My name is Dr. John Henry Irons, better known to the world as Steel, an engineer, inventor, and ballistics expert. I made a small fortune desiging weapons for AmerTek, a military contractor. When weapons of my design fell into the hands of terrorists, I faked my own death and went into hiding in Metropolis. Most of my time was spent working in high steel, while secretly developing a flying suit of armor until the fateful day I was rescued from certain death by Superman. Inspired by Superman, I decided to do right by him, and even attempted to aid him in his fatal battle with Doomsday. After the death of Superman, I became known as the Man of Steel, using my flying prototype that I had created earlier.
Overview: My moral fibre and integrity has made me well received among the metahumans that I work with, and my dedication to my family is my highest priority. As a well known scientist and physicist, I have very few peers in the realms of physics, engineering and ballistics and my recent exposures to the technologies of New Genesis/Apokolips, Rann, Prometheus, Amazon Island and most recently the 853rd Century, means that I likely will continue to excel at my craft of creating high technology and being the prime technologist for the Justice League of America.
Education: I possess several degrees in Physics, Quantum Physics, Advanced Energy Physics, Temporal Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, and Robotics.
Known Powers: My powers vary in accordance with what hardware is currently available to me. I have modified the original weapons systems and suit several times since its debut and continue to refine its abilities. With my engineering, physics and ballistics knowledge, it is conceivable that the suit may potentially possess even greater power in the future. Currently it possesses the following abilities:
* Enhanced Strength: Without my armor I can lift approximately 650 pounds. With my powered armor increasing my strength as much as 15 times, my enhanced strength is quite considerable. I have been able to lift and throw for short distances objects weighing as much as 5 tons. It would seem that greater strength would be possible, but would require re-engineering the support structures of the suit. As it is, the servo-motor systems that power the suit seem to be able to function at peak efficiency for approximately 2-3 days without any need for recharge. The current source of power is classified.
* Resistance to Injury: The suit's ability to impart a resistance to physical injury was quite considerable before the addition of the inertial dampening field. It is, theoretically, composed of molynbeum steel-titanium alloy infrastructure, overlayed with ridges of plated steel to reinforce vital areas. Small arms fire was generally not a threat but larger firearms could prove dangerous. All of the suits have performed admirably considering the opponents. These include the Cyborg Superman and Metallo, both considered to be highly dangerous opponents, even for Superman.
* Rivet Cannon: This short range weapon has fired red-hot rivets similar to rivets used in construction. This weapon was chosen as a less lethal device in place of far more dangerous weapons that had created. (See Toastmasters). As the weapon has seemed relatively ineffective, my choice of this weapon seems more dubious. I has used this weapon less and less and expect that this weapon will be replaced by something more utilitarian in the future.
* Magno-Gravimetric Flight Capability: With what are probably my greatest creations, the flight protocols for my armor are every engineers dream. Flight is made possible by two means, the creation of a limited anti-graviton/magno-repulsion field, the source for this field is currently undisclosed. This field polarizes me against the Earth's gravitational pull. This field is not enough, however, to allow flight but do allow for the thrusters housed in my boots to give me the semblance of flight. (And perhaps under the right conditions to leap farther than normal). The distance that can be travelled before refueling is classified, but I have made a documented trip of at least 1,500 miles before touching down again. I can reach speeds just short of the speed of sound, which is 700+ miles per hour.
* Computerized Communications and Scanning Array (CCSA): This technology is integral to the armor's technological advantages. The onboard computer comes equipped with high density, flash memory protocols for suit operation, including weapons management, power management, gyroscopic balancing, and analysis of electromagnetic phenomemna. This analysis array is directed by a wave-emmiter bound to the S logo and including weapons analysis and EM field analysis, remote program analysis, rewriteable operating system protocols, all of my designs, remote communication and reception of all normal radio, satellite and cellular communication bands. The armor can also receive signals on classified bands such as the Air Traffic Controller wavelengths and the NASA communication protocols. The armor is also capable of communicating with the National Defense Commands of the United States as my clearance allows. The onboard computer can be attacked either with viruses or electromagnetic pheonomena that will temporarily override the suits operation for 30 seconds while the system reboots. This reboot does not stop motor operations and Steel retains control of the armor unless the attack damages the boot level operation protocols which are separate from the operating system proper.
* External Weapon: Voice Activated/Controllable Hammer: My original hammer was just a physical extension of my strength which I did use effectively. In recent battles, I have sometimes found myself outclassed by my metahuman opponents and decided to increase the technology found in my hammer. The current hammer has the ability to increase it's kinetic energy the further away it is thrown. At a distance up to 20 yards, it can stop a car, 30 yards, a truck, 60 yards, a tank, at distances greater than 60 yards, its destructive capacity rivals that of Superman for damage dealing capabilities. The hammer is also voice controlled and its flight is programmable.
* Inertial Damage Field with Hammer: This hammer can also store the energy it has gathered along its flight path within the kinetic field and release it on contact with a target, even if its flight is interrupted by a command. It is undisclosed how long this device can store such energy. This device has the ability to temporarily disrupt temporal/kinetic energy in a localized field and manipulate it for limited effects such as energy transfer based on a linear distance travelled.
