High John Henry
Bio: Most have heard of the story of John Henry the steel driving man, his feat beating the steam drill, and his death. However, that is not where his story ended. In the crowd that day stood High John Henry the Conqueror. A cunning African prince who possessed powerful magic. High John was on his way out of the Americas when he saw John Henry and was impressed by not just hist strength but his spirit. Before John Henry succumbed to his exhaustion, High John separated his soul from his body so he would not die. Later he came back and put a mojo bag around John Henry's neck that brought him back from the brink. He told John Henry that as he was leaving the Americas he was also leaving his magic behind and wanted someone to continue protecting their people. He asked John Henry to serve as that protector in his stead and taught him of the powers of the Ipomoea Purga Root.
While John Henry possess great strength, he greatest asset is his cunning. He prefers to outwit and find better solutions where possible, only resorting to violence when there is no better option. To this day John Henry continue to serve as protector in High Johns name.
Powers: Agelessness, Cunning, Super Strength, Damage Resistance
Weapons:
High John's Mojo Bag: A red bag containing a piece of High Johns magic. As long as John Henry wears it around his neck, he does not age and possesses great cunning.
Ipomoea Purga root Serum: High John taught John Henry to make a powerful serum from the root that would give him enhanced strength and resistance to damage. The more he consumes the stronger the effect. The serum is pumped directly into his bloodstream via the gauntlets on his arms and to his heart by the Spider of Anansi symbol on his chest.
Bass Reeves Winchester: During his travels John Henry met and became friends with the legendary Bass Reeves, one of the first Black US Marshalls and a man whose real life rivaled the fictional Lone Ranger. When Bass Reeves passed, he left his 1873 Winchester to John Henry. While he does not prefer guns, the are occasions when it has become necessary.
Wings of the Igbo: During WWII John Henry served alongside Tuskegee's 99th Fighter Squadron as a mechanic. The 99th were the first black airman and after the war he used his mechanical knowledge to build these wings in memory of the Igbo people who drowned rather than be taken as slaves. Legend has it, that they grew great black bird wings and flew home to Africa.
John Henry's Hammer: He has had many hammers over the years but he always carries one as his preferred weapon in memory of the time he almost died.
Weakness: Without his mojo bag, he will start to age and loose his enhanced cunning and without his serum he is vulnerable to harm and only has his human strength. Thankfully, he is in peak human physical condition and is quite wise on his own. After all, High John picked him for a reason.