Jack O'Lantern is the name of several
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
s appearing in
American comic books
An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of ''Action Comics'', ...
published by
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery.
DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...
.
Fictional character biography
Daniel Cormac
The first Jack O'Lantern is Daniel Cormac of
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
, who was born to a poor
farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mig ...
who was granted a magic lantern by an Irish fairy. Cormac is a member of the
Global Guardians
The Global Guardians is a team of DC Comics superheroes whose members hail from countries around the world. The concept originated in the ''Super Friends'' Saturday morning cartoon, which aired after the comics stories in ''Super Friends'' #7- ...
, an international group of superheroes.
His first recorded mission in ''Super Friends'' #8 was to help
Green Lantern
Green Lantern is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. They fight evil with the aid of rings that grant them a variety of extraordinary powers, all of which come from imagination, fearlessness, ...
dismantle a bomb in Ireland.
He appears in three solo back up stories in ''Super Friends'' issues #37, #40 and #44.
Cormac's first appearance in the mainstream DC Comics universe is ''DC Comics Presents'' #46, helping
Superman
Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...
find an ancient ruin in Ireland. He is later seen as part of a group of heroes from Ireland and England trying to save the world in the ''
Crisis on Infinite Earths
"Crisis on Infinite Earths" is a 1985 American comic book crossover storyline published by DC Comics. The series, written by Marv Wolfman and pencilled by George Pérez, was first serialized as a 12-issue limited series from April 1985 to March ...
''.
When the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
decide to fund the
Justice League International
Justice League International (JLI) is a fictional DC comics superhero team that succeeded the original Justice League from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. The team enjoyed several comic books runs, the first being written by Keith Giffen and ...
, the Global Guardians find themselves without financial support, and disband. Cormac subsequently joins Rumaan Harjavti's army in Bialya. After Harjavti is killed by the
Queen Bee
A queen bee is typically an adult, mated female (gyne) that lives in a colony or hive of honey bees. With fully developed reproductive organs, the queen is usually the mother of most, if not all, of the bees in the beehive. Queens are developed ...
, Jack voluntarily joins forces with the villainess in taking over the world. He is left dying in a sewer after a battle with the Justice League. He is found alive by his girlfriend
Owlwoman
The Global Guardians is a team of DC Comics superheroes whose members hail from countries around the world. The concept originated in the ''Super Friends'' Saturday morning cartoon, which aired after the comics stories in ''Super Friends'' #7-9, ...
in ''Justice League Quarterly'' issues #6 - #8 when the two heroes are found by
Doctor Mist
Doctor Mist is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. He was created by E. Nelson Bridwell and Ramona Fradon, first appearing in a cameo in ''Super Friends'' #12 (June–July 1978).
Hailing from the mythical realm of Kor, Nommo was a powe ...
. They take a major part in reuniting the Global Guardians and fight with
Sonar
Sonar (sound navigation and ranging or sonic navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation (usually underwater, as in submarine navigation) to navigation, navigate, measure distances (ranging), communicate with or detect o ...
against the Justice League in ''Justice League Europe'' issues #49 and #50. Afterwards, Jack dies of natural causes.
Marvin Noronsa
Marvin Noronsa is a native of Bialya who takes over the Jack O'Lantern identity at Queen Bee's behest. Noronsa is able to use Cormac's mystical lantern only after Queen Bee modifies it. Noronsa is killed in an explosion caused by Sumaan Harjavti in ''Justice League America'' #55 (October 1991).
Liam McHugh
More recently, Cormac's cousin Liam McHugh takes up the mantle of Jack O'Lantern. An Irish
freedom fighter
A resistance movement is an organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to withstand the legally established government or an occupying power and to disrupt civil order and stability. It may seek to achieve its objectives ...
who wields a mystical jack o'lantern and is blessed with incredible agility, McHugh has fought evil in various arenas over the past few years. He was a member of the Leymen (Primal Force) and later joined the Ultramarine Corps in Superbia. He appears in three solo stories in ''Justice League Quarterly'' #14, 15 and 17. He became a member of Dr. Mist's Leymen in ''
Primal Force
''Primal Force'' was a comic book series published by DC Comics from October 1994 to December 1995 and ran for 15 issues. The series starred the Leymen, a magic-themed superhero team in the DC Universe. The series premiered with ''Primal Force'' #0 ...
'' #0, appearing in every issue until the book was cancelled with issue #14. Liam is last seen as a member of the
Ultramarine Corps
Ultramarine is a deep blue color pigment which was originally made by grinding lapis lazuli into a powder. The name comes from the Latin ''ultramarinus'', literally 'beyond the sea', because the pigment was imported into Europe from mines in Afg ...
in ''JLA'' #26 and ''JLA Classified'' #1-3.
Powers and abilities
Daniel Cormac and Marvin Noronsa have a mystical lantern that gives them the power of flight, flame projection, teleportation, illusion casting, enhanced strength, and the ability to create fogs. The power of the lantern is at its weakest at noon, and gradually increases to its peak at midnight.
Liam McHugh has found a way to internalize the powers of the mystical lantern, and no longer needs to carry it.
In other media
* Marvin Noronsa aka Jack O’Lantern is a recurring villain in ''
Powerless'', portrayed by Kimani Ray Smith.
References
{{reflist
External links
Daniel Cormac the Unofficial Guide to the DC UniverseMarvin Noronsa at the Unofficial Guide to the DC UniverseLiam McHugh at the Unofficial Guide to the DC Universe
Articles about multiple fictional characters
DC Comics characters who use magic
DC Comics characters who can teleport
DC Comics superheroes
DC Comics male superheroes
Comics characters introduced in 1977
Fictional characters with fire or heat abilities
Fictional Irish people
Irish superheroes
Characters created by Steven T. Seagle