Steel Sterling

Real Name: John Sterling

Identity/Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Private detective

Affiliations: member of Mighty Crusaders, Terrific Three, partner of Honcho (his dog), associated with Sergeant Clancy Mulligan

Enemies: Anwalli (zombie maker), Apollo Bates, Baron Gestapo, the Black Knight (a.k.a. the Radium King), Mr. Romero, Oom the Mystic, the Rattler, Tang, the Werewolf of France, Yehudis, (formerly) Inferno

Known Relatives: Unidentified father

Aliases: The Man of Steel

Base of Operations: U.S.A.

First Appearance: Zip Comics #1 (MLJ, February 1940)

Powers/Abilities: Skin is hard as steel, invulnerable to most attacks (though not magical ones); blows to the head can still stun him. Superhumanly strong . Can listen in on telephone conversations using his teeth and "electrolized tongue". Possesses magnetic powers, including charging himself up by running his fingers through his hair so he can run at superhuman speed (faster than the speed of sound), and flying by magnetically locking on to a passing aircraft. Solar flares cause his powers to wane.

History: John Sterling's wealthy father was robbed by rackateers, who then murdered him. The youthful John swore to gain vengeance, but realising that a lone man would stand little chance against the underworld's bullets without some kind of advantage, he studied chemistry, eventually developing a formula which would allow him to take on the properties of steel; after coating himself in it, John plunged into a cauldron of molten metal, and became superhumanly strong and durable. Initially John claimed Steel was his brother, but soon abandoned this pretense.

Comments: Created by Abner Sundell and Charles Biro.

Steel Sterling was known as "the Man of Steel" before Superman started using that nickname.

CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with

Any Additions/Corrections? Please let me know.

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