Crucible:Jade II
Jade
[edit]
| |
| Real Name | Melissa “Missy” Barnes-Blake |
|---|---|
| Identity | Public |
| Affiliation | Knight/Watch; former member of Watchstar (Third Team), Watchstar West |
| Base of Operations | Los Angeles; formerly New York; origin: Earth-29001 |
| Status | Active |
| Known Relatives | Kodiak (ex-husband); Dakota (child) |
| First Appearance | WATCHSTAR #135 |
| Creator | Ed Messina |
“I already lost one world. I’m not losing this one too.”
— Jade
Jade is the superhero identity of Melissa “Missy” Barnes-Blake, a dimension-displaced hero from Earth-29001 who carries within her an alien powerstone fused to her nervous system. A veteran of multiple teams across two realities, Jade stands as both a survivor of a lost world and a central figure in the modern era of heroism.
Origin
[edit]Melissa Barnes was born on Earth-29001, an alternate timeline where she encountered a sentient alien powerstone—a green crystalline intelligence imprinted with the mind of a warrior. The entity bonded with her nervous system, granting her immense physical and cosmic abilities.
On her world, she became the hero known as Jade and joined that reality’s Watchstar team, which included Viceroy and other prominent heroes.
That team did not survive.
The Probability Gate
[edit]In the aftermath of her team’s destruction, Jade attempted to undo their deaths using Watchstar’s experimental Probability Gate, a device capable of traversing alternate timelines and realities.
The attempt failed.
Instead of restoring her teammates, Jade was displaced—cast into another timeline: Earth-11717.
There, she was stranded.
A World That Already Had A Jade
[edit]Upon arrival, Melissa discovered that a version of herself had already existed in this world—an earlier Jade, a member of the Sentries, who had been killed during the Hero Wars.
She was not a replacement.
She was something else entirely.
A survivor carrying the same name and power, but a different history.
Watchstar And Beyond
[edit]Jade joined Watchstar’s third team, where her experience and power quickly made her a key member. She later became a founding member of Watchstar West, helping establish its presence on the West Coast.
When that team evolved into Knight/Watch, Jade continued her involvement, becoming one of the defining figures of the Los Angeles superhero scene.
Personal Life
[edit]Melissa’s life has not been defined solely by heroism. She married the powerful hero Kodiak, and the two had a child, Dakota. Though their marriage ultimately ended in divorce, their connection remains significant.
At one point, Jade stepped away from active heroics to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, leveraging her public identity and charisma.
She has since returned to active duty.
Powers
[edit]Jade’s abilities stem from the alien powerstone bonded to her body.
- Superhuman Strength – Enhanced physical power
- Superhuman Durability – Resistance to injury and extreme conditions
- Flight – High-speed aerial mobility
- Cosmic Energy Manipulation – Projection and control of alien energy
The powerstone remains a constant presence, both a source of strength and a link to something beyond Earth.
Skills
[edit]Melissa combines superhuman ability with professional expertise.
- Licensed attorney in New York and California
- Experienced team operative and combatant
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
Her legal background informs her perspective, even in the field.
Personality
[edit]Missy is resilient, adaptable, and emotionally grounded despite the scale of what she has lost. She carries the memory of an entire world that no longer exists, and that experience shapes her determination to protect the one she now calls home.
She is less rigid than her predecessor.
More human.
But no less committed.
Reputation
[edit]Jade is widely respected as a veteran hero and a foundational member of multiple teams. Her unique origin—one woman, two histories—gives her a perspective few others can match. Among her peers, she is seen as both powerful and dependable.
Cover Gallery
[edit]-
Jade #1 (2022)
Legacy
[edit]Jade embodies continuity across broken timelines. She is proof that even when a world is lost, something of it can endure.
She was not meant to be here.
But she chose to stay.