Steel (comics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Steel | |
|---|---|
 The various incarnations of John Henry Irons, the current hero known also known as "Steel". |
|
| Publisher |
DC Comics
|
| First appearance |
Steel #1 (1978)
|
| Created by | |
| Characters | |
Steel is a name used by several fictional characters owned and published by DC Comics in their universe. There have been four characters, all superheroes, to use the name.
Contents |
[edit] Character history
[edit] Commander Steel
The first Steel was Henry "Hank" Heywood, better known as Commander Steel, first appeared in Steel #1, published in March 1978, though his active superhero career was set during World War II. His series lasted for only five issues. The character returned to comics, becoming a longtime member of the All-Star Squadron. Later in life, he sponsored the so-called "Justice League Detroit" during his grandson's time on the team.
The original Commander Steel apparently died battling the supervillain Eclipso in Eclipso #13 (1993). [1]
[edit] Hank Heywood, III
| Steel | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
The second Steel was the late Henry "Hank" Heywood, III, grandson to Commander Steel who, as a wealthy industrialist, incorporated the same mechanized components into his grandson much to his grandson's disapproval. Heywood, III was a "Justice League Detroit" team member, and was mortally wounded in battle against one of the team's classic foes, Professor Ivo. His body remained preserved in the JLA Bunker until it was discovered and destroyed by Despero. [2]
Although it was originally stated that Heywood performed unnecessary surgeries on his grandson, this was later retconned in Justice League of America #260 to state that if he hadn't made his grandson into Steel, "Hank would have been dead... years ago." This compassion for his grandson was absent for most of Commander Steel's appearances, and gave the tragic life of Heywood, III a different perspective.
[edit] John Henry Irons
The third Steel, also known as the Man of Steel, was created by Louise Simonson and artist Jon Bogdanove in Adventures of Superman #500 (June, 1993). Aspects of the character are clearly inspired by the African American folk hero John Henry, as well as Superman. [3]
Steel is weapons engineer John Henry Irons, whose life was saved by Superman after he fell off a building while working in construction. Irons then said he owed Superman his life, to which Superman replied, "Then make it count for something." Later in Superman's battle with Doomsday, Irons picked up a sledgehammer and attempted to enter the fight himself. During the fight the building Irons was in collapsed under him and he was trapped before he could come to Superman's aid. Irons later created and donned a suit of powered armor in Superman's memory. During the 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. He had a solo series (written by co-creator Louise Simonson and later by Christopher Priest). This variant of Steel inspired the 1997 movie starring Shaquille O'Neal.
[edit] Natasha Irons
The fourth Steel is Natasha Irons, John Henry's niece and apprentice. Following the events of the "Our Worlds At War" storyline, internal injuries meant John Henry was no longer able to utilize his armor. He designed a separate suit of armor for Natasha to wear. Natasha's suit can rapidly change size and grow to about thirty or forty feet in height. Her suit was recently deactivated by John Henry who said she needs to earn the right to have it again.
[edit] Nathan Heywood
The relaunched Justice Society of America will feature a member of the Heywood family as a member. During an interview to Newsarama, new series writer Geoff Johns said this will be a brand new character with new powers. He has debuted in Justice Society of America # 2 with the name of Nathan "Buckeye" Heywood. [4]
Nathan is the grandson of Henry Heywood and cousin of Hank Heywood III. Formerly a football star, Nathan retired after shattering his kneecap and having his leg amputated, which is why now he is addicted to painkillers.
While attending to the Heywood family reunion, he is attacked by the Fourth Reich, a team of metahuman Neo-Nazis ordered by Vandal Savage to wipe out the bloodlines of Golden Age heroes. Despite the Fourth Reich's effort, they fail to completely destroy the Heywood bloodline, as both Nathan and a few children manage to survive. But both his brother and mother are turned to metal statues by the villain Reichsmark. Nathan jams his crutch into Reichsmark's mouth, causing him to spit liquid metal blood onto Nathan. Hawkman takes him to Dr. Mid-Nite, who notes that the metal is being absorbed by Nathan's skin. Later, it is revealed that the metal has created steel bones growing out of where Nathan's amputated leg once was. The results of this will play out in future issues.
[edit] Appearances in other media
Both Hank Heywood, III and John Henry Irons were shown in the Justice League Unlimited animated series. Hank Heywood, III makes an appearance in the Justice League Unlimited episodes "Initiation" and "Destroyer". In "Destroyer," he fights alongside Hawkgirl and the villain Atomic Skull. During the fight, he picks up a nearby shield and throws it, a clear reference to Captain America. Later, he appears alongside fellow Justice League Detroit members Gypsy and Vibe.
