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Edwin Jarvis

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Edwin Jarvis
Edwin Jarvis.
Art by Jim Cheung.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceTales of Suspense #59 (Nov 1964)
Created byStan Lee
Don Heck
In-story information
Full nameEdwin Jarvis
Supporting character ofAvengers
Iron Man
Spider-Man

Edwin Jarvis is a fictional supporting character in the Marvel Comics titles, The Avengers, Iron Man, and Spider-Man.

Publication history

Jarvis first appeared in Tales of Suspense #59 (November 1964), and was created by Stan Lee and Don Heck.

Edwin Jarvis received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #4, and The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Avengers (2004).

Fictional character biography

Born of modest origins, he had quickly risen through the ranks of household employ, his loyalty and dedication finally placing him at the apex of domestic service as valiant valet to the Earth's Mightiest Heroes!

— Prologue from an Avengers backup story featuring Jarvis[1]

Jarvis served in the British RAF during World War II and was its champion boxer three years running. He later moved to the United States where he became manservant to the Starks (Howard and Maria) and watched over their mansion even after their deaths. [2]

Anthony "Tony" Stark (the son of Howard and Maria) called the first meeting of the Avengers as Iron Man and donated the house as headquarters, so that it became Avengers Mansion. Jarvis grew accustomed to the guests and served the Avengers for many years thereafter, acting as a father figure to some of the newcomers. Jarvis was there, for the first guest to become an Avenger, the time-lost Captain America. [3]

He was the only one to stay with the Avengers for their entire existence, a distinction not even Captain America can claim. As a result, Captain America has stated that Jarvis should be regarded as just as much of an Avenger as he is.

Jarvis spent some time as the primary babysitter for Franklin Richards, the super-powered son of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman when they were residing at the mansion. He also served as the sponsor to future Avengers member Silverclaw while she was growing up, and she has come to regard him as an uncle. [4]

Being manservant to the Avengers meant that Jarvis has had to deal with their enemies himself on several occasions. In Avengers #59 and #60 (December 1969, January 1970) he was assaulted by intruders into the mansion and bound and gagged. He has also been involved personally in many adventures, including leading the evacuation of a stalled subway train during a city-wide disaster and battling a demonically possessed car. During this time he dated a woman he rescued named Glory. Jarvis defended the floating Hydrobase against a horde of robots built by Doctor Doom during the Acts of Vengeance crisis. He was present when one of the many incarnations of the Masters of Evil attacked the mansion. He was brutally beaten by Mr Hyde while Captain America was forced to watch.[5] It took some time for Jarvis to recover from his injuries. He even wore an eyepatch for some time. Jarvis personally confronted Loki, risking great danger, after realizing the villain had tricked his way inside the mansion in Avengers #400.

In his duties as the Avengers' manservant, he was entrusted with items of great power, including the Casket of Ancient Winters.

When the New Avengers were formed, Jarvis was called back after taking a holiday "for the first time in years", having been informed that his 'special' services were once again needed. Jarvis often confronts Wolverine over the man's poor kitchen etiquette, a battle only new member Spider-Man's Aunt May was able to win. Jarvis struck up a relationship with May, who had moved into Stark Tower with Peter and Mary Jane after her house burnt down. When Spider-Man switched sides during the Civil War, however, Aunt May and Mary Jane fled Stark Tower to live in hiding.

In a New Avengers "Civil War" story, Jarvis was shot by an employee of Tony Stark, who was opposed to Stark using technology he invented to enforce the Superhuman Registration Act. However, it appears Jarvis recovers from this wound, as in "Civil War: The Initiative", he is shown to be working again. He also humorously mentions that if Tony Stark allowed "that Tigra %^#$" in the new incarnation of the Avengers, Tony would need to find someone else to do the laundry. Tigra had worked for Tony Stark's side throughout the entirety of the Civil War incident.[volume & issue needed]

In the 2008 storyline "One More Day", Jarvis is given over $2,000,000 by Stark to pay for Aunt May's hospital bills following an assassination attempt in the aftermath of Spider-Man's decision to publicly reveal his true identity. Jarvis visibly breaks down upon seeing her in the hospital bed, confessing his deep love to the Parkers.[6] As a consequence of the "One More Day" storyline, however, the Spider-Man comics have undergone a major continuity overhaul,[7] including Jarvis' relationship with the Parkers.

Later that year, in the "Secret Invasion" storyline, it is revealed that Jarvis has been replaced by a Skrull agent (though the exact time is unclear, it was revealed in a summary of "Secret Invasion",[volume & issue needed] when describing the Jarvis Skrull, that it was before Jarvis started his relationship with May).[8] Using a computer virus, he disables a number of Stark Enterprises facilities, as well as Stark's armor. This agent also obtained access to Tony Stark's records on Robert Reynolds (The Sentry) in order to discover his weaknesses, as the Skrulls were unable to duplicate his powers because its limits were unknown even to Stark.[9] He later approaches Maria Hill on the destroyed S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier in the middle of the ocean and tells her to surrender along with her crew. She uses a Life Model Decoy in that spot as the real one escaped and detonated the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. During the fight between Veranke and Criti Noll's forces against the heroes and villains, The Skrull-Jarvis (who somehow survived the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier explosion) watches from Avengers Tower as the energy washes over hero, villain and Skrull alike. While holding Jessica Jones and Luke Cage's child, he comments that it doesn't matter if the Skrulls win or lose, so long as "God's" will is done.[10]

After the final battle, the real Jarvis is discovered alive, prompting Jessica Jones to discover that her baby had been taken by the Skrull impostor.[11] Jarvis is later shown in a support group meeting with the others that had been replaced by Skrulls.[12] The Skrull Jarvis was eventually found in a hideout and was shot by Bullseye after returning the baby to Luke Cage.[13]

During the "Earth's Mightiest" story arc, the real Jarvis, having refused to serve under Norman Osborn's new group of Avengers is sought out by Hercules and Amadeus Cho to be a part of the new Mighty Avengers team, Amadeus having determined that Jarvis is the one constant of the Avengers.[14]

Personal Life

Edwin Jarvis once started a pen pal relationship with a young girl who would grow up to be the superhero Silverclaw. Her trip to the United States to meet Edwin Jarvis would be foiled when she was forced into helping terrorists in a massive attack. Silverclaw's efforts helped the people in danger at the airport including Edwin Jarvis himself.[volume & issue needed]

Other versions

House of M

In the House of M: Iron Man series, the A.I. system in Tony Stark's suit is referred to as "Jarvis".

Marvel Zombies

In the Marvel Zombies mini-series in which all of the world's superheroes (and many of the villains) are transformed by a sentient alien virus into flesh-eating zombies, it is revealed that Jarvis was torn apart and shared-out amongst the Avengers. As C America speculated, he appears to have been so mortified by the spectacle of his beloved Avengers as hungry corpses that he barely put up a fight.

MC2

Jarvis, now with visibly gray hair, continues to serve as the butler to the Avengers Next in the MC2 universe. During the initial 12 issue run of A Next, Jarvis is shown as a mentor to the young heroes. Along with Scott Lang, Edwin Jarvis attempts to aide and assist the Avengers anyway he can. He's later joined by Tony Stark and a blind Hawkeye.

Ultimate Jarvis

In the Ultimate Marvel continuity, Jarvis is different from his original appearance and is much more sarcastic and acerbic towards his employer Antonio "Tony" Stark. Here Jarvis is the personal butler of Tony Stark, and not of his Avengers-like team, the Ultimates. While Tony dated and eventually became engaged to his teammate, the Ultimate version of Natasha Romanova aka Black Widow, Jarvis was shown to be continuously at odds with her and both were quick to hurl insults at the other. Jarvis was later shot in the head by Natasha when she revealed herself to Stark as the traitor within the Ultimates team. His death (along with Black Widow's betrayal) are contributing factors to Tony Stark's descent into full-blown alcoholism. During his debut appearance, Gregory Stark (Tony's older brother) is shown in the company of his young female assistant that's identified only as Mrs. Jarvis. What, if any connection she shares with the previous Jarvis is as of yet unknown. In Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates, Tony reveals he has a new servant named Linda, whom he calls Jarvis. In Ultimate Comics: Ultimates Tony has hired a new personal servent named William, who tolerates being called Jarvis.

In other media

Television

Film

  • Edwin Jarvis made a quick appearance as Tony Stark's butler in Ultimate Avengers.
  • Edwin Jarvis appears in Ultimate Avengers 2 voiced by Fred Tatasciore.
  • JARVIS appears as an A.I. in the 2008 film Iron Man voiced by Paul Bettany. He runs the internal systems of Tony Stark's home and is uploaded into his armor to help him. He can converse with Stark with considerable sophistication and is sarcastic concerning his creator's recklessness. At points in the film JARVIS seemed to be legitimately concerned for his creator's well-being. Paul Bettany admits he had little idea of what the role was even as he recorded it, simply doing it as a favor for his friend director Jon Favreau.[16] Bettany returned to voice JARVIS in Iron Man 2[17] and will reprise JARVIS for the upcoming film The Avengers.[18]

Video games

  • JARVIS appears in the Iron Man video game voiced by Gillon Stephenson. He serves as a source of information for the player informing them of any incoming soldiers or machines that they should be aware of.

Acronym

In Peter David's novelization of the film, JARVIS is revealed as an acronym for "Just A Rather Very Intelligent System".[19]

References

  1. ^ Michelinie, David; Stern, Roger; Pérez, George; and Day, Gene. "Bully", The Avengers #201 (November 1980).
  2. ^ DeFalco, Tom (2006). The Marvel Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7566-2358-6.
  3. ^ Detora, Lisa (2009). Heroes of film, comics and American culture. McFarland. p. 113. ISBN 9780786438273.
  4. ^ Avengers vol. 3 #8 (September, 1998)
  5. ^ Avengers 273-277 (1986-87)
  6. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #544
  7. ^ J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada. "One More Day", Part 4 of 4, The Amazing Spider-Man #545 (January 2008), Marvel Comics
  8. ^ Secret Invasion #1
  9. ^ Mighty Avengers #14
  10. ^ Secret Invasion #7
  11. ^ Secret Invasion #8
  12. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #20
  13. ^ New Avengers #49
  14. ^ Mighty Avengers #21
  15. ^ Jenna Busch (2010-02-08). "AVENGERS Animated Assembling w/ Phil Lamarr". Newsarama. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  16. ^ Huver, Scott. "Paul Bettany on Voicing Iron Man's Jarvis", SuperHeroHype.com (May 16, 2008). Accessed Dec. 4, 2008.
  17. ^ Paul Bettany Will Take Orders from Iron Man Again
  18. ^ Davidson, Danica (2011-04-26). "Paul Bettany Confirms 'Avengers' Role, Will Return As Voice Of J.A.R.V.I.S." MTV News. Retrieved 2011-04-27. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ David, Peter. Iron Man. Del Ray (2008).
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