August General in Iron
August General in Iron is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.
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Biography
Origin
Fang Zhifu
Over 15 years ago, he led a special combat unit based at Camp He Long. Around this time, he was in the Gansu Province where he was engaged to the prettiest girl in the area whilst stated at the army base. Around this time, he received a Code Gray and was dispatched to head a Xeno-Team after receiving orders from Minister Jiang. Early warning systems came to detect the crash of an alien spacecraft with a patrol team being killed by the extraterrestrials. Thus, Captain Fang and his Xeno-Team was dispatched to deal with the alien incursion in the Qinghai Province. They determined the aliens to be Durlans who were a race of shapeshifters and he had orders to take at least two specimens alive for study. During the fight, he came to realise that he and his team had been sent as guinea pigs to provide data for the next team that would learn from their deaths. Despite this, Captain Fang fought relentlessly and turned the tide against the crew of the Durlan scout ship. In response, the Durlans morphed into an alien bacterial infection that was a bio-attack against the Xeno-Team. Many of his team were killed in the process with Zhifu using a broad-spectrum counter-agent that kept him alive long enough for a medivac to be called in. All the survivors were hospitalised with Fang's compatriots dying in the process though he fought to survive. This allowed for the doctors to use one experimental treatment that seemingly worked but there were side effects causing his skin to grow iron plates thus giving him an inhuman appearance. Eventually, he was released and returned to his fiancé but she could not bear the sight of him with her calling off the engagement. (The Great Ten v1 #5)
Though his life was changed, the army was noted to had been pleased with the Zifu's new form. He was transferred to a program tailor-made for him with him along with others were presented in a conference 13 years ago in Bejing as the Peoples Republic's response to the Metahuman arms race. This came to be the basis for the Great Ten who were largely formed from reverse engineering the technology of the Durlans. (The Great Ten v1 #5)
Afterwards, China came to be one of the signatories of the Freedom of Powers Treaty created by Black Adam leading to them becoming allies of Kahndaq. Around this time, Chinese airspace detected an intrusion from the Green Lantern Corps who were pursuing the extraterrestrial Evil Star. This brought a response from the Great Ten with August General in Iron being among the champions sent to battle the American heroes. Black Adam himself arrived at the scene to aid the Great Ten against the heroes who escaped to the border with Russia where they were aided by the Rocket Red Brigade who were allies of the Green Lanterns. Rather than risk an international incident, the Great Ten and Black Adam ended their pursuit. (52 v1 #6)
He came to be assigned to Checkmate as the new Bishop of the Black King that replaced agent Shen. (Checkmate v2 #16)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Later on, the United Nations sought to create their own team of superheroes under their supervision with them forming the Justice League International. The August General of Iron was selected to be the Chinese representative for the team where he came to the Hall of Justice to join them as the group fell under the leadership of Booster Gold. One of the first missions of the team was to combat the extraterrestrial threat posed by the Signal Men. (Justice League International v3 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
His appearance was forever altered after his encounter with the Durlan's where he was covered in rusty plates grown around him. (The Great Ten v1 #5)
He was known to habitually quote from Sin Tzu's Art of War. (The Great Ten v1 #5)
According to him, his fiancé to whom he was engaged with was the prettiest girl in the entire province. However, after his transformation, she was noted to had called off their engagement. (The Great Ten v1 #5)
Powers and abilities
Originally, Fang was a human being without any special powers until his encounter with the Durlans. As a last act, the alien shapeshifters turned themselves into bacteria and became a bio-weapon for use against their attackers. Most of Zhifu's team were killed though he came to use a broad-spectrum counteragent with an autoinjector that helped save him. He was biologically compromised though with his cellular structure suffering a complete breakdown and had to go through various experimental treatments needed to save his life. Zhifu was saved but there were some side effects with these greatly altering his appearance as his body was covered in armored plates that were part of his body. The permanent skin condition meant that that rusty plates were actually grown and part of his physiology where they made him stronger than a battalion of men. (The Great Ten v1 #5)
He had heavy ties to he Chinese military and had served in the army prior to his transformation. During that time, he was attached to the xeno-teams that were sent in response to extraterrestrial contact. (The Great Ten v1 #5)
Notes
- August General in Iron was created by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones where he made his first appearance in 52 v1 #6 (August, 2006).
Alternate Versions
Appearances
- 52 v1: (2006)
- The Great Ten v1:
- Checkmate v2:
- Justice League International v3:
External Links
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