Post originally by cga at 2005-04-17 10:11:50
Converted from Phorums BB System

With regard to your confusion over the inclusion of the "black superhero fighting racism," not only does his plot thread address the issue of rampant racism in the South during the 1950s, but his death provides part of the motivation for J'onn J'onzz deciding to leave Earth, thus leading into the events that follow.

Also, if you look at the last chapter in the series, toward the end, on the same page as the panel showing Batman and Robin fighting the Joker (no page numbers in the trade paperback...aarghh), right underneath is a panel showing a young boy reading a comic book next to the grave of that same vigilante John Henry, with the name "Irons" on the back of his shirt. Presumably, this boy is John Henry Irons, who in the DCU goes on to become the armored, hammer-wielding hero known as Steel.

I, too, enjoyed the story immensely. Great review!