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JAKAR

Real Name: Jakar

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Jakar's dimension, unidentified race)

Occupation: Would-be conqueror, former would-be savior

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Persephone
                    formerly Batroc (George Batroc), Batroc's Brigade

Enemies: Batroc (George Batroc), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Falcon (Sam Wilson), Ganymede, Jack of Hearts (Jonathan Hart), Quasar (Wendell Vaughn), Silver Surfer (Norrin Radd), Stranger, Tyrant

Known Relatives: Kari-Le (wife)

Aliases: Impersonated Stranger

Base of Operations: Unrevealed
                                  formerly the known universe; the Stranger's Laboratory World
                                  formerly a cave in the rocks on the Hudson Shore
                                  formerly an abandoned dance studio in the more run-down sector of the Theatre District, Manhattan, New York
                                  formerly Unidentified dimension (Jakar's world) (place of birth)

First Appearance: Captain America I#149 (May, 1972)

Powers/Abilities: Jakar can cast illusions, project thoughts, discharge energy via hands of eyes, project force fields, teleport and telekinetically control devices and immobilize others. He presumably possesses strength and endurance proportionate to his size, lifting five tons or more. At least some of Jakar's powers are attributed to his advanced technology, including a star cruiser capable of rapid interplanetary and inter dimensional travel, nigh-inescapable crysto-fiber tubes and remote control asteroids to create shields and attack trespassers.

Height: 28' (illusionary form) 36'
Weight: 8 tons
Eyes: White (no visible pupil)
Hair: Black

closeup

History:

(Captain America I#150 (fb)) - <according to Jakar...grain of salt> - Jakar hails from a planet in a dimension parallel to Earth's, but on a plane of existance so distant your minds would crumble with the effort to conceive its location. Two milennia ago, some cosmic catastrophe had wiped out the other stars and planets in their realm, leaving them alone in their universe. For two hundred agonizing centuries, they strove to discover if any other sentient race had survived, but to no avail. Eventually, the people of his world succumbed to the galactic plague as well. They were not physically harmed, but instead their minds were sent into a paralytic coma, leaving them inert and motionless. For some reason, only Jakar himself was spared. Under unknown circumstances, a portal to Earth opened and Jakar was able to observe an encounter between the Fantastic Four and the Stranger (Fantastic Four I#116). Learning that there were other dimensions besides his own (and most likely maddened by loneliness and despair), Jakar conceived of capturing a large number of the youths of Earth, and transferring their minds into his lifeless people. Jakar took the form of the Stranger, and employed the mercenary Batroc to help him gather the children for this purpose.

(Captain America I#149 / Captain America I#150) - The disappearances prompted the investigation of Captain America and the Falcon, who found Batroc and his Brigade, and delivered a whuppin' to them. Jakar, as the Stranger, then made an appearance and blasted Cap and the Falcon into submission. Since neither Cap, nor the Falcon, nor even Batroc had much (if any) experience with the Stranger, Jakar's impersonation didn't have quite the "zing" he was looking for. Slightly annoyed Jakar let the illusion drop (partially) and revealed his name and origins. Jakar took the children and fled, but allowed Batroc (now angry over Jakar's duplicity) to track him to his base on the Hudson. Cap and the Falcon traced Batroc, but Jakar soon incapactiated the three of them, and put them in those big clear tubes to hold them until they could break out...which they always do. Surprisingly enough, the heroes broke free, and freed Batroc as well. The three attacked Jakar, but could not hope to match his power. Ultimately Cap figured out how to turn on Jakar's scanner, which set-up a two-way communication screen to his world, targeted on Kari-Le. Afraid that Kari-Le still possessed some awareness and could see him, Jakar was ashamed of his actions. He released the children and took off into space.

(Quasar#14 - BTS) - Jakar was captured by the real Stranger, who imprisoned him and made his a research subject on his Laboratory World.

(Quasar#14) - The Overmind attacked the Stranger, freeing many of his captives and sending them against the Stranger and his allies. Quasar found Jakar on a table being vivisected (that's being dissected alive), in unendurable agony. Jakar begged Quasar to kill him. When Quasar tried to free him instead, Jakar was furious and blasted him out of his cell.

(Quasar#15 - BTS / Quasar#16 - BTS) - Jakar subsequently escaped or was released during or after the final battle between the Overmind and the Stranger, as were many of the other prisoners.

fullbody

(Cosmic Powers Unlimited#3/1) - Jakar sought vengeance on the Stranger, but knew that he lacked the power to confront him. He learned of Globes of Knowledge held by the entity Tyrant, which would increase his power, but also knew that he lacked the power or stealth to take the Globes himself. To this end, Jakar cloned Persephone, one of the order known as the Spinsterhood, in order to gain the assistance of Ganymede, another member of the Spinsterhood, and her would-be lover, Jack of Hearts. By lying and telling Ganymede and Persephone that he would use the Globes to bring down Tyrant, Jakar convinced them to aid him. Jack of Hearts was head of heels in love with Ganymede, and so he agreed to help as well. However, once they had stolen the Globes, Jakar teleported across the Universe to escape the wrath of Tyrant. He revealed he had never intended to combat Tyrant, and then dumped his pawns off on one of the moons of Jupiter. Ganymede left Jack to continue her life's mission against Tyrant.

true form

(Cosmic Powers Unlimited#3/2) - Jack of Hearts recruited the Silver Surfer to aid him in finding and defeating Jakar. Meanwhile, Jakar sent Ganymede and Persephone following false trails of Tyrant, which actually led towards the means for him to access the full power of the Globes. However, Jack and the Surfer found him first. The Surfer realized that Jakar derived his power from his ship and equipment and rapidly decimated its pwoer sources. Jack then attacked the humbled Jakar, weakening him enough to force him to resume his true form. The Surfer then destroyed the Globe, and Jakar teleported away, claiming to have set in motion events which would assure him "the ultimate victory".

Comments: Created by Gerry Conway (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks).

Jakar's nature and behavior call his origins into question, but there's nothing definite to dispute them. However, he did allow the sight of his lover to completely halt his plots, so maybe there's some truth to it. Also, he may be a total nutjob, regardless of whether his past is true or not. Whether he started out that way, or that vivisection pushed him over the edge is undefined...And I use the term nutjob, in its kindest, most politically correct definition, of course.

Cosmic Powers Unlimited was cancelled with issue number five leaving Jakar's final plot unrevealed.

Jakar received a profile in the Captain America: America's Avenger (2011).

Profile by Snood

CLARIFICATIONS:
Jakar should not be confused with

the Stranger should not be confused with

Persephone should not be confused with


Jakar's race Jakar's world

Jakar's World

Jakar's world is allegedly Jakar hails from a planet in a dimension parallel to Earth's, but on a plane of existance so distant your minds would crumble with the effort to conceive its location. Two milennia ago, some cosmic catastrophe had wiped out the other stars and planets in their realm, leaving them alone in their universe. For two hundred agonizing centuries, they strove to discover if any other sentient race had survived, but to no avail.
Eventually, the people of his world succumbed to the galactic plague as well. They were not physically harmed, but instead their minds were sent into a paralytic coma, leaving them inert and motionless. For some reason, only Jakar himself was spared.

  The people appear to be humanoid, and to possess advanced technology, etc. However, Jakar has been revealed to possess a different form, and it would appear to be more likely that the natives of his world would have a similar appearance.

--Captain America I#150 (fb)




Kari-Le closeup Kari-Le fullbody

Kari-Le

  was allegedly Jakar's wife. It was shame over the possiblity of her being able to see his actions which caused him to abandon his first plot.

--Captain America I#150 (fb)










images: (without ads)
Captain America: America's Avenger, Jakar entry (main image)
Captain America I#150, p4, pan1 (closeup)
Cosmic Powers Unlimited#3, p8, pan1 (Jakar fullbody)
Cosmic Powers Unlimited#3, p33, pan5 (true form)
Captain America I#150, p4, pan3,4 (Jakar's world)
Captain America I#150, p5, pan2 (Kari-Le, fullbody)
Captain America I#150, p17, p7 (Kari-Le, closeup)


Appearances:
Captain America I#149 (May, 1972) - Gerry Conway (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks), Stan Lee (editor)
Captain America I#150 (June, 1972) - Gerry Conway (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), John Verpoorten, Tony Mortellaro (inkers), Stan Lee (editor)
Quasar#14 (September, 1990) - Mark Greenwald (writer), Mike Manley (pencils), Dan Panosian (inks), Howard Mackie, Len Kaminski (editors)
Cosmic Powers Unlimited#3/1 (November, 1995) - Michael Gallagher (writer), Sandu Florea (pencils, inks), Mark Gruenwald, Joe Andreani (editors)
Cosmic Powers Unlimited#3/2 (November, 1995) - Gregory Wright (writer), John Buscema (pencils), Geof Isherwood (inks), Mark Gruenwald, Joe Andreani (editors)


First Posted: 02/16/2002
Last updated: 02/01/2014

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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