Jeffrey Mace

Jeffrey Mace
Detail from cover of Marvel Premiere #30 (June 1976). Jeffrey Mace as the Patriot. Art by Jack Kirby & Frank Giacoia
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Human Torch #4 (Spring 1941) First modern appearance: Marvel Premiere #29 (April 1976)
Created by	Ray Gill (writer) George Mandel (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Jeffrey Solomon Mace
Team affiliations	Daily Bugle Liberty Legion All-Winners Squad
Notable aliases	Patriot, Captain America
Abilities	Exceptional athlete Superb hand to hand combatant Licensed pilot As Captain America: Carries a titanium shield

Jeffrey Solomon "Jeff" Mace, also known as the Patriot and Captain America, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created during the 1940s, a period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. As the Patriot, he first appeared in The Human Torch #4 (Spring 1941; mis-numbered #3 on cover), published by Marvel's 1940s precursor, Timely Comics.

In 1976, Marvel revealed via retroactive continuity that Mace had become the third Captain America some time after his World War II era adventures. He is also the uncle-by-marriage of Thunderbolt Ross.

The superhero the Patriot debuted in The Human Torch #4 (cover-dated Spring 1941; mis-numbered #3 on cover), with both a two-page text story by writer Ray Gill, with a spot illustration by artist Bill Everett, and a 10-page comics story by writer Gill and artist George Mandel. The character went on to appear in the first of two Human Torch issues both inadvertently numbered #5, and known to collectors as #5[a] (Summer 1941), in a story by Gill and artist Sid Greene. Concurrently, the Patriot began as regular feature in the superhero anthology Marvel Mystery Comics, appearing in issues #21–44 (July 1941 – June 1943) and #49 -74 (Nov. 1943 – July 1946), making him one of Timely's most popular characters in the second tier beneath stars Captain America, the Human Torch, and the Sub-Mariner. The Patriot story "Death Stalks the Shipyard", from Marvel Mystery Comics #29, was reprinted during the Silver Age of Comic Books in Marvel Super-Heroes #16 (Sept. 1968).