#19 Mechanical Jack
Name: Mechanical Jack, Jack Nikas
Place of origin: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Occupation: Professional superhero
Legal status: Citizen of good standing of the USA
Identity: Public
Marital status: Single
Known relatives: Mother Molly Nikas aka Queen Icarus, Grandfather John Nikas, Brother Jack Green aka Greasemonkey, Biological Father Green Edward, Biological Mother Spare Parts Sally
Group affiliation: None
Base of operations: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
History: The superhero Queen Icarus was supposed to have been Jack’s surrogate mother. Two of her superhero friends, Green Edward and Spare Parts Sally wanted to have a child but no longer had the proper components to have a child on their own. Their DNA could still produce one, however, and Molly agreed to give birth to their child. When Edward and Sally died during their pregnancy, Molly became their child’s guardian according to their wishes and then adopted him.
During a supervillain attack on their home when he was eleven, Jack was badly mauled by an explosion. Molly managed to seal off his wounds using the tech that his mother Sally used, and then sent him back in time to an earlier version of herself. Specifically, Jack arrived at their house about a year and half before he was born.
Recognizing Sally’s tech over Jack’s injuries, Molly took him to Sally and Edward. They stabilized him, woke him up, and got the story out of him. Sally and Edward confirmed that they had been considering asking Molly to be their surrogate.
Molly decided it would be better to keep him with her than to try to send him home, and normalized his legal status with the American Time Anomaly Department. Molly acted was Edward and Sally’s surrogate again, but this time, forewarned by Jack’s arrival, Edward and Sally survived. They named their new son, Jack’s genetic twin, John.
Basketcase considers Jack to be far too serious. Jack dislikes him a great deal.
Mechanical Jack has a love/hate relationship with Mallrat. She really enjoys being a superhero, and Jack thinks being a superhero is serious business. They have argued about this difference repeatedly. They also find each other attractive, but have not acted upon that.
Mallrat and Jack also fight about her friendship with Debutante. He considers her a clear case of someone who belongs behind bars, while Mallrat considers her a hero with an oddball sense of justice.
Story role: As presented, Jack is a secondary character who is good for an ensemble but not for carrying stories by himself.
Height: Tall
Body type: Athletic – weight lifter
Known superpowers: Cybernetic limbs that carry weapons, energy shields, tools, boot jets, and other technological equipment.
Limitations: Can be overpowered. Vulnerable to telepathic attacks.
About the Author (Author Profile)
My name is Patrick Rennie. I am 36, have a day job that has nothing to do with comics, and live in Erie after growing up elsewhere. I can be found online at www.patrickrennie.com and on twitter as @patrennie. I am primarily a writer of fantasy, superheroes, and science fiction. I enjoy both short form and long form comics and have done work with both. For example, the daily strip Phantast Staffing Services that I used to do can be found here while this link leads to a more recent script for a superhero comic called Epiphany. I also prefer reading the genres I write in, although I supplement them with comedies, autobiographies, and dramas. I mostly read comics on the web, in trade paperbacks, on my iPad, and in the newspaper. I usually skip monthly comic books, magazines, manga, editorial cartoons, and children’s books.Subscribe
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