Patriot
(Jeffrey Mace)
Context
Marvel Comics’ original Patriot appeared in late 1940. When Marvel reconstructed Captain America’s history to better explain stories published during the 1940s and 1950s by Timely and Atlas, the Patriot was revealed to have been one of the patriotic heroes who bore Cap’s uniform. This was to succeed the original, who had gone MIA in 1945.
The original Patriot mostly got a profile because WWII patriotic heroes pretty much all have the same DC Heroes statistics. So it was a low-hanging fruit thing. One day we’ll plough through all these Marvel Mystery Comics strips, since the 1940s character profiles are fairly popular.
Background
- Real Name: Jeffrey Mace.
- Marital Status: Unmarried at time of death.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Liberty Legion, later All-winners Squad.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 6’2” Weight: 205lbs.
- Eyes: Blue Hair: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Like the Spirit of ’76, the Patriot is an All-American, two-fisted action hero of World War Two, with the usual abilities. His shtick was his mastery of the fighting arts (above average for an action hero). He was also pretty good with the shield once he became Cap.
His background as a reporter made him a good detective.
History
Jeffrey Mace, the man who would become the Patriot, used to be a mild mannered reported for the Daily Bugle. He also happened to be a former U.S. military man. After an incident where the Invaders were captured and brain-washed by the Red Skull, the president asked him to become a hero.
Not wishing to disappoint the POTUS, Mace dropped his journalism career to become the Patriot. He set about the collection of a new team of super heroes, one that could free the lost heroes from German influence.
He decided to make a call for help over the radio. The call that was cut short by Bucky, who’d got in a short scuffle with the hero. After the misunderstandings were straightened out, the two worked together to ask any heroes available for help.
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Liberty Legion
Over about two hours’ time, the Patriot was joined by six other heroes:
- Blue Diamond.
- Jack Frost.
- Miss America.
- The Red Raven.
- The Thin Man.
- The Whizzer.
Along with Bucky, these heroes went about tracking down the controlled heroes and setting them free.
After several east coast battles, the heroes finally faced the Invaders directly. They managed to free them by destroying the hydrogen balloon that the Red Skull was using as a base (not a good idea), and which housed the mind control equipment.
After this incident, the Patriot and the others continued on as the Liberty Legion. The team eventually merged with the Invaders into a sort of complete super human task force. This continued on until the end of the war. The Liberty Legion fought spies and saboteurs on the home-front, freeing the Invaders to concentrate on the war overseas.
All-Winners
After that, several heroes in those two groups continued on in the All-Winners Squad. They were:
- Bucky II.
- Captain America II (formerly the Spirit of ’76).
- Human Torch I.
- Miss America.
- Namor the Sub-Mariner.
- Toro.
- The Whizzer I.
The Patriot was associated with these heroes from time to time, but never a full member.
The shield
In 1946 Jeff found William Nasland, the second Captain America, dying. He had been killed by an android of Adam II. Before dying, William told Jeff what he knew of Adam II’s plans. Taking the costume and shield, Jeff became the third Captain America.
He and the members of the All-Winners Squad defeated Adam II, and he continued in the role of Captain America as a member of the All-Winners Squad. The general public never was aware of Captain America II and III, believing it has always been the same man.
Jeff retired as Captain America in 1950. He died in the late 1980’s of cancer, with the original Captain America at his side.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Your basic, All-American patriotic hero, although with a level of competence far above, say, Mister Scarlet. Jeffrey was quite intelligent and grew wise with years. In fact in his last appearance he warned Captain America about the dangers of being blinded by nationalism, a lesson Cap took to heart.
DC Universe History
See Captain America (Steve Rogers) for the full history.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Captain America III / Patriot
| Dex: 07 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Upholding the good |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 06 | Min: 06 | Occupation: Patriotic hero |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 07 | Resources: 006 |
| Init: 022 | HP: 060 |
Skills:
Acrobatics: 04, Artist (writer): 05, Detective*: 06, Martial Artist: 08, Military science: 05, Vehicles (land): 04, Weaponry*: 07, Weaponry (shield): 10
Advantages:
Lightning Reflexes, Security Clearance (Medium).
Connections:
Crusaders (High), Invaders/All-winners squad (High).
Drawbacks:
Secret ID (twice), MIA to patriotism.
Equipment (as Captain America II):
- COSTUME [BODY 08, Skin armor: 02, Flame Immunity: 02, Limitation : Skin armor can only be used against edged weapons]
- MEDIUM SHIELD [BODY (Hardened Defenses) 12, EV 03 (05 w/STR, 09 w/Martial Artist), Gliding: 01, Recommended STR 02, Note: OV/RV bonus when using the Block Manoeuvre is 2 APs, Note: the OV bonus for the Shield Cover Manoeuvre is 2 APs, Limitation: Gliding only to increase the range when thrown].
Helper(s): Firebomb (history), John Colagioia, Jackson.
Source of Character: Marvel Universe.