Commander Steel
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Commander Steel is the name of two fictional characters, both superheroes. The original one first appeared in Steel, The Indestructible Man #1 (1978), published by DC Comics and was created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck. His stories were set in World War II. The second character, created by Geoff Johns, is set to debut in the new Justice Society of America series.
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[edit] Henry Heywood
[edit] Origins
Henry Heywood enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to their involvement in WW II, but was injured when saboteurs attacked his base spearheaded by the man who would become Baron Blitzkrieg. As a biology student under the tutelage of Doctor Gilbert Giles, his former professor performed extensive surgery on him with mechanized steel devices that facilitate normal human functions only on a superhuman level. He adopted the persona Steel, and started fighting fifth columnist saboteurs before being sent to Europe on secret missions.
Heywood soon allied himself with the All-Star Squadron and while in a field of war was later commissioned Commander Steel by President Roosevelt. He joined the Squadron for a brief period, until effects of the Crisis on Infinite Earths caused him to shift from his native Earth-Two to Earth-One, wherein he retired from his superhero career as there were no active costumed heroes at that time on his new home.
[edit] Steel II
Years later, as a wealthy industrialist, he incorporated the same mechanized components into his grandson Hank Heywood, III - who later joined Justice League Detroit and fought Heywood along with his ally Mekanique, former allies Justice Society of America and their descendants Infinity, Inc.. Although it was originally stated that Heywood performed unnecessary surgeries on his grandson, this was later retconned in Justice League of America #260 to state that if he hadn't made his grandson into Steel, "Hank would have been dead... years ago."
[edit] Eclipso
After his grandson's death, Heywood resumed the mantle of Steel and died battling the supervillain Eclipso, while a member of the Shadow Fighters. He did come to a heroic end - detonating the Sunburst 300 (a device meant to destroy Eclipso) as his teammate Nemesis escaped.
[edit] Commander Steel II
Relaunched Justice Society of America series will feature a second Commander Steel as a member. During an interview to Newsarama, new series writer Geoff Johns said this will be a brand new character with new powers. He's set to debut in Justice Society of America #2. [1]
[edit] Other media
Steel makes an appearance in the Justice League Unlimited episodes "Initiation" and "Destroyer". In "Destroyer," he fights alongside Hawkgirl and the villain Atomic Skull. Later, he appears alongside fellow Justice League Detroit members Gypsy and Vibe.
