Barbara Johnson was an elderly and highly religious African-American woman who resided in Suicide Slum who came to believe that Superman was a guardian angel sent from Heaven to help stop the crime and evils happening in Metropolis.
History
Angel
Barbara Johnson attempted to start a neighborhood watch program with her church but was unsuccessful. She later was nearly run down by some drunk teenagers but Superman managed to stop the car in time. After this incident, Johnson came to believe that the God sent down an angel to answer her prayers to improve the Suicide Slums. At her apartment, Johnson saw live news footage of a train in Chicago about to fall off a bridge and prayed to God to save them and at that moment Superman arrived.. This further caused her to believe that he was an angel.
Afterwards, Johnson went out looking for trouble to correct, believing Superman would always be there to set things right. She saw an armored truck being robbed and took upon herself to give the robbers a stern lecture about what is right. As they are about to shoot her, Superman arrived once more, attempting to tell her he was not an angel and that he merely heard the explosion of the truck. She continues to believe and Superman is left a little distressed. Later at a grocery store, Johnson walked in on a robbery with Superman arriving as he had been listening for her voice. This trend continues with Barbara seeking out crimes for Superman to resolve, with Superman concerned as to what may happen when she prayed for him while unable to come.
Boasting with pride, Johnson gave another attempt at her neighborhood watch committee and decided to go after a drug gang. Johnson confronted the gang and prayed for God to cleanse the area, but was shot by the gang leader in response. At this time, Superman was in Antarctica stopping a global disaster, hearing the gunshot and her body hit the ground but unable to go to her.
Johnson is admitted to a hospital and is visited by Superman, who tells her how he was unable to be there but Johnson apologizes for attempting to use Superman for her own crusade. Luckily, Johnson is informed her brave act and injury galvanized the residents of Suicide Slum to take action of their own, constantly giving numerous calls and tips to stop crime in their community. She later established the Community Angels community program, which received a check worth 50 million dollars by Bruce Wayne.[1]
Redemption
Johnson is later visited again when Superman has a crisis of religious faith after his encounter with Redemption. She calmed his doubts by telling him to follow his own faith.
Powers and Abilities
Weaknesses
- Health problems
Related
- 2 Appearances of Barbara Johnson (New Earth)
- 1 Images featuring Barbara Johnson (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Barbara Johnson (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Barbara Johnson (New Earth)
Footnotes