Jace Orekin inherited superhuman abilities shortly after the death of his father, Derrick Orekin. Later led by fate to encounter the existential fanatic known as the Death Herald, Jace quickly learned that his powers were not a happenstance occurrence. Over the coming months, the two combatants would hone their respective abilities and assemble teams of skilled individuals (the Wolf Pack and the Black Cross) for the purpose of defending their opposing ideologies. Jace Orekin would later go on to adopt the title of the Wolf-Man.

Alias: Jace Wolfram Orekin

Abilities: Possesses several supernatural powers, including superhuman strength, reflexes, agility, and endurance, as well as elevated senses; can shift his alpha-keratin into an augmented polymer on command, resulting in extractable claws; accelerated healing factor; metacognition; manipulation of antimatter and anti-energy

Affiliations: The Wolf Pack / Peacemakers

Background

Jace Orekin grew up the only child of the wealthy Orekin estate. His father, Derrick Orekin, accumulated a fortune due to his medical enterprises during the influenza outbreak at the turn of the century. Jace’s mother, Dawn, was a well-accomplished doctor in her field, but suffered from severe chronic anxiety which left her house-bound most days. Outside of academic pursuits, Jace participated in BMX, paintball, and other adrenaline-junkie sports with Robert Danvers, a lifelong friend who’d become a brother figure in his life.

During his senior year of high school, Jace experienced recurring dreams of a white wolf. Unable to pinpoint their meaning, he dismissed the dreams until his father lost his life in a mugging turned assassination. The news sent Jace’s mother spiraling into madness and she was put into a medically-induced coma to save her life. Distraught, Jace experienced a final dream wherein the white wolf bit his left arm. When he awoke from the aspect, a permanent marking on his forearm remained.

Jace soon noticed changes occurring as he developed superhuman abilities. Enthralled with the powers, Jace resolved to use his abilities for those in need. He constructed a prototype battle suit in secret and took to the streets to combat crime.

During an excursion, Jace experienced a series of hallucinations which led him to an abandoned industrial plant on the edge of town. There, a group of mercenaries assembled to answer the call of a religious fanatic. The fanatic in question was Maverick, the Death Herald, a being capable of manipulating dark matter. Maverick claimed to have had a vision of a new world, and called on the mercenaries to join him in his pursuit of the future as a terrorist group known as the Black Cross.

Outmatched and outgunned, Jace ended up telling his friend Robert everything, effectively recruiting him in his efforts to fight crime and stop the Black Cross. Robert constructed his own combat suit as the two of them founded the Wolf Pack, the first ever independent superhero crime-fighting organization. Robert would later adopt the name Fang as Jace became the Wolf-Man.

With the help of Gwyneth Chase, the Wolf Pack defeated the Black Cross in the Battle of Wolfeboro and imprisoned Maverick within the Serpent Facility. Over the following years, Jace would continue to hone his abilities and recruit others to his cause, expanding the Wolf Pack. He also connected with other heroes, such as Archer and Visionary, and became a founding member of the Peacemakers. Considered by many to be the first superhero, he’s credited as inspiring other vigilantes to take matters into their own hands.

Outfit

What began as a combination of BMX shock plates and tactical equipment morphed over time into a fully realized and customizable battle suit. While the utility belt and overlapping titanium-Kevlar torso guards take center stage from the front, the real strength of the armor lies along the back where a series of interlocking “vertebrae” ensure the wearer’s spine can’t be twisted or cracked into a dangerous position. Removable crampons along the toes of the boots also allow for greater traction while running or fighting. The helmet was originally developed with a visor and respirator to provide full-face protection, but Jace opted to remove those elements for easier reliance on his sense of sight and smell during operations (a fully protective version of the helmet can still be seen on Fang’s personal suit). Below is a full breakdown of the suit’s armor and underlayers, as well as a closer look at the helmet.

Related Pages: The Timeline / Maverick the Death Herald / The Wolf Pack / The Black Cross