jessejackreyes:

I would argue that, currently, we have more actual canon characterization for Jack Morrison than for any other character in Overwatch.

He has a short to himself, one of very few characters that don’t share the spotlight in it in fact. He is also a main or major character in multiple comics. So there is a lot to unpack here.

The short came out first, but I feel like it makes more sense to start with the comics, because there we can talk about strike commander Jack Morrison and then Soldier 76 comes in later.

Oddly enough we can start with the retribution comic. This was primarily about Gabriel Reyes, but Jack has an important part right near the end. The last few pages involve them essentially burying the victims of a Talon attack, many members of Overwatch died in it.

Gabriel wants to react, to take revenge and ensure that something like this never happens again. Jack is skeptical and worried that things might get worse if they misstep. In the end, however, when asked for his permission, he tacitly endorses Gabriel’s plan, trusting in him. He is willing to bend because he believes in Gabriel.

The uprising comic actually features a similar dilemma. Violent Omnic terrorists have taken over Kings Row and have hurt/killed hundreds or thousands of people and could easily kill many more. The prime minister of England has refused to allow Overwatch to interfere, which is framed as arrogant and childish political posturing.

When Gabriel gives an update in the situation, he makes it clear that he thinks they should interfere. Jack is hesitant, torn between saving people’s lives and the duties placed upon him by the international community. At first, he clearly intends to accede to the prime minister’s demands, but he speaks with different people about the issue and ultimately is convinced to protect the innocent lives, despite the political cost he would suffer.

How are these two events similar exactly? Simple, in both of them he faces a difficult decision, one where differing priorities are in conflict and ultimately, he is willing to bend when other people offer him advice. He is willing to listen to other’s and reevaluate decisions based on new information.

The Hero short gives us our biggest bit of characterization for 76 as opposed to Jack. In it we see the new identity he has adopted. The fight against the gang members is actually quite brutal at points, especially for the rating. He basically beats a gang member to death with a piñata. He is tough, no nonsense, does what is necessary etc.

We also, however, see the truth of the matter. When faced with the choice of completing his mission or saving a little girls life, he hesitates, but ultimately makes the heroic decision. The hesitation is important because it underscores the difference between Jack and 76, while the ultimate choice informs us that this persona is, at least in part, an act. He may want to be this remorseless killing machine, but he can’t simply let go of who he was.

This is ultimately confirmed in the old soldiers comic, the entire point of which is that none of the big 3 have ever truly moved on from war or their pasts. They all still fight, because it’s all they know. And Jack at least to some degree, longs for the past while seeing no real future for himself.

So why am I talking about all of this? Because, despite us having a decent amount of concrete character points for him, I consistently see people really negatively portraying/talking about him with things that are explicitly not true.

He is not a narcissistic self righteous prick. That is incredibly out of character for him. He frequently worries about others, sympathizes with them and listens to them. When they disagree, he considers their viewpoints and sometimes changes his opinions/decisions when they bring up good points and never dismisses them out of hand. None of these are things that a delusional self important jackass does. They are, in fact, incompatible with such a personality.

If anything the comics make him out to be a bit meek, too easily swayed by other people’s feelings and desires. I don’t think that was their intention, but it is a far more believable interpretation of his character.

Hell if anyone is self-righteous and high on themselves it’s frickin Gabriel. When told not to apologize for doing what he had to, his response is, “I never have and don’t intend to start now.”

That just screams too assured of the righteousness of one’s cause, unlike anything that Jack has ever been portrayed doing or saying. In fact, as a character flaw, it makes sense towards leading Gabriel down a bad road. With that attitude it is easy to keep justifying more and more things in the pursuit of your noble goals. If nothing you do can be wrong, what won’t you do?

It even fits the idea that Jeff Kaplan talked about with Jack always excusing Gabriel’s actions and how that enabling helped lead Gabriel down the road to villainy.

Now I want to write some meek Jack blinded by his love, unable to see that Gabriel needs his help because he puts the man on an impossible pedestal. It doesn’t help that the man himself won’t admit that he needs help and Jack tends to believe the things he says.

This turned into partially a rant, but sometimes I just need to vent and this seemed a harmless enough way to deal with a bad day.