ABC‘s Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD launched its fourth season last month and fans have now been introduced to one of the series’ new characters: Jason O’Mara‘s SHIELD director. Mace, who made his first full appearance in last week’s episode, “Meet the New Boss,” was revealed to be an Inhuman. While he was only referred by his first name, EW confirms what many have long suspected: O’Mara is playing Marvel Comics’ Jeffrey Mace.
Jeffrey Mace made his comic book debut in 1941’s The Human Torch #4, published by what was then known as Timely Comics. Although the comic book version of Jeffrey Mace had no superhuman abilities, he nevertheless took on the costumed identity Patriot, inspired by the bravery of his own personal hero, Captain America. When Jeffrey Mace was brought into modern Marvel continuity in 1976, Patriot was retconned to have been an Invader (Marvel’s WWII era superteam).
The most intriguing detail of Jeffrey Mace’s comic history is that he served, for a time, as Captain America. Following Steve Rogers’ death, Allied forces maintained morale by having others take up the Captain America mantle. Jeffrey Mace was actually the third such individual to do so. On Agents of SHIELD, we’re already seeing a less literal version of that same story. In the fallout of Civil War, Rogers has given up his Captain America identity and Jeffrey Mace is prepped to become the new face of national security.
Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD airs Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET on ABC.
