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Quote1 Now I can take my father's place -- as an Invader! Quote2
Spitfire[src]

History

World War II[]

Lady Jacqueline Falsworth was the daughter of the British aristocrat, Lord Montgomery Falsworth, who had been known during World War I as the costumed champion Union Jack. In early 1942, Jacqueline was serving in Britain's Women's Voluntary Service when she was attacked by the vampire Baron Blood, an agent of Nazi Germany. Unknown to Jacqueline at this time, Baron Blood was actually her own uncle, Lord John Falsworth. Baron Blood was forced to flee by the original Human Torch, who took Jacqueline to her home, Falsworth Manor, where the Torch met her father. Lord Falsworth and Jacqueline befriended the Torch and his fellow members of the Invaders, a team of costumed adventurers who battled the Axis powers on behalf of the Allies during World War II.[6]

Baron Blood abducted Jacqueline but was defeated by Union Jack and the Invader Captain America.[7] Suffering from a great loss of blood from being bitten by Baron Blood, Jacqueline was rushed to a hospital by the Invaders.[8] There she received an emergency blood transfusion from the Human Torch. While she was recovering, the reluctant Nazi agent Blue Bullet attacked the hospital. To her surprise, the still-recuperating Jacqueline discovered that she could now move at superhuman speed. She courageously used her new powers to save the Human's Torch's life from the Blue Bullet's attack. The Blue Bullet was then defeated by another Invader, the Sub-Mariner.[9]

Jacqueline assumed that her new super-powers were a result of the combination of a foreign element introduced into her bloodstream by Baron Blood's bites and the artificial blood given her by the android Human Torch, though in later years she would discover they had actually jointly activated latent mutations in Jacqueline, granting her among others a mutant regenerative power.[5] Following her complete recovery from her injuries, Jacqueline made herself a costume, took the name Spitfire (after the British war planes of the period), and volunteered for Invaders membership. She was accepted into the team. Spitfire fought alongside the Invaders, including her brother who had become the new Union Jack, while the group was in the European Theater of Operations. At the war's end, she retired as a costumed adventurer.

Post World War II[]

In 1956, she married the British nobleman Lord Crichton. They subsequently had a son, Kenneth. Desiring a quiet life, Jacqueline informed people that her superhuman capabilities had gradually faded, though in truth they simply became more of a strain to use as she aged. After being widowed, Lady Crichton, as she was now known, moved back to Falsworth Manor to care for her aged father, who died a year after her return there. Lady Crichton continued to live in retirement at Falsworth Manor.

Modern Day[]

Later, Jacqueline helped assemble Namorita, Captain America, and Union Jack to aid the former Invaders, the original Human Torch and the Sub-Mariner, who were captured by the latest incarnation of the Nazi villain, the Master Man. In attempting to rescue their ally, Jacqueline was badly wounded, and survived only thanks to yet another emergency blood transfusion from the android Human Torch, which had a side effect of making her young again, her body reverting to look approximately 16 years old.[10] Lady Falsworth became involved in the day-to-day matters of Namor's company, Oracle, Inc., as she adjusted to her new situation.[11]

She later joined the New Invaders, but resigned with most of the other members after the Torch's death. She also had a brief relationship with the modern day Union Jack, Joey Chapman, but they broke up due to the large age difference.[12][13]

MI-13[]

Jacqueline Falsworth (Earth-616) from Captain Britain and MI13 Vol 1 1 0001

Running

A short while later, she became aware she was beginning to display vampiric qualities, including fangs; finding she could control the bloodlust and remained unaffected by traditional vampire weaknesses, she initially kept this change secret, even from those closest to her. She joined MI13 as part of Britain's response to the Skrull Invasion by the Skrull Empire. In battle with two Super-Skrulls, Spitfire ripped out their throats with her teeth, openly revealing her new condition. When new MI13 recruit and vampire hunter Blade first met Spitfire, he staked her. She survived only thanks to the powers of fellow MI13 member Faiza Hussain. However, she later proved Blade she is in control, and began a romantic relationship with him.[14][15]

During Dracula's attack on Britain, Jacqueline's vampire son Kenneth visited her and led her into a trap, where Dracula magically forced her into servitude and membership of the Vampire Nation.[16] While she initially resisted, it seemed that he was eventually able to convince her to become one of his minions. It was later revealed that Spitfire had been a double agent the whole time, always helping Pete Wisdom in gaining intelligence on Dracula's whereabouts.[17]

Tracking Namor[]

During the conflict between Atlantis and the Humans, she helped Captain America, the Human Torch and Toro when they asked for her help to track down Namor. She was able to conclude that he was going to attack Roxxon. They arrived in time to intercept the attack.[18] Later she fought with the rest of the Invaders to stop Machan from drowning the world.[19]

Attributes

Power Grid[21]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Experienced Fighter:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/None:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Regenerative:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Enhanced:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Speed of Sound:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Superhuman (800 lbs-25 ton):Category:Power Grid/Strength/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Normal

Powers

Invaders Vol 1 12
  • Superhuman Speed: Spitfire possesses the ability to move at superhuman speeds. She can run in excess of the speed of sound.[1] She has become slightly faster after she began manifesting her vampire abilities. Thanks to her vampire stamina, she can maintain her top pace almost indefinitely.
  • Adapted Physiology: Spitfire's entire body is oriented toward the rigors of high-speed running. Her cardiovascular and respiratory systems are more efficient than a normal woman’s. She metabolizes an estimated 50% of the caloric energy content of foodstuffs.
    • Superhuman Stamina: The chemical processes of Spitfire's body are so highly enhanced that her body does not generate fatigue poisons, the normal by-products of locomotion which force the body to rest, as quickly as a normal human being does. Her tendons and bones have somehow became stronger in order to withstand the stresses of high speed motion, and her joints are smoother and lubricate more efficiently than a normal woman's.
    • Superhuman Durability: Spitfire's heightened metabolism afforded her great resilience to impact-related injuries.
    • Superhuman Reflexes: Her reaction time was about twice as fast as that of a normal woman.
  • Vampire Abilities: Spitfire has been shown to possess vampire abilities. Though she hadn't explicitly displayed other vampire powers, she has been repeatedly referred to as a vampire, suggesting that she possesses all the basic vampire powers. Seemingly, it has never even been considered whether she is contagious, which suggests she isn't. However, she can control her blood lust and has no need to drink blood. She is also unaffected by traditional vampire weaknesses, still cast reflection and can still be captured on film.
    • Claws and Fangs: Spitfire has protractile fangs and claws that inadvertently extend when she is angry.[1]
    • Superhuman Strength: She has vampiric strength, allowing her to lift in excess of 1 ton.[1]
    • Superhuman Stamina: Spitfire has vampiric stamina, allowing her to maintain her hyper-speed pace almost indefinitely.
    • Superhuman Senses: She also has vampiric senses, which are considerably acuter than human senses and allow her to track individual by scent.[1]
    • Regenerative Healing Factor: She can also heal even severe wounds in seconds[1] , and endure a crush from orbit.
    • Self Sustenance: She can also function normally in zero-atmosphere environments, such as space.
  • Longevity: A second blood transfusion from the Human Torch had the unexpected effect of de-aging her to a teenager, granting her a longer life span.[10]

Abilities

  • Martial Arts: Sptifire is an exceptional natural athlete and fighter and has been trained by both her father and Captain America in several forms of hand-to-hand combat.[1]
  • Aviation: She is also a trained pilot.
  • Multilingualism: She is fluent in English and German.[1]
  • Weapons Expert: She is proficient with both guns and knives.[1]

See Also

Links and References

References

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