JUSTICE

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Real Name: Vance Astrovik
Aliases: Marvel Boy, Marvel Man, Manglin’ John Mahoney, the Astounding Astrovik, Superhuman Penitentary Prisoner 344678
Identity: Publicly Known
Occupation: Adventurer
Citizenship: American Citizen, with a criminal record.
Place of Birth: Saugerties, New York
Known Relatives: Arnold Astrovik (father, deceased), Norma Astrovik (mother)
Group Affiliation: Secret Avengers; former partner of Firestar; (formerly) Avengers, New Warriors, Triune Understanding, Queen’s Vengeance, Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation, Taskmaster’s Circus
First Appearance: Giant Sized Defenders #5 (1975)
History: Vance Astrovik was a normal teen who found himself secretly protected by the Guardians of the Galaxy, a group of superheroes from an alternate future who feared Vance was a target of the villainous Korvac. Upon meeting Vance Astro, the Guardian who happened to be an alternate-future version of himself, Vance experienced a mental shock that caused his mutant powers to emerge.

Vance had often been abused by his father throughout his childhood, but his powers led to more abuse from his father, a violent anti-mutant bigot. Vance soon ran away from home and eventually ended up adventuring alongside the Thing, who was taking a leave of absence from the Fantastic Four. Calling himself Marvel Boy, Astrovik joined the Thing as a member of the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation before finally parting ways.

Vance, as Marvel Boy, later tried to join the Avengers, but was told by his hero, Captain America, that he needed more experience. Feeling rejected and embarrassed, Vance was then approached by Night Thrasher and Nova, who were forming their own team called the New Warriors. Vance quickly became one of the Warriors’ most stalwart members and met fellow mutant Firestar, with whom he developed a romantic relationship.

Returning home for a brief period, Vance was struck again by his father, and, when retaliating with his powers, Vance killed him. His mother pressed charges, and Vance was arrested, serving time for murder. Later released for good behavior, Vance adopted a new guise as Justice, and rejoined the New Warriors, often serving in leadership roles. Firestar eventually asked Vance to marry her.

Vance and Firestar, alongside their teammate Rage, were drawn into conflict with monsters summoned by evil sorceress Morgan Le Fay. Rage, once a member of the Avengers, brought the couple with him as the Avengers reassembled after a period of disbanding to defeat Le Fey. After a strong push to prove himself, Vance, with Firestar, were elected reserve members.

After serving several missions, and feeling vastly inferior to be joining the same league as his idols, Vance was elected to full membership. Continually trying to prove himself, Justice eventually won over his insecurities during the Avengers’ battle with the robot Ultron. He had researched the Avengers files, discovering a new means of defeating Ultron and using it to help the Avengers destroy him. After seeing the emotional turmoil Hank Pym and the Wasp went through in the battle, Vance finally began to regard the Avengers as people rather than icons and became more relaxed about working with the team.

Soon afterward, Vance announced his engagement with Firestar, and the two left active duty, presumably to explore their relationship. In reality, they were asked to secretly infiltrate the headquarters of the Triune Understanding, whose leader, Jonathan Tremont, was surreptitiously attacking the Avengers’ public image for his own benefit. Vance and Firestar discovered the true cause of the Understanding– using the beliefs of its members to sympathetically power a spaceship to battle a cosmic menace. They helped a contingent of Avengers join the battle against the menace, and directly afterwards helped the heroes keep the time-travelling Kang from conquering the world. After the crises were averted, they again parted company with the Avengers.

Vance settled into civilian life with relative ease, as much as a public trial, a Dateline special, and four books written about him could allow, although Firestar had a rough transition settling into college studies at Empire State University. Vance was eagerly awaiting the next stage in his life, their upcoming marriage, but Firestar was reluctant.

The proposal of marriage however did not last long, when Angelica started college and began enjoying a “normal life.” She then abandoned all wedding plans, explaining to Vance that she needed to live a little before she decided to settle down. Furious, Vance departed, ending their engagement to one another permanently.

When the Superhuman Registration Act came into effect, due to Civil War, Firestar responded by effectively retiring from “the superhero business” wishing to lead a normal life once more. She did, however, meet up with both Nova and Vance, briefly to talk about “old times” as New Warriors. Her relationship with Vance appears to be on good terms here.

Justice appeared again, joining the Initiative where he is with former New Warriors, such as Debrii and Rage. Justice was a part of an investigation as to who had assaulted Gauntlet, and nearly killed him.

At the Appalachian Safehouse, Night Thrasher finds that the entire area is undisturbed. He had hoped that if Dwayne were still alive he would be hiding here. He does however, managed to snag some of Dwayne’s DNA for testing. As he exits the house however, he discovers he’s not alone and is confronted by Counter Force which consists of: Justice, Rage, Debrii, Slapstick and two of the Scarlet Spiders.

Both Rage and Justice try to talk to Night Thrasher but he refuses to discuss it with them and a fight breaks out – and just when it seems like Night Thrasher’s been captured – the arrival of the New Warriors tips the balance once more.

Throughout the fight Night Thrasher is thinking about how Justice and the rest of Counter Force think he’s a Skrull – while he’s wondering if it was Skrull who perished at Stamford, not his own half-brother. As the fight processes, Night Thrasher realizes that this has to end quickly.

He decides to stop the fight and unveil who he is. He explains his actions about looking for the truth about Dwayne – and whether he would ever take part of some reality television show as a part of the “New Warriors.” Justice steps up and informs Donyell that he can help – because he knows the location of Dwayne’s body.

The New Warriors, along with Counter Force, arrive at the Helicarrier only to find it under attack by Skrulls. The New Warriors and Counter Force get out of the plane as Night Thrasher crashes it into one of the Skrull ships. After that, they follow Justice onto the Helicarrier and begin helping the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents against the Skrulls.

As the New Warriors and Counter Force battle the Skrulls, Night Thrasher grabs Justice and enables “ghost mode” – allowing them to phrase through the floor. The others continue to battle the Skrulls – and just when it seems like they might be doing all right – the arrival of a Super Skrull, looking a lot like Nova, appears and tilts the odds back in favor of the Skrulls.

Meanwhile Justice leads Night Thrasher to the bodies of what appears to be Dwayne and Microbe, with Nita’s ashes in a jar. Night Thrasher takes a sample from Dwayne’s body and begins the DNA comparison. All three turn out to be positive identifications – proving that the Dwayne, Namorita and Microbe did indeed die at Stamford. Night Thrasher turns to Justice and explains, he’s taking the remains with him. Justice, after a brief pause, agrees to help.

They bury the New Warriors and create a memorial plaque for Dwayne, Namorita and Zachary.

Later, Ragnarok, a clone of Thor, that killed Goliath, during Civil War, attacks Camp Hammond. Justice, leading Counter Force – now calling themselves “The New Warriors” with Night Thrasher as a member arrive to put a stop to Ragnarok. Vance nearly dies in the fight, saved only by the timely arrival of Ultra-Girl. They managed to defeat Ragnarok, and Vance gets MVP’s original corpse. This, however, exposes everything – allowing Norman Osborn to shut down Camp Hammond, placing villains on the Initiative teams. The New Warriors rescue Gauntlet and Tigra and form The Avengers Resistance.

During the events of Siege, Justice says that the New Warriors will take down Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. and expose Norman Osborn for the villain he is.

Vance returns to the Avengers, in Avengers Academy, as a member of the teaching staff. Vance later joined Robbie Baldwin (Speedball) in leaving the Avengers Academy as teachers, so that the two of them could travel across the United States (and possibly the world), and see it as ‘normal’ people rather than super heroes.

Eventually, after Avengers Academy is closed, Speedball and Justice take to the road to see where life will take them. They eventually encounter Sam Alexander, as Nova, and throw around the idea of reforming the New Warriors, but Nova is reluctant to do so. Speedball and Justice eventually go to New Salem, where Speedball attacks one of the members of Salem Seven – Brutacus. Speedball discovers that the other members of Salem’s Seven are close by – including Reptilla, Vakume and Vertigo.

During the battle, it becomes clear that Speedball may have acted in hastes, attacking Brutacus because he “looked” like a villain. Speedball and Justice discover that the Salem’s Seven are the defenders of New Salem and are now heroes. While speaking with them, the Evolutionaries attack them. A battle ensues, with the combined forces of The New Warriors and Salem’s Seven defeating the Evolutionaries – but not before they teleport away with Brutacus.

Justice and Speedball then go to Avenger’s Mansion to see if they can discover any information about the Evolutionaries. While they are there, a nearby explosion gets their attention. When they investigate, not only do they find more Evolutionaries attacking Morlocks – they also meet Sun Girl and Haechi, and with their help, drive the Evolutionaries away again.

Justice, along with the rest of the New Warriors, finally manage to put an end to the threat of the Evolutionaries, and also assist Watersnake in her quest to find Namorita, whom she believes has somehow survived. Justice is seen with the New Warriors, and Namorita is among them.

The incident involved Viv Vision, exploding, and in the process destroying a school and injuring hundreds – similar to what the New Warriors had endured, when Namorita had slammed Nitro into a bus – who then ignited himself and destroyed a nearby school killing hundreds. After this, the United States enacted “Kamala’s Law” – in which super heroes under the age of 21 were not legally allowed to use their powers – Justice, Speedball and Timeslip all joined C.R.A.D.L.E. (Child Hero Reconnaissance and Disruption Law Enforcement). 

Justice would appear with the C.R.A.D.L.E. team during a time when several teen heroes were gathered in a basement. Just as things were escalating between Sam Alexander (Nova) and Tiana Toomes (Starling) – Justice and the rest of C.R.A.D.L.E. kicked down the door and Justice was able to use his power to keep Starling from being able to move. Vance tries to explain that he understands what it’s like to be young and have more power than you realize – and potentially lose control and hurt – or, just as he had done – kill someone. Several of the young heroes are captured, but others escape using Pinpoint’s power. It is revealed that C.R.A.D.L.E. got the information about the meeting from an “encrypted message from a synthazoid” – that they assume to be Vision, as his daughter, Viv had perished. However, it is none other than Viv herself who transmitted the information to C.R.A.D.L.E.

When Viv is reunited with her former teammates, the Champions – she explains she’d wanted to make amends. However, they realize that the law was something Roxxon was behind in an effort to make money – and broadcast widely across the United States, the truth. The Senator who enacted the law is ready to overturn it when he’s contacted by Roxxon “goons.” However, the Champions also arrive – with the people demanding the law to be repealed. The Senator agrees to cut off all contracts with Roxxon.

Justice, Namorita, Speedball, and Night Thrasher are seen fighting along side the Champions, Avengers, and Fantastic Four during a Badoon invasion after the alien species destroyed the moon.

Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Brown
Powers: Vance is an extremely powerful and skilled mutant telekinetic, able to levitate and manipulate objects with his mind. By using his ability on himself, he is capable of flying with great speed and maneuverability, and can carry other people and masses aloft with him. In addition to more complex or subtle operations, he can channel his power into basic feats such as defensive screen or blasts of tremendous force.

Accessories: None

Note: Vance is a capable researcher, having near-encyclopedic knowledge about super-heroes in particular.