The best of J. Jonah Jameson

[Arilou]

I love Jonah. He's one of the most awesome characters in Spider-lore. (and the actor who played him in the movies really nailed him!) A fire-eating boss usually used for comic-relief, a gruff man who under his rough exterior.... Is even worse.

But still, despite his almost religious hatred for Spider-man he is a genuinly good person... Somewhere.... Sometimes. So, what is your favoure J. Jonah Jameson moment?

Mine? Spectacular Spider-Man #80: "I Cover the Waterfront". Jonah decides to take care of a story himself to prove to Marla that he can still do it. He bargains with the Kingpin (and it takes some guts for an unpowered, unarmed man to speak the way he does to Wilson Fisk!) and manages to (with some help from our frinedly neighbourhood Webhead) solve the case of the corruption at the docks.

[Joe Acro]

I recently reread a comic of mine from a few years that really captures JJJ. The Spider-Man Sweet Charity once-shot is hilarious, but really showcases the attitude of Jonah.

On a more serious note, the Behind the Mustache issue of Tangled Web is a must-read for anyone wanting insight into his mind.

[CaptainCanada]

This isn't from the comics, but in the 90s animated series (the good one), at the end of the Framed/The Man Without Fear two-parter, we find out that JJ was the one who secretly paid for Peter's defence attorney, Matt Murdock. JJ refuses to let Peter know, lest Peter get the idea that JJ actually likes him, and demands to know why Robbie offered Peter his job back.:D

[tk421atpost]

I believe it was in Amazing #251 or so... the story where Jonah goes public with the fact that the was the one who financed the creation of the Scorpion and steps down as editor-in-chief of the Bugle. It showed that he was willing to take responsibility for his actions and admit his mistakes. Good stuff.

[Sean Whitmore]

This isn't from the comics, but in the 90s animated series (the good one), at the end of the Framed/The Man Without Fear two-parter, we find out that JJ was the one who secretly paid for Peter's defence attorney, Matt Murdock. JJ refuses to let Peter know, lest Peter get the idea that JJ actually likes him, and demands to know why Robbie offered Peter his job back.:D

This actually was from the comics, sort of. Jonah did the exact same thing when Peter was on trial for murder during the Clone Saga, which is likely where the cartoon got the idea. :)


SEAN

[mattx110]

This actually was from the comics, sort of. Jonah did the exact same thing when Peter was on trial for murder during the Clone Saga, which is likely where the cartoon got the idea. :)


SEAN

dude, what are you doing?
shattering the perception that every story during the clone saga was garbage with horrible characterization? we don't need your kind here! go invalidate some other over-exagerated claim... i hear some folks are post-humorously complaining about the death of superman somewhere.


ps. wasn't kaine a badass? it's one thing to be evil, it's another to know your being evil, but your so psychologically screwed up that you keep being evil anyway. wow, he's not a badass at all, jeeze... he just needed a therapist and some pills... poor guy. and a haircut. or elias koteas to play him in a film.

[Goldenbane]

My favorite Jonah moment was in Amazing Spiderman with the Prowler's very first appearance. Hobbie Brown is a window washer and has all these great ideas to help keep folks who do his line of work safe. He's trying to tell his boss all about them in front of Jonah. Instead of listening, Hobbie's boss just rips him a new one and tells him to get lost...lots of racism type remarks thrown as well. Jameson actually stands up for Hobbie and tells the boss to get out of the Bugle, because "you're making the air stink" or something along those lines. Very awesome to find out that, for all his faults, Jonah is NOT a racist or a bigot, and will defend the little guy.

[Mister Mets]

Love the character, and I've written about this before.
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=4155723&postcount=30

Amazing Spider-Man #10- The ending of this story revealed the petty man who wanted to bring down the hero
Amazing Spider-Man #24- Jonah, and a suspicious mental health expert convince all of New York, including Spider-Man that the hero's going nuts.
Marvels The Marvel Universe as told through a Daily Bugle reporter, also features Jonah's progression from World War 2 reporter to the Bugle owner.
Fantastic Four #50- On the eve of the Fantastic Four's greatest victory, he turns the tide of public opinion against them.
Amazing Spider-Man #50-52 First Jonah convinces Peter Parker to give up being Spider-Man, and enjoys the victory. Then his refusal to back down on reports of the Kingpin earns him a visit from mobsters, and results in the death of a friend.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 15 This story looks at the process behind the headline, including the low sales cause by each "Threat or Menace"
Daredevil #227-233 What's Jonah to do whe his best reporter has been assaulted, and traumatized?
Spider-Man the Movie/ Spider-Man 2 JK Simmons stole the first movie with his great performance as Jonah, distilling what's fun and noble about the character (as in the scene where he refuses to give up Peter to the Green Goblin.) Plus, it's become so famous it's been parodied in other pop culture (such as a recent episode of the Simpsons.) It may just be the most memorable thing about one of the most successful movies ever made!
Tangled Web #20 Probably the best Jonah story. This underappreciated Zeb Wells masterwork looks at the events which defined the character, as he's forced to visit a psychiatrist after his latest heart attack. Highlights include him taking over the psychiatrist's chair, and explaining how he never repressed his anger.
Marvel Knights Spider-Man #1-12 Because Parker's solution for ending his conflicts with Jonah is just so perfect, as is Jonah's reaction.

I also like the Civil War issues with Jonah, especially his reactions to Spider-Man's unmasking, and a world in which people are finally agreeing with him on those damned superheroes.

[Nefarius]

I love Jonah. He's one of the most awesome characters in Spider-lore. (and the actor who played him in the movies really nailed him!) A fire-eating boss usually used for comic-relief, a gruff man who under his rough exterior.... Is even worse.

But still, despite his almost religious hatred for Spider-man he is a genuinly good person... Somewhere.... Sometimes. So, what is your favoure J. Jonah Jameson moment?

Mine? Spectacular Spider-Man #80: "I Cover the Waterfront". Jonah decides to take care of a story himself to prove to Marla that he can still do it. He bargains with the Kingpin (and it takes some guts for an unpowered, unarmed man to speak the way he does to Wilson Fisk!) and manages to (with some help from our frinedly neighbourhood Webhead) solve the case of the corruption at the docks.


Man,i have this story and it's really my favourite JJJ's story.I love the scene where Jameson is cool in front of Fisk but when he leaves the club is very scared.

[Kirayoshi]

Let's not forget Amazing Spider-Man Annual #21, where JJJ paid for Peter and Mary Jane's wedding reception. I believe his exact words were, "I'd want you all to have a good time even if this shindig wasn't covered by the new tax laws!"

Also, during the otherwise unreadable "Operation: Zero Tolerance" arc in the X-books after Onslaught. Jonah refused to support Bastion's crusade to wipe out all mutants, even when Bastion threatened his life. Jonah's dislike of Spider-Man was formed by a hatred of vigilantism, not a predjudice against superhumans.

Spectacular Spider-Man #83 also had a good scene with Jameson, where he met with the Bugle's staff(including Parker) regarding the upcoming trial of the Punisher, who had been driven insane by being poisoned by Jigsaw and now attacked litterers and jaywalkers like they were hardened felons. At the end of the briefing he commented Punisher's madness and then said, "Now I ask you, gentlemen, what if something like this were to happen to Spider-Man?" Even Peter Parker had to concede that Jameson may have legitimate reasons to be concerned regarding Spider-Man.

[Alan2099]

I recently reread a comic of mine from a few years that really captures JJJ. The Spider-Man Sweet Charity once-shot is hilarious, but really showcases the attitude of Jonah.
I loved that one. Pure hilarious.

[Mikl C]

I liked when Bastion offered him all this inside info on the X-men and Jonah was like, SUCK IT BITCH, screw you.