| Amazing-Man | |
|---|---|
 Will Everett fromAll-Star Squadron #23, artistJerry Ordway. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | (1940s) All-Star Squadron (later appeared in "The Flash vs Arrow" #23 (July 1983)) (1990s) Justice League America #86 (March 1994) (2000s) Justice Society of America vol. 3 #12 (March 2008) (2010s) OMAC #2 vol. 3 (December 2011) |
| Created by | (1940s) Roy Thomas (writer) Jerry Ordway (artist) (1990s) Dan Vado (writer) Marc Campos (artist) (2000s) Geoff Johns (writer) Dale Eaglesham (artist) (2010s) Dan DiDio (writer) Keith Giffen (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | (1940s) William Blake "Will" Everett (1990s) William Blake "Will" Everett III (2000s) Markus Clay (2010s) Rocker Bonn |
| Species | Metahuman |
| Team affiliations | (1940s) All-Star Squadron (1990s) Justice League America Extreme Justice Justice League (2000s) Justice Society of America (2010s) Checkmate |
| Abilities | (All) Ability to duplicate the properties of matter and energy via physical contact (Will Everett) Magnetic powers (Will Everett III) Energy absorption and duplication |
Amazing-Man is the name used by fourfictional characters published byDC Comics. The first three areAfrican-Americansuperheroes and are members of the same family. The first Amazing-Man debuted inAll-Star Squadron #23 (July 1983), and was created byRoy Thomas andJerry Ordway. The second Amazing-Man debuted inJustice League America #86 (March 1994), and was created by Dan Vado and Marc Campos. The third Amazing-Man debuted inJustice Society of America vol. 3 #12 (March 2008), and was created byGeoff Johns andDale Eaglesham. The fourth Amazing Man debuted inOMAC vol. 3 #2 (December 2011), and was created byDan DiDio andKeith Giffen.
Although a 1980s creation of writerRoy Thomas, the Amazing-Man published byDC Comics was placed in the 1940s and made a contemporary of variousGolden Age superheroes. The character was created by Roy Thomas as a tribute toBill Everett'sAmazing-Man, a character he created forCentaur Publications during the so-calledGolden Age of Comic Books.[1]
Will Everett was a promising youngAfrican-AmericanOlympian who had competed in the1936 Summer Olympics inBerlin, but his post-Olympic career devolved into a janitorial profession at a laboratory owned byTerry Curtis. Following an accident involving the explosion of some equipment to which he was exposed (developed by theUltra-Humanite), Everett quickly developed the ability to mimic whatever properties he touched.[2]
Everett is initially employed by the Ultra-Humanite as a henchman along with Curtis (as Cyclotron) andDeathbolt.[3] However, he forms after encountering theAll-Star Squadron, whom he joins to stop the Ultra-Humanite. He then serves a lengthy stint as a member of the Squadron.[4]
DuringCrisis on Infinite Earths, Amazing-Man is among the heroes chosen by theMonitor to stop theAnti-Monitor.[5] He loses his original abilities and gains the ability to manipulatemagnetism.[6]
In the 1950s, Everett's secret identity is made public byJ. Edgar Hoover, endangering the lives of his wife and family. During thecivil rights movement of the 1960s, Everett's nephew is murdered, spurring him to become involved in the civil rights movement. He leads marches against segregation across the United States, and also helps to quell riots inDetroit. Everett is also responsible for the capture ofMartin Luther King Jr.'s murderer,James Earl Ray. In the DC Comics universe, he is considered the third most important advocate forAfrican American rights, behind only King andMalcolm X.[7]
It was later revealed that his grandson, Will Everett III (a.k.a. "Junior"), developed mimicry abilities similar to his own. Will Everett Sr. later dies from cancer, with his grandson succeeding him as Amazing-Man.[8]
Will Everett III carries on his grandfather's heroic tradition, joining theJustice League atWonder Woman's request.[9][10] As a member of the Justice League, he is instrumental in defeating theOvermaster alongside the other members of the League and reformed members of theCadre.[11] Soon after this,Captain Atom forms a splinter group of the JLA nicknamedExtreme Justice.[12][13] Will remains with the team until it disbands.[14]
Later, Will joins theCrimson Fox's unofficial re-grouping ofJustice League Europe. In their single ill-fated adventure, Will is killed byMist, who tricks him into mimicking glass and shatters his body.[15]
The third Amazing-Man isMarkus Clay, who operates out ofNew Orleans, Louisiana. He is Will Everett's other grandson, and the cousin of Will Everett III.[7] A recent recruit of theJustice Society of America, he has helped the team communicate withGog. After Gog's defeat, Markus returns to New Orleans and considers forming a team of his own.[16]
A new Amazing-Man,Rocker Bonn, is introduced following the events ofFlashpoint and the subsequent relaunchThe New 52. He is a former agent ofCheckmate who was givenmetahuman abilities byProject Cadmus.[17] After going into hiding in Texas, Bonn is attacked by Kevin Kho, the newOMAC. Bonn is defeated by Kho and subsequently absorbed byBrother Eye, who states that he may prove useful at a later date.[18]
All versions of Amazing-Man can mimic the properties of materials via touch. The Will Everett Sr. incarnation later developed the ability to manipulate magnetism.
The Will Everett incarnation of Amazing-Man appears inJustice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, voiced byIke Amadi.[19]
