Griffin (Marvel Comics)

Griffin
The Griffin as seen during the Dark Reign storyline.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Amazing Adventures vol. 2 #15 (Nov 1972)
Created by	Steve Englehart Tom Sutton
In-story information
Alter ego	Johnny Horton
Team affiliations	Secret Empire Masters of Evil
Partnerships	Headlok
Abilities	Superhuman strength, speed, agility and durability Enhanced reflexes/reactions Flight via wings Sharp claws and teeth Spiked prehensile tail Telepathic ability to command birds

Griffin (Johnny Horton) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Griffin first appeared in Amazing Adventures vol. 1 #15 (Nov 1972) and was created by Steve Englehart and Tom Sutton.

John "Johnny" Horton was born in Tacoma, Washington. He later became a punk in the New Orleans gangs trying to make a name for himself until a Chicago man used him for some local muscle. Impressing his employer, Horton wanted to be more than a cheap hood resulting in the Chicago man bringing him to the Secret Empire to be made into a supervillain. Horton didn't know what the Secret Empire did. An unnamed scientist/surgeon that worked there followed the Empire's orders by surgically grafting a mane, lion-like paws and a spiked prehensile tail to his body as well giving him an experimental mutagenic serum. The Empire's #1, #3, and #6 were present at this surgery. When Horton recovered, his face had become white and he was now a freak. Thus, he became the professional criminal known as the Griffin due to his resemblance to the mythological creature.

His first mission was to kill the Beast as part of the Secret Empire's campaign against the Brand Corporation. Griffin encountered Beast in his new furry mutation. During the struggle, Griffin was thrown off the building and Angel only to be attacked by Griffin and rescued by Beast. He later met with Linda Donaldson (Number Nine of Secret Empire) at her office in the Brand Corporation to discuss the case with Beast and his frustration of being turned into a monster.

His next mission was to kill Angel. In his battle with Angel, Beast wrapped his long arms around Griffin's wings causing them to crash into the ground. Griffin was taken away by the Brand Corporation guards (who are presumed to be working for Robert Baxter).