Creation
Jack Hammer was created by writer John Ney Rieber and artist Peter Gross in The Books of Magic issue 41, in 1997.
Major Story Arcs
Jack Hammer was once a human, possibly a magic-user, although he speaks in an internal monologue using language like a hard-boiled noir detective.
On December 5, 1949, he had collected more secrets than he had blood, and he woke up as a gargoyle, who are secret-keepers. As he says, âIf youâve got something to hide, you donât want me around.â
At some point, he came to join the Library of Secrets and was assigned to watch Tim Hunter and Molly O’Reilly. Gargoyles were meant only to observe and report to the Library but never to involve themselves or interfere with the lives of those they watch.
One night, however, Jack overhears Molly make a call in a phone booth to her father asking to come home and decides that Tim and Molly had to share their secrets and either come together or separate knowing the truth. Either way, this is meant to keep them from suffering the same fate as himself.
Jack is also worried that Tim, as an Opener, will then lose control and destroy the area. Another gargoyle, Reginald, finds out what he’s up to and tells the other gargoyles.
Jack becomes annoyed when the other gargoyles, including Reginald, show up to spy on Tim and Molly, but wonât take action. He knocks Reginald off his perch in front of the humans because he âdoesnât like self-absorbed nimrodsâ like Reginald or Tim, then speaks to them.
He shares secrets of each one cheating on the other and of Tim not paying attention to Molly ever since her return from Faerie. Molly feels their relationship couldn’t be resolved and uses some magic glitter that Zatanna gave her to teleport back home.. Before Jack Hammer left to face his fate for getting involved, he advised Tim of what gargoyles really are.
A similar gargoyle is seen in issue 56.