Jack Frost (Marvel Comics)
Jack Frost is the name of two unrelated fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first Jack Frost was published by Marvel's 1940s forerunner Timely Comics during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of comic books.
Publication history
Marvel Comics' first character named Jack Frost outwardly recalls the folklorish spirit of winter Jack Frost. First appearing in U.S.A. Comics #1 (cover-dated Aug. 1941), from Marvel predecessor Timely Comics, he was one of the first creations of future Marvel editor-in-chief and publisher Stan Lee,[1] who collaborated with penciler Frank Giacoia and inker Carmine Infantino.[2]
In Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976), he was retconned to have been a member of the stateside World War II-era superhero team the Liberty Legion.
Fictional character biography
Jack Frost (Golden Age)
| Jack Frost | |
|---|---|
 Golden Age Jack Frost Detail from cover of The Invaders #6 (May 1976) Art by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | U.S.A. Comics #1 (Aug. 1941) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Frank Giacoia (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | unrevealed (possibly Jack Frost) |
| Team affiliations | Liberty Legion |
| Notable aliases | The God in the Ice |
| Abilities | Cold and ice manipulation Superhuman stamina and durability |
Jack Frost seemingly awoke wandering the Arctic wastes with no knowledge of his past or origins. He resembles a young man made of ice, and can create and withstand extremely cold temperatures and generate large amounts of ice. During World War II, he joined with other superheroes to form the team Liberty Legion and protect the United States from Axis home-front infiltration. The Liberty Legion was initially assembled by Bucky Barnes to rescue the Invaders brainwashed by the Red Skull. With the Legion, Jack Frost battled Namor the Sub-Mariner and the original Human Torch, and protected bystanders from shrapnel with an ice umbrella.[3]
Jack Frost appeared in the modern era, where it was explained he had sacrificed himself by melding with an Arctic "ice-worm" monster in order to neutralize it and keep it from possibly devastating humanity. Jack Frost was briefly freed during an encounter with Captain America before willingly being swallowed by and melding with the ice-worm once more.[4] Marvel's mythological character Thor in this issue speculated that this Jack Frost may be the diminutive child of a Norse mythology Frost giant.
Powers and abilities
Jack Frost has the ability to generate sub-freezing temperatures. Combined with ambient water vapor, he can create snow, sleet, and ice for various effects such as propelling snow flurries at hurricane wind-speeds or fashioning ice into various simple constructs such as spheres, bridges, or walls. He also has superhuman stamina and durability. Jack Frost has bluish-white skin that glistens from the glaze of frost that covers it. His skin temperature is 32 °F (0 °C).
Related characters
- In modern Marvel continuity, an unrelated, human scientist, Professor Gregor Shapanka, using technological means to generate incapacitating ice which he first planned to use to prolong life, became the supervillain Jack Frost. He was introduced as an antagonist of the superhero Iron Man, as he was a former Stark employee who was fired for attempted robbery.[5] He later took on the name Blizzard.
References
- ^ Stan Lee at the Lambiek Comiclopedia
- ^ The Grand Comics Database: USA Comics #1
- ^ Marvel Premiere #29; Invaders #6; Marvel Premiere #30
- ^ Captain America #384 (April 1991)
- ^ Tales of Suspense #45 (Sept. 1963)