Henry hank heywood was an american soldier who, after being badly hurt, was remade as a cyborg with indestructible skin. Dark, gritty, sadly grounded in the reality of our past, ends in tragedy but with a ray of hope of a better future to come. Oct 10, 2018 following the reveal of his next film project, a netflix original movie called john henry and the statesmen, dwayne the rock johnson has released a short teaser video to promote the project. He obviously inspired the creation of steel, aka john henry irons, one of supermans comicbook successors. Comic book feature carl andersons classic newspaper comic strip character, henry. John henry started growing when he was one day old. A very young john henry irons appears in the animated film justice league. He had thick arms, wide shoulders and strong muscles. What im talking about here is john henry turning up in the pages of the marvel comic book back in november 1999.
Steel is the name of several dc comics superheroes, though the best known is the third henry hank heywood version the first steel debuted in the series steel, the indestructible man in the 1970s though it was set in world war ii. A nathan heywood cousin of hank iii went on to join the reformed justice society of america, but as citizen steel, to distinguish him from john henry irons. With supermans death, john henry irons attempted to fill the loss felt by metropolis by taking. Relationship john henry is very close to his large family. John henry, a former slave, wasnt about to let some newfangled steam hammer replace his ability to earn an honest wage as a steel driving man. Caldecott honors are awarded annually by the american library association in recognition of excellence in american childrens picture book illustration. Hammerin hero the graphic novel is a powerful book that retells the bigger than life story of the folklore character john henry. A veteran of the korean war whose family was burned to death by the ku klux klan.
According to legend, he was the strongest and fastest railroad workers in his day during the postcivil war era. The complete guide to selecting beautiful flowers for your wedding, and flowers by design vol. John henry comic read john henry comic online in high. People still talk about the night john henry was born. Despite the fact that the film, and the character played by terry crews, are named after the folk hero john henry, the 2020 movie john henry is. Liney, who drew the henry comic strip for 44 years, is dead at the age of 69. See all books authored by john henry, including romantic wedding flowers. There were plays about john henry, childrens books about john henry i remember one of those, and comic book heroes like superman who evolved in nelsons analysis from the john henry strongman character as depicted by artists of the early twentieth century. Henry, or john william henry in previously unexplored prison records of the virginia penitentiary. John henry rouson little sport daily comic strip original art undated. John henry rouson little sport daily comic strip original art. Take the time to learn the facts about john henry and empower your children with true american history.
Henry and his partner tom werner bought the boston red sox in 2002. The steam age is an exciting reimagining of american folk hero john henry in a steampunk setting. John henry is a fantastic song of a great africanamerican hero. Steel earth0 john henry irons has debuted his new armor which is a cybernetic looking suit rather than the classic metallic look. Honor steel is a bigh hero walking in the footsteps of superman himself. Pollys name is only mentioned twice in the story, and both lines are easy to miss. The main action is done in a rough, sketchy style reminiscent of a woodcut print, but the segments illustrating the backstory and the tall tales told about john are drawn as animated quilt patches.
Steel is a fictional superhero who appeares in comic books published by dc comics. Oct 01, 1994 julius lesters john henry is a tall tale that tells the story of african american folk hero john henry. But only in retro tales set in the detroit period, or tales involving timetravel, or undead characters. With the exception of a few early episodes, the comic strip character communicates only through pantomime, a situation which changed when henry moved into comic books the saturday evening post was the first publication to feature henry, a. The armor does not have a head piece, but a cybernetic lens to. The big, polyphonic novel that strives to capture the spirit of a nation or an age can be a hazardous enterprise. John henry should serve as a reminder of how little we value the lives of blacks and of all workers instead of being whitewashed into a tragic hero. The rock releases first teaser for new movie john henry and. As a simple alteration to this, you could allow students to really get into modern american popular culture by reimagining john henry as a superhero and making a simple comic book starring the. Also in this issue little guy in big date and a twopage text feature rinky drops a line on the inside covers. Legends have said he was the strongest man alive and that he was a slave born in missouri in the 1840s. Liney, who retired because of ill health in 1979, died of a heart condition at the ridge crest. The title character is a young bald boy who is mute and sometimes drawn minus a mouth. After acquiring a fortune in the early 1980s from his trading firm j.
He has no superhuman abilities of his own, and instead has built himself a highpowered mechanized armor suit out of steel. I am keeping it for my daughter to enjoy as a bedtime story. Hes stronger than ten men and can dig through a mountain faster than a steam drill. Jan 01, 2010 john henry is one of the first characters who comes to my head when i hear the word folklore.
Origin of superhero john henry irons also known as dc comics, steel. Julius lesters john henry is based on the african american folk ballad john henry, the tale of john henry, the steeldriving man who was bigger and stronger than anyone and the competition. Many americans are familiar with the story of john henry. This ballad tells the story of john henry, an american folk hero. Nelson tells this part of the story mechanically, and often. Equally important was the use of john henrys image and story by the labor movement. Jun 29, 2012 last night, i drew this picture of john henry irons, better known. Oct 18, 2006 the rest of the book recounts the history of the john henry ballads, and their heros transformation from man to myth. John henry s address is a nod to his first comic book appearance. However, his greatest powers are his heart, mind, and. Commander steel, a world war ii hero and his grandsons, also known as simply steel and citizen steel. John henry is shown to be caring to his friends and intimidating to his enemies.
John henry is the first magnus chase character to appear. Throughout the 20th century, john henry became a pop culture figure with nearly 200 recorded versions of the ballad, various movies, plays and novels. Inspired by superman, john henry irons mimicked his powers with technology. He obviously inspired the creation of steel, aka john henry irons, one of supermans comic book successors. Following the reveal of his next film project, a netflix original movie called john henry and the statesmen, dwayne the rock johnson has released a short teaser video to promote the project. Death of john henry irons injustice ii comicnewbies. Steel, in comics, may refer to one of several dc comics characters.
The most prominent rhetorical device lester employs in his tale is the use of hyperbole to over exaggerate the great accomplishments of the esteemed legend john henry. The legend of john henry has been celebrated in song and story for generations, but my favorite version is the childrens picture book john henry by julius lester, with illustrations by jerry pinkney. Quirk john henry is huge, very charismatic and with a very deep voice, making it hard for him to be discreet. The story of john henry tells a story bigger than history, and its a story that tells us about the everyday concerns of the people who told it. John henry was the most powerful looking baby people had ever seen. John henry grew up in a world that did not let children stay children for long. He continued growing until he was the strongest man who ever lived. Sep 28, 20 this ballad tells the story of john henry, an american folk hero. Equally important was the use of john henry s image and story by the labor movement. John henry is the second character to be mentioned in both a rick riordan and rick riordan presents series, the first being indra. Superman man of steel aka john henry irons with pounding. Henry john liney comic book strip character 1950s 14. How does the novel engage, more specifically, the interior crisis of black manhood in the america of the 1990s.
While the prose of julius lester sings, it isnt the lyrics to the song, so it didnt really meet my needs. On the trail of the real john henry history news network. With regard to julius lesters 1994 john henry, it is in particular illustrator jerry pinkneys 1995 caldecott honour winning accompanying illustrations which i have always found and ever since first reading the book as a library copy a couple of years ago very much personally and visually impressive expressive. Nothing can stop john henry, and his courage stays with us forever. The rest of the book recounts the history of the john henry ballads, and their heros transformation from man to myth. John henry is an american folk hero famous for winning a race against a steam powered hammer according to some along the chesapeake and ohio railway in talcott, west virginia. He is a genius engineer who built a mechanized suit of armor that. The first stop for newbies in the comic book universe.
The new frontier reading a comic book near the gravestone of the dc. John henry rousons long skinny daily comic strip ran from 1948 to 1976. Him being good in basketball might be a nod to shaquille oneal, who portrayed him in the movie steel. John henry drove spikes in the rail tracks, and he was faster than anybody whod ever worked the rails. Right when john was born his parents could tell he was full of surprises. Steel is a superhero and ally to superman, and he shares supermans s shield symbol and red cape. John henrys address is a nod to his first comic book appearance. A capsule character profile for the ominous antikkk vigilante in dc comics graphic novel the new frontier.
Not even superman seems able to rescue the comic book industry from covid19, which has hit the classic genre with the force of a collision with an asteroid of pure kryptonite. Soon john henry is swinging two huge sledgehammers to build roads, pulverizing boulders, and smashing rocks to smithereens. Henry was a comic strip created in 1932 by carl thomas anderson. Despite the fact that the film, and the character played by terry crews, are named after the folk hero john henry, the 2020 movie john henry is not based on a true story. A robotic uprising has occurred, and a new age has dawned the steam age. The new frontier version of john wilson, also known as john henry, who is reportedly killed in the film. John henry books list of books by author john henry.
Sabans film, john henry, is described as a dramatic thriller and a modern adaption of an africanamerican folk hero of the same name, and its set to follow henry crews after. John henry dc comics new frontier character profile. Irons is a former weapon designer for the military who quit after a powerful type of gun he created called a bg 60 was used by terrorists to kill. Apr 20, 2020 not even superman seems able to rescue the comic book industry from covid19, which has hit the classic genre with the force of a collision with an asteroid of pure kryptonite. During world war ii, he joined the united states air corp and was. How does the novel engage, more specifically, the interior crisis of black manhood in. The new frontier is a standalone graphic novel, celebrated for its art and storytelling. However, the story of john henry is much bigger than a single person. John henry rouson little sport daily comic strip original. In 1993, dc comics even made a comic book hero, john henry irons, who picked up a sledgehammer to assist superman in his attempt to battle evil. John henry is one of the first characters who comes to my head when i hear the word folklore.
John constantine tried wearing a green lantern ring. John henry irons, an armored hero inspired by superman and the folk hero. Pollys name is only mentioned twice in the story, and both lines are easy to miss the coats are off. John henry, the untold story of an american legend, historian scott reynolds nelson detailed his discovering documentation of a 19yearold africanamerican man alternately referred to as john henry, john w.
Now, the only thing that can free the human race from the very machines theyve created is john and his hammer. Though this profile has been kept short, there are s p o i l e r s. It features an imaginary version of the dc universe from 1945 to the 1960, and its transition from the golden age to the silver age the new frontier is steeped into the historical events of the era. The real john henry probably died in a tunnel collapse, historians say. John henry character john henry appears in 15 issues. The story of john henry wilson, korean war vet widowed by the kkk who takes vengeance as a hooded vigilante with 20 lb hammers like the legendary steel driving man. The main action is done in a rough, sketchy style reminiscent of a woodcut print, but the segments illustrating the backstory and the tall tales told about john are drawn as animated quilt patches blinkandyoumissit. John henry comic read john henry comic online in high quality. For although pinkneys pictorial renderings are at times perhaps almost a. Mar 18, 2017 john henry was named a caldecott honor book. The rock releases first teaser for new movie john henry. Even though this is an old comic relatively speaking, i only recently learnt of this occurrence as im a fan of dc comics and not all comics in general.