John Wilson aka John Henry, briefly appears in the news on the animated movie Justice League: The New Frontier.

Decided to give this version of the character a little different history with a merge with the Folklore Character.

Man Vs Machine…
John Wilson’s father, Henry Wilson was a Steel –Driving Man. When John was a boy his father, (best Steel Driver around) challenged the Railroad Company’s new Steam Powered Drill that was brought in by the company’s new President, President Marqus Tiberius Kain. President Kain was determined to replace the Steel Driving Men for good with Machinery. Henry knew that Kain hated him and that he badly wanted to fire him and the others if the machine proved its worth and won. Henry Wilson swung his hammer with speed and purpose. Each strike hit its mark and Henry beat that machine and won the race. The steam powered machine going at full blast came to a screeching halt before it fell apart. Sadly though Henry’s heart gave out, he collapsed to the ground and died with his hammer in his hand. A few years later, a young and strong John Wilson became a Steel-Driving Man like his father. John still remembered what his mama told him before he picked up his first hammer “Son be mindful. Sooner or Later the Hammer is the Death of all Steel Driving Men.” President Kain, still determined to have a machine outperform the steel drivers, had a new improved drill machine sent to the tunneling site. The new machine was massive as it rolled in on the tracks. John gripped his Sledge Hammers tight and issued a challenge, as his father had done. Marqus Kain found the challenge against such a massive and tested machine amusing and though it would be entertaining to see John fail or even die in the attempt. John was granted a contest against the machine to prove his prowess as a Steel-Driver. President Kain even went so far as saying that if the machine lost, he would not only keep all the steel drivers on but also double their pay. The News Papers were there to cover the big event and all eager to report on the contest of Man Vs Machine. The Machine was moving and at full power, the race was on.

A Steel-Driving Man becomes Legend…
John swung both his hammers with power and precision. Both Arms were moving at such a fast pace that you could catch the wind off them as they rolled by. Each strike was loud and thunderous as his Hammers blasted one after the other on the shaker’s steel. The machine was no match against John’s skill and power. John easily won the race and beat the machine. Kain was so furious that he went back on his word and immediately fired all the steel drivers and ordered the machine to finish the work. John jumped in front of the machine wielding his two Sledge Hammers which he promptly named Wrath and Ruin. John struck the Machine with such force that it knocked President Kain and the machine operators off their feet. After they abandoned the machine, John laid waste to it holding nothing back. The reporters all rushed over to the big steel driving man to get his information and picture, when asked his name he told them “You can call me John Henry”. John figured it was a good way to honor the memory of his father who once told him “When the right thing needs to be done son, stand up and give it everything you have.” John started traveling around the country showing off his Power and skill as a Steel-Driving Man and with each passing day the Legend of John Henry grew. Then one day John heard about the War and he decided to give up the fame of being John Henry. John enlisted in the military and was shipped out to do anything he could to help save lives. John Wilson served and volunteered in multiple rescue missions and became a veteran of the War.

From the ashes come Wrath and Ruin…
After the war, Wilson went back home and took up work as the local metalsmith. John finally decided to settle down with a wife and soon they had a daughter. John becomes a leading member in the small community, constantly speaking out for workers rights, free speech and against the evil that hate brings. One late evening John was ambushed as he neared home, knocked unconscious from behind and then hanged. John awakes in darkness with his head covered up and his life slowly slipping away. John struggles to draw on every ounce of his strength he has. He manages to break lose his hands that where bound behind him. John then reaches up to grab the rope and in one quick motion he rips it asunder falling to the ground. Snatching the hood and noose off, he looks up towards the house. John’s eyes filled with horror as he runs into the fire filled house and carries his wife and daughter out in his arms. John was to late, his family was bound and burned to death in their home. Not a word does he speak, only thoughts now run through his mind as he digs through the night. Morning dawns and a figure bathed in the rising sunlight stands over three new graves, with markings engraved into the wooden tombstones. The first grave simply reads “John Wilson”, the second reads “Precious Child” and the third reads “Loving Wife”. The figure moves with purpose towards the burned down house clutching tightly a hood and noose. Through the wreckage the figure moves and searches, pulled from the ashes come Wrath and Ruin.

Man becomes Vengeance…
With his Family murdered, the memory of the man John Wilson is Dead and Buried. Armed with his two Sledge Hammers Wrath and Ruin, the hooded figure with a broken noose around his neck becomes the vigilante known only as John Henry. For months, John Henry tracked the group and eventually caught up with two of the Murderer’s during his justice crusade. John seeing the men for the first time realizes they are Mercenaries, Muscle for Hire. John confronts them and they fight him toe to toe, both the men were very well trained fighters. John filled with Vengeance overwhelms them both and brings down upon them Wrath and Ruin. John Henry continues tracking the group, his crusade all the while fuel’s his reputation of vigilante justice and attracts the news media as well as the attention of the Martian Manhunter, who considers John Henry an American Hero.

Here lies a Steel-Driving Man…
Tragically, John was betrayed by a misguided little girl and he was ambushed by the group he was tracking. With John wounded, outnumbered and cornered, he removes his hood and noose and laid them in front of him revealing himself. The leader, a huge mask wearing mercenary, approaches John and says “Let’s not stand on ceremony here Mr. Wilson. It doesn't matter who we are...what matters is your death. My group was hired by Mr. Marqus Kain to kill you and your family." John asks if he was the one that burned his family, the Masked Mercenary tells him he already killed the two that performed that task and commended him on his skills to take out two of his best soldiers. As the group starts to move in for the kill, John grips his Hammers for the last time and rises to his feet. The Masked Mercenary stares at John and says "Since your spirit won't break, let's see if your body will". John replies "A man ain't nothing but a man, but before I let Evil beat me down I'll Die with these Hammers in hand". Till the end John gave it all he had and many felt the impact of his cold steel and fell to his mighty swings of Wrath and Ruin. Finally John himself, overrun fell at the hands of the Masked Mercenary. The Martian Manhunter was devastated upon hearing the news of John Henry’s Death. John was placed beside his family and additional inscriptions were placed on his tombstone reading “John Wilson aka John Henry, Here lies a Steel Drivin Man”.

Legacy of the Steel Driving Man…
John’s death did not go unmentioned and his endeavors were highlighted in the paper and television news. John inspired many, especially a little boy named John Henry Irons who will one day carry on Wilson’s Legacy but his tale is another story.


Hooded Head - Neca Resident Evil Executioner

Body - DCU Classics Dr. Midnite

Legs - DCU Classics Magog

Hands - DC Collectibles Talon

Unhooded Head - Gears of War Augustus Cole

Sledge Hammers - 3D Printed designed by Strangefate

Removed Dr. Midnite's Cape and filled in hole on back. Used Dremel to remove buttons on Dr. Midnite's shirt. Trimmed off Dr. Midnite's shirt tail. Roughed up shirt and pants with Dremel for textured look. Made cut marks on Magog's Boots with Dremel. Painted shirt with a Flat Sandstone Tan. Pants was painted using Flat Bright Blue and then drybrushed Flat Sky Blue. Gloves and Boots were painted Flat Chestnut Brown, drybrushed them with Flat Brown. Metal Armor on Boots was painted with Metallic Silver and lightly drybrushed with a Flat Brown. Painted Hood with Flat Black, then lightly drybrushed with Flat Grey and painted eyes Glossy White. Painted Unmasked Head and arms with Flat Dark Skin Tone and painted bandanna Flat Dark Red. Installed magnets in both heads for interchangeability. Painted Sledgehammers Flat Black, then detailed the hammer head with Flat Silver. Detailed the Hammers handle with Flat Chestnut Brown and lightly drybrushed Flat Brown.

Thanks for checking it out!