| SON OF VULCAN (Johnny Mann) | BIOGRAPHY |
| Created by Pat Masulli, Bill Fraccio and Tony Tallarico |
PERSONAL DATA
Real Name: Johnny Mann
Full Name: John "Johnny" Mann
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Reporter for the Worldwide News Syndicate
Status: Deceased
Citizenship: American
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Vulcan (adoptive father); Venus (adoptive mother)
Base of Operation: Mobile
Group Affiliation(s): Roman Gods
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8", (as Son of Vulcan) 6'1"
Weight: 150 lbs., (as Son of Vulcan) 210 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Distinguishing Features: Johnny Mann lost his right leg in battle and wore a prosthetic
First Appearance: Mysteries of Unexplored Worlds #46 (May 1965) [Charlton]
Creators: Pat Masulli, Bill Fraccio and Tony Tallarico
OVERVIEW
Son of Vulcan, or Halciber Filius as he was also known, was originally reporter John Mann, who was given the ability to summon any power from any god in the Roman pantheon. Among his enemies during his short crimefighting career was the villainous Dr. Kong and Mars, god of war. During the so-called 'War of the Gods,' Son of Vulcan gave his life in order to thwart Circe's scheme, and his soul now resides in the Elysian Fields in Hades.
HISTORY
John "Johnny" Mann, a reporter for the Worldwide News Syndicate, was covering the civil war on the small Mediterranean island of Cyprete when his life took an unexpected turn while he was resting in an ancient Roman temple to Jupiter. Weary of the bloodshed he saw around him and embittered by his own war experiences where he had lost his right leg, John Mann cried out in defiance of the gods. How could the gods allow mankind to destroy itself through warfare? John Mann was then truck down by a bolt of lightning and transported to Olympus, home of the Roman Gods, where the gods put him on trial for his insolence.
Mars, god of war, wanted Mann dead, but the lame blacksmith Vulcan saw a kindred and brave spirit in the likewise crippled Mann and pleaded his case before the other gods. Jupiter claimed that the gods were not to blame for mankind's evils and folly, but agreed to help mankind and asked Mann if he would be willing to fight evil on Earth, provided that he could find a Roman god willing to sponsor him. Mann accepted and Vulcan and his wife Venus, goddess of love, took on Mann as their ward. Venus healed his body and bestowed great strength upon him, while Vulcan forged him a magic amour and gave him the ability to summon any weapon Vulcan ever made. Thus equipped, John Mann was sent back to Earth to fight crime and evil as the Son of Vulcan. He remained disabled upon his return, but when John Mann cried Vulcan's name, he would immediately be transformed into a godlike being clad in golden armor.
His first mission was to stop the civil war on Cyprete. Son of Vulcan discovered that the real villain behind the scenes was the nefarious mastermind Dr. Kong. The doctor's plans were thwarted, but even though he returned with other schemes, the Son of Vulcan would foil his plans time and time again.
Mars, god of war, would also try to destroy or discredit Son of Vulcan several times. He would do this either through agents or direct confrontations.
After a period of semi-retirement, Son of Vulcan resurfaced during two events of great importance, 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' and 'War of the Gods'. During the Crisis, he was observed fighting shadow demons. The War of the Gods would prove to be Son of Vulcan's last hurrah. As a result of the manipulations of the sorceress Circe, the Roman Gods launched an attack on their Greek counterparts, the Olympian Gods. (The Roman Gods were actually avatars of the Greek gods who had developed independence.) The Roman Gods wanted Son of Vulcan to act as their champion against the Greek amazon warrior Wonder Woman, but when he refused, the Romans abandoned him and chose Captain Marvel as their champion instead. Son of Vulcan allied himself with Harmonia, the good natured daughter of the Greek war god Ares, and discovered that Circe and the ancient moon goddess Hecate were the instigators of a conflict that affected every pantheon on Earth. Son of Vulcan and Harmonia gave their lives so stop Circe and received their eternal rewards in the Elysian Fields of Hades.
POWERS AND WEAPONS
In his human form, Johnny Mann was in pretty good shape, but crippled. He lost his right leg in a war and wears a prosthetic. When he cried out the name of his adoptive father Vulcan, Mann was transformed into a godlike being with great strength and stamina. He wore a magic golden armor and a square shield that protected him from injuries, and was able to summon any weapon from Vulcan's forge. He has been seen to wield maces, swords, axes, bows, slings and even the lightning bolts of Jupiter.
Naturally, the Son of Vulcan was immune to fire and heat, just like his adoptive father.
At times, Vulcan was able to convince other Roman Gods to lend their powers to Son of Vulcan, in a manner not unlike the way many gods have bestowed their powers upon Captain Marvel.
CHRONOLOGY
For a definitive list of appearances of Son of Vulcan in chronological order click here
PROFILE REFERENCES
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #21 (November 1986)
Who's Who in the DC Universe #5 (December 1990)