Jimmy Woo

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caption=Promotional art for "Agents of Atlas" #1 (Oct. 2006)
by Tomm Coker
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=James Woo
real_name=Jimmy Woo
species=
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut=Silver age: "Yellow Claw" #1 (Oct. 1956)
Modern age: "Strange Tales" #160 (Sept. 1967)
creators=Al Feldstein and Joe Maneely
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents of Atlas
aliases=
powers=|

Jimmy Woo is a fictional, Chinese-American secret agent in the Marvel Comics comic-book universe. Created by EC Comics great Al Feldstein and artist Joe Maneely, the character first appeared in "Yellow Claw" #1 (Oct. 1956) from Atlas Comics, the 1950s predecessor of Marvel.

Publication history

Jimmy Woo was the hero of an espionage series "Yellow Claw", named for his antagonist, a "yellow peril" Communist mandarin. While the short-lived series named after that villain ran only four issues (Oct. 1956 - April 1957), it featured art by industry legends Maneely, Jack Kirby, and John Severin. Woo would be re-introduced a decade later by writer-artist Jim Steranko in his landmark Marvel Comics feature "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.", in the company's first integration of Atlas characters into mainstream Marvel continuity.

Kirby took over as writer-artist with issue #2 — inking his own pencil art there and in the following issue, representing two of the very rare occasions on which he did so. On the final issue, Kirby's bold lines and dynamic compositions were given uncharacteristic grittiness by the scratchy inks of Western- and war-comics veteran Severin. Also unusually for a Kirby book, other artists drew the covers: Severin on #2 and #4, Bill Everett on #3.

Well-regarded for its relatively mature storyline and in particular for Maneely's exquisitely atmospheric art, the book nevertheless failed to find an audience. Its influence rippled as the Yellow Claw, Woo and other characters from it were brought into the Marvel universe, beginning with the "S.H.I.E.L.D. " story in "Strange Tales" #160 (Sept. 1967). Woo went on to join that espionage agency in "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." #2 (July 1968).

Woo went on to be featured in the 1977-1979 Marvel series "Godzilla" and the 2006-07 Marvel series "Agents of Atlas". Before the cancellation of the 1990s alternate universe Marvel imprint Razorline, as produced but unpublished titles of its various series were preparing to blend the Razorline into primary Marvel continuity, Woo as well as Nick Fury and other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents guest-starred in "Wraitheart" #5. Woo starred as the leader of a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives code-named Agents of Atlas, in the 2006-2007 series of that name.

Fictional character biography

James Woo is an Asian-American FBI agent assigned primarily to investigate and apprehend the Chinese-national mandarin known as the Yellow Claw, a Fu Manchu manqué. (Indeed, author Sax Rohmer had a Fu Manchu novel titled "The Yellow Claw".) The Yellow Claw, who attempts world domination, claimed in 2000s comics that his American rubric is a mistransliteration of the Chinese characters for "Golden Claw". Complicating matters, the Claw's grandniece, Suwan, was in love with Woo in the 1950s series.

In retcon stories, ['What If" Vol. 1, #9 (June 1978) and in the 2000s miniseries "".] Woo is the FBI agent assigned in 1958 to oversee the 1950s superhero team the Avengers, a short-lived predecessor of the later, more established team of that name.

As a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Woo went on to join its "Godzilla Squad" to hunt down the giant monster Godzilla (the character from the long-running series of films from the Japanese movie studio Toho). This unit, led by Dum Dum Dugan, employed such weapons as a giant robot called Red Ronin (for which Woo was shortlisted as a pilot candidate), and was headquartered in a smaller version of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, known as the Behemoth.

Woo was temporarily replaced by a Life Model Decoy (a form of artificial human utilized by S.H.I.E.L.D.) of the self-aware, renegade "Deltan" class, ["Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D." #1 (June 1988)] and went through five such bodies before dying with other repentant LMDs. ["Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D." #6 (Nov. 1988)] Woo reemerged from stasis, along with other high-ranking officers that had been taken and replaced. At some point he becomes a high-ranking agent within the S.H.I.E.L.D. Directorate.

In 2006-2007 stories, Woo attempted a secret raid of a group identified as The Atlas Foundation. Going AWOL and taking several other willing agents with him, he infiltrated an Atlas Foundation location, resulting in all the recruits being killed. Woo was critically burned and lost higher brain function. The former 1950s Avenger Gorilla-Man, by now also a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, gave the organization a classified record of the 1950s team, of which S.H.I.E.L.D. had no prior knowledge. Gorilla-Man rescues Woo with the aid of fellow 1950s teammates M-11 and Marvel Boy, who restores Woo to his 1958 self.

Along with his fellow teammates he follows the Atlas Foundation all over the world, unlocking secrets about his teammates former lives, restoring Namora to life, and eventually confronting Yellow Claw, who reveals that the whole ordeal was only a test. As Woo passed it flawlessly, he commits suicide, ending his long life and granting to Johnny Woo his role as chief of the Atlas Foundation, and Suwan's hand. Woo later surfaces in New York, where he and Spider-Man shut down a rebellious cell of the Atlas Foundation.

"Yellow Claw" reprints

*"Yellow Claw" #1:"The Coming of the Yellow Claw"::"Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu" #1 (Sept. 1974):"The Yellow Claw Strikes" and:"Trap For Jimmy Woo"::"Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu" #2 (Dec. 1974)
*"Yellow Claw" #2:"The Trap"::"Marvel Premiere" #1 (May 1972)::"Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu" #3 (March 1975):"Concentrate On Chaos"::"Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu" #3 (March 1975):"The Mystery of Cabin 361" and:"Temujai the Golden Goliath"::"Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu" #4 (June 1975)
*"Yellow Claw" #3:"The Microscopic Army"::"The Golden Age of Marvel Comics" (1997) ISBN 0-7851-0564-6:"UFO, The Lighting Man"::"Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby" (2004) hardcover ISBN 0-7851-1574-9
*"Yellow Claw" #4:One or more stories::* "Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby, Volume 2" (2006) hardcover ISBN 0-7851-2094-7

Ultimate Universe

In the Ultimate Universe, Jimmy Woo is an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., partnered with Sharon Carter. He was introduced in "Ultimate Spider-Man" #15, in which he and Carter were assigned to capture Doctor Octopus.

ee also

*List of S.H.I.E.L.D. members

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.toonopedia.com/yeloclaw.htm Don Markstein's Toonopedia: "The Yellow Claw"]
* [http://www.geocities.com/ratmmjess/woo.html Jess Nevins' "A Guide to Marvel's Pre-"FF" #1 Heroes: Jimmy Woo]
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7542 "Comic Book Resources" (June 12, 2006): "Agents Of Atlas" Agent Profile: Woo, Jimmy Woo", by Dave Richards]
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/ The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators]
* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/y/yellowclaw.htm Marvel Directory: Yellow Claw]
* [http://www.atlastales.com/ Atlas Tales]
* [http://www.comics.org/ The Grand Comic-Book Database]
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=7367 Comic Book Resources - Parker Talks "Agents Of Atlas"]
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/deltiteshield.htm#woo Index to the Marvel Comics Universe: Jimmy Woo LMD (Deltan)]