in his
journal.
(Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better#3) - Union Jack accompanied a squad of British soldiers fighting the Germans on foreign soil when suddenly a time traveling Baron Zemo (Helmut Zemo) arrived. Zemo had been traveling throughout time meeting his ancestors, Zemo was shocked to see Union Jack and the soldiers were in fact fighting his ancestor Herman Zemo and a squadron of his troops. Seeing the German's leader Union Jack was about to shoot and kill Herman Zemo. However, the time-displaced Zemo instinctively pulled his sword and hit Union Jack so the British hero would miss his shot. Union Jack was somewhat shocked seeing the strange man wearing a purple mask and a very old military uniform. Union Jack asked Zemo about his outlandish appearance after which Zemo explained it was slightly out of date, Union Jack then complemented the enemy with his excellent english. Thinking himself to be superior Zemo attacked Union Jack but was easily beaten as Union Jack kicked him of the hill, causing Zemo to fall on top of his ancestor and several of his soldiers. Herman Zemo immediately ordered his men to fire the canisters of mustard gas, but when the gas hit the ground Union Jack had already fled the scene.
(Invaders I#7 (fb)) - In the latter days of the Great War, Union Jack joined forces with other special operatives of the allied powers: The Phantom Eagle, a hooded young American flier. The Crimson Cavalier, a fabulous French swordsman. And a pair of fellow Britons, Sir Steel and the Silver Squire. The group was called Freedom's Five.
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Phantom Eagle - BTS) - The Freedom's Five were instrumental in bringing about a number of significant victories for the Allies during the Great War.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb)) - Union Jack met and fought alongside Orson Randall the Iron Fist.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb)) - In October 1917 Union Jack hosted a Freedom's Five meeting in at his gentleman's club. Absent were Phantom Eagle, tending to his plane and the Silver Squire who was recovering from recent injuries and replaced by Orson Randall the Iron Fist. The group discussed the threat of Ursula Frankenstein who was creating monstrous corpse soldiers using her mad science. But as the group strategized to enter her castle Union Jack received an important message from one of the servers. London had come under attack by alien invaders, in reality these were the Martian Masters. The Freedom's Five sprung into action witnessing both tripod's destroying buildings and a group of martians in exoskeletons vaporizing British citizens, vaguely recalling the aliens had also attacked London a decade. Union Jack ordered Iron Fist and Sir Steel to take down the tripods while he and Crimson Cavalier would attack the martians on the ground. During the fight Union Jack managed to save the Crimson Cavalier's life when one of the martians was about to shoot him with a lasergun, as the two heroes looked around they were surrounded and about to be killed when suddenly the Phantom Eagle arrived in his plane. The Phantom Eagle's gunfire shattered the martian's exoskeleton's exposing them to the Earth's air, seemingly killing them. The Phantom Eagle then distracted the tripods long enough for Sir Steel and Iron Fist to take one down. As the tripod shattered upon striking the ground, Sir Steel noted that this was but one of many walking horrors. But before Union Jack and Freedom's Five could act suddenly another group arrived Eben Stafford and the Men on the Wall, wielding high-tech weaponry the group attacked the remaining Martian Masters forcing them to retreat. Union Jack and Freedom's Five witnessed the alien invaders vanishing into thin air, taking with them one of Stafford's men (possibly John Carter).
(Invaders I#8 (fb)) - In 1918 Union Jack managed to sneak across the front lines to wreak havoc among the Germans, there he was tasked with capturing important top-secret documents that were carried to the front by an officer-courier in a sidecar. Union Jack took care of the driver after which he jumped the sidecar and was able to knock the courier in the face while grabbing the his leather-bag with the documents. Mere seconds later the sidecar crashed into a wall causing the vehicle to explode, killing the courier. Union Jack then returned to his superior officer who had a plane waiting that would return Union Jack to London with the top-secret documents. When the plane flew over London, Union Jack had to use the still experimental parachute and jumped out of the plane. The experimental parachute worked, revealing a giant union flag, with a tad of luck Union Jack landed on 10 Downing Street, the residence of Britain's Prime-minister. Union Jack was allowed to proceed an met with the Prime-minister David Lloyd George, George revealed the German's had created their greatest secret weapon Baron Blood (Falsworth's own brother John). While the Union Jack had been gone behind enemy lines, Baron Blood had been terrorizing London, killing several high place military leaders home for rest cures. The Prime-minister ordered the Union Jack to take care of Baron Blood.
(Invaders I#8 (fb) - BTS) - Union Jack spend four long nights stalking the London fog in search of Baron Blood.
(Invaders I#8 (fb)) - During the fight night Union Jack finally found Baron Blood standing on the London Bridge, Union Jack would later learn that Baron Blood had been waiting on the bridge to attack a member of parliament who would drive by. Union Jack climbed the bridge and leaped toward the villainous vampire, Baron Blood however, saw the man coming and hit him with his superhuman strength causing Union Jack to almost fall of the bridge. However, Union Jack managed to hurl himself towards the other side of the bridge, grabbed his blade and jabbed it right into Baron Blood's body with his silver blade. Baron Blood shrieked with pain, then, turning, he managed to kick the Union Jack of the bridge causing the hero to fall on top of a limousine, breaking his fall, the very limousine which was Baron Blood's target. Baron Blood vowed to get his revenge after which he fled. Union Jack returned to the Prime-minister revealing what had transpired.
(Invaders I#7 (fb) - BTS) - Union Jack and the Freedom's Five repeatedly failed to defeat Baron Blood the costumed vampire.
(Invaders I#8 (fb)) - Several weeks later the war ended and the Union Jack was officially rewarded with a sign during a private ceremony within the Prime-minister's office. Union Jack then retired from active service.
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe II#20 - BTS) - Lord Falsworth eventually married, had two children Brian and Jacqueline and came to lead the life of a peaceful country squire.
(All-New Invaders#12 (fb) - BTS) - In the summer of 1922, Lord Falsworth put pen to paper and wrote the story of how he and the Freedom's Five faced the Martian Masters.
(Invaders I#19 (fb)) - In 1938, Lord Falsworth, his wife and daughter looked on while his son Brian Falsworth played a friendly game of polo with his dearest friend Roger Aubrey.
(Invaders I#19 (fb)) - Lord Falsworth was baffled and enraged when at the end of September 1938 he read about the Munich Agreement in the London Times. British minister Neville Chamberlain had made appeasement with Adolf Hitler, believing he'd brought "peace in our time". Lord Falsworth slammed his fist on his desk, shouting Hitler had to be stopped before all of Europe would be under the nazi heal, however, Brian asked his father what it had to do with Britain thinking it was the continent's business. Lord Falsworth couldn't believe the word's of his son and as time passed on the arguments grew ever fiercer. Then came the day that Brian and his friend Roger decided to leave the Falsworth manor. Lady Falsworth tried to calm her husband as the boys left, while Lord Falsworth reasoned they respected their youthful idealism but they couldn't see what Hitler was about to do.
(Invaders I#19 (fb)) - Several weeks later the Falsworth family was in for a shock when the London Times published a photograph of Brian and Roger in the presence of Adolf Hitler in Berlin. Lord Falsworth was distraught with grief believing his son worshipping the feet of that devil. Struck with grief he ordered his family to never remind him of his son again.
(Invaders I#19 (fb) - BTS) - On the first of September 1939 the inevitable happened, Hitler invaded Poland thus starting World War II.
(Immortal Weapons#1 (fb)) - In 1939, Lord Falsworth once again donned his identity of Union Jack and put together a team of kung fu commando's to take down Hitler's secret death squad of s.s. ninjas led by the notorious butcher Herr Samurai. However, during the fight only one of the kung fu fighters survived, Fat Cobra. Together they successfully took down Herr Samurai.
(Invaders I#19 (fb) - BTS) - During the London blitz of 1941 a blow fell perhaps even greater than the loss of his only son. Lady Falsworth, doing her bit for the war effort was killed when a nazi bomb fell on a London hospital.
(Invaders I#7) - In 1942, Lord Falsworth's daughter Jacqueline was assaulted in London by Baron Blood and saved by Jim Hammond. The American hero insisted he drove her home. He was surprised to find she lived at Falsworth manor and was even more surprised Jacqueline's father was already aware he was the Human Torch. Falsworth revealed his secret identity, telling Hammond of his exploits during World War I with the Freedom's Five before being stunned by the news his old enemy Baron Blood had returned and was now working for the Nazis. Later that evening, Hammond summoned the other Invaders to Falsworth Manor where they had dinner with the family, including Falsworth's nephew John who was secretly Baron Blood.
(Invaders I#8) - Having dinner with the Invaders reminded Falsworth of his own exploits during the Great War, including his first encounter with the vampire in 1918. When Falsworth openly reminisced about missing the war, it greatly upset Jacqueline who still hadn't recovered from her mother's death. During the meal it was decided the Invaders would focus on capturing Baron Blood before they returned to their main mission: taking on fortress Europa. The next night, the Falsworths saw the Invaders off as they returned to look for Blood in nighttime London.
(Invaders I#8 - BTS) - Unbeknownst to Baron Blood, Falsworth donned his Union Jack costume and followed the heroes to London.
(Invaders I#8) - Union Jack joined the Invaders in their fight against Baron Blood. Even though he was physically no longer a match for his foe, the cunning Falsworth tricked the vampire into using his own gun against him. The weapon was tricked out to unleash a burst of silver dust, which caused the enemy to flee in a blind panic. In the aftermath, Union Jack asked to join the Invaders even though he was 'a bit past his prime'. The heroes unanimously accepted the living legend in their midst.
(Invaders I#9) - Returning to Falsworth Manor with his fellow Invaders, James was stunned when his daughter Jacqueline grew furious at the sight of him in costume again. She blamed Captain America and futily lashed out at him before fainting. Upon examining his daughter, Falsworth discovered she'd recently been bit a vampire. Correctly deducing it was Baron Blood, Captain America took the Invaders out to look for the villain that night, insisting Union Jack stayed behind to watch after Jacqueline. No sooner had the heroes left, or Blood revealed himself to Union Jack who tried to blast him with silver bullets. The vampire used his hypnosis to stop the hero in his tracks, briefly entertaining the notion of killing his entranced opponent before shifting his attention to Jacqueline.
(Invaders I#9 - BTS) - While Union Jack was still under hypnosis, his allies the Human Torch and Toro revealed the Invaders faked their departure from Falsworth Manor to draw out the villain. Baron Blood used his hypnosis to keep the Torch at bay while he abducted Jacqueline to the estate's underground catacombs.
(Invaders I#9) - The recovered Union Jack traced Blood and Jacqueline down to the catacombs, but after a brief struggle he was trapped underneath falling rocks that crushed his legs. Falsworth could do nothing but watch as the Invaders seemingly killed the vampire when he impaled himself on a stalagmite. In the aftermath, James was more concerned with the fate of Jacqueline than his own, useless legs
(Invaders I#10) - The Invaders rushed Union Jack and his near death daughter to the nearest hospital in Namor's imperial flagship. To make sure Falsworth's dual identity wasn't revealed, he quickly put on civilian clothing over his costume before Namor rushed him into the emergency ward.
(Invaders I#11) - In the hospital, Falsworth pleaded the staff took care of his daughter first. Captain America and Namor saw to it that he got treated as well, making sure to take off his Union Jack costume before any of the nurses could spot it.
(Invaders I#11 - BTS) - While Jacqueline received a life saving blood transfusion from the Human Torch, doctors operated on James Falsworth's mangled legs. Though they managed to set the broken bones, they feared he would never walk again.
(Invaders I#11) - The Invaders were visiting with Falsworth in the hospital, desperately trying to lift his spirits. Their visit was cut short by the attack of the Blue Bullet. The armored enemy was thwarted by the newly revived Jacqueline who had discovered the transfusion had granted her superspeed. Falsworth contently looked on as his daughter took his place among the Invaders as a superheroine.
(Invaders I#18) - With his son Brian missing, James decided he needed to restore the memory of Brian's best friend Roger Aubrey. Feeling their best bet was to return to Berlin, James Falsworth made arrangements with the war ministry to commandeer a German bomber and have himself, Spitfire and Aubrey airlifted to Berlin. Falsworth and the others parachuted out of the craft and were met by James' old German ally Oskar who was waiting for them with a getaway car and a wheelchair for the crippled Falsworth.
(Invaders I#19) - Falsworth and the others were surprised to find the Invaders had been captured in Berlin. Eager to help out, Falsworth had Oskar contact the underground to find out where the heroes would be held. Falsworth then spent his time trying to jog Dyna-Mite's memory, hoping he might recall what happened to Brian. In the end, it was Oskar who learned that Brian was held at the new Institute of Nazi Science. Falsworth, from his wheelchair, led a charge against the Institute that ended in a confrontation with the Nazi scientist responsible for turning Aubrey and Brian into Dyna-Mite and the Destroyer. Before he had a chance to process this news, Falsworth and the others fell for a Nazi trap and were taken out by gas.
(Invaders I#21 (fb)) - The Destroyer rescued James Falsworth, Dyna-Mite and Oskar from the Nazi ministry of science.. Overjoyed to see his son was alive and well, James surprised him with the Union Jack costume he had brought along on impulse. Feeling his days as the Destroyer were finished, Brian happily donned the costume and set out the free the Invaders.
(Invaders I#21 - BTS) - Falsworth, Oskar and Dyna-Mite made their way to the nearest airstrip.
(Invaders I#21 (fb)) - Taking out and replacing the crew of a Nazi bomber plane, Falsworth, Oskar and Dyna-Mite were stunned to find it was actually Hitler's personal plane. The Fuhrer and his men boarded the craft with Captain America's captured shield. Hitler ordered the bomber into the air, which Falsworth and Oskar agreed to. In mid-flight, Dyna-Mite took on Hitler and his officers, but they were unable to prevent the fuhrer from parachuting away. However, they did manage to hold on to colonel Dietrich, the Nazi scientist responsible for shrinking Roger Aubrey to the pint sized Dyna-Mite.
(Invaders I#20 - BTS) - The Invaders were freed from the Nazi's by Union Jack
(Invaders I#21) - Falsworth, Oskar and Dyna-Mite took Hitler's personal bomber to Berlin where they picked up Union Jack and the Invaders. By then, Hitler had ordered his airforce to target the craft, but thanks to the Invaders the plane made it all the way across the English channel where it made a water landing.
(Invaders I#22) - Falsworth and the Invaders were picked up by the British naval cruiser Forester. Falsworth looked on as his son automatically assumed the role of Union Jack, making the sailors believe he was the original. Falsworth assured Dyna-Mite that they would soon have the captured colonel Dietrich work on a way to restore him to his normal size. Later on the main land, Falsworth and the Invaders joined the Human Torch aboard a hospital plane that took the gravely injured Toro to the nearest hospital. On the way there, James listened to Hammond recount Toro's origins, after which he assured the hero he needn't blame himself for the boy's injuries since it was his own wish to fight the good fight.
(Invaders I#23 (fb)) - James Falsworth arranged to be returned to Falsworth Manor with his aide Oskar and Dyna-Mite. The Falsworths received special permission to question the captured colonel Dietrich.
(Invaders I#26 - BTS) - At Falsworth Manor's laboratory James oversaw Dietrich's attempts to restore Roger Aubrey to his original 5'4" size. When Dietrich succeeded, Aubrey assumed the role of the Destroyer, ready to resume his mission to free Europe from Nazi tyranny.
(Invaders I#26) - James welcomed the Invaders and delighted in surprising them with Dietrich's success at restoring Aubrey. Their joy was shortlived because the Human Torch was still preoccupied with returning to the United States to check in with his injured sidekick Toro. When Namor was unable to arrange an Atlantean flagship, James Falsworth used his connections to secure a long-range bomber plane that could take the heroes to California.
(Invaders I#34) - Lord Falsworth hosted the Invaders at Falsworth Manor to discuss the reign of terror the Destroyer (secretly Master Man) was unleashing against Great Britain. James feared Roger Aubrey might once again be brainwashed and the team set out to stop his attack on London.
(Invaders I#34 - BTS) - The Invaders stopped Master Man and freed the captured Aubrey from one of their prisons.
(Invaders I#34) - At Falsworth Manor, Aubrey once again donned the costume of the Destroyer. He accepted honorary membership in the Invaders, but prefered to keep fighting against the Nazis in Britain. James then handed Captain America a presidential communique he'd received, ordering Cap, Namor and the Human Torch back to the United States.
(Invaders I#41) - In late 1942, James Falsworth welcomed the Invaders back to Great Britain and once again offered Falsworth Manor as the team's official base.
(Citizen V and the V-Battalion Everlasting I#1 (fb) - BTS) - After the war Lord Falsworth became the financial supporter of the V-Battalion. The V-Battalion consisted of remnants of Citizen V's first V-Battalion and other wartime heroes like the Destroyer, Iron Cross, Silver Scorpion and others who would hunt down war criminals.
(Citizen V and the V-Battalion Everlasting I#1 - BTS) - In 1953, Lord Falsworth's son Brian and his love Roger Aubrey were caught in a car crash. Heavily injured, Roger managed to survive while Brian died.
(Citizen V and the V-Battalion Everlasting I#1 (fb)) - Lord Falsworth attended the funeral of his son, accompanied by his daughter, Betty Barstow and Roger Aubrey. The Falsworth family was struck with grief with the added weight that a hero of his posture should have died in battle. Roger turned to Falsworth apologizing he should have done more to save Brian, Falsworth, however, calmed the man down since he knew they were very special friends. When Falsworth left the cemetery Thomas Halloway (Angel) and Helmut Gruler (Iron Cross) asked Roger if Falsworth would stop helping the V-Battalion, Roger explained he found it an inappropriate time to ask.
(Captain America I#253 (fb) - BTS) - Now ageing and
falling prey to a weaking heart, Falsworth remained at his manor cared
for by his daughter Jacqueline and attended to by their doctor Jacob
Cromwell (secretly Baron Blood in disguise). Cromwell prescribed
Falsworth medications for his ailments even as the Scottish countryside
was terrorized by a slasher who would drain victims of most of their
blood. Falsworth deduced it must somehow be the work of Baron Blood, but
his suspicions were dismissed: after all, Baron Blood was deceased with
his remains under guard in the Tower of London.
(Captain America I#253) - When Lord Falsworth overheard Dr. Cromwell and
Jacqueline discuss the slasher's latest victim, he had enough and sent a
discretely coded telegram to Avengers Mansion: "The fat's in the fire.
Time to wave the flag discreetly... Tally-ho! Falsworth". Steve Rogers
made his way to Falsworth Manor where he met Jacqueline and the aged
Montgomery, wheeled in by his butler Hotchkins. Jacqueline tried to
dismiss her father's claims about Baron Blood, which infuriated the old
man who risked a cardiac episode. Convinced Falsworth was nowhere near
as senile as everyone claimed he was, Cap went out to investigate the
case.
(Captain America I#253 - BTS) - Cap met with Dr. Cromwell who grew
furious at the suggestion the slasher might actually be a vampire.
Later, he went to visit the Tower of London where he quickly concluded
the skeletal remains under lock and key were actually the bones of a
human woman, meaning Baron Blood was on the loose after all.
(Captain America I#253) - Cap returned to Falsworth Manor at the same
time Jacqueline's teenage son Kenneth and his classmate Joey Chapman
arrived. Lord Falsworth lost his composure when he learned Baron Blood
was still active. Discussing the matter with the old hero in private,
Cap assured his friend he was not senile at all. Relieved, Falsworth
thanked Cap for coming even as they prepared to take on Baron Blood.
Later that night, Blood attacked Captain America in his bedroom but the
hero fought back, their confrontation inevitably leading to Lord
Falsworth bedchambers. There, the old man watched helplessly as Blood
hypnotized Captain America and got ready to bite his neck.
(Captain America I#254) - Falsworth and his family were relieved when
Blood's fangs could not pierce the chainmail protecting Captain
America's neck. The shock snapped the Avenger out of his hypnosis and
his counterattack coupled with the rising sun caused Blood to flee. Over
the course of the day, Scotland Yard involved itself in the search for
the vampire. When no one involved him in the planning, Falsworth decided
he could not sit idly by and dressed himself in his old Union Jack
uniform, figuring Blood would not be able to resist such a tempting
target. Cap tried to reason with his friend: there was no reason to
sacrifice himself, they could protect him.
(Captain America I#254 - BTS) - Lord Falsworth was
persuaded to allow the strong, scrappy Joey Chapman to wear the Union
Jack costume to trick Baron Blood. When the vampire returned to
Falsworth Manor that night to kill his brother, he was stunned to find
Union Jack could walk and fight back. Joey kept the villain off balance
long enough for Captain America to involve himself in the fight, which
ended when he decapitated Blood with his shield.
(Captain America I#254) - Lord Falsworth joined Cap, Jacqueline, Kenneth
and Joey Chapman out on the moors where they ritually burned and buried
the remains of Baron Blood to make sure the vampire could not be
resurrected again. Sometime during the ritual, Falsworth's heart gave
out, he quietly went on to his reward, safe in the knowledge his
greatest enemy had been dealt with.
(Marvel Comics Presents I#42/3 - BTS) - Lord Montgomery Falsworth was
laid to rest next to his son Brian on the grounds of Falsworth Manor,
his headstone reading 'her majesty's last hope'.
(Marvel Comics Presents I#42/3 (fb) - BTS) ) - Having
taken over the costumed identity of Union Jack with Jacqueline
Falsworth's permission Joey Chapman thought back on his predecessor and
the unusual circumstances that led him to assume the mantle. After
talking down a band of vandals who were ready to rough up Falsworth
Manor, Chapman visited the gravesite of both Montgomery and Brian
Falsworth, assuring his predecessors that he hoped to serve the country
as well they did, even though they held vastly different views than his.
(Fantastic Four I#405) - Union Jack was an
unwitting pawn of Zarrko the Tomorrow Man who briefly plucked the
British spy smasher from the past and pitted him against the Fantastic
Four and their allies, who he mistakingly identified as spies before
fading out again.
(X-Men Hellfire Club I#3 - BTS) - Years
after his death, Falsworth's diaries describing the mysterious death
of Esau Shaw aided journalist Irene Merryweather in her investigation
of the Hellfire Club.
(Union Jack I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Before swinging into action as Union Jack once more, Joey Chapman thought of Montgomery Falsworth, his exploits in both World Wars and the proud legacy he had become part of.
Comments: Created by Roy Thomas (writer), Frank Robbins (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks).
Invaders I#7 & Invaders I#8 contradict each other.
In #7 it was revealed Union Jack and the Freedom's Five had repeatedly
fought Baron Blood. However, in #8 Falsworth claims he never saw Blood
again after their initial encounter.
Union's Jack history was recalled in Union Jack I#1, in
this issue his uniform was retconned to better reflect the style of
the 1910's. To date, it only appeared in Cable I#50 (1998), Union Jack
I#1 (1998) and X-Men: Hellfire Club#3 (2000).
Union Jack received profiles in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe II#20 (1988), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#32 (1993), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z HC#12 (2010). Union Jack's first fight against Baron Blood was also chronicaled in Marvel Saga#1 (1985).
This profile was completed 8/04/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by MarvellousLuke & Norvo
CLARIFICATIONS:
Union Jack should be distinguished from
Little is known of Lord William Falsworth, he perished in the Summer of 1914 leaving his grieving sons Montgomery and John behind to fend for themselves. Montgomery took over as lord of Falsworth Manor while William's younger son John left the country to explore mainland Europe.
--Invaders I#9 (fb)
Lady Falsworth was the wife of Lord Montgomery Falsworth, together
they had two children Brian and Jacqueline.
In 1938, Lady Falsworth looked on while her son Brian Falsworth played
a friendly game of polo with his dearest friend Roger Aubrey.
During the London blitz of 1941, Lady Falsworth, doing her bit for the
war effort was killed during the blitz. A Nazi bomb leveled the London
hospital she was working at.
--Invaders I#19 (fb)
Herr Samurai led Hitler's secret death squad of s.s. ninjas. During their conquest they faced the original Union Jack and a team of kung fu commandos he had assembled. However only one of them survived; Fat Cobra. Union Jack and Fat Cobra were able to successfully defeat Herr Samurai.
--Immortal Weapons#1 (fb)
images: (without ads)
Union Jack I#1, p1, pan2 (main image)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#32 (handbook image)
Invaders I#7 p8, pan3 (costumed hero)
X-Men: Hellfire Club#3, p20, pan1&2 (attacking Shaw)
Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better #3, p7, pan1 (attacking Zemo)
All-New Invaders#12, cover (Freedom's Five)
Invaders I#19, p8, pan1 (watching Brian play a game of polo)
Invaders I#7 p8, pan2 (reveals his secret identity)
Invaders I#8 p22, pan2&3 (joins the Invaders)
Invaders I#9, p22, pan4 (legs crushed)
Invaders I#19, p17 pan5 (confronts Nazi doctor)
Citizen V and the V-Battalion Everlasting I#1, p2, pan3 (at his son's funeral)
Captain America I#253, p10, pans4&5 (reunited with Steve Rogers in modern era)
Captain America I#254, p20, pan6 (heart gave out on the moors)
Invaders I#9, p8, pan6 (Lord William Falsworth)
Invaders I#19, p8, pan (Lady Falsworth)
Immortal Weapons#1,1 p14, pan4 (Union Jack and Fat Cobra fighting Herr Samurai)
Appearances:
Invaders I#7 (July, 1976) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), Frank
Robbins (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks)
Invaders I#8 (September, 1976) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), Frank
Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#9 (October, 1976) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), Frank
Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#10 (November, 1976) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#11 (December, 1976) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#14 (March, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#15 (April, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#18 (July, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), Frank
Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#19 (August, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#20 (September, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#21 (October, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#22 (November, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Jim Mooney (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#23 (December, 1977) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#26 (March, 1978) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Frank Robbins (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#34 (November, 1978) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Alan Kupperberg (pencils), Frank Springer (inks)
Invaders I#41 (September, 1979) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor),
Alan Kupperberg (pencils), Chic Stone (inks)
Captain America I#253 (January, 1981) - John Byrne & Roger Stern
(writers), John Byrne (pencils), Joe Rubinstein (inks), Jim Salicrup
(editor)
Captain America I#254 (February, 1981) - John Byrne & Roger
Stern (writers), John Byrne (pencils), Joe Rubinstein (inks), Jim
Salicrup (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents#42 (1990) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Kieron
Dwyer (artist), Terry Kavanagh (editor)
Fantastic Four I#405 (October, 1995) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Paul
Ryan (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), -10-01)
Cable II#50 (January, 1998) - James Robinson (writer), Joseph
Ladronn (pencils), Juan Vlasco & Scott Hanna (inks), Mark Powers
(editor)
Union Jack I#1 (December, 1998) - Ben Raab & John
Cassaday (writers), John Cassaday (pencils & inks), Tom Brevoort
(editor)
X-Men: Hellfire Club I#3 (March, 2000) - Ben Raab (writer), Charlie
Adlard (artist), Mark Powers (editor)
Citizen V and the V-Battalion - The Everlasting#1 (March, 2002)
Fabian Nicieza (writer), Lewis LaRosa (pencils), Jim Royal (inks),
(editor)
Thunderbolts Presents Zemo Born Better#3 (June, 2007) - Fabian
Niceza (writer), Tom Grummett (pencils), Gary Erskine (inks), Molly
Lazer (editor)
All-New Invaders#12 (January, 2015) - James Robinson (writer),
Barry Kitson & Marc Laming (pencils) P. Craig Russell (inks),
Mark Paniccia (editor)
First Posted: 09/13/2021
Last Updated: 09/11/2021
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