Amazing-Man (Centaur Publications)

Superherobox


caption = Centaur Publications' "Amazing-Man Comics" #22
character_name = Amazing-Man
publisher = Centaur Publications
debut = "Amazing-Man Comics" #5 (Sept. 1939)
creators = Bill Everett
alter_ego = John Aman
full_name =
species =
homeworld =
alliances =
aliases =
relatives =
supports=
powers = Above normal strength, speed, and endurance

Amazing-Man is a fictional, American comic book superhero whose adventures were published by Centaur Publications during the 1930s to 1940s period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. Sources credit his creation variously to writer-artist Bill Everett [http://www.toonopedia.com/amazngmn.htm Don Markstein's Toonopedia] ] or to Everett together with Centaur art director Lloyd Jacquet. [ [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/7160/Timely2.htm Jess Nevins' The Timely Comics Story] ] . Amazing-Man first appeared in "Amazing-Man Comics" #5 (Sept. 1939)

The character influenced the creation and origin of Charlton Comics' 1960s superhero Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, as well as Marvel Comics' Iron Fist character in the 1970s. [ [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/yutikunlunsonoftuan.htm Jeff Christiansen's The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Yü-Ti] : "In the letter page to "Marvel Premiere" #15, [Iron Fist co-creator] Roy Thomas commented how the K'un-Lun origin of Iron Fist was inspired by the origin of Bill Everett's Amazing Man".] Also, the DC Comics Amazing Man, whose real name was Will Everett, was a tribute to this character.

Publication history

Centaur Publications produced Amazing-Man's eponymous series, "Amazing-Man Comics", which ran from issues #5 (September 1939) to #27 (February 1942).

Malibu Comics made use of the Centaur properties, which had fallen into the public domain, in the 1990s and used these characters, including Amazing-Man, as the roster of their own superhero team, "The Protectors". Aside from the costume, the Malibu version was essentially identical to the original.

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. The Council of Seven, as the monks are known, each trained him to a superhuman degree of physical and mental ability, 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. After receiving his final tests, he is sent out into the world to use his skills and abilities to do good. Like the later Mister Terrific, Aman (as he was often known) is a specimen of human perfection and is skilled in everything. His arch nemesis is the Great Question, a disgruntled member of the Council of Seven.

Modern-day appearances

Amazing-Man has been introduced into the Marvel Comics universe, with the character Prince of Orphans revealing his identity as John Aman at the end of "Immortal Iron Fist" #12. Earlier in the issue, Prince of Orphans is seen turning into a green mist while battling Davos whom Aman had taken offense to over the dishonorable and needlessly harsh fashion Davos beat his last opponent, Tiger's Beautiful Daughter. Malibu Comics was purchased by Marvel in 1994.

"The Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death" elaborates on the history of Aman and Orson Randall, the previous Iron Fist. Aman was sent by the Seven Cities of Heaven (two of which designated Aman and Randall its own "immortal weapons") to assassinate Randall in order to kill another "immortal weapon." Chasing Randall around the world, Aman would always 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, where 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, who would be Daniel Rand, in a revolution against the Seven Cities.

Most recently, Amazing-Man is one of many public domain superheroes to appear in the issue #0 of "Project Superpowers", a miniseries from Dynamite Entertainment; also, a sketch of him is included in issue #2.

External links

* [http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/3832.htm A Hero History Of Amazing-Man]
* [http://www.sequart.org/columns/index.php?col=130&column=1999 Who is the Amazing Man?]

Notes