Witness (comics)

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The Witness is the name of at least three fictional, American comic-book characters, the first published by Timely Comics in the 1940s and the final two by its successor company, Marvel Comics.

1 Timely Comics
- 1.1 Publication history
- 1.2 Fictional character biography
2 Other versions
- 2.1 The X-Men
- 2.2 New Universe
  - 2.2.1 Fictional character biography
  - 2.2.2 Powers and abilities
3 Footnotes
4 References

[edit] Timely Comics

Publication information
The Witness
Promotional art for The Twelve #5, by Paolo Rivera.
Publisher	Timely Comics
First appearance	Mystic Comics #7 (Dec. 1941)
Created by	Stan Lee
In story information
Alter ego	Unkown

[edit] Publication history

The first Witness debuted in the eight-page story "The League of Blood" in the superhero anthology series Mystic Comics #7 (Dec. 1941),^[1] ^[2] during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. A costumed superhero in this incarnation, the character was created by writer Stan Lee,^[3] who wrote the stories under the pen name "S.T. Anley",^[1] and an unknown artist. This version of the character appeared in one story each in Mystic #7-9 (Dec. 1941 - May 1942).

Timely Comics house ad for The Witness #1 (Sept. 1948)

A Timely character called The Witness also appeared, in a different costume, as the star of the eponymous comic The Witness #1 (Sept. 1948), in three stories written by Lee and drawn variously by Ken Bald and Syd Shores, with Charles Nicholas providing the cover.^[4] The Grand Comics Database lists this character as a different entity than the Mystic Comics version,^[4] while Jess Nevins' Guide to Golden Age Marvel Characters considers them the same man.^[5] No consensus exists, but it has been suggested that there are ties between the two Witness characters and the two Witnesses in the Biblical Book of Revelation. It has also been noted that the second Witness character bears a resemblance to the DC comics character, the Phantom Stranger.

This series lasted only one issue, but the character went on to narrate essentially anthological suspense stories in Ideal #4 (Jan. 1949), in a seven-page tale penciled by Gene Colan;^[6] Captain America Comics #71-72 (March-May 1949); Amazing Mysteries #32 (May 1949);^[7] and Marvel Mystery Comics #92 (June 1949).

Marvel announced in July 2007 that the Mystic Comics Witness would return in the 12-issue miniseries The Twelve, by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Chris Weston.^[8] ^[9]

[edit] Fictional character biography

In the first incarnation, the Witness is a killer vigilante who may or may not have superpowers. He is somehow able to sense when crimes are being committed, which allows him to arrive on the scene beforehand. Once there, he seems incapable of interfering while the crime is in progress. However, once he has "witnessed" the crime, he does everything in his power to bring the perpetrators to justice.

In the Twelve, his origin is explained that he was a Chicago detective who accidentally shot an innocent man in the line of duty. After serving two years in jail, he was unable to get his life back together, and committed suicide. However, a voice told him it was not his time, and charged him with seeing several days beforehand a tragedy about to occur. He would then watch the impending victim for several days to see if the person deserves saving or not, in which case he will either do everything in his power to prevent it, or if undesrving, to witness the event firsthand.

The second incarnation of the Witness, wearing a different costume, was a passive observer of crime and humanity's foibles, which he would report on a radio program.

[edit] Other versions

[edit] The X-Men

Main article: Gambit (comics)

A character called the Witness (whose real name is LeBeau) has appeared in X-Men continuity, in XSE #4 (Feb. 1997), Bishop: The Last X-Man #3 & 14 (Dec. 1999 & Nov. 2000), and Gambit & Bishop #2-6 (April-Aug. 2001). The character is hinted to be a future version of Gambit.

[edit] New Universe

Publication information
The Witness
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	D.P. 7 Annual #1
Created by	Mark Gruenwald Paul Ryan
In story information
Alter ego	Nelson Kohler
Abilities	Invisible and intangible, able to possess mindless bodies, able to detect other paranormals.

The Witness (Nelson Kohler) is a fictional character appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics, as part of the New Universe imprint. The Witness is a ghostly figure, an onlooker drawn to paranormal events.

[edit] Fictional character biography

Nelson Kohler was driving when the White Event occurred. He lost control of his car, crashed and was hospitalised, critically ill. He was later declared brain-dead and his life support system was switched off. His body died but his paranormal powers manifested, leaving him a bodiless ghost.

He felt an irresistible pull towards people who were developing paranormal powers, although he could not be seen or heard. Among those who's manifestations he witnessed were members of DP7 (Randy O'Brien, David Landers, Stephanie Harrington, Charlotte Beck, Lenore Fenzl, Jeff Walters, and Dennis Cuzinski). He also felt drawn to the disaster known as The Pitt, after which he had strange experiences with other ghosts and other people seemed to be able to see him.

[edit] Powers and abilities

Kohler has no physical body that can be perceived by normal humans. He himself and a few paranormals can see a body, even seeing a trenchcoat and hat, but it cannot interact with the physical world. This "body", however, is capable of flight and can pass through solid objects.

Kohler is drawn to people who are manifesting paranormal powers, and witnessed the development of the people who would later become D.P. 7. He was also drawn to what became known as the "Black Event", when Ken Connell attempted to rid himself of the Star Brand and destroyed the city of Pittsburgh in the process.

When Randy O'Brien's "anti-body" first left his sleeping body, Kohler was able to take possession of O'Brien's body. The anti-body returned, however, and Kohler's morality compelled him to leave the body. The exact nature of this ability is not expanded upon; the body was not, as Kohler assumed, "empty" as O'Brien's anti-body possessed a separate will from O'Brien himself and therefore the body was not "uninhabited."