Amazing-Man (Centaur Publications)
Amazing-Man | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Centaur Publications Malibu Comics Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Centaur: Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Sept. 1939) Malibu: Protectors #2 (October 1992) |
Created by | Centaur: Bill Everett Malibu: R. A. Jones Thomas Derenick |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | John Aman |
Team affiliations | Malibu: Protectors Marvel: Immortal Weapons Secret Avengers |
Notable aliases | Prince of Orphans (Marvel), The Green Mist of Death |
Abilities | Slightly superhuman strength, speed, and endurance Ability to turn into a green mist |
Amazing-Man (John Aman) is a
During the Golden Age of Comic Books, Centaur Publications produced Amazing-Man's eponymous series, Amazing-Man Comics, which ran from issues #5–26 (Sept. 1939 – Feb. 1942). Amazing-Man was the second superhero to have a comic book named after him, after Superman.[4] In 1941, Centaur also included Amazing-Man in their war comic, Stars and Stripes Comics #2–6 (June–Dec. 1941).[5] The book was cancelled in 1942 when the company went out of business.[6]
The character influenced the creation and origin of
Development
In a letter from Everett's wife, Grace, she revealed that the character was created in response to the National Periodical character Superman. "I’m going to spend all day tomorrow at the Public Library, doing some research work for Bill. He has a new character, for a strip which [Lloyd] Jaquet wants him to do in competition with the new one now being syndicated – called the “Superman’ I think. We’ve wracked our brains for a new kind of character; and all I can think of now is to back over some old folk tales, foreign ones if necessary, and try to find some unusual character around which we can build an unusual story for these modern times."[10]
Fictional character biography
John Aman is an orphan from the West, chosen for his "superb physical structure" to be raised by benevolent monks in Tibet for the first 25 years of his life.[11] Each member of The Council of Seven, as the monks are known, trained him to a superhuman degree of physical and mental ability, while also giving him the ability via a chemical solution to disappear into a cloud of green mist, earning him the secondary title of the Green Mist.[12] His new powers include super-strength, invulnerability and speed, as well as healing and telekinesis.[13]
After receiving his final tests, he is sent into the world to use his skills and abilities to do good. Opposing Aman, as he was often known, is his nemesis the Great Question, a disgruntled member of the Council of Seven.[14] Aman's sidekick is Tommy, the Amazing Kid, and he's also aided by "ace girl crime investigator" Zona Henderson.[13]
Malibu Comics
In the 1990s, Malibu Comics used the Centaur properties, including Amazing-Man, as the roster of its own superhero team, the Protectors. Aside from the costume, the Malibu version was essentially identical to the original.[15]
Marvel Comics version
Amazing-Man was introduced into the
Aman had been sent by the Seven Cities of Heaven to assassinate Orson Randall (the
The character later appeared in Secret Avengers #6–12 as the Prince of Orphans, to assist the Secret Avengers against the Shadow Council; Aman stopped the Shadow Council from resurrecting Zheng Zu, Shang-Chi's father.[17][18] During this, it is revealed he met Captain America (Steve Rogers) during World War II.[19]
During the 2011 "
The character appeared as an antagonist in Matt Fraction's Defenders in 2012.[21]
Other versions
Under his original name, Amazing-Man is one of many public domain superheroes to appear in issue #0 of Project Superpowers, a miniseries from Dynamite Entertainment; a sketch of him is included in issue #2.
In 2014, Barry Gregory and
Notes
- ^ a b Amazing-Man at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012.
- ^ Nevins, Jess. "The Timely Comics Story". WebCitation archive.
- ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ^ "Roy Thomas interview". Alter Ego (70): 38. July 2007.
- K'un-Lunorigin of Iron Fist was inspired by the origin of Bill Everett's Amazing Man".
- ^ The All-Star Companion, p. 76, at Google Books
- user-generated source]
- ISBN 978-1-59474-763-2.
- ISBN 978-1605490892.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-61318-023-5.
- ISBN 9781476638607.
- ^ "The Mighty Crusaders – The Protectors" Archived 2009-07-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death (April 2008)
- ^ "GCD :: Issue :: Secret Avengers #11". Comics.org. 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^ Secret Avengers #10. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Secret Avengers #6–12
- ^ Iron Man 2.0 #5
- ^ Defenders #6–8, #11–12, 2012
- ^ John Aman Amazing Man Action Figure CASE
- ^ kickstarter.com
External links
- John Aman on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki
- John Aman at the Marvel Universe wiki
- Amazing Man on Public Domain Super Heroes, an external wiki
- Amazing-Man at Comic Vine
- Prince of Orphans at Comic Vine
- A Hero History Of Amazing-Man
- Who is the Amazing Man?