Black Jack Tarr
"Black" Jack Tarr is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is Sir Denis Nayland Smith's aide-de-camp.
Fictional character biography
The character of Jack Tarr is portrayed as a successful officer in the British Army who, having received a discharge from the military, undertakes positions within fictionalized versions of the British Foreign Service, MI-6, and then eventually under the command of Sir Denis Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard.While serving with Smith, Tarr comes into contact with Shang-Chi and the small band of adventurers fighting a covert war against the antagonist of the story, Dr. Fu Manchu. This group includes the characters of Leiko Wu and Clive Reston who will later become two of his closest friends. Tarr joins them in their fight, confronting Fu Manchu's forces multiple times around the world. Throughout the Masters of Kung Fu series, Dr. Fu Manchu is portrayed as having near worldwide reach and many allies. This notably includes several fictitious cults that, in some issues, work together in confrontations with Tarr and his allies.
Tarr is personally targeted by Brynocki, the android ruler of a small island. This is later revealed to be part of a plan to gain access to Wu, whom Brynocki has fallen in love with.
When Fu Manchu is finally defeated, Black Jack Tarr becomes part of Freelance Restorations, a group of private adventurers. This organization is based out of the fictitious Stormhaven Castle in Scotland with offices in London.
Mandy
During a case where Tarr was tracking down the seemingly kidnapped daughter of family friends, Mandy Greville, he came to New York to investigate the cult Dawning Light. Tarr was attacked outside the embassy building where Shang-Chi was staying with friends. He escaped inside. Shang-Chi listened to him, learning of Freelance Restorations, then helped him rescue Mandy. The girl was safely spirited away and the cult's headquarters was destroyed without loss of any life. Unfortunately Mandy had been well brainwashed by the cult at this time and promised to kill Tarr.Mandy is taken to Stormhaven Castle where several of Smith's colleagues attempt to bring her back to normalcy. This doesn't go as well, until an attack by the destructive villain Agent Syn. Tarr risks his life to save Mandy from Syn's fire. Seeing the risk he took and the slight flesh wound from Syn's attack is enough to break her conditioning. Shang-Chi defeats Syn moments later.
Promotion
It was after this case that Shang-Chi joins Freelance. Tarr eventually becomes the leader of Freelance Restorations when Smith retires.Tarr's group comes under attack by Comte de Saint Germain, who in the reality of Marvel Comics, is a seeming immortal who inherits the killers and cultists and resources of Fu Manchu. Germain captures Leiko Wu, Tarr's agent and Shang Chi's ex-girlfriend. Reston and Tarr have a shootout with an assassination team on the docks of Singapore, after yet another safe-house is uncovered. Shang-Chi saves them from certain death.