Written By Kal-El
Most of us does not know alot about a guy named John Henry Irons. John Henry Irons, a much lesser of an attention superhero, was a brilliant weapons engineer for Amertek Industries, who eventually became disgusted when the BG-60, a powerful man-portable energy cannon he had designed, fell into the wrong hands and was used to kill innocent people. As the company would have coerced him to retain his services, John faked his death, and eventually came to Metropolis.
While working a construction job high up on a skyscraper, he fell off while saving a friend from the same fate. His own life was saved by none other than , the man of steel, Superman. When John Irons asked how he could show his gratitude, Superman told him to "live a life worth saving." During Superman's fatal battle against Doomsday, Irons attempted to help Superman fight deadly menace by picking up a sledge hammer, but was buried in rubble amidst the devastation. Shortly after Superman's death, he finally awoke and crawled from the wreckage, confused and saying that he "must stop Doomsday."
He recovered, but to discover that the gangs in inner-city Metropolis (now unopposed by Superman) were fighting a devastating gang war using BG-80 Toastmasters, an upgraded version of his earlier Amertek design. Irons created and donned a suit of powered armor in Superman's memory in order to stop the war, as well as the weapons, which were being distributed by Dr. Angora Lapin, a former partner and lover of his during his time at Amertek Industries.
While working a construction job high up on a skyscraper, he fell off while saving a friend from the same fate. His own life was saved by none other than , the man of steel, Superman. When John Irons asked how he could show his gratitude, Superman told him to "live a life worth saving." During Superman's fatal battle against Doomsday, Irons attempted to help Superman fight deadly menace by picking up a sledge hammer, but was buried in rubble amidst the devastation. Shortly after Superman's death, he finally awoke and crawled from the wreckage, confused and saying that he "must stop Doomsday."
He recovered, but to discover that the gangs in inner-city Metropolis (now unopposed by Superman) were fighting a devastating gang war using BG-80 Toastmasters, an upgraded version of his earlier Amertek design. Irons created and donned a suit of powered armor in Superman's memory in order to stop the war, as well as the weapons, which were being distributed by Dr. Angora Lapin, a former partner and lover of his during his time at Amertek Industries.
During the famous storyline of "Reign of the Supermen" , he was often called the "Man of Steel" to identify him in contrast to the other Supermen, which was shortened to "Steel" by Superman himself. This has meant a lot of honour for John Henry Irons to received such Status given by Superman.
Interestingly enough, although "Steel" never claimed to be the "true Superman", Lois Lane seriously considered the possibility that he was a "walk-in" , for someone who was now inhabited by Superman's soul. Lois met all four "Supermen" that appeared after the apparent death of Superman, and while she never concluded that any of them was the one true Superman, she evoked less skepticisim of Steel than she did of the others.
Shortly After the Return of Superman, Steel then had left Metropolis and return home to Washington, D.C., which he revealed it had been five years since he had left. He erroneously believed that his old employers, Amertek, would no longer be interested in him. This turned out to be false when they attacked his home (presumably for destroying their property back when he faked his death). Between this attack and his knowledge that the Toastmasters were now being used on the streets of D.C. he reforged his armor (it was now stronger than ever) and began his crusade against Amertek, which he correctly knew was responsible for leaking the weapons onto the street. Steel decided not to use the "S" emblem, however, since he felt that his battle might take him outside the law.
Steel's early adventures pit him against Amertek and against the gangs that are using his weapons. His nephew Jemahl is involved in one of the gangs, which he thinks offers him protection. He is proven wrong, however, when the gangs turn against him to get to Steel. Tyke (another Nephew) was paralyzed by a bullet meant for Jemahl and Blondell is assaulted. Steel eventually takes down Amertek and the gangs and focuses on who was helping Amertek distribute the weapons. This leads him to track down a group called BLACK Ops lead by the villain Hazard.
Steel briefly joined up with Maxima, who was still on Earth at the time and working with the Justice League, to help her with an alien warlord named De'cine. During this time, Steel developed the ability to teleport his armor onto and off himself. At first, it appeared purely by reflex (whenever he was in mortal danger) but he soon began to better control it, although he had no idea how it happened.
Steel continued his battle against Hazard's BLACK Ops and against the return of the White Rabbit. A bounty hunter named Chindi attempted to take down Steel, but after realizing Hazard was experimenting with children, he ended up as an ally of Irons. He was called away from Earth as part of the Superman "Rescue Squad" when Superman was put on trial for the destruction of Krypton.
Steel learns that the three BLACK Ops agents were not truly killed. They briefly join him in battling a monstrous, animated form of his armor that attacks him. Steel speculates that the armor came alive because of his own guilt and the strange teleportation effects. He manages to banish the monster and recall his true armor.
Steel relocated to Jersey City with Natasha and began to work at a hospital. He built a new suit of armor that was significantly less powerful than the previous one (but one that featured the return of an "S" shield on it). His adventures in Jersey City are pretty mundane, despite the change in direction (which, in addition to a job, also included a love interest). The series featured the return of his brother, Clay, who was a hitman that everyone assumed had been killed. Clay assumed the alias "Crash" and managed to acquire a pair of Steel's flightboots before turning himself in so that he could save his daughter, Nat, when she needed a blood transfusion. The series was cancelled with issue #52 which featured Steel running the hospital after the unmasking of its previous coordinator, Dr. Villain.
Around the time of Steel's cancellation, he was recruited as a member of the Justice League. He stayed on as a supporting member for quite some time. He also became a regular member in the Superman comics. Having relocated with Nat to Metropolis to run his own workshop there, called "Steelworks." He also revealed at this time that he had known Superman's identity for some time. The two became partners of a sort and John Henry helped Superman build a new Fortress of Solitude.
Steel retired from active duty after he was injured while wearing the Entropy Aegis, an alien armor created on the evil planet, Apokolips, which nearly consumed his "soul".
Now during his retirement, Irons made a suit of armor for his niece Natasha Irons, who became the new Steel. Although he was no longer actively fighting crime, he remained an important ally of Superman. He unintentionally usurped the position of Emil Hamilton (Former worker of STAR Labs) as Superman's technology guru, one of several developments that led to the emergence of Ruin.
With hope, The Irons 'Steel ' Legacy will goes on...
Shortly After the Return of Superman, Steel then had left Metropolis and return home to Washington, D.C., which he revealed it had been five years since he had left. He erroneously believed that his old employers, Amertek, would no longer be interested in him. This turned out to be false when they attacked his home (presumably for destroying their property back when he faked his death). Between this attack and his knowledge that the Toastmasters were now being used on the streets of D.C. he reforged his armor (it was now stronger than ever) and began his crusade against Amertek, which he correctly knew was responsible for leaking the weapons onto the street. Steel decided not to use the "S" emblem, however, since he felt that his battle might take him outside the law.
Steel's early adventures pit him against Amertek and against the gangs that are using his weapons. His nephew Jemahl is involved in one of the gangs, which he thinks offers him protection. He is proven wrong, however, when the gangs turn against him to get to Steel. Tyke (another Nephew) was paralyzed by a bullet meant for Jemahl and Blondell is assaulted. Steel eventually takes down Amertek and the gangs and focuses on who was helping Amertek distribute the weapons. This leads him to track down a group called BLACK Ops lead by the villain Hazard.
Steel briefly joined up with Maxima, who was still on Earth at the time and working with the Justice League, to help her with an alien warlord named De'cine. During this time, Steel developed the ability to teleport his armor onto and off himself. At first, it appeared purely by reflex (whenever he was in mortal danger) but he soon began to better control it, although he had no idea how it happened.
Steel continued his battle against Hazard's BLACK Ops and against the return of the White Rabbit. A bounty hunter named Chindi attempted to take down Steel, but after realizing Hazard was experimenting with children, he ended up as an ally of Irons. He was called away from Earth as part of the Superman "Rescue Squad" when Superman was put on trial for the destruction of Krypton.
Steel learns that the three BLACK Ops agents were not truly killed. They briefly join him in battling a monstrous, animated form of his armor that attacks him. Steel speculates that the armor came alive because of his own guilt and the strange teleportation effects. He manages to banish the monster and recall his true armor.
Steel relocated to Jersey City with Natasha and began to work at a hospital. He built a new suit of armor that was significantly less powerful than the previous one (but one that featured the return of an "S" shield on it). His adventures in Jersey City are pretty mundane, despite the change in direction (which, in addition to a job, also included a love interest). The series featured the return of his brother, Clay, who was a hitman that everyone assumed had been killed. Clay assumed the alias "Crash" and managed to acquire a pair of Steel's flightboots before turning himself in so that he could save his daughter, Nat, when she needed a blood transfusion. The series was cancelled with issue #52 which featured Steel running the hospital after the unmasking of its previous coordinator, Dr. Villain.
Around the time of Steel's cancellation, he was recruited as a member of the Justice League. He stayed on as a supporting member for quite some time. He also became a regular member in the Superman comics. Having relocated with Nat to Metropolis to run his own workshop there, called "Steelworks." He also revealed at this time that he had known Superman's identity for some time. The two became partners of a sort and John Henry helped Superman build a new Fortress of Solitude.
Steel retired from active duty after he was injured while wearing the Entropy Aegis, an alien armor created on the evil planet, Apokolips, which nearly consumed his "soul".
Now during his retirement, Irons made a suit of armor for his niece Natasha Irons, who became the new Steel. Although he was no longer actively fighting crime, he remained an important ally of Superman. He unintentionally usurped the position of Emil Hamilton (Former worker of STAR Labs) as Superman's technology guru, one of several developments that led to the emergence of Ruin.
With hope, The Irons 'Steel ' Legacy will goes on...
No comments:
Post a Comment