Jay was born to a teen mother and a father who had no intention of ever being a part of his new son's life. By age 8, Jay's Mother had grown addicted to alcohol and drugs. She finally ran away and was never seen again. This was very difficult for the young boy, but his main caretaker had always been his Grandmother, Rosie Klyne, and with his mother gone, she would make official the guardianship she had held for much of his life.

Just after his 12thbirthday, Jay's powers manifested. The sudden raging inferno that leapt from his hands left him scarred both emotionally and physically, and made him ashamed of his abilities. He hated that he was a Unique, and hated himself for being strange and different.

It was only months later that Jay met a young man who called himself Quake. Quake, also known as 'Jack,' pulled Jay out of his depression and self-loathing and taught him pride and control. Slowly learning to master his powers, Jay took on the name of Singe and joined Quake in his mission to help clean up the streets of his hometown of Detroit. During this time, Jack became an honorary member of the Klyne household, and Jay's Grandmother grew to trust mysterious young man that had come into their lives.

On April 18th 1994, the day of the New York disaster, Quake told Singe that it was time to move on, leave Detroit, and begin spreading their message and aid to the rest of the country. They both packed up and Singe left the only home he'd ever known as both boys set out for a brave new world. Jay's Grandmother was convinced that Jack had kidnapped her boy, and alerted the police to the crime.

For the next two years, Quake and Singe went from city to city in the Northeastern United States, fighting the good fight on a personal scale. They also spent a lot of time running and hiding from the authorities, and Singe learned to distrust and fear the government and all 'socially-constructed authority.' Eventually, through letters he wrote weekly, Rosie Klyne came to accept that her Grandson was simply following a different path. One that worried and frustrated her, but it was ultimately his choice to make. She even came to look forward to the news clippings that Jay would send along with his weekly letters, collecting them in scrapbooks while she quietly missed her boy.

When Telepath came to Quake, he listened to and accepted her offer to join a new team she was forming of young heroes from across the country. Singe remembered the girl vaguely from the news, but was more or less indifferent. Where Quake went, he went, and he trusted his best friend and mentor in all things.

The transition from living on the streets and moving from town to town to being a part of a team with other kids his age and living under a permanent roof has been good for Singe. His particular brand of colorful language and blue humor is more or less happily accepted by his new friends, and he feels contented to be a part of the team. But Singe knows that the relationship between Quake and the leadership of their new team is shaky at best - and he is constantly preparing himself for the day when he and Quake will have to leave it all behind again for the next new adventure.

"The Uniques" and all related images, text and characters Copyright 2008 Comfort Love and Adam Withers. All Rights Reserved.