Continuing my mini-series on Steve Rogers' successors as Captain America with a write-up on Jeffry Mace, the hero formerly known as the Patriot.
Captain America III
F: Remarkable (30)
A: Excellent (20)
S: Good (10)
E: Excellent (20)
R: Good (10)
I: Good (10)
P: Excellent (20)
Health: 80
Karma: 40
Resources: Excellent (backed by the U.S. government)
Popularity: 100 (believed by the populace to be the original Cap)
Real Name: Jeffrey Solomon Mace
Occupation: Journalist, professional super-hero/government operative
Legal Status: American citizen without a criminal record.
Identity: Secret
Other Known Aliases: The Patriot
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York
Marital Status: Married
Known Relatives: Elizabeth “Betsy” Ross (wife), Thaddeus Ross (nephew by marriage)
Base of Operations: Mobile (often New York City)
Past Group Affiliations: The Invaders, the Liberty Legion
Present Group Affiliations: All-Winners Squad
Known Powers:
None
Equipment:
Shield: Constructed from a steel alloy, this 2.5 foot diameter circular shield possessed Remarkable (30) material strength; it provided Mace with Remarkable (30) protection versus physical and energy attacks directed against him. Mace was still subject to Stuns or Slams while defending himself with the shield. Due to its disk-shaped design, the shield could be thrown up to two areas and bounced off of multiple targets, and return to its wielder’s hand on a successful Yellow feat. It could do up to Excellent (20) blunt damage or Good (10) edged damage, depending on how Mace chose to throw it.
Body Armor: Mace’s uniform was a chain-mail mesh armor and integrated cowl that provided him with Good (10) protection against edged attacks and Typical (6) protection against blunt and piercing attacks.
Talents: Guns, Journalism, Martial Arts A, B & C; Leadership, Weapon Specialist: Shield, Wrestling
Contacts: All-Winners Squad, U.S. government
Roleplaying Notes: At the start of his career as the Patriot, Jeff Mace often had doubts about his ability to be a true hero, which became magnified after he became Captain America. In truth, he never should have been worried, as he shared the values of the two men who preceded him in the role of Cap. Mace was a deeply patriotic man who truly believed in his country, though not unquestioningly; he believed that Captain America should represent the ideals of the country, not of its government. Like Naslund before him, Mace was almost intimidated by having been chosen as the new Captain America. It was an unbelievable honor to him, and he worked hard to be worthy of it.
Appearance: Mace wore an exact replica of the classic Captain America uniform.
History:
Jeff Mace grew up on Yancy Street in New York City during the Great Depression. He became a reporter for the Daily Bugle as an adult, befriending fellow journalists Mary Morgan and Jack Casey. As World War II loomed and the United States’ involvement seemed imminent, the draft was reinstated. Mace tried to enlist, but was deemed 4-F because of his flat feet.
In July of 1941, Mace witnessed Captain America fighting Nazi spies who were posing as dock workers. Unable to stand by the sidelines, Mace got involved in the fight, and Captain America thanked Mace for his help, calling him a “true patriot.” Although he was chastised by his editor for once more getting involved in the story, a conversation with Jack and Mary inspired Mace to develop the costumed identity of the Patriot, a role which allowed him to fight evil on the Homefront while keeping his journalism impartial.
As the Patriot, Mace got involved in a number of cases that strengthened his reputation as a crusader against America’s enemies, so much so that by the time America entered the war, the costumed hero had a regular series of patriotic radio broadcasts from New York City.
The infamous Nazi agent known as the Red Skull captured four members of the Invaders, (Captain America, the Human Torch & Toro, and the Sub-Mariner) and brainwashed them into committing anti-American sabotage. In order to summon other costumed adventurers to help rescue the Invaders, Captain America’s young partner Bucky commandeered the radio station from which the Patriot was about to make one of his broadcast speeches.
After the misunderstandings were straightened out, the two broadcast a plea to ask any heroes available for help. Over two hours’ time, they were joined by six other heroes: Blue Diamond, Jack Frost, Miss America, Red Raven, the Thin Man, and the Whizzer. This team, christened the Liberty Legion, went about tracking down the controlled heroes and setting them free.
The Legion remained together throughout the remainder of the war years, battling criminals, spies, and saboteurs on the American home front while leaving the battlefield to the Invaders. After the war, seven heroes from both super teams (Human Torch, Toro, the Sub-Mariner, Miss America, the Whizzer and the second Captain America and Bucky) joined together to form the All-Winners Squad. As the Patriot, Mace was associated with these heroes from time to time, but not a full member.
In July 1946, Mace was sent to Boston to cover the 11th District Congressional Race. There he crossed paths again with the Human Torch and Toro, and the Torch’s creator, Professor Phineas T. Horton. Mace, as the Patriot, saved all three from a trap they had been placed in by Adam II, another android created by Horton with plans for world domination. Horton told the Patriot that Adam II intended to substitute an android duplicate of congressional candidate John F. Kennedy. The Patriot and the Torch contacted the rest of the All-Winners Squad, informed them about Adam II's plan, and the assembled heroes raced to Boston.
During the course of the battle, the second Captain America (William Naslund) was killed at the Old North Church by one of Adam II’s androids. The Patriot found Naslund and brought him back to the Squad’s ship to try and give him medical attention, but Naslund died almost immediately. Inspired by Naslund’s heroics (and perhaps in a state of shock), Mace donned a spare Captain America uniform that was onboard the ship, and went into action as the third Captain America. In his new role, Mace prevented Adam II from murdering Kennedy.
Mace was taken into government custody and questioned about his involvement in the battle. After the debriefing, and with thanks to some coaxing by F.B.I. agent Betty Ross, Jeff was offered to officially take the place of Captain America. While unwilling to ever actually replace Captain America, he agreed to carry on the roll and fight for what the hero stood for. As the newest Captain America, Mace teamed up with the second Bucky (Fred Davis), and both remained active in the All-Winners Squad.
In September 1946, Mace led the All-Winners Squad in a battle against Russian super agents in England, clashing with the Red Guardian while his team mates kept atomic scientist Klaus Fusch safe. The battle ended with the Russians fleeing, but not before the Red Guardian deduced that the Captain America he fought was not the original. After returning home, Mace learned from Betty Ross the fate of the original Captain America (Steve Rogers), who had been missing and presumed dead since 1944.
Mace and Davis continued in their roles as Cap and Bucky until 1948, when Davis was critically wounded by the criminal Lavender. Mace tracked down Lavender and would have beaten her to death if not for the intervention of Betsy Ross, who had come to Mace’s aid in costume as “Golden Girl” and convinced him to stand down. After Lavender’s arrest, Mace learned that Davis would recover, but never fully heal from his injuries. The young man retired from his role as Bucky.
Mace formed a new professional partnership with Ross while also falling in love with her. He attempted to start a romance with Ross, but she stopped him. (Mace was unaware that Ross had been assigned by the F.B.I. to monitor him due to his connection to Mary Morgan, who had fled the country after last being seen with Communist operatives.) Nonetheless, the pair continued to act as crimefighting partners
By the Fifties, the Golden Age of Heroism had drawn to a close; most superhuman criminal activity had gone under the radar, which reduced Captain America and Golden Girl to fighting mundane criminals. Mace longed to fight overseas with the soldiers in the Korean War much like his predecessors did during World War II, but the government prevented Mace from being deployed. After his return from the final mission with the All-Winners Squad, Mace learned that the government had reassigned Ross.
Unhappy with his separation from Ross, Mace confronted his new handler, an agent named Skinner, and demanded he do more. However, the Communist witch hunts of the McCarthy Era were in full swing. Skinner had a deep suspicion of the current Captain America, due to Mace’s Russian-Jewish ancestry and his previous interactions with Mary Morgan.
In June of 1950, Mace was sent to a New York elementary school to give a speech. There he learned about a missing boy and decided to get involved in rescuing him, even though it was against his orders. Following eye witness reports of UFO's sighted at the local graveyard, Captain America went there to investigate. Instead of aliens he stumbled upon a secret government operation called Vanguard and rescued the boy. Mace soon found himself in a disciplinary meeting with Skinner. Having realized that this was a means to get him shipped off to Korea while earning Skinner a position with Vanguard, Mace recorded their conversation and used it to force Skinner to retire him as Captain America and (more importantly) to reunite him with Betsy Ross, who was also discharged from the FBI.
Unrestrained by government red tape and constant danger, Jeff and Betsy's romance bloomed and they moved to the town of Glendale, New York. There Mace opened up the Glendale Gazette and resumed his career as a newspaper reporter. After settling in, Jeff and Betsy began starting their own family and faded from the public eye.
Many decades later, Mace learned that he was dying of cancer. The Elder of the Universe called the Contemplator granted Mace his fondest wish by allowing him to battle evil once more as Captain America, this time against the Adam II of an alternate Earth. Fighting alongside the time displaced original Captain America, Steve Rogers (as well as Naslund and William Burnside, the Captain America of the 1950’s), Mace destroyed this Adam II. With this victory, Mace came to terms with his past and achieved inner peace.
Several months later, Jeffrey Mace died of cancer with his hero, the original Captain America, at his bedside.