Abe Jenkins

Abner Jenkins, also known as the Beetle, MACH-1, MACH-2, MACH-3, MACH-IV, MACH-V, MACH-VII and MACH-X, is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Carl Burgos, he debuted in ''Strange Tales'' #123 (August 1964) as the original Beetle, a supervillain wearing an armor plated, mechanical suit he had designed himself after growing frustrated with his ordinary job as an aircraft mechanic and deciding to turn to crime. Although in his first appearance he fought the Human Torch and the Thing of the Fantastic Four, later storylines established Jenkins as a recurring foe of Spider-Man, usually working as a henchman for various criminal organizations opposing the hero. Jenkins later formed his own criminal organization known as the Sinister Syndicate.

After abandoning his Beetle persona, Jenkins was recruited into the Thunderbolts—a supervillain team assembled by Helmut Zemo to pose as superheroes to gain access to the technology of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, groups which had both seemingly perished while fighting Onslaught. Jenkins became known as "MACH-1", using a modified version of his Beetle armor that was designed for faster flight and higher altitude. The Thunderbolts were introduced in ''Incredible Hulk'' #449 (January 1997), and although they originally went along with Zemo's plan, later storylines depicted them as disobeying him due to enjoying the attention and adulation they received as heroes. Seeking redemption, Jenkins was convinced to give himself over to authorities to serve out an outstanding prison sentence in exchange for the Thunderbolts being granted immunity. During his time in jail, Jenkins helped the authorities out, which led to him working for the government after his release from prison. He later began working at the Raft prison as head of security and re-joined the Thunderbolts, now a team of reformed criminals trying to earn time off their sentence by working for the government.

The character has been adapted from the comics into several other forms of media, such as animated television series and video games.

Publication history

Abner Jenkins first appeared as the original incarnation of the Beetle in ''Strange Tales'' #123 (August 1964), and was created by Stan Lee and Carl Burgos. As MACH-1, he later joined the supervillain team, the Thunderbolts, who were masquerading as superheroes to conceal their true goals, in ''Incredible Hulk'' #449 (January 1997). In subsequent storylines, all members of the team, including Jenkins, became disillusioned with their leader, Baron Helmut Zemo, and decided to reform and become heroes. After some time away from the team, Jenkins appeared as a regular character in ''Thunderbolts'' since issue #144, and has appeared as a supporting character since the title transitioned into the ''Dark Avengers'' beginning with issue #175. During his time with the Thunderbolts, Jenkins made numerous upgrades to his armor, resulting in various iterations, from MACH-2 all the way to MACH-X.

Fictional character biography

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Abner Jenkins was a master mechanic at an aircraft parts factory who became dissatisfied with his boring, low paying job. Using his considerable mechanical knowledge, Jenkins built an armor-plated, strength-augmenting suit, a pair of wings, suction-fingered gloves, and a cybernetic control helmet. Calling himself the "Beetle", Jenkins decided to use his battle-suit for fame, wealth, and adventure, becoming an enemy of Spider-Man. He later joins Egghead's Masters of Evil and founds the Sinister Syndicate, a team of mercenaries.

When most of Earth's heroes, including the Avengers and Fantastic Four, are seemingly killed battling Onslaught, Helmut Zemo recruits Jenkins and a number of other villains to posing as a superhero team called the Thunderbolts. Jenkins adopted the guise of "MACH-1". However, the Thunderbolts' members begin to enjoy heroism and convert the group into a legitimate team.

When the Thunderbolts uncover and thwart a Commission on Superhuman Activities (CSA) conspiracy to exterminate superhumans, Hawkeye blackmails the CSA into pardoning the Thunderbolts in exchange for the group's silence. CSA agent Henry Peter Gyrich insists that he will not go along with the deal unless Hawkeye is imprisoned for his vigilante activities. Hawkeye agrees despite the protests of his teammates and surrenders to federal custody.

Most of the rest of the Thunderbolts, including MACH-2 and Songbird, are pardoned and released. However, they are forbidden from public use of superhuman powers or costumed identities. MACH-2 and Songbird turn their equipment over to authorities and move to Burton Canyon, Colorado, where Abner Jenkins finds work as a tech support specialist.

Later, Graviton launches his latest attempt at world conquest in Burton Canyon, reshaping Earth in his image. Despite their reluctance to risk their freedom, Jenkins and Songbird join Helmut Zemo in attacking Graviton as part of a new team of Thunderbolts. Graviton is defeated and Earth saved, but MACH-3 and the other Thunderbolts disappear in an explosion created by Graviton's power.

The Thunderbolts are transported to Counter-Earth, where they establish themselves as heroes due to the planet lacking any. The Thunderbolts return to Earth via a white hole and encounter Hawkeye and Songbird, who had formed their own version of the Thunderbolts. The two teams of Thunderbolts join forces to close the white hole. Despite their feelings for each other, Jenkins leaves Songbird, remanding himself to police custody to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Following the " Avengers: Standoff!" event, Abner Jenkins joins Winter Soldier's Thunderbolts as MACH-IX. In '' Secret Empire'', Jenkins is seemingly killed when Baron Zemo attacks the Thunderbolts.

During the "One World Under Doom" storyline, one of the members of Doctor Doom's Fulgar Victoris is MACH-Doom. Doom claims that MACH-Doom is a Doombot who possesses Jenkins' spirit. During a battle between the Thunderbolts and the Fulgar Victoris, Songbird uses her powers on MACH-Doom to shut it down to honor the memory of Jenkins.

Powers and abilities

Abner Jenkins has no superhuman powers, but has extensive knowledge of mechanics and engineering.

Equipment

As the Beetle, he designed and wore a suit of full body powered armor that granted him superhuman strength and durability and artificial winged flight. The suit's gloves contained pneumatic suction-grippers, enabling him to cling to walls or lift things with his fingertips. The suit could also create an electrostatic energy discharge referred to as the "electro-bite". On the back of the suit are a set of mylar wings powered by super efficient micro-motors which enable him to fly. Antennae built into the suit's helmet allowed reception and efficient conversion of microwaves, providing the suit with a constantly replenishing power supply. A mini-computer built into the chest-plate feeds data to heads-up displays in the helmet, providing him with constantly updated tactical analysis of his opponent's movements.

As MACH-I through MACH-IV, Jenkins designed a new suit of power armor which granted superhuman strength and durability, and flight as his Beetle suit did. This new suit contains a variety of different weapon systems, however, instead of the insect-themed powers of the previous armor.

Other versions

''House of M''

An alternate universe variant of Abner Jenkins from Earth-58163 appears in ''House of M''. This version is a member of the Howling Commandos.

''Marvel Zombies''

An alternate universe variant of Abner Jenkins / Mach-I from Earth-2149 appears in '' Marvel Zombies: Dead Days'', where he is killed by the Human Torch.

''Old Man Logan''

An alternate universe variant of Abner Jenkins / Mach-I from Earth-807128 appears in ''Old Man Hawkeye''. This version is a member of the Thunderbolts who previously betrayed Hawkeye, resulting in the deaths of the Avengers. Years later, Jenkins is working in a Doombot factory in Kree Haven before Hawkeye kills him.

In other media

Television

* Abner Jenkins as Beetle appears in the ''Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends'' episode "Origin of the Spider-Friends", voiced by Christopher Collins. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
* Abner Jenkins as Beetle appears in the ''Iron Man'' episode "The Armor Wars", voiced by John Reilly.
* Abner Jenkins as Beetle makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' episode "Beetle Mania".
* Abner Jenkins as Beetle and MACH-IV appears in '' Avengers Assemble'', voiced by Mark Hanson. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
* Abner Jenkins as Beetle appears in ''Spider-Man'' (2017), voiced by Fred Tatasciore.

Video games

* Abner Jenkins as Beetle appears in ''Spider-Man'' (1995).
* Abner Jenkins as Beetle appears as a boss in '' Spider-Man: Lethal Foes''.
* Abner Jenkins as Beetle appears as a non-player character (NPC) in '' Spider-Man 2: Enter Electro'', voiced by Daran Norris.
* Abner Jenkins as MACH-V appears in ''Lego Marvel's Avengers'' via the "Thunderbolts" DLC pack.

Miscellaneous

The ''Old Man Logan'' incarnation of Abner Jenkins appears in the '' Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye'' episode "Cards Up", voiced by Ron Canada.''Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye'' "Chapter 2: Cards Up"

Merchandise

* Abner Jenkins as Beetle received an action figure in the ''Spider-Man'' (1994) tie-in toyline.
* Abner Jenkins as MACH-I received a figure in Hasbro's Marvel Legends line.

References

External links

Abner Jenkins
at Marvel.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenkins, Abner
Characters created by Carl Burgos
Characters created by Stan Lee
Comics characters introduced in 1964
Fictional characters from Baltimore
Fictional inventors in comics
Fictional mechanics
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Marvel Comics male superheroes
Marvel Comics male supervillains
Spider-Man characters