Java (comics)
| Java | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Brave and the Bold #57 (January 1965) |
| Created by |
Bob Haney Ramona Fradon |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Neanderthal |
| Place of origin | Earth |
| Notable aliases | Shaggy Man |
| Abilities | Super-Strength |
Java is a fictional DC Comics supervillain.
Java first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #57 and was created by Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon.
Java is the Neanderthal servant of Simon Stagg. He was first discovered by fortune hunter Rex Mason and revived by the scientific wizardry of Stagg Enterprises. Java was present the day that Mason discovered the Orb of Ra inside the pyramid of Ahk-Ton in Egypt. The Orb was responsible for transforming Rex Mason into the metamorphae known as Metamorpho the Element Man after Java knocked out Rex Mason in the presence of it.
For years, Java lusted after Simon's daughter Sapphire Stagg, but was unable to win her heart because she was in love with Metamorpho. This bred a bitter rivalry between the two; one that persisted for many years. Java even risked his life once to save Sapphire from a melting skyscraper, and was transformed into a petrified fossil for his actions. Stagg's scientific prowess saved his life and returned him to normal.
During a time when Metamorpho was believed to be dead, Sapphire relented to Java's persistent advances and married him. Java became the father figure to Sapphire and Rex's mutant son, Joey. Java was not an inherently evil individual, but his moral base had been compromised due to his constant exposure to the unscrupulous Simon Stagg. He was also extremely selfish when it came to his wants and desires. When Rex abducted Joey from Stagg Mansion, Java flew into a rage and was determined to kill him. Even Simon's command over him could not quell Java's emotions. Frustrated by the Neanderthal's rare act of defiance, Simon Stagg shot him in the head, seemingly killing him.
Java did not remain dead for long however. The means behind his resurrection are unknown, but he was seen once again several years later attending the funeral of Metamorpho (who at the time was believed to be dead).
During the Brightest Day storyline, Java was with Simon Stagg at his Canadian estate at the time when Metamorpho persuaded him to help him and the Outsiders get back into the United States. Later that night, Java pays Metamorpho a visit while he was sleeping. For some reason, Java still had the Orb of Ra in his possession. Java uses the orb to knock Metamorpho around until Metamorpho becomes unconscious. Java then takes Metamorpho's body down to Simon Stagg's lab where he plans to merge him with Chemo. It doesn't go well as Java calls in Simon Stagg's servant Freight Train to help stop it. Freight Train manages to use an electrical wire which causes Chemo to vomit out Metamorpho. Simon Stagg later placed Java's mind into the body of a Shaggy Man which was defeated by Freight Train.
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