Nomad is the name of several fictional characters appearing in
American comic book
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'' ...
s published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
. The Nomad name and costume were created by writer
Steve Englehart
Steve Englehart (; born April 22, 1947) is an American writer of comic books and novels. He is best known for his work at Marvel Comics and DC Comics in the 1970s and 1980s. His pseudonyms have included John Harkness and Cliff Garnett.
Early li ...
and artist
Sal Buscema
Sal Buscema (; ; born Silvio Buscema, January 26, 1936) is an American comics artist, primarily for Marvel Comics, where he enjoyed a ten-year run as artist of ''The Incredible Hulk'' and an eight-year run as artist of ''The Spectacular Spider-Ma ...
as an alternate identity for the original Captain America,
Steve Rogers, in ''
Captain America
Captain America is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''#Golden Age, Captain America Comics'' #1 (cover ...
'' #180 (December 1974).
The identity was revived by writer
J. M. DeMatteis
John Marc DeMatteis (; born December 15, 1953) is an American writer of comic books, television and novels.
Biography
Early career
J. M. DeMatteis's earliest aspirations were to be a rock musician and comic book artist. He began playing in ban ...
for a minor character named Edward Ferbel in ''Captain America'' #261-263 (September - November 1981). The same writer later gave the title to its best known claimant
Jack Monroe
Jack Monroe (born 17 March 1988) is a British food writer, journalist and activist known for campaigning on poverty issues, particularly hunger relief. She initially rose to prominence by writing a blog titled ''A Girl Called Jack'' (now r ...
in ''Captain America'' #282 (June 1983). Other claimants of the code name are
Rikki Barnes
Rebecca "Rikki" Barnes is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in ''Heroes Reborn (1996 comic), Heroes Reborn'' #1/2 ( ...
and Steve Rogers's adopted son
Ian Rogers.
Steve Rogers
The original Nomad is an alternate identity that Steve Rogers adopts after he abandons the Captain America costume and title.
In ''Captain America'' #180 (December 1974) Rogers becomes disillusioned with the
United States government
The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a fede ...
, when he discovers that a high ranking government official (heavily hinted to be the then
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
) is the leader of the terrorist organization known as the
Secret Empire.
Rogers then decides to abandon his Captain America identity, feeling that he cannot continue to serve America after this latest discovery has shattered his faith in the nation's status. However, a confrontation with
Hawkeye (disguised as the
Golden Archer
Gaea
Gaea is one of the Elder Gods of Earth.
Gaia
Gaia, also known as the Guardian of the Universal Amalgamator, is a fictional superhero, depicted as possibly being a mutant or extraterrestrial. Created by Larry Hama, she first appeared in ' ...
) forces Rogers to realize that he cannot abandon a life of heroism, and he subsequently takes on the name "Nomad" (as it means "man without a country") adopting a new dark blue and yellow uniform with no patriotic markings on it at all.
This identity is short-lived, with Rogers maintaining it for a mere four issues of the comic to varying degrees of success; he even trips over his own cape at one point. At the conclusion of ''Captain America'' #184 (April 1975) Rogers returns to the role of Captain America when he realizes that he could champion America's ideals without blindly supporting its government.
Edward Ferbel
Introduced in ''Captain America'' #261 (September 1981), the second Nomad was Edward Ferbel, a short-lived character who is given the Nomad costume and equipment by the
Red Skull
The Red Skull is an alias used by several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics and its predecessor Timely Comics. The first version, George Maxon, appeared in ''Captain America Comics'' #1 and #4. The main ...
in an effort to discredit Captain America.
He is killed by an agent of the Skull, the
Ameridroid
This is a list of Captain America's enemies:
A
* Adolf Hitler: the leader of Nazi Germany "Mein Führer" Who wanted to rule the world and destroying Jews during World War II.
* Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.): A terrorist organization of scie ...
, in ''Captain America'' #263 (November 1981).
Jack Monroe
The third and best known Nomad is Jack Monroe, who was formerly known as the third
Bucky. He was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Sal Buscema in ''
Captain America
Captain America is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character First appearance, first appeared in ''#Golden Age, Captain America Comics'' #1 (cover ...
'' #153 (September 1972). During the "Captain America No More" story arc, when Rogers was forced to abandon his identity as Captain America by a US Government committee, Monroe offered to let Rogers become Nomad again, but Rogers declined and took a new identity, The Captain, for the interim.
Rikki Barnes
After the events of the ''
Onslaught Reborn
Onslaught is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Onslaught was written as a sentient psionic entity created from the consciousness of two mutants: Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. During a batt ...
'' mini-series, a version of
Rikki Barnes
Rebecca "Rikki" Barnes is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in ''Heroes Reborn (1996 comic), Heroes Reborn'' #1/2 ( ...
, the
female Bucky established in the ''
Heroes Reborn'' ''Captain America'' series, now resides in the mainstream Marvel Universe, and has befriended the
Young Avenger known as
Patriot
A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism.
Patriot may also refer to:
Political and military groups United States
* Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American Revolution
* Patriot m ...
in the hopes of contacting the new Captain America (the original Bucky, now free of his Winter Soldier programming). In September 2009, Rikki Barnes took on the identity of Nomad in the mini-series, ''Nomad: Girl Without A World'', by
Sean McKeever
Sean Kelley McKeever (born 1972) is an American comic book writer. Born in Appleton, Wisconsin he grew up in Eagle River.
Career
Since the end of his creator-owned teen drama series ''The Waiting Place'', which was published from 1997 to 2002, ...
and
David Baldeon
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
.
Ian Rogers
While trapped in the mysterious Dimension Z, Captain America rescues Leopold, the infant son of
Arnim Zola
Arnim Zola is a supervillain appearing in American comic books by Marvel Comics. He is a master of biochemistry and a recurring enemy of Captain America and the Avengers (comics), Avengers. The character first appeared in ''Captain America (comic ...
. Raising the child under the name "
Ian
Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a popular name in Sc ...
", he manages to evade Zola's forces for eleven years, until Ian is accidentally shot and apparently killed by
Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter (also known as Agent 13) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is usually depicted as a secret agent, an ex-field agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. under Nick Fury, and a love interest of St ...
. After Captain America escapes Dimension Z, Ian is revealed to have survived and taken up a costume and shield similar to that of his adoptive father. Now calling himself Nomad, Ian acts as the defender of Dimension Z.
During the ''
AXIS
An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to:
Mathematics
* Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis
* Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...
'' storyline, Nomad assists Steve Rogers and Spider-Man in rescuing
Loki
Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi or Na ...
in Las Vegas.
[''Avengers & X-Men: AXIS'' #6]
References
Sources
The Marvel Chronology ProjectThe Nomad (Scourge!) PageThe Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
External links
Nomad (Jack Monroe)at Marvel.com
*
{{Captain America
Characters created by Fabian Nicieza
Characters created by J. M. DeMatteis
Characters created by Sal Buscema
Characters created by Steve Englehart
Comics characters introduced in 1974
Comics characters introduced in 1981
Comics characters introduced in 1983
Fictional characters from Connecticut
Marvel Comics martial artists
Marvel Comics mutates
Marvel Comics superheroes
Marvel Comics supervillains
Marvel Comics titles
United States-themed superheroes
Vigilante characters in comics