John Henry fought the machine and won. What I'm fightin' is a deadlier kind of machine -- one I helped put in motion. One I'm gonna stop -- even if it kills me. 
Superman: The Man of Steel #22 is an issue of the series Superman: The Man of Steel (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 1993.
Synopsis for "Steel"
John Henry Irons (using the name Henry Johnson) tells some neighborhood kids the folk tale of John Henry - a working class steel driver who made history by drilling a hole in the side of a mountain faster than a competing steam engine. As the tale concludes, the children turn to leave. Suddenly, a car screams around the corner as rival gang members trade shots with one another. One of the gangsters belonging to the Mustangs fires a Toastmaster handgun and accidentally kills one of the children, Zoid. John Henry Irons recognizes the ordnance and gives chase. He dives onto the car, but they manage to shake him off.
Later, Myra and Keith Parks visit John in the hospital. John tells Keith the story of how Superman once saved his life. He also tells him how he witnessed Superman's final battle against Doomsday. After being discharged, John walks home. He remembers the promise he once made to Superman to make his life count for something. However, he also recalls that he is the one who invented the Toastmaster weaponry to begin with. To honor Superman's memory, John Henry forges a suit of armor for himself and commits himself to getting the Toastmasters off the streets. Accenting the armor is an S-shaped shield reminiscent of Superman's emblem. John Henry Irons is now the "Man of Steel".
He tracks down the Mustangs responsible for Zoid's death and disarms them. He pins one of them against a brick wall using steel spikes fired from his gauntlets. Before he can question him however, the gang member's supplier, the White Rabbit, observes the spectacle from a nearby rooftop and kills him with a Toastmaster sniper rifle.
Meanwhile, during a broadcast over a potential walk-in spirit succeeding Superman, Lois Lane runs into union leader Jeb Friedman. Jeb knows that Clark Kent is legally dead, Jeb take her away from it. She is glad to see him but jokes that he hasn't ever been serious, he then offers her to take her to coffee while consoling her. He later tells her that Superman and Clark are both dead, and she needs someone to take care of her before telling her to go outside for dinner with her to talk it over.
At LexCorp Tower, Lex Luthor and Sydney Happersen monitor television broadcasts of John Henry's actions. Lex is confident that he will finally be able to get a "Man of Steel" on his payroll.
Appearing in "Steel"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Jonathan Kent
- Lois Lane
- Superman (Flashback only)
Antagonists:
- Doomsday (Flashback only)
- Lex Luthor, Jr.
- Sydney Happersen
- White Rabbit
Other Characters:
- Jeb Friedman
- Keith Robert Parks
- Myra Allen
- Pete (Single appearance)
- Rosie Kurtz (First appearance)
- Zoid (Single appearance; dies)
Locations:
- Metropolis
- Hob's Bay
- Iron Factory
- New Troy
- Lexcorp Tower
Items:
Vehicles:
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in Superman: The Return of Superman, Superman: Reign of the Supermen, and Steel: A Celebration of 30 Years.
- The direct market edition of this issue features a die-cut enhanced cover. The newsstand edition features an illustration by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke.
- This issue is Triangle number 13.
- Contains a Tempered Steel mail page.
Trivia
- At the time of publication, Steel was commonly referred to as the Man of Steel.
- This issue includes a fold-out Man of Steel poster by Jon Bogdanove and Dennis Janke.
See Also
- Cover gallery for the Superman: The Man of Steel series
- Images from Superman: The Man of Steel Vol 1 22
Recommended Reading
Links and References
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Superman Triangle Numbers |
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