Johnny Sorrow (New Earth)

Johnny Sorrow, a former silent film actor and petty criminal, was granted super-powers after a teleporter malfunction and a trip to the "subtle realms."

Creators

, Geoff Johns, Phil Winslade

First appearance

Secret Origins of Super-Villains # 1 (1999)

History

In 1944, Johnny Sorrow, a former silent film actor, battled the Justice Society of America (Starman, Sandman, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, and Sandy the Golden Boy) in Opal City. Though he had been ordered by the Sandman to withdraw from the battle, Sandy fired his wirepoon at the teleportation device that Johnny Sorrow was wearing. Sorrow's body was torn apart, and his consciousness was transported to the other-dimensional "subtle realms."

Over the course of the next six months, the being known as the King of Tears recreated Sorrow into a new, horrific form. After the King of Tears returned Sorrow to Earth, the latter hunted down his wife, Andrea, and removed the mask that contained his true form. Upon seeing this form, Andrea dropped dead. Blaming Sandy for his misfortune, Sorrow found the young sidekick and abducted him, taking him to Chicago.

After Sorrow killed his teammates in the Seven Shadows, the Scarab managed to escape and alert the Justice Society to Sorrow's presence. The JSA (this time consisting of Sandman, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Green Lantern, and the Flash) joined with the Scarab in fighting Sorrow, but were outdone by the Spectre, who defeated Sorrow and transformed the King of Tears into literal tears. Though Green Lantern was able to contain the King of Tears after his transformation, Sorrow escaped, and later saved the Icicle's life after the latter was defeated by Green Lantern. [JSA #18, Secret Origins of Super-Villains 80-Page Giant #1/6]

Almost 60 years later, Sorrow recruited Geomancer, Count Vertigo, Blackbriar Thorn, Killer Wasp, the second Icicle, and the new Tigress into a new Injustice Society which proceeded to attack the JSA's headquarters. Though the non-superpowered Wildcat managed to fend off the team by himself, Johnny Sorrow escaped again, this time with the King of Tears, and the rest of the team (excepting Blackbriar Thorn, who was shattered into wooden splinters after a several-story fall). [JSA #10]

Soon after, the Injustice Society returned, adding to their ranks Black Adam, Shiv, Rival, and the Thinker, (reconstituted as a disembodied hologram living within the JSA computer). A battle with Dr. Mid-Nite, Black Canary, and Sand left Killer Wasp and Geomancer defeated and the Scarab dead. Johnny Sorrow used the Scarab's body to return the King of Tears to the world and then took Sand and vanished. [JSA #16-#18]

Though he had been exposed to Sorrow's face, Doctor Mid-Nite survived the vision due to his blindness, and was able to defeat Sorrow by showing the latter an image of his own face. Sorrow froze, and Jay Garrick destroyed him with the help of Black Adam, who, in a startling change-of-heart, had recruited the new Spectre to the team's aid. Though the Spectre defeated the King of Tears in a desperate attempt to save the world, he was, himself, destroyed. [JSA #19-#20]

Despite his apparent destruction, Johnny Sorrow returned alongside Despero, and attacked the wizard Shazam and the Rock of Eternity. Sorrow managed to freeze Shazam, who had been left with reduced powers due to the simultaneous use of his magic by Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, Black Adam, and CM3. While Despero took control of Lex Luthor's body, Sorrow freed the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man (Pride, Envy, Greed, Anger Sloth, Lust, Gluttony), and bound each of them to members of the JLA and JSA.

The reserves of the JSA and JLA came to the rescue, successfully freeing Batman and Captain Marvel. After Shazam's lightning was restored to him, the demons were exorcized from the heroes, the Green Lanterns captured Sorrow, and Luthor was rid of Despero's control after being exposed to Sorrow's face.of Despero. [JLA/JSA: Virtue and Vice]

Once more banished from the Earthly plane, Johnny Sorrow sought another way back, and found one in the addled mind of the Wizard. At Johnny Sorrow's behest, the Wizard gathered various members of the Injustice Society to retrieve the Cosmic Key from the JSA's headquarters. After the Ragdoll was sacrificed after an attempt to betray the team and steal the Key for his own use, Sorrow was restored to Earth. Johnny then declared the Injustice Society back in business, and made it quite clear that none of its members have any choice in the matter. [JSA Classified #5-7]

52

In 52, Captain Marvel (Billy Batson), on the brink of sanity, mentioned that Johnny Sorrow tried attacking the Rock of Eternity.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Mystical Horrific Visage: Following his first trip to the abyssal planes his face was horribly (and mystically) disfigured, causing death to anyone who gazed upon it (with some exceptions, outlined below.)

Spirits and the undead are unaffected by his face, as they aren't actually alive.

Exposure caused Captain Atom to quantum leap forward in time rather than die.

Shazam was not killed by exposure to Sorrow's face, but was turned to stone.

Doctor Mid-Nite nearly died of shock, but survived due to the unusual nature of his artificially-restored and enhanced vision.

Reform Mask: he gained the talent to reformulate his mask.

Intangibility: Sorrow is intangible, but can become solid and must in order to remove his mask. Once solid, he cannot become intangible again until the mask is replaced. While tangible, he can be hurt by physical force as well as matter manipulation.

Teleportation

Levitation

Energy Manipulation: power to manipulate energy since he was able to bend energy attacks coming at him together causing an explosion.

Abilities

None known.

Strength level

Unknown.

Weaknesses

He also once proved vulnerable to a recorded image of his own face, which briefly solidified and paralyzed him.

Paraphernalia

Equipment: None known.
Transportation: None known.
Weapons: None known.

Notes

No special notes.

Trivia

No trivia.

Links and References

Johnny Sorrow at Wikipedia.org

Footnotes

Justice Society Villain(s)

This character, team or organization is or was primarily an enemy of the Justice Society, in any of its various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Justice Society Villains" category.

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