union_jack-chapman-dad-upper "Mr. Chapman" /
Union Jack (Joe Chapman)'s father

Real Name: Unrevealed (surname may or may not be "Chapman")

Identity/Class: Human;
    UK citizen

Occupation: Shipbuilder, dockworker

Group Membership: None known

Affiliations: None identified

Enemies: None identified

Known Relatives: Joseph "Joe" Chapman (Union Jack, son);
    likely Joe's uncle (either his brother or brother-in-law...unless Joe's parents weren't married, which is certainly possible)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    Joe Chapman was born in Manchester, England, UK, so it seems LIKELY that that's where his father lived

First Appearance: (Mentioned, unidentified) Union Jack I#1 (December, 1998);
    Union Jack II#1 (November, 2006)

Powers/Abilities: Union Jack's father had no superhuman powers.union_jack-chapman-dad-face

    He was a hard-working physical laborer, notably a shipbuilder, and took pride in what he did.

Height: Unrevealed (he was only shown next to the young Joe, over whom he towered; not appearing overly tall or short, he's presumably somewhere between 5'8 and 6'2")
Weight: Unrevealed (he was relatively lean, but presumably as a physical worker, he was lean muscle; perhaps based on his height, he's presumably somewhere around 160 to 210 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History:union_jack-chapman-dad-picture
(Union Jack I#1 (fb) - BTS / Union Jack II#1 (fb) / Union Jack II#2 (fb) / New Invaders#1 (fb) - BTS) - Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z hardcover#12) - A shipbuilder and dockworker who raised his son on the docks, Joe Chapman's father took pride in what he did. 

(Union Jack II#1 (fb)) - He told his young son that while he would love it if they struck it rich, there was no shame in a man making a living off the sweat in his brow. He further advised Joe to remember that while wealthy scholars and businessmen may run the world, it was the workers (like him and his son) who made the run.

(Union Jack II#1 (fb) - BTS) - For a time, Joe felt that his father was being a defeatist, accepting his lot in life. Eventually, he realized his father was just saying he would love him no matter what he became.

(Union Jack II#1 - BTS) - As the costumed adventurer Union Jack, Joe wondered what his dad would think of what he had become as he battled a group of London-based vampires.

Comments: Created by Ben Raab & John Cassaday.

    I would presume his surname to be Chapman, but that is not confirmed.

    Given it's the same writer <the continuity-conscious Christos N. Gage> who first mentioned both careers (literally in consecutive issues), I think he was using dockworker and shipbuilder as synonyms for one another. Shipbuilding is normally done at docks, so shipbuilding could be considered a kind of dockwork. Inelegant to call someone who works building ships a dockworker, but not inaccurate. But it may be that he was by profession a shipbuilder, but as shipbuilding jobs became less frequent, in between those jobs he did general dockwork to make ends meet. --Loki

    This profile was completed 02/17/2022, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event to represent Union Jack's series and characters.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
"Mr. Chapman" should be distinguished from:


images: (without ads)
Union Jack I#2, pg. 19, panel 4 (photograph)
    II#1, pg. 1, panel 3-4 (giving advice to young Joe Chapman)

Appearances:
Union Jack I#1 (December, 1998) - Ben Raab & John Cassaday (writers), John Cassaday (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Union Jack II#1 (January, 1999) - Ben Raab & John Cassaday (writers), John Cassaday (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
New Invaders#1 (October, 2004) - Allan Jacobson (writer), C.P. Smith (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Union Jack II#1 (November, 2006) - Christos N. Gage (writer), Mike Perkins (penciler), Andrew Hennessy (inker), Andy Schmidt (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z#12: Union Jack (Chapman) (2010) - Jeff Christiansen (head writer), Mike Fichera, Markus Raymond, Mike O'Sullivan, & Madison Carter (writers, coordination assistants), Stuart Vandal (profile writer)

First posted: 09/26/2026
Last updated: 08/20/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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