Saturday Showcase: Nomad (Jack Monroe)

Last week I showcased the Steve Rogers version of the Nomad, but this week I wanted to showcase the Nomad that I loved best.  The version of the Nomad that I loved is the one played by Jack Monroe.  As a kid, I remember picking up Captain America #307 because of the cool cover featuring the Nomad only to fall in love with a new villain known as Madcap.  This issue was everything to me and I guess that is why Jack Monroe will always be the version of Nomad that I love. Enough jibber jabber, let's get to the stats.

Jack Monroe has a complicated back story but I will try my best.  Jack was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut. He became an adventurer and the partner of William Burnside who had assumed the identity of Steve Rogers in the 1950s. After operating together for some time as Bucky and Captain America, respectively, the two were placed in suspended animation. The two superheroes are reawakened decades after being put in suspended animation. In their delusional state, the man and teenager who were the 1950s Captain America and Bucky attempt to kill the original Captain America and the Falcon. However they are eventually captured and returned to a state of suspended animation.

Burnside is later revived and brainwashed by the psychologist Doctor Faustus into becoming the fascistic Grand Director, leader of the National Force. Under Faustus' control Burnside shoots and apparently kills his former partner Bucky. Faustus and Burnside are defeated by the original Captain America and Daredevil after which Burnside commits suicide.

It is later revealed that Faustus had loaded the gun with blanks as he intended to use Monroe in a later plot which was never realized. Monroe was subsequently taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody and seemingly cured of his psychotic symptoms. Monroe then sought out Steve Rogers, and dons a Bucky costume to help him defeat the female terrorist Viper.  Monroe is then given Rogers' former Nomad identity, and Monroe dons the Nomad costume to battle the Viper alongside Captain America. 

Nomad then became Captain America's partner, and battled the Sisters of Sin. Nomad helped Captain America defeat the Red Skull, a conflict in which the Red Skull seemingly perished.  Then, Nomad completed a successful solo mission apprehending the deranged Madcap, and afterwards ends his partnership with Captain America.

Nomad began a war against drug dealer Umberto Safilios.  He discards his spandex outfit choosing to become an urban vigilante.  During his war on drugs, Monroe kidnaps an infant girl from her drug addicted mother, naming her "Bucky". The Commission on Superhuman Activities begins to put Monroe under scrutiny. The Commission, allied with the military, sends Steve Rogers (now restored to the Captain America role) to try and subdue Nomad. In a subsequent firefight Nomad defeats Safilios, and kills several drug dealers and government officials.  Nomad begins to spend some time on the road, dealing with problems not usually the purview of superheroes, such as AIDS, homelessness, and hate crimes.

Nomad later teams up with the Punisher and Daredevil against a coalition of criminal organizations. During the Infinity Crusade, Nomad is shown among dozens of superheroes who travel into outer space. Nomad doesn't have much involvement in the events, however, and he and Forge are literally seen hanging around during much of the action.  Nomad does confront an evil clone of Gambit who had gotten lost on the way to the battles.  Around this time, Nomad is one of the heroes (Secret Defenders) recruited by Doctor Strange to battle the demonic threat of Lilin, a powerful ancient queen.

Nomad is eventually believed dead after a confrontation with his old hometown's Nazi militia (Monroe's father had been a Nazi sympathizer during World War II) but it was revealed that he was in fact placed in suspended animation. An innocent bystander's body was used to replace his.

After returning to his original Nomad costume and identity, Monroe began to relapse into some psychotic episodes and symptoms. At this time, Monroe had checked in on his former ward he called Bucky who had since been adopted. Jack is shot dead by a mysterious assailant as he leaves a bar. The cyborg assassin Winter Soldier (the original Bucky) is ultimately revealed to be Monroe's assassin.

Powers and Abilities

While Jack Monroe's strength, endurance, reflexes, and agility were not beyond the limits of the human body, they were superior to that of any Olympic athlete who ever competed. As a result of not going through the Vita-Ray process, his transformation eventually drove him insane and gave him a form of cancer.

As Nomad, he wore a pair of stun-discs on each shoulder near the collarbone. These 6-inch (150 mm) tool-steel alloy discs could be thrown as projectile weapons.

Monroe has extensive experience in hand-to-hand combat, having received personal tutoring by Captain America. He is also an expert marksman.

Publication Information

Publisher: Marvel Comics

First Appearance: Captain America #282 (June 1982) (as Nomad)

Created By:  Fabian Nicieza (writer) & James Fry (artist)

Alter Ego:  Jack Monroe

Team Affiliations: Secret Defenders

Partnerships: Captain America

Notable Aliases: Bucky, Nomad, Scourge (story for another time)

Until next time, get your READ on!

The Story So Far: Original Sin (1-4)

In Marvel Comics Original Sin event, someone has killed the Watcher, but who?  Some of Marvel's greatest heroes team up to find out the question to that answer.  Let me tell you, some of the teams would be very unlikely in different circumstances.  

The story begins with the Watcher being killed.  Thor is the first on the scene and calls for back-up.  That back-up consists of Captain America, Nick Fury, Wolverine, Iron Man, and the Black Widow.  When they get to the scene, they got more than they bargained for.  Not only was the Watcher killed, but someone took his eyes.  Why would someone do such a thing?  The team returns to Earth to split up into teams to find out exactly what was going on.  Unknown to the Avengers, that other teams were being formed as well.  These teams consisted of heroes such as Moon Knight, the Punisher, Gamora, the Winter Soldier, and Dr. Strange to name a few.

On Earth, one of the suspects ( a Mindless One) is ranting about what he did and destroying the city.  The Thing and Spider-Man are there to stop him, but the Mindless One kills himself before they can stop it.  What would make a Mindless One become smart and then feel remorse?  Well, this added to the mystery that is who killed the Watcher.  Before long, one of the "killers" makes his presence known when he reveals the Watcher's Eye.  The villain in control of this object is none other than the Orb.  Before our heroes can stop him, he unleashes the power of the eye, which allows everyone to see their Original Sin. 

Well, of course everyone seeing their Original Sin has an effect on everyone.  Hell, Thor finds out he has a sister and leaves the battle field.  Elsewhere, the secret team of Moon Knight, Gamora, and the Winter Soldier come across a huge clue that might resolve everything that has happened.  Unfortunately, the Winter Soldier has plans of his own and destroys the ship leaving Gamora and Moon Knight stranded in space.  We then find "Bucky" on the trail of who he believes is behind this only to find Fury.  It is then that shocked me at first.  WHy did the Winter Soldier's meeting with Nick Fury?  Well, Simply put, "Bucky" cuts off Fury's head.  Issue #3 ended with the Winter Soldier holding the Watcher's Eye in one hand and Fury's head in the other.  Talk about a shocking moment.  In issue #4, the teams start to put things together and all the clues, no matter what team you were on, lead to one place, an abandoned satellite.  Once the teams are there, they run into the Winter Soldier and of course no one trusts him.  I mean he has the Watcher's eye and Fury's head for crying out loud.  Out of nowhere, Gamora attacks "Bucky" and a great fight occurs.  A fight that will end in confusion.

The fight goes on and on until "Bucky" gets tired of fighting.  He tries to tell Gamora that he left them stranded to protect her as well as Moon Knight.  Something she doesn't believe until he uses Fury's head as a shield and it sparks rather than bleeds when she slices it in half.  It turns out the Fury, that "Bucky" had killed was only a LMD, Life Model Decoy.  This made sense as to why they allowed such a great character die so confusingly but what did this mean?  Well, as the team as well as you the reader find out, Nick Fury is very much alive and he is the one who put the teams together.

I understand that when I am writing this, issues #5 and 6 are already on the newsstands and in your comic book stores, but I wanted to write a review midway and issue #4 is that midpoint.  I am really enjoying the Original Sin story line and if you haven't gotten into it yet, you should.  It is well worth reading.  Hell, I know I am going to get the trade when it comes out just to get the other story arcs that I may not see if I do not get some of the tie-in issues.  Overall, I give Original Sin a rating of 8 out of 10.  So, what are you waiting for? Go get your issues today and enjoy the ride. Get your READ on!

Original Sin #3 (Spoiler)

What were your thoughts on the ending of issue #3 of Original Sin?

Mine was WTF!?!?!

Now I have 2 questions, Is that the real Bucky?

And is that really Nick Fury or a S.H.I.E.L.D. decoy?

Captain America: Winter Soldier (Superbowl Trailer)