John Henry is an American folk hero, who is said to have worked as a "steel-driving man".
In the DC Universe, the superhero Steel is inspired by the John Henry legend. The story of John Henry is further referenced by Steel's weapon of choice, a sledgehammer, and his real name is John Henry Irons. The New Golden Age also introduced the great-uncle of Steel, a Golden Age superhero named John Henry Jr.
In Earth-21, an African-American man named John Wilson becomes a vigilante called "John Henry" in order to battle the Ku Klux Klan after his family was lynched. In Earth-508, Superman encountered the actual John Henry after being placed in a folk tale by the Queen of Fables.
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