The Son of Vulcan was a Champion of the Gods of Rome. Johnny Mann could call upon his benefactor to become a superhero.
History
Johnny Mann was a scrawny but courageous reporter for an international news syndicate who had lost a leg while serving during the Korean War. While covering a bloody civil war on the Mediterranean island of Cyprete, he complained aloud while standing in the ruins of an ancient temple that the gods play with men's lives while leaving them defenseless against the forces of war and crime. Taking offense, the Roman gods transported him to Mount Olympus where he was put on trial before Jupiter, all-powerful king of the gods, for his impudence. The war god Mars argued for his immediate destruction, but Vulcan, lame-legged god of fire and forge, spoke up in his defense, and Venus, Goddess of love agreed with Vulcan. In the end, bonding with the orphaned newsman over their similar disabilities, Vulcan agreed to adopt Johnny and share with him god-like powers that would help him fight injustice in the mortal world.
By calling on Vulcan's aid, Johnny would transform into a superhuman demigod, whole again and mightily muscled and clad in indestructible Roman-style armor and shield with the power to summon both fire and powerful ancient weapons from his adoptive father's forge. However, it was the judgment of Jupiter that his powers could be removed from him at any time if the gods ever decided he was unworthy of them. Mars often plots against him to make him lose favor with Jupiter or destroy him and was exiled from Olympus for this.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Divine Empowerment
- Enhanced Senses
- Flight[1]
- Hand-to-Hand Combat (Advanced)
- Swordsmanship[1]
- Throwing[1]
- Superhuman Speed
- Superhuman Strength[1]
- Telepathy[2]
- Flame Immunity[2]
- Summoning: He can summon enchanted weapons from the Forge of Vulcan.[1]
Abilities
Other Characteristics
- Restricted Mobility: In his non-powered alter ego, he doesn't have a leg, lost during the Korean War.
Notes
- This version of Jonathan Mann (Earth-Four), including all history and corresponding appearances, was erased from existence following the collapse of the original Multiverse in the 1985–86 Crisis on Infinite Earths event and later restored following the rebirth of the infinite Multiverse during the Dark Crisis of 2022-2023. Even though other versions of the character may have appeared, this information does not apply to those versions.
Related
- 9 Appearances of Jonathan Mann (Earth-Four)
- 2 Images featuring Jonathan Mann (Earth-Four)
- Quotations by or about Jonathan Mann (Earth-Four)
- Character Gallery: Jonathan Mann (Earth-Four)
Footnotes