Steel - Television Tropes & Idioms

Steel is the name of several DC Comics superheroes, though the best known is the third.

Henry "Hank" Heywood version

The first Steel debuted in the series Steel, The Indestructible Man in the 1970s (though it was set in World War II.) Henry "Hank" Heywood was an American soldier who, after being badly hurt, was remade as a cyborg with "indestructible" skin. Still having a human appearance, he developed a secret identity as a superhero wearing a costume based on the American flag. He first appeared in Steel, The Indestructible Man #1 (March, 1978), created by Gerry Conway and Don Heck.

The original Steel series only lasted 5 issues, ending in November, 1978. The cancellation was part of the so-called DC Implosion, the abrupt end to over 24 series. The character was not forgotten. He became a regular in the All-Star Squadron, a series devoted to Golden Age heroes. Using the alternative codename Commander Steel. In the "present" day, Hank turned very much alive in 1980s tales of the Justice League of America. He went on to become one of several heroes fighting against Eclipso, in a series spotlighting this villain. He was finally killed in Eclipso #13 (November, 1993).

Henry "Hank" Heywood III version

The second Steel was Henry "Hank" Heywood III, a grandson of the original. He debuted in Justice League of America Annual #2 (October, 1984), created by Gerry Conway and Chuck Patton. He was part of the Justice League of America during the series' infamous "Detroit" period. Having suffered an accident, his grandfather -now a rich corporate head- had him rebuilt as a similar cyborg and goaded him into becoming a hero; he also provided the League's new headquarters.

Sadly the younger Steel had to retire when severely wounded in Justice League of America #260 (March, 1987). He was left surviving on life support. He was Killed Off for Real in Justice League America #38 (May, 1990). His old foe Despero located the comatose body of Hank and "shredded him limb from limb."

Henry has been used in subsequent years. But only in retro tales set in the Detroit period, or tales involving time-travel, or undead characters. A third Heywood went on to join the reformed Justice Society of America, but as Citizen Steel, to distunguish him from John Henry Irons.

John Henry Irons version

Drop the Hammer...

The third Steel was created for The Man of Steel series, which normally starred Superman, during The Death of Superman storyline. DC had decided to delay bringing Superman back to exploit the success of this event, but that left them without a protagonist for Superman's four titles. Their solution was to create four Superman pretenders and make a mystery of which one of them could be the real Superman Back from the Dead. (It's also possible that DC wanted to make sure they didn't lose the trademark to the name "Steel" from lack of use.)

In any case the character first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #500 (June, 1993), created by Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove. This Steel was really John Henry Irons, a construction worker whose life had been saved by Superman once, and who decided to become a hero to uphold his legacy. In addition, he was actually a former weapons designer hiding from the government; the use of weapons he had invented by some street gangs was also part of the reason why he created a suit of Power Armor to fight crime with (along with a really big hammer.) There was also a hint that Superman's not-quite-dead soul had linked to Irons, keeping a hold on this world before returning to life. Of the other three beings claiming the title of Superman, Steel was also the only one who freely admitted that he was not Superman, but was working to uphold his legacy in his honor.

Steel was also obviously partially based on the legend of John Henry, and happens to be the first black character to be major part of the Superman mythos (though his armor hid this fact from the public.) Later on, Steel would join the Justice League of America, and his identity would become public. His niece Natasha, who like him was a Gadgeteer Genius, also became a power-armor heroine (and later gained actual powers as part of an Evil Plan by Lex Luthor in the series 52.)

Steel starred in his own comics series for 52 issues, from February, 1994 to July, 1998. He had a movie based on him (starring Shaquille O'Neal) that however cut off all Superman references. Steel has also appeared in Superman: The Animated Series and theanimated Justice League cartoon. The animated version also had to have his origin tweaked, because The Death of Superman never happened in S:TAS.

Tropes regarding the first Steel:

Wearing a Flag on Your Head: The original Steel Uniform displayed the colors red, white, and blue. Along with a prominent white star on his chest. Rather clearly based on the flag of the United States.

Tropes regarding the second Steel:

Legacy Character: He was granted the mantle of his grandfather.

Tropes regarding the third Steel:

Adaptation Decay: The movie is terrible, and regarded even at the time as the beginning of the end for comic book movies being taken seriously. It wasn't until almost ten years later that the damage started to be repaired.
Anti-Hero Substitute: Inverted; the other Superman pretenders trying to replace the Big Blue Boyscout after his death were varying degrees of Anti-Hero, but Steel is just as heroic as the original, if not MORE so. Which may be related to why he had the best reception of them all. It also probably helped that unlike the others, Steel never actually claimed to be Superman or his substitute, but was just operating as best he could in Superman's memory and honor.
Arm Cannon: The original armor packed a wrist-mounted rivet gun.
Badass Abnormal: He may be most known for his awesome Power Armor, but he's got an astonishing natural physique and more than enough combat aptitude to be a Badass Normal even if he lacked it.
The Blacksmith
Character Witness: In the Steel movie.
Drop the Hammer
Earn Your Happy Ending: In his introduction, there is a flashback in which Irons, working high steel, prevents another worker from falling, only to be the one needing rescuing. When he is rescued by Superman, he asked how he could thank Superman for saving his life.
Superman: Make your life worth living.
Expy: {Hardware
- Iron Man
Genius Bruiser: He's a brilliant scientist, and is more than capable of kicking ass without his armor.
Gentle Giant Despite everything he still considers himself a scientist and not a fighter.
Hey, It's That Voice!: Voiced by Michael Dorn (Worf) in Superman: The Animated Series.
- And later in Justice League Unlimited by Phil LaMarr, who was (according to producers on the commentary track of an episode) doing an impression of Morgan Freeman.
Let's Get Dangerous: When a young boy was killed by a Toastmaster gun, a weapon he designed years ago, enough was enough and it would motivate him to create the first Steel armor.
Meaningful Name
My Greatest Failure: When John Henry was part of the US Defense, he had designed high-powered weapons, only to have the designs stolen and sold on the Black Market. He ran and changed his name to get away from this... only to find out the weapons were being used in Metropolis. When one killed a young boy, that was enough.
Never Be a Hero: Steel to Natasha.
Not That Kind of Doctor: Has to deal with this off-frame in one issue when he's visiting a friend's hospital during a busy period.
Scary Black Man: Actually subverted, despite appearances he's the most noble of Superman's expies. He does tend to scare the shit out of his enemies, however, and for good reason.
Steven Ulysses Perhero
Take Up My Sword: A bit of a sideways example, but when Superman returned, Steel briefly quit wearing the S-Shield. Superman was quick to tell him that he had earned the right to wear it.