Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)

Prester John
Name	Johann
Current Alias	Prester John
Aliases	High Pope and Emperor of India and of Ethiopia, John Prester, John the Presbyter, John the Priest, The Keeper of Memories, Patriarch John, Presbyter Ioannes; Presbyter John, Priest John, Senapus, Sultan John of Babylon, The Wanderer
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	Formerly Four Muses, Providence (head of security)
Relatives	Ancestors: Melchior, Balthazar, Gaspar (Magi/Wisemen, alleged ancestors)
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	6′1″ (1.85 m)
Weight	210 lbs (95.25 kg)
Eyes	Irises: Blue
Hair	Red
Unusual Features	Omega symbols on his palms
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Beyonder
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Place of Birth	Pentoxere, Asia
Personal Information
Identity	No Dual
Citizenship	Pentoxere
Occupation	Warrior, teacher, traveler, explorer; former would-be conqueror, king, priest, knight
Base of Operations	Mobile Formerly Providence; Pentoxere; England; Avalon
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
First	Fantastic Four #54 (June, 1966)
First	Fantastic Four #54 (June, 1966)

History

Dane Whitman, in the body of Eobar Garrington, encountered a Crusader named Prester John battling Muslim warriors. The Black Knight helped John overcome his attackers and brought him to the Crusaders' camp. They then prevented an assassination attempt on Richard the Lionhearted.

After the Crusades, John traveled the world until he found the Isle of Avalon. There he gained the Evil Eye. As a plague seemed to wipe out the citizens of Avalon, John prepared to sit upon the Seat of Survival, which would place him in suspended animation.

However, Kang appeared, trying to get John to join him. As a result of their battle, John was sent into the past. He attempted to manipulate events in the past, advising a Frankish king to battle Vikings. He was stopped by Thunderstrike (then acting as Thor), who was investigating a town Kang had reverted to medieval times. A bolt from Mjolnir somehow triggered the Eye to teleport John back to Avalon.

Under unknown circumstances, he ended up in Africa while in suspended animation. John and the Seat were later found in Africa by Human Torch and Wyatt Wingfoot while searching for a way to assist the Inhumans, and they awakened John. Johnny Storm took the Eye forcibly and activated its self-destruction, but dropped it before it exploded.

While wandering in the desert, John found a tribe of Bedouins and took the Stone of Power. Using its power he collapsed an area, and again returned to suspended animation. He was later found and briefly battled the Thing and Iron Man.

When the Shaper of Worlds formed the medieval world Eurth using the imagination of a child and the history of Avalon, John acted as one of its 'Four Muses'.

Dormammu and Loki reformed the Evil Eye. The Defenders and Avengers were tricked into battling each other over the fate of Dane Whitman, who was once again in the body of his ancestor Eobard Garrington. Prester John was able to regain the Eye from Prince John and Mordred.

Prester John

Prester John later returned to modern times. He became involved with Cable and Deadpool due to Cable's attempt to control the world and Deadpool being falsely accused of murdering a Muslim cleric. He took residence on Providence. He seemed to have altered or added the Eye to his 'Stellar Rod'.

Attributes

Power Grid

Abilities

Gifted intelligence, skilled swordsman, highly athletic; trained as a priest and warrior

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Armor, Chair of Survival, and Stone of Power. Formerly, a Concordance Engine.

Weapons

Evil Eye, currently placed on or altered into the Stellar Rod.

Transportation

Traveled using the Eye.

Notes

With Ω on his palms

• Prester John's origin as an Omega is revealed in Defenders (Vol. 4), though the events diverge due to time-travel at the end. Later, in Defenders: Beyond #2, the Omegas are revealed to be another name for the Beyonders. Thus, due to a series of retcons, Prester John is the first Beyonder to appear in Marvel Comics.
  • The weird-looking machine that appears in Prester John's backstory is also expanded upon as the Concordance Engine.

Trivia

• Loosely based on a folkloric Nestorian king named Prester John who supposedly aided King Richard the Lionhearted during the Crusades.

See Also

• 20 appearance(s) of Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)
• 7 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)
• 1 minor appearance(s) of Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)
• 1 mention(s) of Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)
• 6 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)
• 11 image(s) of Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)
• 1 quotation(s) by or about Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)
• 3 item(s) used/owned by Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Prester John (Johann) on Marvel.com
• Prester John (Johann) (Earth-616) at the Appendix to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe