Codename: Assassin
| Codename: Assassin | |
|---|---|
 Codename: Assassin fromSuperman's PalJimmy Olsen#1, art byJesus Merino. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | 1st Issue Special#11 (February 1976) |
| Created by | Gerry Conway Steve Skeates Nestor Redondo |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Jonathan Drew |
| Team affiliations | United States Army Project Cadmus |
| Notable aliases | The Assassin |
| Abilities | Trained covert operative,telepathy,telekinesis |
Codename: Assassin(Jonathan Drew) is afictionalantihero,acomic bookcharacter published byDC Comics.He debuted in1st Issue Special#11 (February 1976), and was created byGerry Conway,Steve SkeatesandNestor Redondo(credited as the Redondo Studio). In this first appearance he is calledThe Assassin,but later appearances renamed him "Codename: Assassin" after the feature in which he debuted.[1]
Conway had been tasked with producing a story for the 11th issue of1st Issue Special,and since he was working with Redondo, an artist who did not draw superheroes, he decided to make something similar to his earlier non-superhero vigilante thePunisher.[2]In the resulting story, while participating inextrasensory perceptionstudies conducted by a Doctor Andrew Stone at the fictionalAntioke University,Jonathan Drew develops powers oftelepathyandtelekinesiswhich he uses to punish the murderers of his sister Marie.[3]Drew's telekinesis allows him to walk on air, generate force fields, and lift heavy objects.[4]The idea of The Assassin running through the air rather than using traditional flight was inspired byWayne Boring's 1950sSupermancomic books.[2]
The Assassin briefly operates inOpal Cityduring the 1970s.[5]The character was given a 21st century revival inSuperman's Pal Jimmy Olsen Special#1 (December 2008), which updates his origin and presents the character in a new light. In this new take, Drew is an operative of the American Government. Jonathan Drew is seemingly part of a conspiracy directed againstSuperman,and for as yet unknown reasons was responsible forAtlas' attack onMetropolis.Drew is also behind the murders of Dr. Stone, the originalNewsboy Legionand the alien known asDubbilex.He also attempts to murderDaily PlanetphotojournalistJimmy Olsen,who had accidentally uncovered the conspiracy.[6]
Drew acts as an agent of GeneralSam Lanein the multi-title crossoverSuperman: New Krypton.[7]
- Adventure Comics Special Featuring the Guardianone-shots
- Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen#2
- Superman#695
- Superman: War of the Supermen#1–4
References[edit]
- ^Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010).The Essential Superman Encyclopedia.Del Rey. pp. 56–57.ISBN978-0-345-50108-0.
- ^abAbramowitz, Jack (April 2014). "1st Issue Special: It Was No Showcase (But It Was Never Meant To Be)".Back Issue!(#71). Raleigh, North Carolina:TwoMorrows Publishing:45.
- ^1st Issue Special#11 (February 1976)
- ^"The Unofficial Codename: Assassin Biography".Dcuguide.Retrieved2016-10-01.
- ^Starmanvol. 2 #76 (April 2001)
- ^Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen#1 (December 2008)
- ^Superman – New Krypton Special#1 (December 2008)
