Jefferson Jackson

"The best feeling I ever got from being on the field wasn't when I made a great play, or when we won some game. It was when one of my teammates took a tackle for me, and I knew they were going to make sure I was safe. That nobody got to me. Watching all of you rush back to the ship even those two knuckleheads to take on Chronos. It made me feel the same way, I like being part of a team man."

- Jefferson to Martin Stein

Jefferson "Jax" Jackson (born 1995) is a mechanic and one half of Firestorm alongside Martin Stein.

Early life
As a senior in high school, Jefferson was a promising quarterback. He was also a 4.0 student. On December 23rd 2013, Jax led his school to a victory while scouts from college's watched on. He was told by his coach he was talented enough to go where he wished. Shortly after, the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator blew up and Jax aided his team mate to safety. Before he could close the doors, he was struck by the dark matter and crashed too the wall, leaving him unconscious.

Jax woke up in the hospital and quickly learned he could never play football again because of a permanent injury to his knee. Because his family couldn't afford college and his only hope of attending college was with a football scholarship, he was forced to pick up being a mechanic for a living.

Becoming Firestorm
Jax was approached by Barry Allen and Professor Martin Stein in his work place. The two met him because his molecular structure made him one of two perfect matches for the unstable Martin. When he went to S.T.A.R. Labs to learn more about it and met Barry Allen's team, he refused to merge with Professor Stein and become a superhero. He was berated by Caitlin Snow for having the grades to make it into college but didn't, unaware of his family's financial situation, before he left. Caitlin later shows up at his shop and apologizes for her behavior, explaining that her missing husband, Ronnie Raymond, became a hero as Firestorm and saved the city from the singularity, inspiring Jax. They are attacked by Dr. Henry Hewitt (The other candidate to become the new Firestorm) and escape to S.T.A.R. Labs, where Jax agrees to merge with Stein to save him resulting in the two becoming the new Firestorm. When Hewitt is wreaking havoc on Jax's old football field, he teams up with the Flash to stop Hewitt and starts to get used to his new superhuman abilities. Afterwards, he and Professor Stein go to Pittsburgh to train on Firestorm's abilities similar to Ronnie.

Aiding Rip Hunter
In January 2016, Jax and Martin Stein are still in Pittsburgh, where they are up against a criminal at a chemical plant as Firestorm. Stein tells Jax to be careful, as 83% of the chemicals are flammable, however Jax still shoots fireballs all over the place. While Firestorm does defeat the man, Stein is still upset that Jax doesn't listen to him, Jax tells him to stop treating him like one of his "snot nosed undergrads" when they are intercepted by Rip Hunter.

Personality
Jeff was a very hard worker academically and athletically. Knowing his parents couldn't afford college, he focused hard on school to get a 4.0 and was eventually rewarded with a football scholarship. He also cared about the well-being of other people. During the night of the particle accelerator, he saw an injured person on the field and didn't even hesitate to help them to safety, which resulted in his knee being injured from the explosion. Following that, he entered a depression as all of his hard work had been for naught and he had to work as a mechanic for a living because he lost his only means to afford college.

He was eventually happy again when he found his calling to help people by becoming Firestorm. He also displays high amount of potential as Firestorm as Martin Stein quickly changed his opinion of him when he was chosen to be the next Firestorm. Given, his original opinion was when he knew nothing of Jax other than he was a high school graduate compared to a well accomplished scientist who was the other candidate.

Powers

 * Firestorm Matrix: When Jax merges with Professor Stein, the two create the nuclear-powered composite being Firestorm.
 * Psychic link: Jefferson can hear Martin Stein's disembodied voice while the two of them are merged into Firestorm. Even when they are separated, their link allows them limited communication of sensations or emotions.
 * Pyrokinesis: Due to the nuclear nature of the transmutation of the two bodies, Firestorm is able to produce nuclear energy in the form of fire from parts of his body.
 * Flight: Firestorm can propel himself in the air via his flames and fly at great speeds.
 * Nuclear absorption: Firestorm was able to absorb the energy from a nuclear explosion, stopping it.

Weaknesses

 * Prolonged separation: Due to now sharing Professor Stein's genetic code just like Professor Stein, he cannot remain separate for a fixed period of time. Doing so will result in his vitals becoming unstable, and eventually killing him in the process.

Abilities

 * Skilled athlete: Jefferson is gifted with great natural talent in athletics. During his time in high school, he was a star quarterback who earned a full scholarship to any college/university of his choosing. However, after the particle accelerator explosion, his leg was too damaged to ever play football again, costing him his scholarship.

Behind the scenes

 * Jax's background borrows plot elements from the origin story of Victor "Vic" Stone aka Cyborg in the New 52. Originally Vic was the same as Jax, a high schooler with a promising career in football as a quarterback, before an incident occurs that ends that dream, but leads him into the life of a superhero.