Computer science expert Maguire Beck looks up to her cousin Quentin, the master of illusions known as Mysterio. She offers her computer expertise to him and in turn, he teaches her all his special effects secrets. When he takes his own life, she dedicates her life to destroying all those that hurt her beloved cousin as the menacing, and mentally unstable, Mad Jack!
Idolizing the Master of Illusions
Growing up, Maguire Beck idolizes her older cousin Quentin Beck, a Hollywood special effects expert who becomes the Super Villain Mysterio. When Quentin invites Maguire to join him in his life of crime, she readily accepts, using her computer expertise to help upgrade Quentin’s special effects. In return, Quentin teaches Maguire the secrets behind his illusions.
Quentin also has two other students at the time: Daniel “Danny” Berkhart, Quentin’s former cellmate who—during a time when Quentin had faked his own death—is hired by Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson to pose as the ghost of Mysterio and capture Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man, but Berkhart’s arrested and then abandoned by Jameson; and Conundrum, an enigmatic student of Eastern mysticism who claims to know nothing about his own past. Conundrum leaves to pursue his own ambitions and Berkhart adopts the costumed identity of Jack O’Lantern (previously used by Jason Macendale before becoming the Hobgoblin), AKA Mad Jack, to pursue his personal vendetta against J. Jonah Jameson for abandoning him years ago. Though Norman Osborn, AKA Green Goblin, hires Berkhart to target Jameson, Berkhart ultimately burns the cash to show his personal involvement. Maguire joins forces with Berkhart to hone her craft, usually remaining behind the scenes and using her computer technology to assist Berkhart, communicating with him via a radio transmitter built into a robotic cat. Maguire believes that she and Quentin would eventually become full partners in crime—but then Quentin unexpectedly commits suicide. Devastated, Maguire dedicates her life to destroying everyone she regards as having abused, exploited, or humiliated Quentin.
Upon learning of Quentin’s suicide, Berkhart again becomes Mysterio and gives his Jack O’Lantern costume to Maguire. Maguire becomes the new Mad Jack to distinguish herself from previous Jack O’Lanterns, preferring to orchestrate her illusions from behind a computer keyboard.
Computer Science Expert
Mad Jack is an expert designer of special effects devices and stage illusions, a master hypnotist, and skilled in chemistry and robotics. She uses her advanced knowledge of computer imaging and virtual reality to improve upon Mysterio’s techniques. Mad Jack also uses a small one-man hovercraft for transportation, and is often accompanied by a robotic black cat of her own design.
Criminal Colleagues
Maguire has few allies in her pursuit of a professional criminal career. Her strongest allies include her cousin Quentin Beck, who teaches her all his secrets as the Super Villain Mysterio, and Danny Berkhart, who also takes up Mysterio’s mantle in his absence. Maguire teams up with Berkhart to take out Mysterio’s most famous foes, J. Jonah Jameson and Spider-Man.
A Method to Maguire’s Madness
As the new Mysterio, Berkhart briefly joined the Sinister Seven and then unsuccessfully attempted to determine Spider-Man’s true identity, but later reaffiliated himself with Maguire (although Maguire’s increasing mental instability led her to believe that the new Mysterio was actually Quentin). Together, the new Mysterio and Mad Jack plotted revenge against all those who had wronged Quentin. Mad Jack abducted J. Jonah Jameson. They kidnapped Quentin’s ex-girlfriend Betsy Schneider, who had made a living selling toys and children’s books using Mysterio’s likeness, and her husband Joe Smith. Finally, the duo incapacitated Spider-Man and Matt Murdock, AKA Daredevil, by dousing them in hallucinogenic “Joy Juice” which negated their powers. Mad Jack and Mysterio placed their prisoners in virtual reality “Happy Tanks” where they were to be kept incapacitated forever; however, the heroes escaped and defeated Mad Jack, finally learning her true identity, although not realizing the involvement of Berkhart, who had escaped. Quentin Beck has since apparently been resurrected.
