 Created by: Rodney Lockett Other Picture:   Art by Joe de Santos First appearance: Irongate Universe #9 | Real Name: John Booth Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Height: 6'3" Age: 28 Born in: Canada Ethical alliance: Evil History John was a soldier of fortune who was given a steroid based cocktail to enhance his strength and speed. He was hired by a secret corporation, and during one of his missions, was given the assignment of kidnapping the young heroine, American Justice. He successfully captured her and held her for several weeks, but something happened that neither of them expected, they fell in love. It might have been Stockholm Syndrome on her part, but for John it felt quite real. He started to have second thoughts about what he was doing, and went to his handler to ask him to reveal his plan for American Justice, or he was going to release her. The handler reminded him that they had a contract, and the corporation would not take kindly to him breaking it. He did, however, reveal that American Justice's father was the person who hired him to kidnap her, but stopped short of revealing why. John left more unsure than ever and went to talk to AJ about her father, but she had no idea who he was and she had never met him. Her mother had told her that he died during the war. John decided to release her, and she begged him to come with her, but he refused. He knew he would be a marked man for betraying them and didn't want her in danger. He then went deep underground and started recruiting other like-minded special individuals to help him achieve his goals and ambitions, and the Unjust was formed. With his new team, he felt confident that he could deal with the corporation if they ever came looking for him. But things don't always go as planned. John was alone the day agents of the corporation showed up and surprised him. He thought for sure that he was dead, but they had other plans. He was brought before the Head of the corporation, who, it turned out, was AJ's father. John was given a one time offer. The Unjust was to become a strike team that would work for the corporation, and in exchange, John would be allowed to live. John had no choice but to agree. And as a show of good will, John was tasked to do a small job. He was to eliminate a woman with no questions asked. John went out the next night and completed the task, only to later learn that the woman he had killed was none other than AJ's mom. There was no going back, now. John had destroyed his chance of ever reconnecting with AJ. As a member of the Unjust, he took the name Knight Panda. Some people made fun of his choice of costume, but John had been around giant pandas before. They may look sweet and cute, but they can be very deadly, as those who oppose him will soon find out. Powers Super strength: Knight Panda regularly takes a steroid-based serum that gives him enhanced strength and speed. Martial arts: He has been training for years in different fighting styles, and has blended them into his own unique style. Paraphernalia: Knight Panda uses fighting sticks with retractable blades. They can also can become nunchaku. He also wears a lightweight, enhanced body armor able to absorb high impacts, and protect him from gunshots or blades. |
