UNION JACK IThe original Union Jack was British aristocrat Lord Montgomery Falsworth. During World War I, Lord Falsworth went to work for the British government as their top secret agent. He donned the proud symbol of the union jack and fought Britain's enemies, both alone and as a member of the international group Freedom's Five. That short-lived group disbanded shortly before the end of the war and Lord Falsworth again fought alone. His final mission of the war was to defeat the German vampire Baron Blood. Although he was able to prevent Blood from assassinating a member of Parlaiment, Union Jack couldn't apprehend the vampire.
After World War I ended, Lord Falsworth retired from active duty and married. He and his wife had two children, Brian and Jacqueline. In the mid-30s, when the British government voted for appeasement with Adolph Hitler's National Socialist party in Germany, Lord Falsworth was appalled. However, his son Brian and Brian's friend Roger Aubrey agreed with appeasement. Lord Falsworth and Brian had many bitter arguments over the matter until finally Brian left home. He and Roger went to Germany, where German officials gladly released publicity photos of British aristocracy posing with Nazi officers. Lord Falsworth was heartbroken by his son's decision, unaware that Brian had actually changed his mind following the invasion of Poland (see below).
In 1941, during the Nazi blitz of Britain, Lady Falsworth was killed when a bomb fell on a hospital where she volunteered. Lord Falsworth became a bit of a recluse after this, and Jacqueline became a wartime volunteer. One night, during a blackout, Jacqueline was attacked by none other than Baron Blood. She was rescued by the Human Torch and in gratitude invited the Invaders to have dinner at Falsworth manor.
The Invaders were shocked to learn that Lord Falsworth was Union Jack, and when he decided to don his old costume they quickly voted him into the group. Union Jack's first mission with the group was to battle the restored Baron Blood, who turned out to be none other than Lord Falsworth's own brother John. At the climax of the battle, Union Jack pursued Baron Blood to a cave. There the insidious Baron crushed his brother's legs with a boulder. The other Invaders then forced Baron Blood backwards, until he fell onto a stalagmite and was killed (for a little while, anyway). Jacqueline had been attacked by her uncle John and was rushed to the hospital and treated for blood loss. An emergency transfusion from the Human Torch transformed Jacqueline into Spitfire, who followed in her father's footsteps and joined the Invaders.
Although he was bound to a wheelchair and could no longer serve as an active member of the team, Lord Falsworth remained a valuable asset to the group. He and Jacquline, along with his chauffeur Oskar and diminutive crime-fighter Dyna-Mite, followed the Invaders to Germany when they were taken captive. There was another reason for going to Germany, though. Dyna-Mite had memory loss and wanted to find the Nazi scientist that transformed him into Dyna-Mite. Lord Falsworth knew that Dyna-Mite was actually Roger Aubrey, and he hoped that if Roger's memory was restored he would learn where Brian was. After finding the scientist they needed and locating Brian (see below), Lord Falsworth took the Nazi scientist back to Falsworth manor, until he returned Roger Aubrey to his full height.
Following World War II, Lord Falsworth led a quiet life until the late 70s. A series of "slasher" murders were committed, and Lord Falsworth was convinced his blood-thirsty brother John was behind the killings. He called his old wartime ally Captain America to investigate. Captain America discovered that Baron Blood was behind the "slasher" murders, and Lord Falsworth decided to use John's hate for him to lure him into a trap. He tried to put on his Union Jack uniform, knowing that the sight of it would be irresistable to Baron Blood, but the very elderly Lord Falsworth suffered a heart attack. Joey Chapman, a friend of Jacquline's son Kenneth Crichton, donned the Union Jack costume and acted as the bait for Baron Blood. The plan worked, and Baron Blood attacked Chapman. However, Captain America was ready for the Baron and, in a final conflict, decapitated the Nazi vampire. Baron Blood's head and body were burned in two separate piles--ensuring that he would never again rise from the dead--and Lord Falsworth died peacefully as he watched his brother's evil permanently rid from the world.
First Appearance: INVADERS #7 (1976)
Other Appearances: INVADERS #8-23,26,34; CAPTAIN AMERICA #253 (1980); UNION JACK #1 (1998)[in flasback]
Final Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #254 (1980)
UNION JACK IIThe second Union Jack was Brian Falsworth, son of the original Union Jack (see above). After Brian had left home to go to German, where he supported Britain's appeasement of Hitler, he became horrified when he discovered the Nazi's atrocities. He and his friend Roger Aubrey tried to leave the country, but German officials wouldn't let the good publicity Falsworth's support generated be undone. They threw Brian Falsworth into a prison, where he discovered that his cellmate was a scientist that had developed a formula similar to the Super-Soldier Serum which gave Captain America his strength. Not wanting the Nazis to have his formula, the scientist had Brian drink it. He instantly became stronger, and escaped from the Nazi prison. He became the costumed champion the Destroyer, and fought the Germans on their own turf. After an encounter with Captain America, Brian was reunited with his estranged father and sister Jacquline. But Jacqueline and the other Invaders were then taken captive by the Nazis, who were going to execute the heroes in front of a firing squad. Following his father's suggestion, Brian gave up his Destroyer guise and became Union Jack II. After rescuing his sister and the Invaders, Brian joined the team. He served with them for several months, and during a battle with the Asgardian thunder god Thor, Brian was struck by one of his enchanted lightning bolts. He was almost killed, but a remorseful Thor siphoned most of the lightning back into his own body. But the magical lightning bolt had a lasting effect; it gave Brian the ability to generate small electrical bursts from his hands. He used this newfound power as an Invaders for a few more months, until shortly before the end of the war. In 1945, following the disappearnce of Captain America and Bucky, the Human Torch and Sub-Mariner were sent back to America. Union Jack II and Spitfire remained in Britain, fighting the Axis until the end of the war. Then their powers began to fade, and they returned to civilian life. Jacqueline was married and had a son, but sadly, Brian Falsworth was killed in a car accident in 1953.
First Appearance (as the Destroyer): INVADERS #18 (1977)
Other Appearances: (as the Destroyer) INVADERS #19-20; (as Union Jack II) INVADERS #21-23, 25-34; WHAT IF #4 (1977)
Death Revealed in CAPTAIN AMERICA #254 (1980)
UNION JACK IIIThe third man to wear the Union Jack uniform is Joey Chapman. Chapman was a school friend of Kenneth Crichton, son of Jacqueline "Spitfire" Falsworth-Crichton. When the Falsworths were again threatened by the Nazi vampire Baron Blood, Kenneth was too weak to assume the role of Union Jack. Joey, much stronger than Kenneth, donned the costume and battled the Nazi. After Captain America killed the monster and Lord Montgomery Falsworth died, Joey permanently became Union Jack III. Joey helped the Sub-Mariner battle his old wartime foes Master Man and Warrior Woman, and became a close friend to Jacqueline Falsworth. After Kenneth Crichton fell under the control of the Baroness and became very sick, Joey battled her vampire minions to protect him. But it was useless, and Kenneth became the second Baron Blood. Ultimately, Joey Chapman was helpless as Kenneth was betrayed by the Baroness and died in his arms.
Trying to uphold the tradition begun by Lord Montgomery and Brian Falsworth, and remaining a close friend to Jacqueline Falsworth, Union Jack III continues the fight for God and Country.
First Appearance (as Joey Chapman): CAPTAIN AMERICA #253 (1980)
First Appearance (as Union Jack III): CAPTAIN AMERICA #254 (1980)
Other Appearances: MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #42 (1990); SUB-MARINER (vol. II) #11-12 (1991); UNION JACK (Limited Series) #1-3 (1998-99)
Return to the INVADERS team page
