J. Jonah Jameson
J. Jonah Jameson is the editor in chief of the Daily Bugle newspaper in New York City. His primary goal at the Bugle is a perennial smear campaign against Spider-Man, whom he depicts as a menace to the city. He is the father of astronaut John Jameson.[1] Jameson frequently enlists the services of high-school freelance photographer Peter Parker, who routinely gets fantastic photos of Spider-Man and his foes. The irony of this relationship is that Parker himself is secretly Spider-Man, and leverages his double identity to get such good photos.
Biography
Near the end of 1964, Jameson became curious as to exactly how Parker got such excellent photos, and hired Mac Gargan to tail him. Meanwhile, he hit upon a story about Dr. Farley Stillwell, a scientist specializing in biological animal alterations, and had an idea of how to take Spider-Man out once and for all. He brought Gargan to Stillwell and offered each man ten-thousand dollars in order for Gargan to receive powers greater than those of Spider-Man. Stillwell was hesitant, but couldn't refuse the large payday in his line of work, while Gargan was more eagerly willing to do "anything" at that price. Stillwell decided to model the new Gargan off of a different arachnid, the scorpion, and even constructed a mechanical, stinging tail to attach to him. The process was a complete success: Gargan became profoundly stronger and more agile, and Stillwell outfitted him with a full, green suit to christen him the Scorpion. Stillwell warned him that he wasn't adjusted to his new form yet, but Gargan felt unnervingly confident.
The time of Scorpion and Spider-Man's confrontation soon came, and Scorpion handily defeated the hero after Spider-Man took him too lightly. As Jameson observed from his office window, he commanded Scorpion to bring Spider-Man to him and unmask him, but Scorpion blew him off and told him that he wasn’t taking orders anymore. Jameson tried to get a hold of Stillwell, but to no avail. Soon Jameson learned that the Scorpion had begun to run roughshod over the city, committing various crimes and showing off his rapidly increasing power. Stillwell had tried to give him a serum to reverse the effects, but was killed trying to chase him. Jameson felt intense regret, realizing that all of this was his fault, and that he'd unleashed a worse menace on the world by trying to stop Spider-Man. Soon, Scorpion attacked Jameson's office directly, looking to take out the one person left who knew his true identity. Jameson told everyone else in the offices to evacuate, worrying that Scorpion might incriminate him. Spider-Man soon arrived and managed to use his superior intellect and agility to beat down the Scorpion, leaving him there for the police to take care of him. In the next Bugle issue, Jameson painted himself as the hero and Spider-Man as a mere contributor.[2]