Super-Chief

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Super-Chief


Jon Standing Bear, the new Super-Chief. Art by Phil Jimenez.

Publisher DC Comics
First appearance (I) All-Star Western #117, (March 1961)
(II) 52 Week 22, (October 2006)
Created by (I) Gardner Fox (writer)
Carmine Infantino (artist)
(II) Geoff Johns (writer)
Greg Rucka (writer)
Grant Morrison (writer)
Mark Waid (writer)
Eddy Barrows (artist)
Characteristics
Alter ego (I) Flying Stag
(II) Jon Standing Bear
Affiliations Justice League
Notable aliases Saganowahna
Abilities super-strength, super-speed, and extended lifespan

This article is about the DC Comics character, for the Major League Baseball pitcher nicknamed "Superchief" see Allie Reynolds

Super-Chief is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics universe. Created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino, the first Super-Chief debuted in All-Star Western #117 (March 1961). The second Super-Chief debuted in 52 Week 22 (October 2006), which was written by the writers' consortium of Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison and Mark Waid, and artist Eddy Barrows.

Contents

[edit] Flying Stag

The original Super-Chief, Flying Stag, in All-Star Western #117. Art by Carmine Infantino.
The original Super-Chief, Flying Stag, in All-Star Western #117. Art by Carmine Infantino.

Flying Stag was a member of the Wolf Clan in the 1400s. He was by far their best warrior and knew he'd be able to win the contest to become Royaneh, or Supreme Chief, of the Iroquois. Out of jealousy, Flying Stag's rivals trapped him in a pit where he prayed to the Great Spirit Manitou for help (the term "Manitou" is Algonquin). A meteorite fell from the sky and when Flying Stag wore it he gained incredible powers. He honored Manitou and called himself Saganowhana, or Super-Chief. He became a hero and married White Fawn. The powers of the radioactive meteorite caused him to outlive everyone he knew.

[edit] Crisis on Infinite Earths

Super-Chief experienced a couple of time jumps into the 20th century during the event known as Crisis on Infinite Earths, and formed a relationship with Bat Lash. He allied himself with several western heroes along with the superhero Firebrand and her former lover Cyclotron at one point during the Crisis.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details about 52 follow.

[edit] Jon Standing Bear

A new Super-Chief is introduced in 52 Week 22. A young Native American veteran and ex-con named Jon Standing Bear travels to Metropolis. He saves a young girl named Sierra (Matrix II) from sexual assault by throwing a sleazeball through the window of their bus. No charges are pressed because the man already had a rape conviction.

Jon attends the funeral of his estranged father. Before his death of a liver disease, Jon's father had been caring for Jon's grandfather. Both had been upset with Jon, claiming he'd neglected his heritage and his obligations. Saying Jon is the last of the line, Jon's grandfather charges him with the duty of becoming Super-Chief. Per the old man's request, Jon suffocates his grandfather, releasing him from life, and takes the meteorite fragment.

Super-Chief joins an effort by Firestorm to found a new Justice League of America. In its first mission, the "JLA" attempt to settle a chronal disruption created by the now-villainous robot majordomo of Booster Gold, Skeets. Skeets kills Super-Chief, and Jon ends up in an otherworldly location. An elder named Flying Stag, apparently the original Super-Chief, indicates that Jon is no longer among the living and repossesses the amulet. Flying Stag admonishes Jon's ignorance of the price that must be paid for magic. Railing about his failures, Jon disappears into a vortex of clouds.

Spoilers end here.
Main article: One Year Later

After the events of Infinite Crisis, Super-Chief encounters Superman in the town of Dry Gulch. Superman prevents him from causing any trouble.

[edit] Powers and abilities

  • A radioactive meteorite fragment, worn in a necklace, grants Super-Chief super-strength, super-speed, and flight for one hour.
  • Prolonged use of the meteor fragment apparently grants its users an extended lifespan.
  • The new Super-Chief may have slightly different powers than the original, since mention is made of super-senses but not flying. His powers are specified as "the strength of a thousand bears, the speed of a thousand running deer, the keen senses of the wolf nation, and the power in his legs to leap higher than the tallest trees in the forest."

[edit] External links