| Amazing-Man | |
|---|---|
 Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Sept. 1939), first appearance of the Amazing-Man, art byBill Everett. | |
| 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 acomic book superhero whose adventures were published byCentaur Publications during the 1930s to 1940s in theGolden Age of Comic Books. Historians credit his creation variously to writer-artistBill Everett[1] or to Everett together with Centaurart directorLloyd Jacquet.[2] Amazing-Manfirst appeared inAmazing-Man Comics #5 (Sept. 1939)—there were no issues numbered #1–4.[3]
During theGolden 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, afterSuperman.[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 ofCharlton Comics' 1960s superheroPeter Cannon, Thunderbolt,[1] as well asMarvel Comics'Iron Fist character in the 1970s,[7][8] andDC Comics'hero of the same name.[9]
In a letter from Everett's wife, Grace, she revealed that the character was created in response to theNational Periodical characterSuperman. "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]
John Aman is an orphan from theWest, chosen for his "superb physical structure" to be raised by benevolent monks inTibet for the first 25 years of his life.[11] Each member of The Council of Seven, as the monks are known, trained him to asuperhuman 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 theGreen 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]
In the 1990s,Malibu Comics used the Centaur properties, including Amazing-Man, as the roster of its own superhero team, theProtectors. Aside from the costume, the Malibu version was essentially identical to the original.[15]
Amazing-Man was introduced into theMarvel Universe, with the character Prince of Orphans revealing his identity as John Aman at the end ofImmortal Iron Fist #12 (Feb. 2008). Earlier in the issue, Prince of Orphans is seen turning into a green mist while battlingDavos.
Aman had been sent by the Seven Cities of Heaven to assassinate Orson Randall (theIron Fist before the present-day Danny Rand took on that mantle) in order to kill another "immortal weapon" like himself. Chasing Randall around the world, Aman would come close to killing his foe, only to yield honorably when Randall's allies would be injured. Eventually, Randall hinted that the masters of the Seven Cities had lied to Aman concerning the Tournament of the Seven Cities, in which every decade the victorious city is allowed to merge with the Earthly plane. Feeling betrayed after discovering the cities' masters had developed gateways to Earth without the knowledge of the cities' populace, Aman dropped his quest against Randall and vowed to make the city masters pay. Randall told Aman to assist the next Iron Fist in a revolution against the Seven Cities.[16]
The character later appeared inSecret Avengers #6–12 as the Prince of Orphans, to assist theSecret Avengers against the Shadow Council; Aman stopped the Shadow Council from resurrectingZheng Zu,Shang-Chi's father.[17][18] During this, it is revealed he metCaptain America (Steve Rogers) during World War II.[19]
During the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline, Prince of Orphans appears inWashington D.C. during Blitzkrieg U.S.A, helping with the rescue efforts, alongsideWar Machine,Beast andAnt-Man. He tells War Machine that the "Eighth City" has been opened.[20]
The character appeared as an antagonist inMatt Fraction'sDefenders in 2012.[21]
Under his original name, Amazing-Man is one of manypublic domain superheroes to appear in issue #0 ofProject Superpowers, a miniseries fromDynamite Entertainment; a sketch of him is included in issue #2.
In 2014, Barry Gregory andSteven Butler released a new series by Gallant Comics.[22] The new series, titledJohn Aman Amazing Man, Gregory and Butler used other public domain characters, likeBlue Beetle andMiss Masque. In 2015, they launched a crowdfunding campaign inKickstarter to finish a six-part arc.[23]
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