Daniel Berkhart (Earth-616)
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Contents |
History
Danny Berkhart was paid by J.J.J. to make Spidey think he was the ghost of the first Mysterio, who was faking his death at the time. After Berkhart was jailed, Jameson abandoned him to his luck. Berkhart resented that ever since.
After Norman Osborn's return, a very enigmatic third Jack appeared. He called himself Mad Jack. He had a grudge with J.J.J. He saved Spider-Man's life after having him defeated. He had a cat, Maguire, that was very well- taught, and obeyed every command. He beat Jameson to a pulp, and blackmailed him (threatening his wife) into selling the Bugle to Osborn, rejecting the million dollars payment and saying he did it for pleasure.
As it would later be revealed, that Mad Jack was actually Daniel Berkhart, Mysterio II, working with tech support by Maguire Beck (cousin to the original Mysterio). Both had been tutored by Quentin Beck in his illusionary arts, and both using the Mad Jack costume in turns. Maguire was in costume seldomly, prefering to stay behind doing the tech support. Sometimes they would send an android (with Berkhart's face) in costume, for the riskiest assignments. Maguire and Berkhart always shared radio contact.
Later, during Identity Crisis - Prodigy!, Berkhart and Conundrum met. It was revealed that they were old aquaintances, and had a common past, with an "old man", their tutor, now dead. This indicates Conundrum was also Mysterio's student. While fighting Prodigy (actually Spidey), Conundrum mentions Jack's reflexes are getting slower with his age (indicating Berkhart was the one in costume that time). Prodigy eventually finds out that if he closes his eyes and trusts his Spider-Sense, he might have better chances, because the villains' attacks are illusions. He knocks Conundrum out, and Mad Jack is shot dead by one of Norman's bodyguards... except the last page shows a very alive Mad Jack talking to Norman Osborn. His death was faked, because it served the purposes of both men.
Mad Jack's next appearance was in the Spider-Man: The Mysterio Manifesto mini-series, where Jack and a new Mysterio (the original blew his brains out), tormented Spidey, J.J.J., Daredevil and Just A Guy Named Joe. It was revealed that Maguire had become the solo Jack O'Lantern, while Danny Berkhart assumed Mysterio's legacy and became Quentin Beck's heir, reassuming his position as Mysterio II. Mad Jack (Maguire) was captured, while Berkhart escaped with Maguire (the cat). He apparantly sold a spare Mysterio costume to the Kingpin, who in turn sold it to Francis Klum. Berkhart battled Klum for the right to be called Mysterio. Which is odd, considering that if he didnt want another fishbowl around, he shouldnt have sold the costume. Ah, the difficulties that come with madness.
Berkhart is no longer Mad Jack but now Mysterio.
Shortly after the Clone Saga, he associated with Maguire Beck, Quentin Beck's cousin. They both wore the Mad Jack identity, which he used to torment Jameson with Maguire's assistance. Both Berkhart and Maguire were trained in Mysterio's arts by Mysterio himself, but they were still honing their skills.
After the original Mysterio died in 1999's Daredevil #7 (vol.2), another Mysterio kept showing up in the Spider-Books. He joined a new version of the Sinister Six, and later plotted against JJJ, Daredevil, Just a Guy Named Joe and Spider-Man, in 2001's Spider-Man: The Mysterio Manifesto. It was finally revealed then that the "new" Mysterio was Berkhart. When Quentin Beck, his friend and former tutor, left him the fishbowl as his legacy, Berkhart extended his revenge against Jameson to Spidey. Beck's lifelong foe, Daredevil, a key player in Beck's death and Joe Smith, who married Beck's childhood friend, Betsy Schneider, were also targeted. Maguire, eager to avenge her cousin and have some fun at the same time, took over Mad Jack's costume solo this time.
Though Mad Jack was captured, Berkhart was now much more skilled than he had ever been, and managed to elude Spider-Man, fleeing with Mad Jack's cat (also named Maguire). Berkhart is a worthy successor to Quentin Beck. The student has yet to overcome the master, but he's proved himself a dangerous foe to Spidey and whoever has crossed his path. He joined the Sinister Six and successfully captured Senator Ward with the help of Electro.
He recently crossed paths with Spider-Man and Francis Klum, the third Mysterio. Klum had taken over Midtown High School and Berkhart came to challenge his use of the Mysterio identity. They fought and Daniel seemed to get the upper hand, but he was defeated by Spidey.
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Like the original Mysterio, minimally enhanced speed/agilityStrength level
Slightly more than the original Mysterio's
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Projectors, Gas Gloves, Invisi-Mask and Image Inducers, plus all the tricks of the original Mysterio
Links
- Appearances of Daniel Berkhart (Earth-616)
- Character Gallery: Daniel Berkhart (Earth-616)
- Images that feature Daniel Berkhart (Earth-616)
- Fan-Art Gallery: Daniel Berkhart (Earth-616)
- Quotations by Daniel Berkhart (Earth-616)
- Daniel Berkhart (Earth-616) at Wikipedia.org
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