John Henry Irons (New Earth)

{{DC Database:Character Template
 * Image                  = Steel (John Henry Irons).JPG
 * ImageText              = Steel
 * RealName               = John Henry Irons
 * CurrentAlias           = Steel
 * Distinguish1           = Steel
 * Distinguish2           =
 * Aliases                = Man of Steel, Henry Johnson
 * Identity               = Public
 * Alignment              = Good
 * Affiliation            = Justice League
 * Relatives              = Mother (deceased), Father (deceased), Maternal Grandmother (deceased), Maternal Grandfather (deceased), Butter (Grandfather), Bess (Grandmother, deceased), Clay Irons (brother), Jemahl (nephew), Blondell (Sister-in-law), Natasha Irons (niece), Paco (nephew), Tyke (former foster nephew)
 * Universe               = New Earth
 * BaseOfOperations       = Steelworks, Metropolis (formerly Jersey City and Washington, D.C.)


 * Gender                 = Male
 * Height                 = 6'7"
 * Weight                 = 290 lbs
 * Eyes                   = Brown
 * Hair                   = Bald
 * UnusualFeatures        =


 * Citizenship            = American
 * MaritalStatus          = Single
 * Occupation             = Weapons Designer
 * Education              = Doctorate from Yale (specializing in Ballistics)


 * Origin                 = John Henry Irons was originally a brilliant weapons engineer for Amertek Industries, who eventually became disgusted when the BG-60, a powerful man-portable energy cannon he had designed, fell into the wrong hands and was used to kill innocent people overseas. Faking his death, he came to Metropolis under the assumed identity "Henry Johnson," where one day, while working a construction job high up on a skyscraper, he fell off while saving a friend from the same fate. His own life was saved by Superman. During Superman's fatal battle against Doomsday, Irons was buried in rubble amidst the devastation. Shortly after Superman's death, he finally awoke, to find out that gangs in inner-city Metropolis were fighting a bloody gang war using BG-80 Toastmasters, an upgraded version of his earlier design. Irons created and donned a suit of powered armor in Superman's memory in order to stop the flow of weapons--and find atonement.
 * PlaceOfBirth           = Washington, D.C.
 * Creators               = Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove
 * First                  = Adventures of Superman #500 (June 1993)


 * HistoryText            =



During the Reign of the Supermen storyarc, 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.

The Man of Steel
His parents were murdered when he was young and he felt that the only way to protect his family was to become rich and powerful. John Henry went to Yale on a sports scholarship before getting hired for Amertek.

John Henry Irons, a ballistics expert, enjoyed both wealth and success designing hi-tech weapons for a contractor with government ties. Irons used the money to help his family and was convinced he was doing good. When a series of weapon prototypes, the BG-60s, were leaked to a terrorist cell in Qurac, a fire fight erupted that left many innocent people dead. Irons, flying over to inspect the scene, was horrified at the thought of what his work had led to. He destroyed all the remaining prototypes and attempted to delete all information of a more powerful model, the BG-80, before going into hiding in Metropolis. He got a job as a steelworker under the assumed name "Henry Johnson." One day, a coworker on a high-rise fell and "Henry" swung out to save him, only to then fall and plummet towards his death. Luckily, Superman saved him. He told Superman "I owe you my life" and Superman replied by telling him he should make it count for something. Not very long afterwards, Doomsday smashed his way into Metropolis, and Irons tried to reach Superman--only to be buried in a collapsing building. He was not able to free himself until it was too late. A few weeks later, his weapons are being used by gangs on the street, under the name "toastmasters." Irons decides he must take action, so he forges a suit of armor, flight boots, and completes the look with an "S-shield" and cape. He quickly learns the source of the guns is a mysterious White Rabbit. A neighbor of his, a psychic named Rosie Kratz, insists that this "Man of Steel" is in fact Superman--or at least Superman's soul in a new body. At the same time, however, there are three other "Supermen" in Metropolis, all with seemingly stronger claims.

The Man of Steel gets to work. Shrugging off an offer by Lex Luthor II to work for him, he continues to follow the trail of guns, attempting to nail down the source. During his effort, he meets Lois Lane, after he saves her in a manner reminiscent of how she met Superman. Unlike the other claimants, however, he insists that he never claimed he was the actual Superman. He also chides "Superboy" for being too reckless. His search leads him to the White Rabbit, and as he feared it is his old partner, Angora, who helped him design the weapons. She offers to make him a partner, and when he refuses, she blasts him out a window and flees.

As he attempts to track down White Rabbit, Steel encounter the Eradicator, here calling himself the "Last Son of Krypton, who brutally kills a thug who had turned a gun on John Henry. Steel criticizes the visored Superman, telling him there is no way he can be the real thing. Enraged, the visored Superman attacks Steel, and they fight until Lois Lane arrives and is able to pull them apart. The Last Son gets enraged again, however, when a process server arrives telling him that the Superboy has secured the actual rights to the name "Superman." Steel attempts to contain the situation, prompting the Eradicator to launch them almost into orbit before crashing in California. The Eradicator resumes the fight, but Steel is able to battle him to a standstill (at least temporarily) yelling that being Superman is about more than just having power, but having humanity and compassion. The Eradicator withdraws from the battle. Steel gets a lift back to Metropolis, where the White Rabbit ambushes him at the airport. Fighting off her thugs, he grabs her and forces her to take him to her manufacturing plant. She attempts another ambush here, but he breaks free. The plant is destroyed and the Rabbit seemingly killed, but Steel knows it is not the end of the Toastmasters.



After Coast City is destroyed, Steel decides to investigate first hand. The Cyborg Superman has announced that he and Superboy were not able to defeat the "Last Son," responsible for the destruction, but Steel does not trust this account. Running into Lois Lane, he finds she does not trust it either. Hearing a nearby disturbance, they find Luthor and Supergirl at the docks, facing a huge Kryptonian warsuit. Superboy arrives as Steel knocks down the suit, telling everyone that the Cyborg is the real villain and plans on destroying Metropolis next.

The real Superman emerges from the warsuit. Steel and the others are skeptical at first, especially since Superman wearing a black costume and is powerless. Upon being assessed of the situation and having a brief, private conversation with Lois Lane, Superman decides to head for the ruins of Coast City. Steel and Superboy decide to go with him, despite their doubts. Superman borrows a pair of LexCorp flight boots and they set out. They discover Engine City in the midst of the ruins and launch a frontal attack. They manage to get inside the city, but Superboy must quickly leave again to deflect a missile launched for Metropolis.



Steel and Superman continue their way inside. Superman reveals that Supergirl has been with them the entire time, fighting invisible along side them. This only helps affirm to Steel that Superman is who he says he is. The trio encounter Mongul, who announces he has just ordered Engine City to fire its reactors, which will cause the Earth to spin out of orbit. While Superman and Supergirl fight Mongul, Steel goes off to stop the reactor. There he encounters the Cyborg--taking on monstrous new forms--and desperately gives all he's got to grind the engines to a halt, saving the Earth and frustrating the Cyborg's plans.

Steel manages to free himself, but his armor is ruined. Superboy returns and saves him from the Cyborg. Green Lantern uses Steel's hammer to defeat Mongul.In the end, however, Superman must battle the Cyborg one-on-one, but emerges victorious and back to full strength. Steel, battered and bruised, leaves the ruins, heading back to Metropolis alongside Superboy and Supergirl via a military transport helicopter.

After a few weeks of doing his best without his armor to round up more toastmaster, John Henry decides it's time to head back to where it all began--Washington, D.C. He parts ways with Superman and leaves Metropolis, and what he thinks is his career as a superhero.

Steel Solo Series
Steel enjoyed a solo series (written by co-creator Louise Simonson and later by Christopher Priest) from 1994-1998.



The series began by having Steel leave Metropolis and return home to Washington, D.C., which he revealed it had been five years since he had left. He erroneously believed that his old employers, Amertek, would no longer be interested in him. He is met at a bus station by his niece, Natasha Irons, just before a gang fight erupts. One side is using toastmasters, the other is relying on a drug called Tar which grants temporary super strength. John Henry, unarmed and without his armor, tries to intervene, but is distracted when he thinks he sees his nephew, Jamahl Irons, resulting in his being knocked out by a "tar freak." Coming to, he heads home with Nat, where he is greeted by his grandparents, Bess and Butter Irons, his sister-in-law Blondell Irons, and the rest of her children, Paco, Tyke, and Darlene (the latter of two are foster children. Jemahl arrives at dinner time, just before an attack on the home by soldiers working for Amertek. Between this attack and his knowledge that the Toastmasters were now being used on the streets of D.C. he reforged his armor (now stronger than ever) and began his crusade against Amertek, which he correctly knew was responsible for leaking the weapons onto the street. Steel decided not to use the "S" shield, however, since he felt that his battle might take him outside the law.

Steel's early adventures pit him against Amertek and against the gangs that using the weapons he designed. He quickly learns his nephew Jemahl is involved in one of the gangs, which he thinks offers both him and the family protection. His faith in his "crew" is shaken, however, when a fellow gang member, Spiral, frames Jemahl after a gun deal goes badly. The gang's leader, Cowboy, turns Jemahl over to their supplier, Amalgam. Steel rescues Jemahl and delivers Amalgam over to the police (though not before Amalgam murders Spiral, learning the truth of what happened).



Steel confronts his old employer, Col. Weston, who had already known Steel was in fact John Henry Irons. Steel goes on to break into Amertek looking for proof that they are responsible for selling not only the toastmasters but Tar as well. During the break in, a firefight sets off a ruptured gas main, leading to the building's destruction. Weston publicly denounces Steel as a dangerous criminal. He then bails Amalgam out of jail, tells him his true identity, and starts in motion numerous plan to attack Steel indirectly. These include a drive by shooting meant for Jemahl (that leaves Tyke paralyzed), a tar freak attacking John Henry at a funeral, a hit and run that injures Natasha, and Cowboy (masked) mugging Blondell. Realizing he needs help, even with a disk of stolen info from Amertek, Steel contacts a police officer named Shauna Beryl for aid. When Jemahl learns that Cowboy is working with Amalgam against his family, he steals a vial of S-Tar (an upgraded version of Tar) and attacks Cowboy. Steel has to confront his nephew, and manages to keep him contained until the main effects of the drug wear off.

The information Steel gave to Beryl eventually leads to the downfall of Amertek and the arrest of Col. Weston. Not satisfied with ending it there, Steel decides to go after the ones behind Amertex. This leads him to track down a group called Black Ops lead by the villain Hazard. The trail first leads back to Metropolis, recently in ruins due to the Fall of Metropolis storyline. Steel's arrival also coincides with the World's Collide event. Steel has to fight alongside Superman once again to defeat the power of Rift. He also gets a firsthand look at Hazard and Black Ops. Hazard is all to aware of Steel's intentions.

Back in D.C., John Henry meets Dr. Amanda Quick while checking on Tyke's condition (his paralysis has left him depressed). Hazard orders his troops to attack Steel at the National Mall. Steel battles Flatline, Hotspot, and Quake while his family is nearby (at the Vietnam Memorial). Hazard calls off the troops, sending his teleporter, Split, to pull them out. Shortly thereafter, Steel saves a U.S. Senator from Hazard's assassination attempt, whereupon Hazard sends Shellshock, Hardsell, and Mainlineto attack him. Split turns up in the battle and takes everyone to Hazard's lair, where Hazard himself knocks Steel unconscious. Stripped of his armor, John Henry tells his entire story to Hazard. After his offer of employment is rebuke, Hazard fires on Steel--whose armor mysteriously appears around him. Breaking free, Steel forces Split to take him clear of Black Ops. He knows the situation with Black Ops is far from over.

A serial killer has also been on the loose in D.C. Investigating, Shauna Beryl is convinced to contact a psychic, who turns up being Steel's former neighbor, Rosie Kratz. Beryl is being aided by a recent transfer from Chicago, Det. Ben Carroll. All of the recent victims were decapitated and were all involved in drugs, prompting the police to suspect a link to tar. Steel asks Shauna how to contact Rosie. Unfortunately, he arrives just after the killer has attacked her, leaving her to bleed to death in Steel's arms. Before she dies, she mentions the word "alter" and draws a police badge in her own blood. Beryl and several uniformed police show up and place Steel under arrest. Quickly concluding he is innocent, Beryl helps him escape custody. Rosie's murder provides a few more clues which allow them to discover Ben Caroll is in fact the real killer. They set an ambush for him involving Shauna. Caroll is not simply a killer, however, but has a metagene that allows him to transform into an enormous, feline like being. Caroll (who real name was Adam Kratz) had been abused as a child and developed "the Alter" as an alternate personality--a monster that tracked down and murdered child abusers. Steel defeats the Alter, clearing his own name when Caroll is arrested.



Wanting to track a Black Ops satellite in orbit, Steel turns to the Justice League for help. Maxima, on Earth at the time and working with the League, offer to help him by bringing him into orbit. Once there, however, they are captured by an alien warlord named De'cine, and his accomplice, B'add. De'cine is trying to force Maxima to marry him as a means of seizing power on Maxima's homeworld. Steel is not killed because the alien scan indicate he is a cyborg. During this time, Steel's armor demonstrates it will appear around him whenever he is directly threatened (i.e. in mortal danger). Steel manages to break free, defeating B'add, and then rescuing Maxima from De'cine and his mother, who has rendezvoused with them in her own warship. The two steal De'cine's ship and head back to Earth with their enemies in pursuit. They detonate the ship after fleeing in a lifepod, creating the impression they were both killed so De'cine and his mother depart. Steel and Maxima are then rescued by the Justice League, but the satellite he wanted to investigate self detonates when he gets near it, leaving another dead end.



Steel search for Hazard's Black Ops was interrupted by the return of the White Rabbit. She sent her operative, Bomb, to distract Steel while she embarked on a plan to brainwash several prominent members of Congress. Bomb succeeded in distracting Steel and even Superman as the plan proceeded. Another operative, Double, is also investigating the White Rabbit. The two work together, and uncover the White Rabbit's plans. They confront her in her hideout, battling an entire squad of super powered thugs but defeating them all. Unfortunately, the Rabbit escapes from them.

Returning home after defeating the White Rabbit, Steel learns that Tyke has been kidnapped. Confronting a gang of tar freaks ends up being a dead end. Shauna Beryl informs him there have been a string of kidnappings lately and gives him information on where he might start investigating. Steel set out to follow the lead, but is confronted by Chindi, a bounty hunter who claims someone has put a reward on Steel's armor. The two battle to a stalemate in a parking garage, withdrawing when federal agents arrive on scene. Steel goes home to make some minor repairs, unaware that Chindi planted a homing device on him. While setting out to find Tyke again, his armor "acts up" again, disappearing while he is in midair only to reappear. He decides to take it to [S.T.A.R. Labs]], but they are only able to tell him about the tracking device. Federal agents arrive there trying to arrest him, but he has just left the scene. Shauna's lead takes him to an old waste plant. Chindi confronts him there again, maintaining the upper hand, until their fight spills into a holding cell full of children. Steel explains he learned that the children were being held there for experimentation by Black Ops. Chindi confesses Hazard was the one who hired him, but breaks the contract because of the experiments. They rescue the children before the building explodes. Tyke was not among the children, however. Steel now knows where to find Hazard, and sets out for a direct assault. Chindi backs him up, and they easily penetrate Hazard's lair and take down his goons. Steel confronts Hazard himself and rips off his mechanical arm, but Split teleports his boss away. Tyke is there and John Henry brings him home--but Tyke had gone there on his own, since Hazard promised to make him walk again, and now bears a hatred for his uncle.

Another kidnapping--this type of an old high school teacher of his--leads Steel to join up with Lethal. They find his old mentor and rescue him from a zombie lord named Declaude.

During Underworld Unleashed, a string of riots breaks out over D.C. While attempting to help the police, Steel encounters Metallo, now with the ability to reform any metal into a new body for himself. Steel tries to fight him off and recover a bomb planted beneath a mosque. He uses the bomb on Metallo high above D.C., seemingly stopping him. Afterwards, he meets the Alpha Centurion, who was seeking him to join a Superman Rescue Squad, as the Man of Steel had been kidnapped by an alien Tribunal. Steel agrees to join the team.



Steel joins Supergirl, Superboy, and the Eradicator onboard the Centurion's ship and head out into space. Superboy tells the others he does not trust the Centurion. These fears seem to be vindicated when the Centurion seemingly abandons the rest to battle an alien platoon on an asteroid. Steel modifies some equipment the Centurion left them to form a makeshift transport. Arriving on a nearby planet, the team is confronted by the Cyborg Superman, who easily takes down all four of them. He turns them over as prisoner of the Tribunal, whom he is working for.

While in custody, Steel discovers the Alpha Centurion is also a prisoner. Steel manages to call his armor and stage an escape, along with Supergirl and the Eradicator. While Steel and Supergirl, both in disguise, go to a local bar to try and find information, the Eradicator stays behind to try and rescue Superboy. Unfortunately, Steel and Supergirl are discovered and a bar fight breaks out. It ends quickly when the Cyborg turns up and easily recaptures them. For escaping, they are both sentenced to death.

Fortunately, neither Superman nor any of the team is put to death. They manage to break free and rally together behind the Man of Steel when the Cyborg betrays his Tribunal masters. Superman leads them to confront the Tribunal itself, which ultimately "exonerates" Superman and lets him go. The team (including the Centurion) return triumphantly to Earth.



Tragedy would strike the Irons family upon his return from space. Tyke, frustrated and angry over his handicap, betrayed John Henry's true identity to federal agents working with Hazard. The agents release a cyborg named Hardwire (modified courtesy of Hazard) who opens fire on the Irons family as they sit down to dinner. Most of them receive minor injuries, though Butter is seriously wounded. Hardwire battles Steel at the Washington Monument, resulting in Hardwire's suicide. Steel had to send his armor away to save his life--this resulted in his secret identity being made to the world at large. Child Protective services some to reclaim Tyke and Darlene (Tyke is later shown to end up in the custody of Hazard). Steel is then taken by Hazard, but he manages to escape, recalling his armor again. Steel retrieves an anti-matter weapon, called the Annihilator, which he had designed and hidden years before, for his showdown with Hazard. He also learns at this point that he can teleport himself, not just his armor. He confronts Hazard in his lair and utterly destroys it with his weapon. In this battle, three young soldiers of Hazard (Flatline, Quake, and Hotspot) are apparently killed by Irons.



Now that Steel's identity is out, his family has no peace. They are harassed by neighbors and mobs of people. Natasha is kidnapped by Plasmus, who is trying to blackmail Steel into creating a suit for himself. Steel rescues her, outsmarting Plasums, but cannot help but be grieved at all the pain he is causing the family. Steel moves out (temporarily staying with Dr. Amanda Quick) but the family is still harassed. Then the family is attacked by both Doctor Polaris and the Parasite, both arriving seeking the Annihilator. The Parasite's alternate personality ("Doc" Parasite) is the personality of a scientist who once knew John Henry (and who always resented him). John Henry's beloved grandmother Bess is killed in the fight trying to help her grandson.



The family is forced to go into hiding, relocated by Double. Steel's guilt and pain nearly consumes him. He teleports into the "white zone" (the place he can go or send his armor between teleports) and is confronted there by a monstrous, nightmarish looking version of his armor. He quickly teleports again, ending up at Hazard's old lair. He discovers Flatline, Quake, and Hotspot are all alive. They corner him, as he teleported without his armor--but the Demon Armor has followed him to the lair. John Henry works with the other three to try and fight off the Demon Armor. They engage in a running battle onto the streets of D.C. Natasha (having run away from the family) meets up with him there and tries to help. John Henry realizes that the Demon Armor is part of him--when he thought he killed Hazard's troops, he somehow manifested the ugly, monstrous side of himself into a physical form. Realizing this, Steel banishes the Demon Armor to the white zone, seemingly for good.

Natasha is more grief stricken over the loss of Grandma Bess than she first admits. She spends several nights sleeping at the cemetery and even violently attacks John Henry when he confronts here there. A blind gravedigger tells them that Bess's soul is not at rest--someone stole her wedding ring and she wants to be buried with it. Reviewing media footage of the attack by Polaris, Steel is able to track down the thief and the wedding ring. Bess's body is exhumed and reburied with the ring, letting her soul rest. John Henry and Natasha fix up the family home, good as new, before leaving it forever.

A Fresh Start in Jersey City


The title received a shakeup when Christopher Priest became the lead writer for issue #34. In addition to relocating Steel and giving him new armor, Priest completely abandons virtually the entire supporting cast from the series.

Steel relocates to Jersey City with Natasha to begin a new life in a new city. He built a new suit of armor that was significantly less powerful than the previous one (but one that featured the return of an "S" shield on it). He decided to sacrifice strength for mobility, as this suit was more easily compact (as he had abandoned this teleporting, fearing another incident similar to the one involving the Demon Armor). He also started work at a hospital, alongside Amanda Quick. His job involves designing medical equipment, under the coordination of the hospital administrator, Dr. Villain (pronounced "will-hane"). On his first day in his new city, he meets the local law enforcement, a police captain named Margot Fields.

Steel quickly becomes suspicious of Dr. Villain when he finds a monster lurking in the sewers beneath the hospital. He also realizes being a parent to Natasha (who regresses, both in age and maturity) is more than what he expected, particularly after she meets a strange boy named Boris. The two kids even steal his armor and get into trouble. Steel recovers the remains of the creature for Villain to examine.

John Henry tries to get closer to Dr. Quick. Margot tells him she suspects Quick has been targeted by an assassin to get at Steel. This ends up being true, as a killer named Skorpio goads Steel into fighting. In the midst of the fight, Steel teleports to the white zone, and is forced to grapple with the Demon Armor until teleporting to Villain's office. Villain removes a microchip from Steel's body that he claims apparently was the source of his ability to teleport, which ends the "white zone" business forever. What Steel does not know is that Villain is the one who hired Skorpio, hoping to draw media attention by more conflicts involving Steel.

Villain is subsequently kidnapped by an African warlord and Steel has to go rescue him. During this adventure, he joins up with the Question to free Villain. While in Africa, Steel meets up with Double and asks him to track down Hazard for him. On the way back to Jersey City, he stops off in D.C. to visit Col. Weston in prison, asking if he knows anything about the microchip that had been implanted in him. Weston denies any knowledge of the chip. Hazard then contacts Steel and admits both that he knows nothing about it and that he is no longer interested in Steel at all. Unbeknown to John Henry, his brother Clay Irons--whom everyone assumed was dead--has come to Jersey City to settle some scores under the name Crash.



Steel designs a new hammer to augment the new armor. At the same time, Natasha is beaten up by a creep at her school named Kilo after she refused to sleep with him. Kilo is found dead the next day. Margot brings John Henry in for questioning. He admits to confronting Kilo, but says he did not kill him, and the D.A. has no choice but to let him go for lack of evidence. Double, Crash, and Skorpio all confronted Kilo but none of them killed him either. The real killer was Dr. Villain, though no one discovers this but Skorpio.

Crash keeps an eye on Nat (his daughter) from a distance. Steel helps deliver a baby before John Henry has a date with Dr. Quick. After getting lost driving in the city, they are pulled over by racist white cops who pull John Henry out of the car and beat him senseless. They let the pair go after stealing John Henry's flight boots from the car. Amanda drives them to the hospital. While Steel learns that Boris is there (he is HIV positive), Amanda learns that Skorpio is actually a doctor at the hospital--but she does not tell Steel.

Unnerved by the Genesis event, Steel decides to go to Metropolis to see if Superman has any answers. Superman (in his "Man of Energy" phase) meets up with him and explains that super powered beings all over the planet are having problems with their powers. When he zips out, he creates an EMP pulse that shorts out Steel's boots, causing him to plummet to the streets of Metropolis. He is not badly injured, and decides to stick around briefly. He has a talk with Lois Lane about Amanda before having to go off and help the rest of the world's heroes contend with the Genesis event. Afterwards, exhausted, he returns home to Natasha and Boris.



John Henry decides to settle matters with the police who beat him up and stole his flight boots. Locating the right township, he drops by the police department and is immediately placed under arrest. The two officers in question had recently been murdered (by Crash) and John Henry is a suspect. Margot arrives from Jersey City and get John Henry out of jail, citing he was in Metropolis when the murders occurred. The police insist on keeping his flight boots, however, as one of the officer had kept the pair he stole and now they are missing. They later return the boots in pieces and tell him no charges are being pressed. Having repressed all the anger over the incident, John Henry finally loses control. He smashes his entire kitchen in a violent burst of rage.

Things keep getting more complicated. First, Superboy arrives in town to ask Natasha out on a date. John Henry has a talk to Boris while they are gone, who admits he has feelings for Nat but would never act on them because of his condition. John Henry is trying to settle his feelings for Amanda, unaware that she has just slept with Skorpio (despite knowing he was a killer). Steel pulls Superboy from the date to help him stop a runaway train. Much to his relief, Natasha is not interested in pursuing a relationship with SB, because she realizes he is still in love with his ex-girlfriend, Tana Moon.



When Christmas rolls around, Nat wishes to go see her family. Steel arranges for Double to take her to them, while he swings by New York. He encounters a racist jeweler who won't sell to him before stopping by Warrior's to chat with Guy Gardner. Of all people, Gardner convinces him to go to Amanda straight away and tell her how he feels. Steel does just that and Amanda admits she loves him, too.

Steel is notified by a man named Cardinal that Crash is the one who took his flight boots. Crash plans on ridding Jersey City of crime by controlling the criminal element. Steel is still unaware Crash is his brother when he confronts him. He is then asked by Dr. Villain to bring a heart transplant to the hospital. Along the way, he is attacked by Deadline, who is hired to destroy the heart (being rushed to a mafia don). Steel fights him off and the transplant is successful--though Skorpio kills the man shortly thereafter.



Steel is called on to assist Superman Red and Superman Blue--as well as the Justice League and many other heroes--battle the Millennium Giants, part of the crossover Behold! The Millennium Giants!.

Shortly after the battle, Steel is asked to join the recently reformed JLA.

Skorpio, angry at Steel for "stealing" Amanda, contacts Crash and promises to help him get Steel's attention. Crash does not know the details, and is shocked and angry when Skorpio poisons Natasha. Steel uses an EMP pulse to knock all his hoods out of the air before confronting Crash, realizing finally it is his brother. Skorpio's poison has no antidote, but requires a complete blood transfusion. His plan had been to leave Steel at Crash's mercy, but instead Crash volunteers for the transfusion to save his daughter. Steel battle Skorpio, who admits to working for Dr. Villain. Steel refuses to kill him, but has him and Dr. Villain arrested. Amanda is arrested as well for not disclosing what she knew about Skorpio. Nat recovers and John Henry is appointed the new hospital administrator.

JLA and the Men of Steel
Around the time of Steel's cancellation, he was recruited as a member of the Justice League. He stayed on as a supporting member for quite some time. He also became a regular member in the Superman titles.

Steel does not stay with the hospital long, but soon relocates with Nat to Metropolis to run his own workshop there, called Steelworks, now developing non-lethal weapons and equipment for the Special Crimes Unit and other outfits.

The two became partners of a sort and John Henry helped Superman build a new Fortress of Solitude. Superman eventually decided to reveal his secret identity to his partner, but John Henry had already deduced it. Nevertheless, he was honored to have Superman's full trust.

Steel retired from active duty after he was injured while wearing the Entropy Aegis, an alien armor created on the evil planet, Apokolips, which nearly consumed his soul.

Known Powers: None, but wears a powered armor. Previously, during the 52 event John Henry Irons was altered by the Everyman Project and had become composed of stainless steel due to Lex Luthor tampering with John's DNA without John's consent.
 * Powers                 =

Living Steel: had a body composed of bulletproof stainless steel. In addition, he can generate enough heat to turn metal fluid (including his own body, which he can then drip off of himself in small amounts). It is as of yet unclear exactly how he generates the heat, though it may be somewhat electric or kinetic in nature.


 * Superhuman Durability


 * Superhuman Strength

In 52 #29, the metal skin peeled off completly, leaving him, again, a normal human.


 * Abilities              = Genius engineer and inventor.  It is obvious that Dr. Irons possesses several degrees in Physics, Quantum Physics, Advanced Energy Physics, Temporal Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics. It is likely that he has even more education than can be currently assessed by the creation of his powered armor. Has knowledge of physics and ballistics.
 * Strength               = Possesses the strength of a man that engages in intensive regular workouts. In armor, is capable of lifting 10 tons under optimal pressure
 * Weaknesses             = The armor can be shut down through Electromagnetic Pulses

Powered Armor: Steel's powers vary in accordance with what hardware is currently available to him. He has modified the original weapons systems and suit several times since its debut and continues to refine its abilities. With his engineering, physics and ballistics knowledge, it is conceivable that the suit may potentially possess even greater power in the future. Currently it possesses the following abilities:
 * Equipment              =


 * Enhanced Strength: With his powered armor increasing his strength as much as 15 times, Steel's enhanced strength is quite considerable. He has been seen to lift and throw for short distances objects weighing as much as 5 tons.


 * Immunity System: Steel has immune systems in his armor to help him fight off computer viruses. It takes about 30 seconds to get rid of the virus but after the 30 seconds he is free of it. With this ability, whatever computer system that gave him this virus, he will be able to fully control it when he's within a dozen feet of it. This system also protects him against physical mind control agents like Queen Bee's hypnotic pollen. The onboard computer can be attacked either with viruses or electromagnetic pheonomena that will temporarily override the suits operation for 30 seconds while the system reboots. This reboot does not stop motor operations and Steel retains control of the armor unless the attack damages the boot level operation protocols which are separate from the operating system proper.


 * Computerized Communications and Scanning Arry (CCSA): This technology is integral to the armor's technological advantages. The onboard computer comes equipped with high density, flash memory protocols for suit operation, including weapons management, power management, gyroscopic balancing, and analysis of electromagnetic phenomemna. This analysis arry is directed by a wave-emmiter bound to the S logo and including weapons analysis and EM field analysis, remote program analysis, and rewriteable operating system protocols. Assumingly of Dr. Irons designs, remote communication and reception of all normal radio, satellite and cellular communication bands. The armor can also receive signals on classified bands such as the Air Traffic Controller wavelengths and the NASA communication protocols. It can be supposed that the armor is also capable of communicating with the National Defense Commands of the United States as Dr. Irons clearance allows.


 * Radioscopic Scans: Able to analyze photonic energy given off from an object through readouts the armor gives.


 * Invulnerability: The suit's ability to impart a resistance to physical injury was quite considerable before the addition of the inertial dampening field. Small arms fire was generally not a threat but larger firearms could prove dangerous. All of the suits have performed admirably considering the opponents. These include the Cyborg Superman and Metallo, both considered to be highly dangerous opponents, even for Superman.


 * Inertial Dampening Field: In his suit's most recent incarnation, he has opted to reduce the physical strength of the suit in exchange for an inertial dampening field. This field would increase his resistance to injury from physical attacks.

Jet Boots: With what are probably his greatest creations, the flight protocols for his armor are every engineers dream. The distance that can be travelled before refueling is unknown but Steel has made a documented trip of at least 1,500 miles before touching down again. It has been determined, by observation, that Steel can reach speeds just short of the speed of sound, which is 700+ miles per hour. Rivet Cannon: This short range weapon has fired red-hot rivets similar to rivets used in construction.
 * Transportation         =
 * Weapons                =

Kinetic Hammer: His current hammer has the ability to increase it's kinetic energy the further away it is thrown. At a distance up to 20 yards, it can stop a car, 30 yards, a truck, 60 yards, a tank, at distances greater than 60 yards, its destructive capacity rivals that of Superman for damage dealing capabilities.


 * Inertial Damage Field: This hammer can also store the energy it has gathered along its flight path within the kinetic field and release it on contact with a target (on command), even if its flight is interrupted by a command. It is unknown how long this device can store such energy. This device appears to have the ability to temporarily disrupt temporal/kinetic energy in a localized field and manipulated it for limited effects such as energy transfer based on a linear distance travelled. We suspect that such technology is alien in origin and its owner and manufacturer bear watching because of it. Its power source is also unknown.


 * Programmable Flight: Can stop in mid-air and be called back into his hands.


 * Voice Controlled: When Steel says "STOP", the hammer will stop in mid-air. When he says "RETURN", the hammer will fly right back into his hands.


 * Electromagnetic Sensors: The hammer has sensors on it to measure electromagnetic energy.


 * Electromagnetism: The hammer can create several effects such as an EMP. It can also set itself in tune to the Earth's magnetic field, making it virtually impossible to move. When not using the hammer, he can magnetically attach it to his back.


 * Notes                  = ===Superman: The Animated Series===

Character
Real Name: John Henry Nicknames: Uncle John, Steel Voiced by: Michael Dorn

Much like his comic counterpart, John was a weapons engineer. He worked at Lex corp, but quit over a disagreement with Lex luthor about his prototype suit. At the end of the episode prototype, Superman said he wouldn’t mind a little help. This gave Henry the idea to complete the suit and become a super hero.

Prototype
John Henry doesn't play a lead role in this episode, but he designed the Series alpha police battle suit, that is warn by Corry Mills. The suit carries all the abilities of Superman and more. However the suit is still a prototype and John tries to warn Lex about this, but Lex disagrees. As the episode progresses we see Corry Mills become attached to the suit, and becomes obsessed with it’s power. He also becomes very violent with criminals and lashs out at his wife. This is because John designed the suit to integrate with the user’s central nervous system. There is a problem within the suit that causes massive amounts of aggression. Lex refuses to accept that their might be any problems, and still wants the suit to go into production. John then quits Lex corp. Corry is out on patrol when he sees a stolen car go into a chop shop, he busts in, and pushes over a gas can and sets it on fire. This causes the entire building to explode, and as the criminals escape Corry deals with them in a very violent manor. Superman shows up to stop him, he then attacks Superman. Before they can fight, the police show up. We learn from a news report that Cory is on medical leave due to the effect the suit is causing on his mental health. Cory becomes aggressive over the news and storms out of his house planning to steal the suit back.



Superman catches wind of this event, and goes to see John on how to deactivate the suit. John made a jamming device that can be attached to the suit’s weak point on the back, causing it to shut down; however it will paralyze the user. Superman asks for the device, but Lex is the one who has it. Corry shows up at Lex’s office, he needs Lex’s help because he wants to keep the suit. Lex double crosses corry and sticks the jamming device on the suit, Corry however, fell on his back and broke the device. He isn’t paralyzed for long and gets up to attack Lex. He shoots at Lex, but misses and the aquarium in Lex’s office breaks. Superman shows up and saves Lex, Superman and Corry start to fight in the Lex corp building. Corry then shoots Superman in the face, temporally blinding him. Corry charges Superman threw a wall, sending him flying outside. Superman uses his super hearing to locate Corry, he throws a loading truck at him but misses. Superman lures in the direction that he threw the truck so it can land on him. Superman tries to find him, but Corry has already gotten away. Corry grabs Superman and smashes him threw a power plane wall. Corry wraps his arms around Superman’s neck, as Superman is struggling to get free he then regains his eye sight. He sees that they are in front of a high voltage generator, Superman grabs the wires so a charge can run threw him. Corry breaks his grip; Superman comes up from behind and shocks him on the suit’s weak point. Corry is now free from the suits hold, and Superman begins to remove it. Corry has withdraws from the suit but is said to make a full recover, John starts to doubt about the suit. Superman said it was a good idea, if only someone could get it to work right.

Heavy Metal
The episode starts out with John forging his suit, with help from his niece Nate. As they are putting the finishing touches on the suit, a news cast interrupts the show they were watching. Apparently B. Bibowski was a witness to a bank robbery. He said one of the robbers did a karate chop to the bank wall causing it to break. The head anchorman said that the strong robber has ties to Intergang. John shuts off the TV, and puts on a wristband from his suit. In the next frame we see the robbers entering another bank. The leader of the group goes over to the vault, and rips off the door. A teller pushes the alarm button and the crooks make for a fast escape, the leader stays behind to get rid of the cops. After a short battle the leader gets away.



We seen John testing out his wrist band, doing massive damage to the objects he's shooting at. John sees the getaway truck, and chases after it. He shoots out the rear tire causing the truck to turn over on its side. The robbers get out of the truck and start shooting at John, he starts deflecting the bullets with the wristband but one manages to pierce it. John runs and hides behind a bunch of barrels trying to fix the wristband, the robbers find him and soon superman saves him. The leader soon appears and says he gives up, as soon as superman grabs him, he punches superman knocking him down. The leader then rips off his outfit, and reveals himself to be Metallo.

Metallo and Superman begin to fight, Superman appears to have the upper hand but soon Metallo blasts him with a beam of kryptonite. As Superman lays on the ground, Metallo exposes the kryptonite rock in his chest. John tries to stop him but fails, Nate comes rushing in with a van and hits metallo. John scoops up superman and puts him in the van. Metallo begins to chase the van in a stolen police car, but they soon escape. The van breaks down in front of john’s workshop. John places Superman on a table with lights that generate sunlight. Metallo appears outside, demanding to know where Superman is and destroying everything in his path to get answers. Nate sees what's going on and asks what should they do, john put on his Steel suit. The suit looks like an advanced model of the Series alpha police battle suit, from episide 16. Steel goes outside and begins to do battle with Metallo and his henchmen. Steel gets rid of the henchmen by throwing them into a trash can and welding the lid shut. Metallo then throws a car at Steel. As he is laying on the ground, metallo gets near him, Steel then trips Metallo with his hammer. He grabs Metallo and flies into the air, but Metallo causes him to lose his momentum and they start falling. They end up falling on John's workshop, Metallo picks up Steel's hammer, but Superman stops him before he can hit Steel. Metallo blasts Superman with a kryptonite beam, Steel gets up and grabs his hammer. Steel throws his hammer at Metallo hitting him in the chest, crushing the kryptonite rock and smashing him through a wall onto the street. Superman thanks him and they shake hands.
 * Trivia                 = Priest's run on Steel focuses heavily on themes of racism.
 * CustomSection1         = Recommended Reading
 * CustomText1            = [[Image:SmoS22.jpg|left|thumb|Superman Man of Steel #22]]
 * Steel first appeared in Superman: Man of Steel 22 (1993)


 * Soon after, he got his own comic book series from 1993 to 1998. It ran 52 issues, had 2 Annuals and 1 trade paperback

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 * In 2006, JLA Issue #16, Steel became a member of the Justice League of America.
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 * Wikipedia              =
 * Links                  =