OFFICER JAY SEROOFFICER JAY SERO
Real Name: Jay Sero
Identity/Class: Human (Native American)
Occupation: Police officer
Group Membership: NYPD (Cochran,
Sgt.
Murray, others)
Affiliations: The Avengers (Beast/Hank McCoy, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Falcon/Sam Wilson, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Ms. Marvel/Carol Danvers, Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff, Vision/"Victor Shade," Wasp/Janet Van Dyne, Yellowjacket/Hank Pym), Emerson Bale, Dave, Charles P. Irwin, Kerry, Matt Murdock, NYPD (Sgt. Murray, others)
Enemies: Cochran,
Count
Nefaria (Luchino Nefaria), Red Ronin
(see comments), Prof.
Kenneth Sturdy
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Kid," "Kiddo," "Not A," "Rookie" (nicknames)
Base of Operations: New York City, New York,
USA
First Appearance: (unidentified): Avengers
I#166 (December, 1977);
(identified as Officer Jay Sero): Avengers: Marvels
Snapshots#1 (January, 2021)
Powers/Abilities: Officer Jay Sero was a
rookie police officer who was trained in public crisis management.
While on duty, he carried a police issue firearm and baton.
Height: 5'11" (by approximation)
Weight: 165 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
History: (Avengers: Marvels
Snapshots#1 (fb) - BTS) - Jay Sero was born in New York City, New York.
(Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1
(fb)) - Officer Jay Sero's first day on the job as a New York police
officer was a day in which the Avengers battled Count Nefaria in the
city streets.
(Avengers I#166/Avengers: Marvels
Snapshots#1 (fb)) -
During the battle, Sero had somewhat of a dull post up until Professor
Kenneth Sturdy nearly ran Sero over in a vintage
limousine. In his early days on the force, Sero also butted heads with
another officer, Cochran, who enjoyed disparaging Jay Sero's Native
American heritage. After his first day on the job, Cochran made a crack
at Sero's expense, claiming they needed more real Americans on the
force, and Sero quipped back that he was born in New York. The argument
was quickly broken up by the other officers, who offered to take Sero
out for beer. While out that night, the other officers drunkenly
claimed Sero had once talked a failing rookie off the roof and that
Sero would show the superheroes how to negotiate and avoid the
superpowered fights. Sero and the officers' night out was then
interrupted by a drinking Tony Stark, who asked that they show respect
for the heroes who were looking out for police like them. One of the
officers argued that they did the same heroic work only without fancy
armor and pay but Sero got in between Stark and the officers, asking
Stark to see things for their perspective. Explaining that while he was
proud to serve, Sero wished that superheroes would take two minutes out
of their battles to respect the life and death jobs the officers have.
He then admitted that while the officers did admire the superheroes,
there would always be a little tension. More than annoyed, Stark
remarked that Sero had been given his two minutes and had made his
point. Later that night, when Sero was drunkenly walking home, Iron Man
appeared, claiming Stark had told him what Sero had said, and
confronted Sero. Giving Sero a Stark Enterprises emergency card, Iron
Man told Sero that someday, when two minutes might make all the
difference in a life or death situation, Sero should contact Iron Man
via the emergency code on the card.
(Avengers I#190/Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1 (fb)) - Officer Sero was later assigned to the Avengers' security detail when the team went to court on a day they fought the Grey Gargoyle.
(Avengers:
Marvels Snapshots#1) - Officer Jay Sero was helping the public during
an attack on New York City by a man piloting a giant robot when he ran
into off-duty paramedic Kerry, who had been out exercising following a
series of encounters with friends Annie,
Armando,
Shawna,
Eve
and her
dog Buddy.
Seeing Kerry about to go try to help some of the residents
during the attack, Sero halted Kerry and suggested she take cover in
one of the city's public safety protection facilities until he realized
she was a paramedic. After being assured that she would be helping
others, Sero allowed Kerry to go on her way as he continued ushering
civilians into the public safety protection facilities until the
Avengers arrived on the scene. Sgt. Murray soon came up to Sero and
remarked on how things did not seem be letting up anytime soon and when
Sero agreed, Murray ordered Sero to lead the remaining nearby civilians
into the nearest shelter. Despite concerns for Murray, Sero did as
ordered and followed Kerry, Dave and some other paramedics into the
nearest shelter with a man who was having trouble breathing. Once the
civilians were clear of the bunker door, Officer Sero closed the doors
and assured everyone they would be safe there until the crisis was
over. He then walked around and checked on some of the civilians and
reunited with Kerry, who was tending to her patient. The two joked
about what they called the protection facilities (Sero calling them
"shrapnel shelters" vs. Kerry's "battle bunkers") until Sero decided to
calm the civilians down by telling the history of the shelters and how
the first ones were built in the subway tunnels after Namor the
Sub-Mariner flooded New York during a battle with the original Human
Torch. Kerry then responded with her own story about being on the
streets when the Avengers fought Count Nefaria, prompting Sero to
reveal that the Count Nefaria battle was his first day on the job and
share the story of his first day on the force. As Sero stopped his
story at the part where he was confronted by Iron Man, Kerry asked Sero
to help her with her patient. He helped as Kerry shared a story about
being hit on by Wonder Man until a loud boom was heard outside. Sero
immediately communicated with Sgt. Murray outside, who informed Sero
that a chunk of the building had collapsed on the corner of Sero's
bunker. Learning that it was take a long time to clear the rubble for
Sero and the civilians to exit the bunker, Sero asked the other
civilians if they had any of their superhero stories to share. When
Dave suggested Kerry take a break while he handled the injured man,
Officer Sero sat down next to Kerry and the two properly introduced
themselves and when Kerry asked if this might be the day they die, Sero
admitted that he would not trade the moment for anything. The two then
nearly kissed until they were interrupted by the bunker's power going
out. Deciding to continue their moment later, Sero checked on civilians
while Kerry rushed to save the injured man, who had taken a turn for
the worse without electricity to power his life-saving machinery.
Thinking this may be a life or death moment, Sero sent a "LOD" message
via his beeper and Iron Man soon tore the bunker doors off to rescue
Sero and the civilians. The battle still going on, Iron Man asked where
the "LOD" was and Sero referred Iron Man to the injured man. Taking the
man, gurney and all, so he could get the man to a hospital, Iron Man
restored the bunker's power and asked the civilians to remain there
until the crisis had fully ended. Commending Sero on calling him in the
situation, Iron Man remarked that it even took less than two minutes by
his watch and saluted Sero. Sero then admitted that when Iron Man had
earlier confronted him, he had been given an emergency code to contact
him in a life or death situation.
A short time later, Sero was
informed that the giant
robot had moved on towards Long Island and the shelters in Manhattan
and the Bronx could be cleared. Emerging from the bunker, Sero was just
about to ask Kerry out when Kerry noticed that her new apartment had
been damaged in the battle, preventing her from moving. Once Kerry had
calmed down, Sero asked if he could call Kerry sometime and Kerry joked
that Sero may need to call the next day, as neither would never know
when the crisis would happen. Six weeks later, Sero and Kerry had
become a couple despite constant cancellations due to one crisis or
another and Kerry wrote to her sister Eileen
about her first meeting with Sero, noting how the robot that had
attacked New York during their first meeting was larger than the
monster truck owned by Richie
Shilling.
Comments: Created by Jim Shooter, John Byrne
and Pablo Marcos. Further fleshed out by Barbara Randall Kesel, Staz
Johnson and Tom Palmer.
Officer Sero's first day on the job and the battle between the
Avengers and Count Nefaria occurred in Avengers I#164-166. There are
officers in Avengers I#165 that are wearing gear resembling the gear
Sero wears in the flashback to his first day on the job. However, none
of the officers seen in Avengers I#165 resemble Sero himself in that
issue. However,
there is an officer working a police barricade in Avengers I#166 that
resembles Jay Sero and his appearance lines up perfectly with his
police barricade orders seen in the flashback in Avengers: Marvels
Snapshot#1.
Therefore, Officer Sero actually first appears in Avengers I#166 fully,
but isn't identified until Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1. Additionally,
the flashback to the police escort of the Avengers in Avengers: Marvels
Snapshots#1 is actually originally seen in Avengers I#190, making the
Avengers' police escort in that issue Sero despite the coloring showing
the police officer's hair being white. In retrospect, the white hair
could be explained away as a coloring error since (as you can see from
the image to the right, the officer's hair was miscolored anyway).
The "giant red robot" attacking New York City during the Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1 story was EXTREMELY likely intended to be Red Ronin, given the details we have about what was going on (giant red robot, guy piloting it, the Avengers roster we see, Cap riding on a sky cycle, the robot making its way towards Long Island, etc.). Plus, Red Ronin's appearance happened in Avengers I#198, a story that seems to match up to the time frame of the flashbacks we see in both Jay Sero & Kerry's stories in Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1. Since Red Ronin first appeared in Marvel's licensed Godzilla comic, Marvel likely tip-toed around referring to the robot by name or showing the fully robot in Avengers: Marvels Snapshot#1 for legal reasons...
On a similar note, there is a woman in Avengers I#165 whom Kerry is
clearly intended to be. In her flashback to the Avengers' battle
against Count Nefaria, she is wearing the exact outfit as the woman in
Avengers I#165 so she would be unidentified in Avengers I#165, with her
name not being revealed until Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1. Looking
through every issue of Avengers from I#164-198 didn't warrant an
appearance where Wonder Man awkwardly tries to flirt with a woman while
out with Beast so I guess that's one flashback in Avengers: Marvels
Snapshots#1 that doesn't reflect on an actual Avengers issue.
BIG THANKS to Norvo for pointing out that Vision fighting the
dinosaur as Jay Sero & Kerry are on a date would have occurred
during the events of Avengers I#200. We even see the futuristic red
spacecraft next to the dinosaur in Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1 that
appears in #200! He also suggested that Wonder Man could've struck out
on hitting on Kerry as he & Beast were leaving Avengers Mansion to
see the Errol Flynn movie they are shown watching in Avengers I#181.
That does seem to be the most likely point the flashback could occur in
terms of scenes we've seen in actual past Avengers issues, however,
Beast is wearing a trench coat when they leave the movie theater in
Avengers I#181 and he does not have one on when they meet Kerry in
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1. One could argue that it's just artistic
license and then again, perhaps Beast went back inside Avengers Mansion
after they met Kerry and grabbed a coat.
We don't really know if Mick's was a straight-up bar or if it was more a "bar & grill"-style restaurant. Either way, it had a Happy Hour and Eve hoped Kerry would find a man there...
This profile was completed 3/01/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Officer Jay Sero has no known connections to:
Annie was a roommate of Shawna. After Shawna allowed her friend Kerry to crash on their couch and the arrangements ended up going on for three months, Annie woke up one morning to see Kerry looking in the refrigerator. Annie took the opportunity to ask Kerry when she would get her crisper all to herself again and Kerry assured Annie that any day now, the painters would be finished with Kerry's own apartment and she would move back to her own place and she could empty her items out of Annie's fridge.
Armando was a resident of Shawna and Annie's apartment building where Shawna's friend Kerry was staying. One morning, while Armando was on the phone with his "sweetie," he saw Kerry strolling downstairs and reminded her that the boxes of clothes she had brought to the apartment were still there. Kerry promised Armando that she would be moving out any day now.
Buddy was the dog belonging to Eve, an associate of Kerry. One morning while out exercising, Kerry ran into Evie, who was out walking Buddy. Seeing Buddy on his leash, Kerry suggested Evie lose her heels and give Buddy a real run. Eve declined and asked where Buddy's biscuits were, prompting Kerry to explain that, as soon as she had her own apartment and oven, she would make the biscuits for Buddy. Eve then changed the conversation to Kerry's romantic life before Kerry continued on her way and Eve continued walking Buddy.
Cochran was a fellow NYPD officer with Jay Sero who often made disparaging comments to Sero about his Native American heritage. During one such argument, Cochran suggested they needed more real Americans on the force and Sero argued that he was born in New York. Other officers soon broke up the argument and took Sero out for beer.
Dave was a co-worker of Kerry's who was in a relationship with Eve. The two were extremely happy together. When a man piloting a giant robot suit attacked New York City, Dave was one of the paramedics working with the off-duty Kerry who was ushered into a public safety protection facility alongside Officer Jay Sero and numerous civilians. Inside the bunker, Dave worked with Kerry to stabilize a man who had been injured outside.
Eileen was the sister of Kerry and the two often
spoke, whether on the phone or through letters. Following a giant robot
attack, during which Kerry met her Officer Jay Sero, Kerry wrote to
Eileen about her experiences as a paramedic amidst the giant robot
attack, describing the robot as a hundred times bigger than Richie
Shilling's monster truck. Kerry's letter also informed Eileen about how
she had met and romantically fell for Officer Sero, expressing
happiness and hopes that Eileen and the rest of Kerry's family could
soon meet him.
--Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1 - BTS
Eve was an associate of Kerry's, who was in a relationship with Dave and had a dog named Buddy. One morning, Eve was out walking Buddy when she ran into Kerry, who suggested Eve lose her heels and give Buddy an actual run. Eve declined and asked about the biscuits Kerry had once promised to make for Buddy, prompting Kerry to assure Eve that she would make them once she had her own apartment and oven. Eve then changed the subject to Kerry's romantic life, asking if Kerry was visited Mick's during Happy Hour, and Kerry asked if she could get settled into the city before Eve started trying to get her to settle down. Kerry then joked that while Dave and Eve were happy together, her own single life was not an emergency. Eve joked that it wasn't the usual kind of emergency before Kerry had to be on her way and the two women said goodbye.
--Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1
Kerry was a woman from Ohio, who took a job in New York as a paramedic. In order to work while still looking for an apartment in New York, Kerry crashed on the couch of her friend Shawna, promising she would only need to be there for two weeks. Shortly after arriving in New York, Kerry was on the streets when the Avengers battled Count Nefaria, causing her to miss a meeting about an apartment, and later, after missing out on another apartment, Kerry was angrily walking home when she was met by Avengers Wonder Man and the Beast. When Wonder Man very awkwardly tried to flirt with her, Kerry politely declined to give out her number and walked off, laughing slightly, having been cheered up by Wonder Man and Beast's actions. Three months after her New York arrival, Kerry had befriended many of the residents of the apartment complex as well as a woman named Eve. Often writing home to her parents or to her sister Eileen, Kerry was drawn into a crisis involving a man piloting a giant robot suit, where she met Officer Jay Sero. The two were eventually ushered into a protection facility where Kerry worked to save the life of an injured man. While they were taking cover, Kerry and Sero took a liking to one another but when the power went out, Kerry worked diligently to keep the injured man stabilized without power to his life-saving machines. Sero managed to summon Iron Man, who flew the man to a hospital and restored power, and once the crisis had moved on, Kerry, Sero and the others exited the bunker. Once inside, Sero asked if he could call Kerry sometime and the two began a relationship. After six weeks of being with Sero, Kerry wrote to her sister Eileen to tell her about Sero and how they met, hoping she could soon bring Sero to meet her family.
Mick's was a New York restaurant known for their Happy Hour meetups.
Eve suggested her friend Kerry go there during Happy Hour to meet a
potential love interest.
Sgt. Murray was a NYPD sergeant who worked alongside Officer Sero during a giant robot attack on New York City. During the emergency, Murray eventually ordered Sero to lead survivors into the nearest shelter while he planned to stay outside and direct things until the crisis was over. At one point, when Sero heard a loud boom inside his bunker, he communicated with Murray on the outside, who informed Sero that a chunk of the building had collapsed onto the bunker's exit.
--Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1
Shawna was a friend of Kerry's who allowed Kerry to crash on her couch for what was supposed to only be two weeks. When two weeks turned into three months, Shawna overheard Kerry knocking and opened her door as Kerry strolled through on her way out for a morning exercise. Asking if she should just give Kerry a key, Shawna reminded Kerry that it had been three months but Kerry assured Shawna that she would be moving out any day now. Kerry then expressed thanks to Shawna, reminding her how hard it was to find a decent apartment in New York, before strolling outside.
Richie Shilling was a guy from Kerry and Eileen's
home town who was known for owning a monster truck. When Kerry
encountered a giant robot while living in New York, Kerry wrote to her
sister Eileen, explaining the robot as being a hundred times bigger
than Shilling's monster truck.
images: (without ads)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p29, pan1 (Officer Jay Sero main image
& Kerry)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p13, pan1 (Officer Jay Sero, headshot)
Avengers I#166, p9, pan1 (Officer Sero nearly
getting hit by a limo)
Avengers I#190, p3, pan2 (Officer Sero with miscolored white hair)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p14, pan3 (Officer Sero's
1st day on the job)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p1, pan2 (Annie)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p1, pan4 (Armando)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p2, pan6 (Buddy)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p15, pan3 (Cochran)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p11, pan1 (Dave)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p2, pan3 (Eve)
Avengers I#165, p8, pan2 (younger Kerry during Count Nefaria crisis)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p9, pan4 (Sgt. Murray)
Avengers: Marvels Snapshots#1, p1, pan6 (Shawna)
Appearances:
Avengers I#166 (December, 1977) - James Shooter (writer), John Byrne
(pencils), Pablo Marcos (inks), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Avengers I#190 (December, 1979) - Roger Stern (plot, editor), Steven
Grant (script), John Byrne (pencils), Dan Green (inks)
Avengers:
Marvels Snapshots#1 (January, 2021) - Barbara Randall Kesel (writer),
Staz Johnson (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Darren Shan (editor)
First Posted: 09/20/2021
Last updated: 09/19/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
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like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
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