Amazing Man
Created by Jerry Ordway & Roy Thomas
+ History
Will Everett trained through high school to enter the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he would win a gold medal. Despite gaining international acclaim, Everett was unable to find good work upon his return to the U.S. and eventually wound up as a janitor at a laboratory owned by Dr. Terry Curtis (see Cyclotron). The Ultra-Humanite kidnaped Everett, and subjected him to a electro-generator built by Everett's fellow captive Terry Curtis.. During the experiment the generator exploded, granting Everett superhuman powers. Ultra-Humanite dubbed him Amazing-Man and threatened to kill his parents if he did not pledge servitude. Amazing-Man played along with the Ultra-Humanite until the opportunity to break free presented itself. He teamed up with the All-Star Squadron to defeat Ultra-Humanite, and would later be invited to join the team. His exploits after WWII are unrecorded.
The All-Stars battle Amazing-Man for the Helm of Nabu and learn that he is Will Everett, given the power to control his molecular structure by the Ultra-Humanite's experiments. (All-Star Squadron #23)
The Justice Society prepares to go into action against the Black Dragon Society, while the All-Stars, joined by the Guardian, Phantom Lady, the Flash and Wildcat, clash with Amazing-Man and time-lost members of Infinity, Inc. Amazing-Man elects to change sides. (#25)
February 27, 1942: Hourman rejoins the All-Star Squadron, which travels to Detroit to help Amazing-Man against the Real American. (#38)
During the first great "crisis," Amazing Man was drawn decades into the future with fellow Squadron members Johnny Quick, Liberty Belle and Tarantula. (Crisis #5, A*SQ #53)
After the war, Will's secret identity was revealed by J. Edgar Hoover. After his family was threatened by racist violence, he became a leader in the civil rights movement. He was also the one who captured Martin Luthor King, Jr.'s killer, James Earl Ray. (JSA #12)
1st app. Amazing Man II (Will Everett II). His grandfather, the original Amazing Man, is in a hospital, dying of cancer. (JLA #86-87)
Final: Amazing Man subdues the Overmaster by absorbing his power. Meanwhile, Beetle discovers the control room of the Overmaster's ship and detonates the ship (and Overmaster) ahead of the armageddon device. (Justice League Europe #66)
Frustrated by the League's leadership, Captain Atom claims the Justice League name and forms his team. Maxima, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold and Amazing Man II join him. They establish headquarters at Mt. Thunder, Nevada, a former military complex. (EJ #0)
He remained with the team until it's end. (#18) Later, he joined the Crimson Fox's unofficial re-grouping of Justice League Europe. This group was decimated by the Mist, and Amazing Man was apparently killed; his glass form was shattered. (Starman #38)
The new Mist (impersonating Icemaiden) kills Amazing Man II, Crimson Fox and Blue Devil. Note: Icemaiden remains alive, elsewhere. Blue Devil later returns to life during Underworld Unleashed. (Starman v.2 #38)
Another one of Will Everett's grandsons, Markus Clay, also developed the same powers. Like his grandfather, he chose a path of public service. He met Superman and Power Girl in his home, New Orleans when the JSA was looking to recruit more members for its own society. After the elder heroes helped him remove a barge from a hurrican-ravaged neighborhood, he followed them back to New York. (JSA #12)
Notes
Amazing Man's name, Will Everett is an homage to Bill Everett, who created the Amazing Man comic in 1939 for Centaur Publications.
+ Powers
Amazing-Man could absorb inorganic material such as bricks or steel and transform himself into a living, breathing, mobile facsimile of that material. Each transformation was of limited duration, but he could switch almost instantly from one material to another. For a time Amazing-Man could repel magnetic objects with his right hand and attract them with his left.
Appearances + References
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