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Jennifer Kale (Earth-616)

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I met Jennifer Kale at a sorcerer's social sort of thing. I found out later how powerful she was, but at the time, all I knew was she was loads of fun and had a laugh I could listen to all night. As the heir to the Tome of Zhered-Na, Jen has been through some rough times, but mostly, she sort of sees it all as a big adventure. She has faith that whatever happens is what is meant to be.

—Ian McNee[source]

History

Zhered-Na[]

In the years leading up to the Great Cataclysm, the Atlantean sorceress Zhered-Na prophesied the sinking of Atlantis, leading to her exile by Emperor Kamuu.

While adrift at sea for several weeks, Zhered-Na meditated and received a vision of Earth's future, which she believed was granted by her god Valka. Eventually, her boat reached the shore of Thuria, where she soon encountered an Atlantean colony on the mainland. From this colony, she gathered disciples, founded a cult, and taught them sorcery over the years. Zhered-Na also prophesied that demons from the realm of Sominus would attempt an invasion of Earth centuries later but would be thwarted by the Man-Thing. Among her followers was Dakimh the Enchanter, to whom she granted seeming immortality, though he continued to age very slowly. When the Great Cataclysm struck, local Atlanteans blamed Zhered-Na, attacking her cult. She was killed in the conflict, though Dakimh and a few other disciples managed to escape with scrolls containing her mystical knowledge.[citation needed]

Origins[]

Practicing magick.

Practicing magick.

Jennifer and her young brother Andy were raised in Citrusville, Florida by their grandfather Joshua. The status of their birth parents is unknown. Curious about witchcraft, Jennifer began an independent study. She wished to borrow a particular book from her grandfather's library, but he refused. Undeterred, Jennifer snuck the book out and enlisted Andy as her assistant. She considered it her "family heritage," and she painstakingly studied the arcane, long-forgotten language and symbology of the tome. The Kale siblings, having acquired the tools for a ritual from a local head shop, took to the Everglades to perform the ritual. Over Andy's objections, Jennifer proceeded with the ritual, secretly watched by the Man-Thing, the Guardians of the Nexus of All Realities. At first, it appeared that the ritual had failed, disappointing Jennifer. However, Jennifer had in fact succeeded: though only the Man-Thing witnessed it, the Nether-Spawn emerged from a rift.[6]

Dejected, Jennifer took Andy with her to a movie theatre to watch "Monsters from Beyond" -- a horror film, a genre that Jennifer enjoyed. Partway through the film, the demon that Jennifer had summoned burst through the screen. Understanding instantly that the creature was hunting her, she fled. Luckily for her, the Man-Thing had followed the demon, and burned it to ash. This proved to be insufficient, as the demon rose again, and now sought to destroy the shambling creature. Touched by the apparent kindness of the monstrous Man-Thing in defending her, Jennifer and Andy resolved to help him in defeating the demon. Returning to the swamp, they set their grandfather's book aflame, banishing the Nether-Spawn. Jennifer thanked the Man-Thing as they returned to Citrusville.[6]

Jennifer told her boyfriend Jaxon of the incident with Man-Thing and the Nether-Spawn, though he did not believe either existed. The Man-Thing was, in fact, of great interest to Grandpa Kale, who ran the local chapter of the Cult of Zhered-Na. The Cult gathered at the Kale residence for a meeting, only to discover that the Tome of Zhered-Na -- the very book that Jennifer had taken -- was missing. A cultist named Brainard blamed Joshua, accusing him of stealing the Tome. Hearing this, Jennifer confessed her theft and the summoning of the Nether-Spawn. This delighted and confused her grandfather, for the summoning of an evil demon was not among the spells within the Tome -- ergo, the Tome itself must have been switched out for a different spellbook.[7]

Meanwhile, Jaxon had gone to the swamp against Jennifer's warnings, and was possessed by another demon from the lingering dimensional rift. Pursued by Man-Thing, the possessed Jaxon confronted the Kales, and seemingly opened a portal to Sominus, drawing all five into the Thog the Nether-Spawn's personal Hell. Thog used his hellish powers to revert Man-Thing into the human Ted Sallis, and promised to keep him in that state if only he would kill the Kale family. Sallis refused, and once more became the brainless Man-Thing.

Grandpa Kale realized that they had not truly been transported to Sominus, but that a reality-warping spell was being channeled through the Man-Thing. The demonically possessed Jaxon attempted to kill Jennifer, and once more the Man-Thing stepped in to defend her. The possessed man was terrified, and yet did not burn at Man-Thing's touch, which managed to let the creature realize that illusory nature of the situation, breaking the spell. With reality restored, Man-Thing's touch managed to expel the demon from Jaxon, destroying it and saving the boy. Jennifer instinctively understood the burning power of Man-Thing's touch, and it was in this moment that Joshua realized that she had forged a spiritual connection to the Man-Thing, which made Jennifer a "creature of destiny".[7]

Interplanetary Adventures[]

A wave of madness and hatred began to spread over the world, and Grandpa Kale realized that it was the result of demonic influence. He knew that the Tome of Zhered-Na -- the true tome -- would be necessary to put things right. He assembled the Cult in the swamp, and cast the Mists of Maalock, a spell intended to retrieve the Tome. The Mists selected Jennifer and the Man-Thing as the voyagers for the trans-dimensional quest, and transported the duo to the world called Sandt. The wizard Dakimh the Enchanter took them prisoner. The Man-Thing, as Jennifer's champion, was forced into gladiatorial combat with a warrior called Mongu for the entertainment of the Emperor of Sandt. Though Man-Thing was uneager to fight, he ultimately proved unkillable, and bested Mongu. Jennifer used this example to terrify the Emperor, convincing him to let the duo go. Dakimh returned Jennifer and Man-Thing to Earth.[8]

Jennifer threatens the Emperor

Jennifer threatens the Emperor

The demonic influence over Earth intensified, and an angry mob confronted Man-Thing. Jennifer, through her connection with the beast, could feel the pain of the blows. The swamp guardian was seemingly killed, much to Jennifer's dismay. As Jennifer mourned, Dakimh the Enchanter appeared to her. He revealed himself to be the last disciple of Zhered-Na, the Atlantean Sorceress Supreme who had been killed for predicting the cataclysm that would sink the civilization below the waves. The trials Jennifer had faced on Sandt had been a trial, to prove her worthy to reclaim the true Tome of Zhered-Na. Jennifer agreed to take up this quest, and she was gifted with the garb of Zhered-Na.[9]

A revived Man-Thing joined Jennifer and Dakimh on their quest, and they set out on a trek across incomprehensible dimensions. Jennifer discovered the Tome on an alter, but when she approached to read it, the evil elf named Yopp appeared, and transported Jennifer and the Man-Thing to Sominus, where she was shocked to see her family and the Cult being tortured. A molten rock monster, the Guardian of the Dark Domain, attacked Jennifer, mistaking her for Zhered-Na herself. Man-Thing engaged the Guardian in combat, giving Jennifer time to claim the Tome. Though she struggled to read the Pre-Cataclysmic Atlantean language, merely acquiring the Tome was enough to send all of them home to the Everglades. The Man-Thing, back home, was able to easily destroy the demon. The Tome of Zhered-Na, no longer needed, returned to it's resting place, but Jennifer was heartbroken to realize her connection to the Man-Thing had been broken in the process.[9]

Apprentice Spellbinder[]

In the aftermath of the Man-Thing's apparent death, the corrupt developer F.A. Schist begun plans to drain the swamp to build an airport, angering both locals in Citrusville and the local Native American tribespeople, such as Black Eagle. Jennifer and her family supported the anti-F.A. Schist protests in Citrusville. Joshua expressed concern to a friend about the severing of Jennifer and Man-Thing's bond, but refused to elaborate. Supporters of Schist ensured that the protests devolved into a riot, and Schist himself announced to the crowd the issue of a court order to ban demonstrations and to evict the local natives.[10]

Jennifer descends from the Castle in the Sky

Jennifer descends from the Castle in the Sky

Jennifer began to have vivid nightmares around this time; her grandfather knew this was a sign of something to come, but didn't know how to tell her.[11] These nightmares began to plague Jennifer even during her waking hours.[12] In truth, these nightmares were all too real. Jennifer's spirit had projected itself, "blinking" to the Land Between Night and Day, where armies from across time, space, and dimensions warred against each other. One night, an army from Katharta attacked the Man-Thing, who had also been transported to this mysterious land. From the Castle in the Sky, Jennifer descended on a beam of light, seeking to protect the Man-Thing. Korrek, warrior-prince of Katharta, pursued Jennifer, believing her to be at fault for the plight of his home.[13]

Jennifer awoke, finally aware that her dreams were just as real as they were unreal. And this time, being awake would not protect Jennifer. Mysterious power infiltrated the Kale home, and transfigured a jar of peanut butter into "a jar of man", the stick substance inexplicably transmuting into Korrek the Barbarian. Korrek attempted to kill Jennifer in her bed, but fled at the sight of her family, believing them to be similarly powerful sorcerers. At this point, Dakihm the Enchanter appeared. He explained that the F.A. Schist Construction Company's draining of the swamp had unbalanced the Nexus of All Realities, and thus had unbalanced all of reality. He offered to take Jennifer on as his apprentice, and she eagerly agreed.[13]

Transported to the Castle in the Sky in the flesh for the first time, Jennifer began her studies. Dakihm also warned her of the Congress of Realities, who aimed to destroy the paradise known as Therea. At that very moment the armies of the Congress breached the castle. Dakimh vanished, again, leaving Jennifer both frustrated and in very real danger.[13] Taken prisoner and convicted of Contempt of Congress in a show trial, Jennifer was to be executed immediately. Shockingly, Jennifer was saved when a hole between dimensions summoned Daredevil and Black Widow. Themselves as confused as Jennifer, the two heroes disarmed the firing squad before returning as suddenly as they'd arrived.[14]

Dakimh rescued Jennifer by transmuting her into water. Appearing one dimension lower, she encountered Dakihm in the company of Man-Thing, Korrek, and Howard the Duck. She demanded answers, and her mentor explained the collapse of reality. The group travelled Outside of reality, and in the trek, Howard fell, apparently to his death. The survivors witnessed the Congress of Realities invade Therea, and followed. The Overmaster of the Congress revealed his true identity as Thog the Nether-Spawn, the lord of Sominus who had menaced Jennifer so many times before. Man-Thing fought Thog, and ultimately managed to throw him into the simon-pure water of Therea, and the holy water turned the demon to stone. Their Overmaster slain, the Congress of Realities fled Therea.

Jennifer was confused as to why the Gods of Therea, Zokk and Maftra, had not participated in defense of their realm. Dakimh explained that these Gods were not being of fury that lived in crystal spires, but humble beings of nature. In truth, they were dogs. The Man-Thing touched the gods-dogs, and Jennifer experienced the whole spectrum of reality as existence itself was healed. Returned with Dakimh to the Castle in the Sky, Jennifer committed herself enthusiastically to continued study of spellcraft.[14]

A year later, upheaval in Katharta led to Korrek nearly being slain by Mortak the Usurper and Klonus the Wizard. Dakimh transported the prince once more to Land Between Night and Day and had Jennifer escort him to the Castle. Jennifer conjured new garments for Korrek to wear, demonstrating her powers had grown. Dakimh concluded that the Prince of Katharta was destined for godhood, and that Klonus wished to usurp that destiny through Mortak.[15]

The death of her mentor.

The death of her mentor.

Klonus and Mortak travelled to Jennifer's hometown of Citrusville and issued a challenge of combat to the heroes. They dared not to refuse, lest their foes wreck havoc on Earth. Jennifer summoned Korrek's blade, allowing the prince to defend himself while she and Dakimh confronted Klonus. While Damikh imprisoned Klonus in a cage of crimson energy, he was undone by a noose of mystic vapor conjured by the wizard. As his heart gave out, Damikh transferred his 200 centuries' worth of mystic and psychic energy to Jennifer. The Man-Thing incapacitated Klonus for Jennifer, allowing her to be present as the last disciple of Zhered-Na died. Before he died, he revealed that he had foreseen his own death, but joined the battle nonetheless. After Korrek defeated Mortak, Jennifer cast a spell, wrapping the two invaders' bodies in cocoons and banishing them to drift among the dark reaches of space.[15] Jennifer buried Dakimh in the Everglades, consecrating his grave with the symbol of Zhered-Na.[16]

Ways of the Witch-Woman[]

Jennifer's apprenticeship ended with Dakimh's death, though the Enchanter took the form of a ghost, occasionally meddling in Earthly affairs. On one such occasion, he reunited Jennifer, Man-Thing, Korrek, and Howard the Duck, in a bid to stop the nihilistic Bzzk'joh, Son of Sombra and proprietor of the Imperium Emporium. Jennifer proved herself a true sorcerer by opening the door to the Waters of Eternity, a hidden chamber in the Castle in the Sky. Dakimh explained that Bzzk'joh was an insane demon of humorlessness, and that Howard would be the general in the fight to defend "the Farce", the source of all humor in the face of death. Howard shirked his duties, leaving the castle vulnerable to invasion by Bzzk'joh, who captured Jennifer.[17]

Before being taken to the Emporium, Jennifer used her mystical power to animate Naac-P30 and Tutu, two Druid-Droids nearby. With their help, Jennifer's friends were able to rescue her and destroy the Emporium.[18] Jennifer and her friends returned Howard to Earth, departing in a spaceship.[19]

The Fear Lord D'Spayre defeated Jennifer, binding both her and Dakimh's ghost in a shack in the middle of the Man-Thing's swamp -- secretly a demonic obsidian tower. The demon's plan was to bind Jennifer and Dakimh to the tower, using it's darkness to corrupt them and their "universe-spanning" powers. D'Spayre had beaten the Man-Thing as well, allowing his capture by the circus promoter Amos Jardine. Luckily, Spider-Man rescued Man-Thing, and returned him to the Everglades a few weeks later. Spider-Man was able to release the sorcerers, and Jennifer joined her power with Dakimh to destroy D'Spayre's Obsidian Tower, ending his threat.[20]

As part of an ongoing conflict with Doctor Strange, Baron Mordo kidnapped both Jennifer and the Man-Thing to a demonic temple of his own making. He also kidnapped Jennifer's family, Andy and Grandpa Joshua, and her now ex-boyfriend[21] Jaxon, binding them to sacrificial slabs alongside other victims. Mordo had bent the Man-Thing to his will as part of a scheme to summon the Mabdhara. Mordo's spell consumed all the sacrifices, including Jennifer herself. She urged the man within the Man-Thing to rebel against Mordo before being reduced to a skeleton. Her pleas worked, and Man-Thing shattered the crystalline gateway, thus disrupting the ritual and restoring all the sacrifices to life.[22]

The premier sorcerers of the world, captured.

The premier sorcerers of the world, captured.

Later, Jennifer did her best to help Barbie Bannister, find her lover John Daltry, casting a scrying spell in an ancient language. Whatever force had taken John defied her, and the resulting mystic backlash left her winded. Andy brought home John Kowalski, secretly an agent of Death, and Jennifer could tell he had a strange power about him. Later, the Kale house was assaulted by Barnaby Stone and his biker gang, in revenge for an earlier encounter with Andy and Kowalski.[23]

Jennifer Kale was later kidnapped by a possessed Daltry, and taken to Sominus alongside her grandfather Joshua, Dakimh, Doctor Strange, Clea, Margali and Jimaine Szardos, and comic writer Chris Claremont. Thog, returned once more, had possessed Daltry through Captain Fate's Magus Sword. Man-Thing attacked alongside Kowalski and Bannister, and eventually Thog was defeated. Jennifer returned home to Citrusville with Man-Thing and her grandfather.[24]

The Legion of Night[]

In time, Jennifer began attending Seaview College in Malibu, California, and found a new lover in Bernard Drabble. While admiring the ocean, Jennifer was struck by pain as she sensed the impending death of Charles Blackwater. Her prediction came true, as Reeve Calder of a cult called Beyond Reason killed him. Following her visions, she left California.[25]

On a plane to New York City, Jennifer communed with the Man-Thing in her dreams, before being awakened by an demon-possessed Fin Fang Foom flying by. In accordance with her visions, she went to Thamuz Books, an occult book store in the city. There, she met others gathered by fate, driven by dreams: a revived Charles Blackwater, now possessed by the spirit called Omen; Professor Katherine Reynolds; Chan Liuchow; Ariann and Caspar Wright, and Martin Gold.

Suiting up.

Suiting up.

Omen explained that left unchecked, Aan Tanuu would convert all of existence into "the Dream". The assembled mystics formed the Legion of Night to oppose this threst. Jennifer was particularly impressed by young Ariann. Together, they fought bizarre demons created by the expanding Dream, and even fought the spirits of all those Fin Fang Foom had eaten. Jennifer was able to fend off these spirits, protecting her comrades. Ariann was able to destroy the center of the Dream saving reality. Omen, however, was convinced the Aan Tanuu would return, and that the Legion would need to remain together to combat it's future schemes.[26]

Ghost Rider[]

Jennifer transferred to U.C. Berkeley, telling Dakimh that she needed to experience a more normal life to ultimately aid her studies. There, she made a friend named Denise. An old foe of Doctor Strange's, Silver Dagger, attempted an assassination of Jenn by radicalizing a young member of an anti-magic cult, but she was easily able to defend herself.[27]

After the Silver Dagger incident, Jennifer moved to Loisaida, New York, and continued her mystical studies. One day, Doctor Strange asked her to treat Dan Ketch, who was suffering from a mystic affliction. Jennifer agreed, on the terms that Strange would afterwards help her on a "long term project". Recognizing that the spell that bound Spirit of Vengeance's memories was endangering Danny Ketch, Jennifer broke the spell. Thus, the Spirit recovered it's name: Noble Kale. Unfortunately, this released the Furies, three demons who hunted the Spirit.[28]

Jenn helped Ketch and Johnny Blaze fight the Furies, who blamed Ghost Rider for the murder of a woman long ago. She banished the Furies for a decade from the spiritual plane with a crude spell. Though Jennifer would've been happy to move on, she realized that she was of the same bloodline as Noble Kale, and thus had no choice. She bickered with Johnny Blaze, who treated her disdainfully. To help hide Danny from the Furies, she erased him from the memories of those close to him, like his mother and his ex-girlfriend.[29]

The Furies took human hosts, and regrouped to attack Ghost Rider. Outnumbered, Jennifer issued a mystic distress call that brought Valkyrie to the scene. Jennifer came up with a plan to save the day, and used her and Blaze's ancestral link to call up the spirit of Magdelena Kale into her body. Magdelena released the Furies from her request for vengeance against Noble Kale before departing for the afterlife once more.[30]

After the battle, Jennifer urged Johnny not to kill Blackheart's servant Black Rose, noting an unusual human quality to her. Blackheart reclaimed his servant, frustrating Blaze. Jennifer thanked Valkyrie for her aid, before fleeing the scene with Blaze. At this point, Jennifer wanted to wash her hands of the ordeal, but out of pity agreed to help Blaze find his missing children. Jenn returned home to her apartment, and was surprised to find Howard the Duck waiting for her. She cast a spell to return Howard home at last to Duckworld.[31]

Empowered by Eternity.

Empowered by Eternity.

Jennifer's spell went awry, and instead of sending Howard home, the ritual transplanted Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy into her apartment. Much chaos ensued as the duo rampaged through the streets of New York, leading to the involvement of Code: Blue. During the chaos, a wall collapsed on Jenn, injuring her.[32] Ghost Rider ultimately subdued the duo, but Jennifer felt much guilt for bringing them into danger in the first place.[33]

After Jenn was discharged from the hospital, the duo resumed their search. Around this time, the Abstract entity known as Eternity chose Jennifer as a vessel for its power, which she used to send the Ghost Rider to a universe where he was needed to stop Mephisto.[34] After trying almost a dozen methods to find Johnny's kids, Jennifer decided to use a riskier method: conjuring a Wendigo.[35] This lead them on a road trip to Canada, and they quickly became lost.[36] They parted on bad terms, finding no sign of Blaze's children.[37]

Ally to X-Force[]

Moving to the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, Jennifer took up residence in an old Victorian mansion. While in the City by the Bay, Jennifer made the acquaintance of a man known as Benchley, a local dabbler in the mystic arts.[38]

At Benchley's referral, Jennifer agreed to assist the young Mutants known as X-Force. Together, they confronted the succubus called Pandemonia, who had taken mystic control of several X-Force members. While X-Force distracted the demon, Jenn freed Pandemonia's mental slaves (Locus, Meltdown, Warpath, Skids, Sunspot) and, assisted by Moonstar, she banished Pandemonia back to her home dimension on the chaos plane.[38]

Having observed Danielle's strange new reality-warping energies during the fight, Jennifer agreed to help her new friend investigate their origin. Ultimately, Jennifer could not pinpoint their cause, but determined they were not supernatural in origin. She instead theorized that Dani had become a conduit for a cosmic force.[39] Later, Jennifer taught t'ai chi to members of X-Force as a favor to her friend.[40] When Arcadia DeVille recovered Dani's cosmic powers back into herself, Jennifer Kale intervened alongside her old friend, the Man-Thing, ensuring Arcadia's reality powers were brought into check.[41]

Witches[]

Many years had passed since Jennifer's career as a spellbinder had begun, and Jennifer's grandfather, Joshua, passed away. Her brother Andrew, now a college student in New York, met a man who claimed to have known their grandfather. In truth, this was the Hell Lord Marduk Kurios in disguise. At the New York Public Library, the Devil tricked Andy into opening a cursed volume of the Tome of Zhered-Na. Transcribed by their ancestor Illyana Kale from knowledge gifted by spirits both dark and divine, the knowledge contained within this volume had been deemed too dangerous, and thus the magic-eating parasite called the Hellphyr had been bound to it. After Joshua's death, it had been hidden away for safe keeping. Any who opened the Tome would become host to the Hellphyr, and thus Andy was transformed into a hellish monster.[42]

Jennifer had again transferred her university studies, this time ending up back home in Florida. She also acquired a number of piercings and a tattoo around this time. When Andy had opened the Tome, all significant magick-users on Earth felt a searing pain, Jennifer included. Knowing that only a member of the Kale bloodline could seal the Tome once again, Doctor Strange recruited Jennifer into a makeshift coven alongside "angels and demons". He neglected to tell Jennifer that the Hellphyr's host was her brother.

Jennifer arrived in New York, hoping to meet up with her brother while helping Strange. Initially, her flippant manner alienated Wong and Topaz, as she chaffed against the strict rules that Strange expected his companions to follow. She urged the meek Topaz, who was to be the "angel" in the coven, to be less subservient to Strange. The two of them were shocked to discover that Strange had revived Satana Hellstrom to be the final member of their coven. The three of them struggled to bring their significant mystical skills into harmony with each other, with particular tensions flaring between Jennifer and Satana.[43]

Jennifer is forced to slay Andrew.

Jennifer is forced to slay Andrew.

Seeing an opportunity to cause chaos, Lilith sent a demon to attack the Witches during their training. Though Jennifer was able to defeat the creature, she injured Satana in the fight. Fed up with Satana's snide remarks and Topaz's spinelessness, Jennifer stormed out of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Jennifer went to Andy's apartment to catch up; as Strange had kept the truth of Andy's condition from her, she didn't realize she was walking right into extreme danger.[2] At Strange's urging, Satana and Topaz rushed to Jennifer's aid. Marduk Kurios taunted her, revealing that the Hellphyr was in fact possessing her brother. Satana defied her father, and attacked the demon alongside Topaz. Accepting that there was no alternative, Jennifer dealt the final blow, killing her dear brother.

Doctor Strange arrived, and demanded that Jennifer surrender the Tome to him. Jennifer, furious, refused. She called out Strange for keeping the truth about Andy from her, which he admitted to be true. Determined, Strange lunged for the Tome, but Topaz protected Jennifer from him. Realizing that they had all three of them been betrayed by the Sorcerer Supreme, the Witches abandoned Strange, intending to keep the Tome safe in their own way.[44]

The Initiative & Midnight Sons[]

After the passing of the Superhuman Registration Act, Jennifer joined Florida's state Initiative team, Command, and fought the Skrulls infiltration of the Initiative during the Secret Invasion.[45] Jennifer was then called to investigate some strange happenings around Man-Thing's swamp. The Command was suddenly assailed by zombies from another dimension. Her teammates Siege and Conquistador were quickly overrun. An extra-dimensional zombie Deadpool severed tendons in her arms, leaving her unable to perform the hand motions necessary for many of her spells. Ever resourceful, Jennifer managed to mince the zombie on the fan of a fan-boat.

Her last remaining teammate, Wundarr the Aquarian, had to enter a hibernation state to purge the infection from his system. At just this moment, a zombified Siege attacked Jennifer. Though the cybernetic components in Siege's body neutralized him before Jennifer could be harmed, she had a mental breakdown in response to the horror. She was eventually picked up by A.R.M.O.R. and placed in quarantine, seemingly in a near-catatonic state. When A.R.M.O.R. itself was overrun by zombies, Jennifer managed to hide from the disaster.[46]

Around this time, Jennifer was considered the foremost candidate for the position of Sorcerer Supreme by Stephen Strange, who had lost the position. Strange traveled to Florida to find her, certain that with her abilities, she would have been chosen. Strange had difficulty locating her, and eventually learned she had not become the new Supreme.[47]

In the aftermath, Morbius reformed the Midnight Sons as an A.R.M.O.R. response team. Jennifer, donning "witch-armor" after the trauma of her last mission, was eager for payback and joined the team. Despite Morbius' reservations, A.R.M.O.R. PsychOps cleared her for duty without reservation.[48] Before deployment, she recorded a message to Topaz, referring to her as "girlfriend" ironically, in the case of her death. She bequeathed the Tome of Zhered-Na to Topaz in the case of her death.[49]

Possessed by

Possessed by Dormammu

The Midnight Sons learned that Zombie-Deadpool's head had escaped Jennifer's prior attack and went after him. Zombiepool had infected Piranha and the Men-Fish, who proved a powerful foe for the Midnight Sons. While the Midnight Sons were tracking the infection in Haiti, The Hood and Night Shift attacked them, seeking to take advantage of the situation. Jennifer dueled the disciple of Kali called Dansen Macabre. The villains fled when Morbius's attempt at a Hunger vaccine backfired, mutating the zombies further. Jennifer began to panic, her zombie-PTSD triggered. Seeing an opportunity, the Dread Dormammu appeared to Jennifer.[49]

Dormammu offered Jennifer his power. In grave peril with no time to spare, Jennifer was tempted, but backed by Man-Thing, refused. Jennifer used her psychic link to the Man-Thing to survey the rate of Hunger infection in the local ecosystem, and determined it was a catastrophic situation. The zombies overwhelmed the Man-Thing, much to Jen's horror. At that moment, Werewolf by Night approached, apparently infected with the zombie virus. Desperate, Jennifer called on Dormammu and accepted his offer. Predictably, Dormammu's offer was not benign, and he commanded Jennifer to commandeer the zombie infection for his own cause.[3]

Jennifer, twisted by Dormammu's power, seized control of the hivemind superintelligence of the Hunger virus-storm, and then sought to annihilate the Zombiepool head once and for all. Next, she battled Daimon Hellstrom, taking the form of his ex-wife Hellcat to tempt him. This gambit failed, and Daimon helped Jennifer free herself from Dormammu's control. Jennifer, though free from Dormammu, retained her control over the zombies, if only briefly. To end the contagion, Jennifer confined the zombie virus inside The Zombie with the Black Talon's help.[50]

Heroic Age & End Times[]

Jennifer's new costume.

Jennifer's new costume.

During Norman Osborn's Dark Reign, the Man-Thing was imprisoned by H.A.M.M.E.R.. After Osborn's fall and H.A.M.M.E.R.'s dissolution, Man-Thing was transferred to the Raft, under Luke Cage's supervision. In the Man-Thing's absence, chaos began to reign in the Swamp as interdimensional travelers went unchallenge.

Cage and the Thunderbolts had begun using the Man-Thing as a means of transportation, piloted by implants designed by Dr. Hank Pym. Taking the guise of Raft guard Gary Tan, Jennifer infiltrated the prison and absconded with her old friend. Returning to the Nexus, Jennifer and Man-Thing defended locals from alien invaders. But after peace was restored, Man-Thing transported himself and Jennifer back to the Raft. Luke Cage and Songbird managed to convince a skeptical Jennifer that Man-Thing had decided himself to remain there. Jennifer departed, promising to visit her friend from time to time.[51]

The Avengers Academy sent two of students, White Tiger and Reptil, to consult with Jennifer as to the nature of the magical artifacts from which they derived their powers. The young heroes wanted to know whether these artifacts were good or evil, but Jennifer told them it was not so binary a matter as that. Magic, she explained, could be both a burden and a gift. She advised them to consider carefully whether the boons were worth the cost.[52] At some point during this period, Jennifer made the acquaintance of Maria Hill.

Her next time in the Avengers orbit would not be so cordial. Jennifer was attacked by Daniel Drumm, possessing Victoria Hand, in her home in Miami. She was defeated, though her ultimate fate was initially unclear. S.H.I.E.L.D. and the F.B.I. considered it a missing persons case.[4] Jennifer's disappearance greatly disturbed Doctor Strange, who reiterated his belief that Jennifer was next in line to become Sorcerer Supreme. According to Strange, Jennifer had been intentionally keeping a low profile, hiding her increased mastery.[53] Strange also said that Jennifer had begun to study "dark magics" before her death.[54]

Back from Beyond[]

Jennifer Kale (Earth-616) from Elektra Vol 4 9 001

In fact, Jennifer had been killed by Drumm's mad assault. However, this would quickly prove to be only a brief brush with finality. Jennifer used 'dark magic' to resurrect herself, presumably the magick that she had been studying before her death. The magick restored her to life but left the right side of her head horribly scarred. She took up residence in a castle within the Nexus of All Realities, becoming the mystic guardian of the Nexus. Jennifer kept her resurrection a secret to most, but made her friend Maria Hill aware of her return.[5]

After the Hand captured Bullseye using a dragon, Maria Hill realized that magical assistance would be necessary in his retrieval. Maria brought Elektra to Jennifer's castle in the Nexus. Jennifer revealed her scars to her visitors, and the sight shocked Maria. She prepared a spell, using an ancient Atlantean dragon heart as the key reagent. Elektra consumed the heart, transporting Elektra to her target in an experience Jennifer warned would be worse than death. The spell did not, however, bring Maria along with it, frustrating the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director.[5]

In time, Jennifer managed to rid her face of the scarring caused by her resurrection. Unfortunately for Jennifer, Mys-Tech sent their agent Ethan Slaughter to attack her with Black Dechantment bullets. Slaughter managed to shoot Jennifer while was in the city of Ochopee. While injured, Jennifer was not mortally injured, and S.H.I.E.L.D. managed to end Mys-Tech's supply of anti-magic munition.[55]

Fighting alongside Wanda Maximoff.

Fighting alongside Wanda Maximoff.

After Ted Sallis gained a degree of awareness within the Man-Thing, Jennifer used her sorcery to summon Belasco from Hell on his behalf. Man-Thing took the warlock into the "Dreadscape" to take revenge.[56] Later, Jennifer and the Man-Thing were aided by the Scarlet Witch and Joseph in defending Citrusville from creatures called the Serpentinions. Jennifer was impressed by Joseph's ability to interact with the Man-Thing without being burned.[57]

Attributes

Power Grid[60]
:Category:Power Grid/Fighting Skills/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Energy Projection/Multiple Types:Category:Power Grid/Durability/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Speed/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Strength/Normal:Category:Power Grid/Intelligence/Gifted

Powers

  • Highly Skilled Sorcerer: Jennifer Kale is one of the world's only skilled practitioners of Pre-Cataclysm Atlantean and Lemurian magicks, a tradition dating back to the Sorceress Supreme Zhered-Na herself.[13][38][41] Daimon Hellstrom described this as a tradition of "battlemages".[48] She has described her own innate sorcery as both psychic and empathic. Ultimately, this power is derived from three major sources: personal powers of the soul / body / mind derived through developing one's own psychic resources (such as thought-casting), powers gained by tapping this universe's ambient magical energy and employing it for specific effects, and powers gained through tapping extra dimensional energy by invoking entities or objects of power existing in mystical dimensions tangential to this one.[citation needed] Kale can also fire magical bolts, form shields, open dimensional portals, mesmerize others[41], affect the memories of others[29], conjure items[42], teleport herself and others[49], and cast numerous other spells for a variety of effects.
  • Psychic Link: Kale possesses a psychic link with the Man-Thing. Although once severed, the link has been reforged.[26][3][51]
Donning the Witch-Armor

Donning the Witch-Armor

Abilities

  • Jennifer Kale possesses the normal human strength of a woman of her age, height and build who engages in moderate regular exercise.
  • Multilingual: Jennifer demonstrates an intuitive knack for languages and has learned many arcane tongues, including the language of Pre-Cataclysm Atlantis.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Notes

Jennifer as The Star tarot.

Jennifer as The Star tarot.

  • While attending Seaview College, Jennifer studied on an MBA track, before switching to a double major in painting and interpretive dance.[26]
  • Jennifer is associated with the Star card in the practice of Tarot reading and thus is linked to ancient pacts with the Elder Goddess Oshtur.[58]

Trivia

  • Jennifer is bisexual.[59]
  • Jennifer has attended at least three different universities.

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. ↑ First name revealed in Fear #11, surname later revealed in Fear #13
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Witches #3
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Marvel Zombies 4 #3
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 New Avengers (Vol. 2) #31
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Elektra (Vol. 4) #9
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fear #11
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fear #13
  8. ↑ Fear #14
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Fear #15
  10. ↑ Fear #16
  11. ↑ Fear #17
  12. ↑ Fear #18
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Fear #19
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Man-Thing #1
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Giant-Size Man-Thing #3
  16. ↑ Man-Thing #22
  17. ↑ Howard the Duck #22
  18. ↑ Howard the Duck #23
  19. ↑ Howard the Duck #24
  20. ↑ Marvel Team-Up #68
  21. ↑ Man-Thing (Vol. 2) #4
  22. ↑ Doctor Strange (Vol. 2) #41
  23. ↑ Man-Thing (Vol. 2) #10
  24. ↑ Man-Thing (Vol. 2) #11
  25. ↑ The Legion of Night #1
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 The Legion of Night #2
  27. ↑ Over the Edge #2
  28. ↑ Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #77
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #79
  30. ↑ Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #80
  31. ↑ Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #81
  32. ↑ Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #82
  33. ↑ Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #83
  34. ↑ Cyblade/Ghost Rider #1
  35. ↑ Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #86
  36. ↑ Ghost Rider (Vol. 3) #89
  37. ↑ Ghost Rider Finale #1
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 X-Force #85
  39. ↑ X-Force #87
  40. ↑ X-Force #96
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 X-Force #100
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Witches #1
  43. ↑ Witches #2
  44. ↑ Witches #4
  45. ↑ Avengers: The Initiative #19
  46. ↑ Marvel Zombies 3 #1–4
  47. ↑ New Avengers #51
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Marvel Zombies 4 #1
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 Marvel Zombies 4 #2
  50. ↑ Marvel Zombies 4 #4
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Thunderbolts (Vol. 2) #154
  52. ↑ Avengers Academy #34
  53. ↑ New Avengers (Vol. 2) #32
  54. ↑ New Avengers (Vol. 2) #34
  55. ↑ S.H.I.E.L.D. (Vol. 3) #5
  56. ↑ X-Men: Curse of the Man-Thing #1
  57. ↑ Scarlet Witch (Vol. 3) #9
  58. ↑ Marvel Tarot #1
  59. ↑ Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic #1
  60. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 6
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