Amazing-Man (Centaur Publications)#Marvel Comics version
{{Infobox comics character
| image = File:Amazing-Man Comics 5 page 05.jpg
| caption =Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Sept. 1939), first appearance of the Amazing-Man, art by Bill Everett.
| character_name = Amazing-Man
| publisher = Centaur Publications
Malibu Comics
Marvel Comics
| debut = Centaur:
Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Sept. 1939)
Malibu:
Protectors #2 (October 1992)
| creators = Centaur:
Bill Everett
Malibu:
R. A. Jones
Thomas Derenick
| alter_ego = John Aman
| full_name =
| species =
| alliances = Malibu:
Protectors
Marvel:
Immortal Weapons
Secret Avengers
| aliases = Prince of Orphans (Marvel), The Green Mist of Death
| supports=
| powers = Slightly superhuman strength, speed, and endurance
Ability to turn into a green mist
}}
Amazing-Man (John Aman) is a comic book superhero whose adventures were published by Centaur Publications during the 1930s to 1940s in the Golden Age of Comic Books. Historians credit his creation variously to writer-artist Bill Everett[http://www.toonopedia.com/amazngmn.htm Amazing-Man] at Don Markstein's Toonopedia. [https://archive.today/20120912103400/http://www.toonopedia.com/amazngmn.htm Archived] from the original on April 4, 2012. or to Everett together with Centaur art director Lloyd Jacquet.Nevins, Jess. [http://www.reocities.com/Athens/Olympus/7160/Timely1.htm "The Timely Comics Story"]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100309140216/http://www.reocities.com/Athens/Olympus/7160/Timely1.htm WebCitation archive]. Amazing-Man first appeared in Amazing-Man Comics #5 (Sept. 1939)—there were no issues numbered #1–4.{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent |url-access=registration |access-date=8 April 2020 |page=[https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/149 149]}}
During the Golden Age of Comic Books, Centaur Publications produced Amazing-Man's eponymous series, Amazing-Man Comics, which ran from issues #5–26 (Sept. 1939 – Feb. 1942). Amazing-Man was the second superhero to have a comic book named after him, after Superman.{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |page=[https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/66 66] |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent |url-access=registration |access-date=15 January 2020}} In 1941, Centaur also included Amazing-Man in their war comic, Stars and Stripes Comics #2–6 (June–Dec. 1941).{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent |url-access=registration |access-date=8 April 2020 |page=[https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/184 184]}} The book was cancelled in 1942 when the company went out of business.{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=162}}
The character influenced the creation and origin of Charlton Comics' 1960s superhero Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, as well as Marvel Comics' Iron Fist character in the 1970s,{{Cite journal | journal=Alter Ego | issue=70 | date=July 2007| title=Roy Thomas interview | page=38}}[http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/yutikunlunsonoftuan.htm Jeff Christiansen's The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Yü-Ti]: "In the letter page to Marvel Premiere #15, [Iron Fist co-creator] Roy Thomas commented how the K'un-Lun origin of Iron Fist was inspired by the origin of Bill Everett's Amazing Man". and DC Comics' hero of the same name.{{Google books|aXqPtKhc4IMC|The All-Star Companion|page=76|keywords=amazing+man|text=|plainurl=}}
Development
In a letter from Everett's wife, Grace, she revealed that the character was created in response to the National Periodical character Superman. "I’m going to spend all day tomorrow at the Public Library, doing some research work for Bill. He has a new character, for a strip which [Lloyd] Jaquet wants him to do in competition with the new one now being syndicated – called the “Superman’ I think. We’ve wracked our brains for a new kind of character; and all I can think of now is to back over some old folk tales, foreign ones if necessary, and try to find some unusual character around which we can build an unusual story for these modern times."[https://ohdannyboy.blogspot.com/2009/12/1939-letter-from-grace-everett-re-bill.html ohdannyboy.blogspot.com] {{User-generated source|date=August 2022}}
Fictional character biography
John Aman is an orphan from the West, chosen for his "superb physical structure" to be raised by benevolent monks in Tibet for the first 25 years of his life.{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Jon |title=The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History |date=2015 |publisher=Quirk Books |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |isbn=978-1-59474-763-2 |page=15}} Each member of The Council of Seven, as the monks are known, trained him to a superhuman degree of physical and mental ability, while also giving him the ability via a chemical solution to disappear into a cloud of green mist, earning him the secondary title of the Green Mist.{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=41}} His new powers include super-strength, invulnerability and speed, as well as healing and telekinesis.{{cite book |last1=Nevins |first1=Jess |title=Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes |date=2013 |publisher=High Rock Press |isbn=978-1-61318-023-5 |pages=9–10}}
After receiving his final tests, he is sent into the world to use his skills and abilities to do good. Opposing Aman, as he was often known, is his nemesis the Great Question, a disgruntled member of the Council of Seven.{{cite book |last1=Mougin |first1=Lou |title=Secondary Superheroes of Golden Age Comics |date=2020 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476638607|pages=12–16}} Aman's sidekick is Tommy, the Amazing Kid, and he's also aided by "ace girl crime investigator" Zona Henderson.
Malibu Comics
Image:AmazingMan HCV.jpg' Protectors #3 (November 1992), featuring Amazing Man. Cover art by Thomas Derenick & Mike S. Miller.]]
In the 1990s, Malibu Comics used the Centaur properties, including Amazing-Man, as the roster of its own superhero team, the Protectors. Aside from the costume, the Malibu version was essentially identical to the original.[http://www.mightycrusaders.net/mp_protectors.htm "The Mighty Crusaders – The Protectors"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709072528/http://www.mightycrusaders.net/mp_protectors.htm |date=2009-07-09}}
Marvel Comics version
Amazing-Man was introduced into the Marvel Universe, with the character Prince of Orphans revealing his identity as John Aman at the end of Immortal Iron Fist #12 (Feb. 2008). Earlier in the issue, Prince of Orphans is seen turning into a green mist while battling Davos.
Aman had been sent by the Seven Cities of Heaven to assassinate Orson Randall (the Iron Fist before the present-day Danny Rand took on that mantle) in order to kill another "immortal weapon" like himself. Chasing Randall around the world, Aman would come close to killing his foe, only to yield honorably when Randall's allies would be injured. Eventually, Randall hinted that the masters of the Seven Cities had lied to Aman concerning the Tournament of the Seven Cities, in which every decade the victorious city is allowed to merge with the Earthly plane. Feeling betrayed after discovering the cities' masters had developed gateways to Earth without the knowledge of the cities' populace, Aman dropped his quest against Randall and vowed to make the city masters pay. Randall told Aman to assist the next Iron Fist in a revolution against the Seven Cities.The Immortal Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death (April 2008)
The character later appeared in Secret Avengers #6–12 as the Prince of Orphans, to assist the Secret Avengers against the Shadow Council; Aman stopped the Shadow Council from resurrecting Zheng Zu, Shang-Chi's father.{{cite web|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/815743/ |title=GCD :: Issue :: Secret Avengers #11 |publisher=Comics.org |date=2011-03-30 |access-date=2013-07-03}}Secret Avengers #10. Marvel Comics. During this, it is revealed he met Captain America (Steve Rogers) during World War II.Secret Avengers #6–12
During the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline, Prince of Orphans appears in Washington D.C. during Blitzkrieg U.S.A, helping with the rescue efforts, alongside War Machine, Beast and Ant-Man. He tells War Machine that the "Eighth City" has been opened.Iron Man 2.0 #5
The character appeared as an antagonist in Matt Fraction's Defenders in 2012.Defenders #6–8, #11–12, 2012
Other versions
Under his original name, Amazing-Man is one of many public domain superheroes to appear in issue #0 of Project Superpowers, a miniseries from Dynamite Entertainment; a sketch of him is included in issue #2.
In 2014, Barry Gregory and Steven Butler released a new series by Gallant Comics.[http://www.indyplanet.us/john-aman-amazing-man-action-figure-case/ John Aman Amazing Man Action Figure CASE] The new series, titled John Aman Amazing Man, Gregory and Butler used other public domain characters, like Blue Beetle and Miss Masque. In 2015, they launched a crowdfunding campaign in Kickstarter to finish a six-part arc.[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ka-blam/john-aman-amazing-man kickstarter.com]
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Marveldatabase|John Aman (Earth-616)|John Aman}}
- {{Marvelwiki|prince-of-orphans-john-aman|John Aman}}
- {{Wikia|pdsh|Public Domain Super Heroes|Amazing Man}}
- [https://comicvine.gamespot.com/amazing-man/4005-54878/ Amazing-Man] at Comic Vine
- [https://comicvine.gamespot.com/prince-of-orphans/4005-46789/ Prince of Orphans] at Comic Vine
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080425013638/http://www.majorspoilers.com/archives/3832.htm/ A Hero History Of Amazing-Man]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081010033917/http://www.sequart.org/columns/index.php?col=130&column=1999 Who is the Amazing Man?]
{{Iron Fist}}
{{Secret Avengers}}
{{Avengers characters}}
{{GoldenAge}}
Category:Centaur Publications titles
Category:Centaur Publications characters
Category:Comics characters introduced in 1939
Category:Protectors characters
Category:Golden Age superheroes
Category:Characters created by Bill Everett
Category:Marvel Comics male superheroes