Handsome Jack

Handsome Jack is the main antagonist in Borderlands 2. He has taken over the Hyperion corporation, declared himself dictator of Pandora, and stolen all of the credit for finding The Vault, going so far as to claim responsibility for killing The Destroyer. A new team of Vault Hunters is tasked with killing Jack and restoring (relative) peace to Pandora.

Jack has a geostationary moon base (in the shape of an 'H') in the Lagrange point between Pandora and Pandora's geostationary moon. It acts as an homage to his ego as well as a supply base from which he can send supplies and troops down to Pandora. The satellite also has a lens that allows Jack to keep an eye on the Vault Hunters at all times.

Youth
Little is known of Handsome Jack's life before becoming the CEO of Hyperion. Prior to his takeover, Handsome Jack worked as a programmer for Hyperion and was referred to as John, though this could simply be a case of his boss not caring enough to know his real name. At least some of his early life was spent in the care of his grandmother, who was (at a minimum) physically abusive towards her grandson. The emotional trauma from these events was strong enough that as an adult Jack had his grandmother murdered, and no doubt contributed towards his mental decline.

Before the opening of the first Vault
Later in life Jack married and had a daughter, Angel, one of the universe's rare Sirens. During Angel's youth, he trapped her in Control Core Angel in order to use her to control Pandora's ECHOnet and to open the vault of The Warrior. In the Borderlands 2 story mission Data Mining, Handsome Jack says that "I know you think I'm a monster. You think I enslaved Angel. But you didn't see what she did to her mother. I had to restrain Angel's power. You get that? I had to." The seeming implication is that Angel caused her mother's disappearance. However, this interpretation contradicts the journals in Get to Know Jack. While it is true that the third journal says that Jack's wife disappeared, it also says that Jack's wife suggested that "the Angel" be shut down. For there to be something to shut down, Control Core Angel must have already been active at that time, and therefore Jack's wife's disappearance could not have been the reason for the creation of Control Core Angel. Nor could whatever Angel "did to her mother"--if indeed anything happened at all--have been serious enough for her mother to agree with restraining Angel.

After the opening of the first Vault
With his daughter secretly in place, Jack began focusing most of his time and energy on gaining control of the Warrior hidden underneath Pandora's Vault, killing and manipulating his way to Hyperion presidency. During this time Jack began to use the name "Handsome Jack". Contrary to expectations, Jack's trademark mask did not come with his new name; ECHO recordings indicate that the mask was present even before then.

Jack used his daughter to gain full surveillance of Pandora and control of the ECHOnet system. Jack needed Eridium to keep her Siren powers at maximum yield, and it is implied that Jack's primary reason for the invasion of Pandora after the opening of the Vault was the abundance of this material appearing in the ground. He ordered the Hyperion military to forcefully take control of Pandora some time after the Claptrap Robolution.

Between the events of Borderlands and Borderlands 2, the Hyperion corporation dismantled all but one of the Claptrap units, annexed Fyrestone, and engaged in battle with the citizens of New Haven. Jack, with the help of Wilhelm, killed Helena Pierce and sacked the town of New Haven. Handsome Jack also tracked down the Vault key and its owner, Tannis, tortured Tannis and took the Vault key from her.

Handsome Jack sought to lure out Vault Hunters to his sphere of influence by displaying a need for them, then left them for dead in the Windshear Waste. He constantly communicates with them through the ECHOnet, taunting them, threatening them, and otherwise manipulating them. His building of Opportunity and the drilling into Pandora's core is no secret to the citizens of Sanctuary, but he still keeps a leaderly façade when addressing the citizens of Hyperion-settled villages.

Following Angel's death, he makes his first physical appearance and kills Roland. Lilith attempts to attack him, but Jack throws a Siren power-restraining collar at her neck and captured her to replace his recently-deceased daughter as a catalyst to charge the Vault key. He rescinds the bounty on the Vault Hunters, vowing to exact vengeance himself for Angel's death, and threatening to hunt down anyone who killed the Vault Hunters before he did.

His final appearance is at the Vault of the Warrior, and is fought as one of the two final bosses. After being defeated by the Vault Hunters, Jack takes the already-charged Vault Key and uses it to summon and control the Warrior. The Vault Hunters defeat it as well, thus ruining his plans for dominion over Pandora. Jack angrily chastises them for stopping him from bringing his vision of order to the lawless planet, and is then executed for his crimes by either the Vault Hunter or Lilith.

If Jack dies at the hands of Lilith, his mask falls off and his real face is visible. His face is deformed, with a vault symbol branded into it, and his left eye blinded. There are competing hypotheses about the cause of Jack's injuries: (1) Angel accidentally injured her father when she was young and unable to fully control her siren powers; (2) Jack was branded by a vault guardian or bandit before he turned the search for the vault over to the vault hunters; or (3) Jack was branded by his abusive grandmother when he was a child.

Quotes
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 * Hey vault hunter, Handsome Jack here, president of Hyperion. Let me just tell you how things work. Vault hunter shows up, Vault hunter looks for the new vault, Vault hunter gets killed. By me. You see--you seeing the problem here? You're still alive. So if you could just do me a favor and off yourself that'd be great. Thanks, pumpkin.
 * Hey! How - ah, these pretzels suck... So, how's your day been, buddy? We haven't really talked much since I left you for dead. Hey, you think you'll freeze to death out there? Nah, probably not. The bandits'll get you first. My day? It's been pretty good. Just bought a pony made of diamonds, because I'm rich. So, you know. That's cool. Kay, bye.
 * I’m rackin’ my brain trying to think of a name of that diamond pony I bought. I was gonna call it ‘piss-for-brains’ in honor of you, but that just feels immature. Maybe ‘Butt Stallion’? Nah, that’s worse. Tell you what, I’ll give it some thought. 
 * Attention people of Sanctuary, the "last stronghold of the resistance," life as you knew it on Pandora, the bandits, the fighting, that time has passed. If you let it, this could be an era of peace. Just turn yourselves in and I promise, your deaths will be quick.
 * Like my little speech there? I lied about the mercy part, I'm gonna spend a long time torturing you bandit scum.
 * Oh, great you made it to Banditville, huh? It'll be good to see a friendly face when I'm burning that place to the ground.
 * You know, I hear the 'Firehawk liquifies bandits and drinks them like flesh smoothies, but nah, I'm sure Roland is just fine. 
 * Look, even if you do rescue Roland from this Firehawk guy, the Crimson Raiders aren't exactly long for this world, if you know what I mean. You know what? I think you deserve a hint- my secret involves your pathetic resistance dying and me laughing, a lot.
 * Look at those murderous Bloodshots. Don't you think Pandora would be better off without them?
 * Aaaaand that's how Handsome Jack pays a ransom! Long time no see, Roland. 
 * Wow. Bravo. Cheers. Good job. Champagne. Slow clap. You got the damn power core, didn't you?
 * Hey, I think its time I let you in on that secret- Angel is working for me.
 * Excellent work Angel - now, lets kill ourselves some Vault Hunters.
 * Argh, y'see this is what I just don't get about you bad guys. You know the hero is going to win, but you just don't die quickly. For example, this one guy in New Haven, right? City's burning, people are dying left and right, yada yada yada. And this jackhole rushes me with a freakin' spoon! A spoon! And I'm dying laughing, right? So I scoop out his stupid little eyeballs, and he can't see and he's bumping into things and his kids are all like, "waaah!" and I just can't stop laughing! Anyway, the moral is: you're a total bitch. 
 * Angel, you can stop pretending to help the bad guys now. Angel?
 * Angel, what the hell are you doing, those are the bad guys!
 * Dear residents of (Overlook) I, Handsome Jack, am (moderately happy) to welcome you into the Hyperion family! Watch out for those (Stalker) attacks!
 * Oh, hey you're in the preserve. You know, I had planned on luring you in here and having you killed but- well, you just kind of showed up! Thanks for saving me the trouble, kiddo!
 * This is Handsome Jack, thanking you, loyal test subject for helping bring Pandora into the future. The experiments you'll be put through will help us uncover new uses for Eridium, new cures for medicine and- Seriously? Why are you having me read this crap? This is freaking hilarious. They know we're gonna mutate the hell out of 'em, why lie to-
 * Looking for Bloodwing? Oh, I moved her a few hours ago. Somewhere a little more... dramatic.
 * I had my boys build this facility to research the full abilities of Slag. See, it's not just an elemental type, if you know how to use it, slag has... lots of applications.
 * Want Bloodwing back, huh? Shame, I'd been doing some really interesting Eridium experiments on her, but heck, if you want her back- she's all yours.
 * Just give it up, kiddo! Bloodwing's got all the elements at her disposal! Slag, electricty, corrosion, fire, uh- damn it, what was that last one?
 * Slag, fire, electricity, corrosion is coming up next, damn it, what else is there?
 * Oh, now I remember! EXPLOSIIIIVE!!!
 * Heh, that's cute.
 * THAT is why you don't screw with me. Now, you and your friend Mordecai turn yourselves in, or that dumbass bird is just the beginning!
 * Aw, god darn it, I had this violin around here somewhere, I was gonna play it all sarcastically- Blake! Where's that bloody violin!?
 * All right, all right, cool, cool, I found it. (ahem) This is an ode to Mordecai's stupid bird, in E. [terrible violin playing] Aw, you know what, screw you! It would have been hilarious if I'd found it earlier. Shut up! 
 * Aw, what are you doing now, tool? Petty vandalism? Are you serious? Is this how far you've fallen? It's just sad.
 * Alright! You made your point. You don't like the statue, I get it. I look a little too badass with my foot in that bandit's face, right? You're jealous, I get it.
 * Does that feel good, you get that out of your system? Great, now go home and stop screwing with my stuff or we're gonna have a frickin' problem.
 * Hey, you know what book I'm reading right there? It's called "101 Ways To Forcibly Make Vandals Eat Their Own Entrails." I'll let you borrow it sometime.
 * I can actually see why you'd want to tear that particular statue down. Clearly, you're illiterate and the image of me enjoying a good book just makes your head hurt something awful.
 * Oh. come ON! What's wrong with that statue?! I'm holding the Vault key and a BABY. You know what babies are right? Those little soft pink things your kind eats after you're done rolling around in your own feces? ring a bell?
 * Oh, for the LOVE of - okay! Alright, great, success! You're pissing me off. Good for you! Here's your prize!
 * What is these even ACCOMPLISHING!? Are you trying to piss me off? Was that your goal? Well mission accomplished, jaggoff. Y'know when I'm curb-stomping you dumb ass to death, you can take solace in the fact that one time, for like eight seconds, you mildly irritated me. Good for you. Your parents must be so proud.
 * Yeah - no - go ahead. Knock that last one down. I've already got a great idea for a new statue. It's just going to be me - kicking you - in the junk. I'm gonna commission like fifteen of those sumbitches and put them everywhere!
 * You are such a jackass.
 * Citizens of Opportunity! You represent the beginning of a grand adventure. Opportunity is only the FIRST Hyperion city on Pandora. One day you'll be saying, "Bandits? What's a bandit? I can't hear what you're saying over the motor of this free blowjob machine gave all of us."
 * Hey kids, did you know that your risk of being disemboweled increases by 80,000% upon leaving Opportunity? It's a scientific fact!
 * Did you know that littering in Opportunity is punishable by death? If not, you should also know that complaining about Opportunity's laws is considered verbal littering.
 * Did you know some people on Pandora still believe in ridiculous things like angels and ancient alien warriors? We call those people "bandits."
 * Hey kids, do you know what your mommys and daddys gave up to live here in Opportunity? Literally nothing! You're paid to be here! I provide all the food and protection you need. Remember, we should all love our parents, but love me more. 
 * Ol' balloon tits is still holdin' a grudge against me, huh? I mean, don't get me wrong, I get it - once you've eaten prime rib for free, it's hard to go back to suckin' down hamburgers for cash. If you know what I'm talking about. Do you know what I'm talking about? (pause) Dicks! I'm talkin' about dicks!
 * Did you really think you could hide from me, Angel? Did you? Now say goodbye to you're little friend - say it!
 * So the vault hunter met the slabs, huh? What a great opportunity to kill two bandits with one mortar barrage.
 * Oh, hey, you got through the barrier. That's cute. 'Course, the bunker is going to obliterate you, but cute nonetheless.
 * Hey, do you know how I got my hands on that vault key? You see, a few years back me and Wilhelm paid your little buddy Tannis a visit. And we beat her for hours. We ripped that key from her broken hands. But we let her live. Because that's what hero's do, they show mercy.
 * All right funtime is over kiddies... Brick and his mouth-breathers couldn't bust my bunker, and neither can you!
 * Did you actually think I'd protect Angel with nothing more than some flimsy autocannon turrets? You see, you're not at the bunker right now. The bunker isn't a place. Meet the BNK-3R, the finest defense bot ever built. Designed her myself. Now, do me a favor and die.
 * Consider this your  final war - no, MY final warning. Stop now and I promise I'll make it quick. But take one more step and ever soul back at Sanctuary is going to die watching me rip their lungs from their chests.
 * You stay the hell away from my daughter!
 * Is this how you bandits play, huh? Can't go directly to me, you have to kill an innocent girl!?
 * Angel, baby, everything you could ever want is in these four walls. Don't you know how much I've sacrificed for you? The bandits I've killed, the people I've bribed, it was all to protect you!!
 * Okay. Please, listen to me, don't kill my baby girl.
 * Who cares about the stupid vault key, you're gonna end the life of an innocent girl!
 * 'Sup.
 * What's that saying? Never go up against a man who's got nothing left to lose? See, now I'm going to show you just how much you have to lose. And I've got the most powerful Siren on the planet to do it. Lilith, kill the vault hunter, we have a date to keep with the Warrior.  
 * Wait - did you - did you just kill my girlfriend? Huh, that's actually kind of pissing me off.
 * Enjoy your nothing, idiot!
 * Great! Say this to 'em: Don't be alarmed. I need you to stay calm and don't let on that anyone is talking to you. Start making your way off the bus.

Quotes (when fighting)
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 * There's nowhere to hide now, suckers!
 * Child-murderer!
 * That was for my Angel!
 * This is MY planet!
 * You should've died when I told you!
 * This one is for Angel, jackhole!
 * Die!
 * MURDERER!
 * My Angel was HAPPY!
 * This is when you die, bandit!
 * I'm gonna kill you and the rest of your stupid Vault Hunter friends!
 * Ah, you're way too late! Just give up!
 * I'm gonna win!
 * You and ME, craphole! It all come down to this!
 * This is the end, beautiful friend!

Tuning invisible
 * Now you see me!
 * See ya!
 * Bye-bye!
 * Try finding me, bandit!
 * Catch me if you can!

Attacking when invisible
 * Hi jackass!
 * Oh, I'm right here!
 * Sup!
 * Yeah take it, bitch!
 * Over here!

When deceived by Zer0's Decepti0n
 * Fight me assassin!
 * Somebody kill this freaking assassin!
 * Stop the assassin!

Deploying turret
 * Take this!
 * Hey, did I show you my turret?
 * Hoho, have fun with this!
 * Stand in front of this, jackass!

Throwing mortar
 * Catch this!
 * INCOOOMING!!
 * GRENA-A-DE!
 * Hey, want a grenade?
 * Catch!
 * Eat it!

Calling for Guardian Surveyor
 * Try breaking through this, jackass!
 * Reinforcements, NOW!!
 * I want some reinforcements, now!

While protected by Guardian Surveyor's shield
 * Alright, safe again!
 * You like my reflector shield, pretty sweet, huh?
 * I'm invincible bitch!
 * No-no-nope!
 * Hum, how does these bullets taste, dumbass?
 * That's riiight, shoot the reflector shield genius!
 * HA-HAHA-HAH!!!
 * Stop shooting yourself, stop shooting yourself!!
 * Bullets can't go through!
 * Oh what's going on, you can't hurt me anymore oh that's gotta be SO FRUSTRATING!

When Guardian Surveyor is destroyed
 * Son of a... How the hell you did that?!
 * Son of a BITCH!
 * CRAP! Crapcrapcrap!!
 * Shit-shitshitshit!!
 * Slag you!

Mortally wounded
 * Gonna make it, fight through the pain Jack...! Come on!
 * Not gonna die here too...!
 * I'm fine. I'm the hero...!
 * Oh, dammit... COME ON!
 * Murdering bandit... MURDERER!
 * You're not gonna die here Jack... You're okay!
 * Urgh... Come on... COME ON!

Upon crippling a Vault Hunter
 * He-heh! There you go!
 * Stay down!
 * Now, die.

Trivia

 * He appears to have heterochromia, but his left (incorrectly colored) eye is actually a part of his mask.
 * His most recent girlfriend was the Sheriff of Lynchwood.
 * He has a diamond pony called "Butt Stallion" (Jack clarifies to the Vault Hunters that it is in fact a living horse made of diamond).
 * Jack destroyed Mad Moxxi's Underdome after he thought she was cheating on him.
 * Jack's real face can be seen after defeating both him and the Warrior.
 * In the fifth ECHO recording during the mission "Get to Know Jack", Mr. Tassiter says "I know that beneath the ridiculous mask you are still a hideous, pathetic little nobody". This implies that Jack had his mask and scar before he completely took over the company and the events of the first Borderlands.
 * Handsome Jack was partially inspired by a particular interview with Nathan Fillion on Jimmy Kimmel Live.