The Jury (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Jury is a fictional group of armored vigilantes in the Marvel Comics
universe. The team was first introduced in Venom: Lethal Protector #2.
whose oldest son Hugh had been murdered by Venom
. Hugh was a prison guard at the Vault
, a prison for super powered criminals, when he was suffocated by Venom's living costume in Venom's attempt to escape.
Orwell gathered together Hugh's friends consisting of his fellow co-worker and friend Curtis Elkins
(Sentry), Samuel Caulkin (Ramshot
), an army buddy of Hugh's and Hugh's younger brother Maxwell Taylor (Screech
). He also recruited two others worked with Hugh at the Vault, Firearm
and Bomblast
). Orwell gave the five of them costumes that were based on the Vault's Guardsman armors (a design stolen from Anthony Stark aka Iron Man
). The suits were outfitted with sonics and fire, both of which are anathema to Venom.
The team's first mission was an attempt to destroy Venom but it failed. Later, they legally rented spots on multiple New York City rooftops and used sensory equipment to scan for Spider-Man. This did not meet with the expected success because there are multiple superheroes that operate high above the city streets. Spider-Man figured out their plan and manages to ambush one of the Jury's maintenance men. The man stands up to Spider-Man, encouraging the superhero to take him to the police, as the equipment is all legal.
Unsure what to do about the entire situation, Spider-Man intentionally baits one of the sensors, drawing the entire team out into a fight. Sentry was unsure about kidnapping Spider-Man and was ordered back to base. Spider-Man was defeated by the remaining members. He was drugged and tried for his part in originally bringing the Venom symbiote to Earth.
Witnesses were present to testify about Venom's crimes. One was a woman whose child had been traumatized after witnessing Venom's monstrous form (Venom had been trying to protect the girl from what he thought was a dangerous stranger). This trial was part of a plan designed to guilt Spider-Man into helping them steal a government designed weapon capable of slaying Venom.
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Orwell seemed to lose sight of his original goals and began making shady deals with the Life Foundation (of which he was a shareholder) thus relegating the Jury to bodyguards for the foundation's clientele in their bunkers. Orwell began to become paranoid that his team was against him. Orwell eventually abandoned his team to die at the hands of a mutated Carlton Drake. Orwell Taylor and Roland Treece were later arrested by federal agents after trying to flee the Life Foundation.
Eventually the Jury breaks from Orwell and reinvent themselves. Orwell's eldest son Maxwell gives up his Screech identity and chose to redesign the Jury and set himself up as the defense lawyer in the Jury's trials of criminals. A mysterious hooded man named Gavel
is assigned to be the judge for all their trials. Gavel was not an actual member of the Jury. He only served to deliver the verdict and always via a transmission from a secret location. A lawyer named Olivia Lentz
was recruited to serve as the prosecutor for their trials. Finally the Jury recruited Jennifer Stewart, a former Guardsman whose husband Ryan was killed during a riot at the Vault. Stewart took the codename Wysper
and took Screech's place in the team. At this time the Jury operated out of a secret location outside of the United States. They also had a base in southern California located in the office of a shell company
named Equity Inc. which supposedly made office furniture. The Jury used a flying ship called the Justifier. Their briefing room was called "The Box."
Shortly after recruiting Wysper, the Jury invaded the small country of Boca Del Dios and freed Luis Alvarez the second Tarantula from a prison guarded by robotic dreadnaughts. The Jury tried Tarantula and after presenting testimony he was convicted. Tarantula tried to escape and was told by Gavel that if he killed Wysper, he would be free to go. Tarantula and Wysper battled, Wysper was unsure she could kill Tarantula until she was informed by Gavel that Tarantula was the one who murdered her husband Ryan during the riot at the vault. Wysper snaps Tarantula's neck and was officially made a member of the Jury.
. After a fight that both sides confessed got out of hand, all present are convinced that Scott can control the symbiote; he had used pleasant memories of his times with his old Vault colleagues to calm the entity.
Later the Jury lost their funding and hit hard times. They were forced to be hired goons yet again but this time working for Edwin Cord
, a business rival of Anthony Stark aka Iron Man. U.S. Agent
was made their leader. The Jury was sent after the Thunderbolts
who had recently been revealed to be the Masters of Evil
. The Jury was defeated by the Thunderbolts and their new leader Hawkeye
. Weeks later The Jury was ordered not to go into battle with Graviton and the Thunderbolts by Edwin Cord who had no desire to waste his resources in battles in which he had nothing to gain personally. The U.S. Agent and the Jury would sometime later go against Cord's mandate and help the Thunderbolts fight the new Secret Empire
.
Recently the Jury fought the New Thunderbolts. They were defeated easily by Songbird.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe. The team was first introduced in Venom: Lethal Protector #2.
History
The Jury was originally conceived and financed by General Orwell TaylorGeneral Orwell Taylor
General Orwell Taylor is a character in the Marvel comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Orwell Taylor and his wife had two sons Hugh and Maxwell . Hugh joined the army, and afterwards he became a guard at the Vault, a prison for super powered criminals...
whose oldest son Hugh had been murdered by Venom
Eddie Brock
Eddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
. Hugh was a prison guard at the Vault
Vault (comics)
The Vault is the widely used nickname of a fictional defunct prison facility for technological-based superhuman criminals in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. The prison's full official name is the United States Maximum Security Installation for the Incarceration of Superhuman Criminals.It first...
, a prison for super powered criminals, when he was suffocated by Venom's living costume in Venom's attempt to escape.
Orwell gathered together Hugh's friends consisting of his fellow co-worker and friend Curtis Elkins
Curtis Elkins
Sentry is a member of The Jury in the fictional Marvel comic universe. His rank is commanding officer. His ethnicity is African-American.-Fictional character biography:...
(Sentry), Samuel Caulkin (Ramshot
Ramshot
Samuel Caulkin aka Ramshot is a fictional character in the Marvel comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Ramshot is a member of an armored group of vigilantes dubbed The Jury. Caulkin was recruited into the Jury by General Orwell Taylor to help him avenge the death of his youngest son Hugh....
), an army buddy of Hugh's and Hugh's younger brother Maxwell Taylor (Screech
Screech (comics)
For other uses of the word Screech, see Screech .Maxwell "Max" Taylor aka Screech is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:...
). He also recruited two others worked with Hugh at the Vault, Firearm
Firearm (comics)
Firearm was a comic book series created by writer James Dale Robinson and artists Howard Chaykin and Cully Hamner for Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint, which lasted 18 issues, with an additional 0 issue. The 0 issue included a 35-minute Firearm movie, on VHS...
and Bomblast
Bomblast
Bomblast is a fictional character in the Marvel comics universe. He is a member of the The Jury.-Fictional character biography:Parmenter was recruited into the Jury by General Orwell Taylor after the death of the General's son Hugh who worked as a Guardsman at the Vault with Parmenter.Not much is...
). Orwell gave the five of them costumes that were based on the Vault's Guardsman armors (a design stolen from Anthony Stark aka Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
). The suits were outfitted with sonics and fire, both of which are anathema to Venom.
The team's first mission was an attempt to destroy Venom but it failed. Later, they legally rented spots on multiple New York City rooftops and used sensory equipment to scan for Spider-Man. This did not meet with the expected success because there are multiple superheroes that operate high above the city streets. Spider-Man figured out their plan and manages to ambush one of the Jury's maintenance men. The man stands up to Spider-Man, encouraging the superhero to take him to the police, as the equipment is all legal.
Unsure what to do about the entire situation, Spider-Man intentionally baits one of the sensors, drawing the entire team out into a fight. Sentry was unsure about kidnapping Spider-Man and was ordered back to base. Spider-Man was defeated by the remaining members. He was drugged and tried for his part in originally bringing the Venom symbiote to Earth.
Witnesses were present to testify about Venom's crimes. One was a woman whose child had been traumatized after witnessing Venom's monstrous form (Venom had been trying to protect the girl from what he thought was a dangerous stranger). This trial was part of a plan designed to guilt Spider-Man into helping them steal a government designed weapon capable of slaying Venom.
Paranoia
Eventually the Jury breaks from Orwell and reinvent themselves. Orwell's eldest son Maxwell gives up his Screech identity and chose to redesign the Jury and set himself up as the defense lawyer in the Jury's trials of criminals. A mysterious hooded man named Gavel
Gavel (comics)
Gavel is a minor fictional character in the Marvel comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Gavel was a masked mystery man who served as the judge for all of The Jury's trials which were usually little more than a farce before they executed their prisoners...
is assigned to be the judge for all their trials. Gavel was not an actual member of the Jury. He only served to deliver the verdict and always via a transmission from a secret location. A lawyer named Olivia Lentz
Olivia Lentz
Olivia Lentz is a minor character in the Marvel comics universe.-History:Olivia was a former lawyer who was recruited to aid the Jury prosecute the criminals they abducted in their staged trials. Former jurist Max Taylor aka Screech served as the defense attorney...
was recruited to serve as the prosecutor for their trials. Finally the Jury recruited Jennifer Stewart, a former Guardsman whose husband Ryan was killed during a riot at the Vault. Stewart took the codename Wysper
Wysper
Wysper is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared Venom: Lethal Protector #2 and was created by Dan Slott and John Calimee.-Fictional character biography:...
and took Screech's place in the team. At this time the Jury operated out of a secret location outside of the United States. They also had a base in southern California located in the office of a shell company
Shell (corporation)
A shell corporation is a company which serves as a vehicle for business transactions without itself having any significant assets or operations. Shell corporations are not in themselves illegal and have legitimate business purposes. However, they are a main component of the underground economy,...
named Equity Inc. which supposedly made office furniture. The Jury used a flying ship called the Justifier. Their briefing room was called "The Box."
Shortly after recruiting Wysper, the Jury invaded the small country of Boca Del Dios and freed Luis Alvarez the second Tarantula from a prison guarded by robotic dreadnaughts. The Jury tried Tarantula and after presenting testimony he was convicted. Tarantula tried to escape and was told by Gavel that if he killed Wysper, he would be free to go. Tarantula and Wysper battled, Wysper was unsure she could kill Tarantula until she was informed by Gavel that Tarantula was the one who murdered her husband Ryan during the riot at the vault. Wysper snaps Tarantula's neck and was officially made a member of the Jury.
Hybrid
The Jury later tracked down Scott Washington aka Hybrid, a former Guardsman who was bonded to a symbiote that was in fact a gestalt of four of the five symbiotes who were once culled from the seed of Venom by the Life Foundation. The Jury fails to kill Hybrid due to the intervention of Hybrid's friends the New WarriorsNew Warriors
The New Warriors is a Marvel Comics superhero team, traditionally consisting of young adult heroes. They first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 .-General publication history:...
. After a fight that both sides confessed got out of hand, all present are convinced that Scott can control the symbiote; he had used pleasant memories of his times with his old Vault colleagues to calm the entity.
Later the Jury lost their funding and hit hard times. They were forced to be hired goons yet again but this time working for Edwin Cord
Edwin Cord
Edwin Cord is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He is created by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, and John Romita, Jr. in Iron Man #125 .-Fictional character biography:...
, a business rival of Anthony Stark aka Iron Man. U.S. Agent
U.S. Agent
U.S. Agent is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually those starring Captain America and the Avengers. He was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary in Captain America vol...
was made their leader. The Jury was sent after the Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts (comics)
The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
who had recently been revealed to be the Masters of Evil
Masters of Evil
The Masters of Evil is a name for a number of fictional supervillain teams that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first version of the team appeared in The Avengers #6 , with the lineup continually changing over the years....
. The Jury was defeated by the Thunderbolts and their new leader Hawkeye
Hawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
. Weeks later The Jury was ordered not to go into battle with Graviton and the Thunderbolts by Edwin Cord who had no desire to waste his resources in battles in which he had nothing to gain personally. The U.S. Agent and the Jury would sometime later go against Cord's mandate and help the Thunderbolts fight the new Secret Empire
Secret Empire
-Fictional organization history:This subversive organization has been headed by a number of different leaders, always known as “Number One,” with each iteration's goals following the desires of its current leader. The Secret Empire was originally founded by a scientist who felt like an anonymous...
.
Recently the Jury fought the New Thunderbolts. They were defeated easily by Songbird.
Members
- SentryCurtis ElkinsSentry is a member of The Jury in the fictional Marvel comic universe. His rank is commanding officer. His ethnicity is African-American.-Fictional character biography:...
(Curtis Elkins) - RamshotRamshotSamuel Caulkin aka Ramshot is a fictional character in the Marvel comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Ramshot is a member of an armored group of vigilantes dubbed The Jury. Caulkin was recruited into the Jury by General Orwell Taylor to help him avenge the death of his youngest son Hugh....
(Samuel Caulkin) - ScreechScreech (comics)For other uses of the word Screech, see Screech .Maxwell "Max" Taylor aka Screech is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:...
(Maxwell "Max" Taylor) - BomblastBomblastBomblast is a fictional character in the Marvel comics universe. He is a member of the The Jury.-Fictional character biography:Parmenter was recruited into the Jury by General Orwell Taylor after the death of the General's son Hugh who worked as a Guardsman at the Vault with Parmenter.Not much is...
(Parmenter, first name unknown) - FirearmFirearm (Marvel Comics)Firearm is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who exists in that company's Marvel Universe. He is a member of The Jury.-Fictional character biography:...
(real name unknown) - WysperWysperWysper is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. She first appeared Venom: Lethal Protector #2 and was created by Dan Slott and John Calimee.-Fictional character biography:...
(Jennifer Stewart) - U.S. AgentU.S. AgentU.S. Agent is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, usually those starring Captain America and the Avengers. He was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary in Captain America vol...
(assigned to lead the group)
Support Staff
- General Orwell TaylorGeneral Orwell TaylorGeneral Orwell Taylor is a character in the Marvel comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Orwell Taylor and his wife had two sons Hugh and Maxwell . Hugh joined the army, and afterwards he became a guard at the Vault, a prison for super powered criminals...
(founder and original financier) - GavelGavel (comics)Gavel is a minor fictional character in the Marvel comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Gavel was a masked mystery man who served as the judge for all of The Jury's trials which were usually little more than a farce before they executed their prisoners...
(the judge for their trials, real name unknown) - Olivia LentzOlivia LentzOlivia Lentz is a minor character in the Marvel comics universe.-History:Olivia was a former lawyer who was recruited to aid the Jury prosecute the criminals they abducted in their staged trials. Former jurist Max Taylor aka Screech served as the defense attorney...
(the prosecutor for their trials) - Edwin CordEdwin CordEdwin Cord is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He is created by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, and John Romita, Jr. in Iron Man #125 .-Fictional character biography:...
(financier) - Ms. Santiago (monitored motion detectors for Orwell)
- Ms. Bronson (monitored motion detectors for Orwell)