John Wilson became the steel-driving vigilante John Henry, trying to squash the Ku Klux Klan in Tennessee.
History
John Wilson was a veteran of the Korean War. After the conflict, Wilson was discharged and took work in a local machine shop and settled down in Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife Lucille and baby daughter Loretta. On the night of March 17, 1955, John and his family were attacked by the local Ku Klux Klan. He was lynched and his family was burned to death. The Klan left but John had survived his lynching. Devastated by the death of his family, John followed the Klan. He then forged two iron sledge hammers and became the vigilante known as John Henry. For three months, John plagued the Klan and killed two Klansmen in his crusade. John Henry's reputation attracted the news media and remained a hot topic with the public, including the Martian J'onn J'onzz, who considered him an actual American hero.[1]
Tragically, John was wounded by the Klan and stumbled into a backyard. He was discovered by a young white girl, who outed him out despite John's pleading for help. Once caught, he was burned alive.[1]
However, his death didn't go unnoticed and his endeavors were highlighted on the television news show The Big Picture, with its host extolling Wilson's stance violent racism in America and criticizing the American government's ineptness and hypocrisy in fighting for freedom when it couldn't even guarantee civil basic liberties and safety to its own citizens. J'onn J'onzz saw this and was very dismayed by Wilson's death, which contributed to his demoralizing faith in humanity.[1]
"Here Lies A Steel Driven Man."
Following the defeat of The Centre, a young John Henry Irons sat reading near John Wilson's gravestone.[2]
Paraphernalia
Weapons
- Sledgehammers
Appearances in Other Media
- In the animated adaption of Justice League: The New Frontier John Henry features very little in the film, and his picture on the front page of Time magazine appears on J'onn J'onzz's wall. He only appear on a television news right before The Flash's interrupted announcement, who he also pays his respect for Wilson.
Related
- 8 Appearances of John Wilson (Earth-21)
- 5 Images featuring John Wilson (Earth-21)
- Quotations by or about John Wilson (Earth-21)
- Character Gallery: John Wilson (Earth-21)
Footnotes
  This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from the clutches of both interstellar and domestic threats. |