Jack in the Box (Character)

Created by:  Kurt Busiek

1st appearance: Astro City vol.2 #12, 1997

Real Name: Jack Johnson

Nationality: American

Team Affiliations: None

Legal Status: U.S.A citizen with no criminal record

Height: 5’11″              Weight: 210 lbs

Eyes: brown         Hair: black

Known Relatives: Jack in the box 2 (son), wife (deceased), Father (Deceased),

Skills and abilities: Skilled street fighter, genius level inventor.

Powers: Jack in an Olympic level athlete extremely agile and skilled in gymnastics. His costume is fitted with retractable spring loaded arms and legs allowing him further reach, agility and enhancing his blows. His gloves have in each finger enzymes, allot like Spider-man’s Web fluid allowing him to ensnare a target.

Biography

A gifted black mind growing up in America during the 1960’s, he managed to get a job at Whamco toys. It should be noted a black toy designer in the 60’s was unusual to say the least. Despite being far more skilled and talented than his white peers they paid him half of what their white workers got. By chance one night he was assaulted by a criminal and managed to fight him off. While waiting for the police he realized many of his designs had been incorporated into weapons. When he confronted his bosses at Whamco he was fired for no reason. As the months went on he realized more and more of his designs turning up in the underworld crime rings. He went to the authorities but no one would believe him. Whamco wanting to shut him up captured his father to shut him up. That was when he decided it was time to fight back. Customizing some of his designs he worked up a costume and gadgets and became jack in the box, at first to rescue his father and continue his investigation of Whamco and the Mob. He took out the Mob and Whamco, exposing the connection and sending the company into bankruptcy. However despite having won he continued to be a hero in hopes of helping those who were victimized needed help or where just in need of a hero! He later married and had a son, he died when his son was 12 battling the underworld. His son became Jack in the box 2.