Know Man (New Earth)

Know Man
Mainstream Universe‎, 1986‎-2011‎
Gallery
Real Name	Unknown
Affiliation	Controllers
Status
Alignment	Bad
Identity	Secret Identity
Marital Status	Single
Characteristics
Gender	Male
Hair	Purple
Origin
Universe	New Earth
Creators	Mark Waid · Fabian Nicieza · Darick Robertson · Jeff Johnson
First Appearance	Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare #2 (October, 1996)
Last Appearance	Justice League: A Midsummer's Nightmare #3 (November, 1996)

History

Know Man was originally a prehistoric man who happened to be in the vicinity of an alien ship landed on Earth thousands upon thousands of years ago. The craft's pilot, a member of the Controllers, had been assigned to Earth's space sector to prepare for the coming of a great cosmic threat, and was thus looking for a means of creating an "ultimate anti-war weapon". The Controller granted a primitive human male advanced mental capacities as well as immortality, thus turning him into Know Man. Seeing the vast information in the Controllers' vessel had made him curious. It was here that he saw humanity's fate.

In the present day, he finally put his efforts to save Earth and its inhabitants in motion. Using Doctor Destiny, he gave an increasing number of ordinary humans superpowers, referred to by the media as a "genetic spark". At the same time, all previously existing metahumans and other super-powered individuals were given ordinary lives, with all memories of their existence as non-ordinary citizens wiped.

However, Doctor Destiny rebelled against being used by Know Man, and influenced events so seven former superheroes - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Wally West), Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner), Aquaman, Martian Manhunter - would ultimately regain their memories of their superhero identities. Together, the seven thwart Know Man's plans and revert everything back to normal. Subsequently, they would form a new incarnation of the Justice League of America. Prior to his defeat, Know Man explained to the heroes that all he was trying to do was to prepare Earth for the coming of an "ultimate warbringer"

Later, when the JLA faced the threat of Mageddon, Batman recalled Know Man's warnings. Subsequently, part of the JLA's strategy to fight Mageddon consisted of temporarily providing the Earth's entire human population with superpowers, thereby repeating Know Man's strategy.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• Superhuman Strength
• Immortality
• Genius Level Intellect

Related

• 4 Appearances of Know Man (New Earth)
• 1 Images featuring Know Man (New Earth)
• 1 Quotations by or about Know Man (New Earth)
• Character Gallery: Know Man (New Earth)

Footnotes

Justice League Villain This character is or was primarily an enemy of the Justice League, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Justice League Villains."