Johann Kraus
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Johann Kraus is a fictional character in the Hellboy universe, featured in B.P.R.D. comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. He is a disembodied ectoplasmic spirit with psychic abilities who maintains a tangible form via a containment suit. Without the suit, his body would eventually dissipate and he would be lost forever.
[edit] History and powers
In early 2003, psychic medium Johann Kraus was hosting a séance for a small group. While he was partially on the ethereal plane, the Chinese Chengdou disaster struck (essentially a psychic Chernobyl). The bodies of Johann and all the séance attendees were incinerated. The only survivor was Kraus, who was deprived of a normal body and existed as an intangible spirit until the B.P.R.D. could build a containment suit for him. He was soon hired to replenish the ranks of the 'enhanced talents' part of the Bureau, after the loss of Hellboy.
Kraus soon became an invaluable member of the team, using his ectoplasm to communicate with the spirits of the dead. Because Kraus no longer requires rest, he works constantly and is, as of the Garden of Souls storyline, researching the files culled from the sub-basement of the Bureau's Colorado mountain base.
Johann Kraus is a capable shot with most conventional firearms.
[edit] Vulnerabilities
Because Johann is made of ectoplasm and has no physical body, he requires neither sleep nor food. However, the extreme sensitivity of his psychic powers makes him vulnerable to psychic attack. His physical ectoplasm can be overtaken by stronger spirits, who are then made corporeal. (This can be either dangerous or helpful, depending on the spirit's nature.)
The only protection Johann has from dissipation is his B.P.R.D.-built containment suit; once the suit is breached, he must find a new container for his essence as soon as possible or he will cease to be. Whether or not the suit is affected by temperature is unclear; during a mission to Canada (during B.P.R.D.:The Black Flame) Johann wore a parka over his suit.
[edit] Other media
- Johann was one of four characters that appeared in 2006 as part of Mezco Toyz' Hellboy Comic action figure line. Along with Johann, Series Two included Hellboy with a rocket pack, Roger the Homunculus, and an Alien from Conqueror Worm.[1]
- Johann has been confirmed in the storyline to appear in the upcoming movie Hellboy 2: The Golden Army.[2]
