Breaking Down the Hall of Justice Mural in Superman, Part 13: Amazing-Man / William Everett Sr.
Created by Roy Thomas and Jerry Ordway as an homage to the public domain Golden Age hero Amazing Man, William Everett Sr. was a track-and-field star from Detroit who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he and Jesse Owens defied Nazi propaganda by winning gold medals. After struggling to find work, Everett became a janitor in a laboratory owned by Dr. Terry Curtis (Cyclotron).
One night, Everett was kidnapped by the Ultra-Humanite and subjected to a dangerous experiment with Curtis’s electro-generator. The explosion granted him the ability to absorb the properties of any material he touched. Initially manipulated into working for the Ultra-Humanite to protect his family, Everett eventually turned against him and joined the All-Star Squadron, later becoming a member of the Justice Society of America.
Everett’s heroism extended beyond the battlefield. In later years, after his secret identity was revealed by the FBI, he faced personal and family danger but refused to hide. He became an active figure in the Civil Rights movement, participating in anti-segregation marches and using his powers in the service of justice during a turbulent chapter of American history.
His legacy continued through his grandson, William Everett III, and later Markus Clay, both of whom took up the mantle of Amazing-Man.
Group Affiliations: Justice Society of America, All-Star Squadron
Speculation: With the JSA appearing multiple times in the mural, Everett could easily appear in a period-set JSA story or have his legacy represented through one of his successors in a modern team.
First Appearance: All-Star Squadron (1981) #23
All-Star Squadron (1981) #23–60 – Core run
Justice League America (1987) #86-87, 89 – Passing the mantle to William Everett III
Extreme Justice (1994) – William Everett III and Maxima's romance
Starman (1994) #38 - William Everett III is murdered by the Mist
Justice Society of America (2007) #12 – Markus Clay takes up the mantle
JSA (2024) #13-18 – JSA: Year One
Next up: Part 14: Zatara / Giovanni “John” Zatara