History:
JAY HIGH
Real Name: Jay High
Identity/Class: Human (Pre-Modern
Era)
Occupation: Petty thief; former soldier
Group Membership: U.S. Marines
Affiliations: Denny, Ray High, Jenny High
Enemies: The police
Known Relatives: Ray High (father), Jenny High (mother)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: An unidentified city in the USA; formerly Vietnam
First Appearance: Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2 (April, 1971)
Powers/Abilities: Jay carried a gun and had U.S. Marine combat training. Jay owned a magic amulet that granted the owner three wishes but the wishes backfired against the one who cast them.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 5'11")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 166 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
History:
(Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2 (fb) - BTS) - Jay High was a U.S. Marine in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. On one occasion, a Viet Cong peasant tried to bribe him by offering him an amulet which he calimed was magical and could grant the owner three wishes. Jay shot the peasant dead, then claimed the amulet as his own property. Jay wound up being discharged from the Marines and sent back to the United States, still carrying the amulet. Jay moved in with his parents but, having no career goals, he fell into crime to make ends meet.
(Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2) - On his parents' anniversary, Jay remembered the magic amulet and gave it to his parents as a gift, telling them it was supposed to grant three wishes. Leaving his parents' apartment, Jay went to rob a bank, just his mother wished he'd get the money he wanted. As Jay finished robbing the bank the clerk activated an alarm. Jay fled back to his family's apartment with the police in pursuit of him. Jay gave his mother the money he'd stolen and told her to hide it, then fled out the fire escape. Years before, Jay had jumped from the fire escape to the next building to see his friend Denny and believed he could make the jump again; however, the fire escape had become old and creaky. Jay jumped, but missed the building and fell several storeys to his death.
Months after his death, on what would have been his birthday, Jay's grieving mother again used the amulet and wished Jay would "come back." Jay's rotted corpse rose from the grave and began to ascend the steps to his parents' apartment. When Ray realized that Jay would be a walking corpse, he quickly used the amulet to wish Jay returned to where he was; Jay vanished, returning to his grave.
Comments: Created by Mike Friedrich, Don Heck and George Tuska.
This is an obvious modern retelling of W. W. Jacobs' 1902 short story "The Monkey's Paw."
This profile was completed on 03/03/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Jay High should not be confused with:
Ray and Jenny High were Jay's parents. Ray looked down on Jay with disappointment because he didn't have a job and thought he lacked the stamina or desire to work. Jenny believed him to be a "sensitive youngster" who could have done better in life if they'd had the money to send him to college. Jay gave his parents a magical amulet on their wedding anniversary, not believing in its magical power. Jenny subsequently wished Jay would have money just as he was robbing the bank; Jay got away with the money but was chased by the police and fell to his death trying to evade them. Month later on what would have been Jay's birthday, Ray and Jenny visited Jay's grave. Jenny still mourned for Jay and when they returned home she took up the amulet and wished that he would "come back." As Jay's corpse began to climb the stairs to the apartment, Ray realized the wish had been granted but that Jay would be a horrific walking corpse; grabbing the amulet, Ray wished Jay returned to where he was; Jay vanished before Jenny caught sight of his appearance.
--Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2
images: (without ads)
Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2, page 1 (main)
Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2, page 2, panel 2 (face)
Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2, page 3, panel 1 (parents)
Appearances:
Monsters on the Prowl I#10/2 (April, 1971) - Mike Friedrich (writer),
Don Heck (penciler), George Tuska (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
First posted: 09/25/2026
Last updated:
03/03/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel
Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you
should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to http://www.g-mart.com/ for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!