Witness (comics)

The Witness is the name of at least three fictional, American comic-book characters, the first published by Timely Comics in the 1940s and the final two by its successor company, Marvel Comics.

Timely Comics

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caption=Promotional art for "The Twelve" #5, by Paolo Rivera.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=The Witness
real_name=Unkown
species=
publisher=Timely Comics
debut="Mystic Comics" #7 (Dec. 1941)
creators=Stan Lee
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=
aliases=
powers=|

Publication history

The first Witness debuted in the eight-page story "The League of Blood" in the superhero anthology series "Mystic Comics" #7 (Dec. 1941), [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/w/witnesstimely.htm International Catalogue of Superheroes: The Witness] (Timely Comics)] [ [http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=1843 Grand Comics Database: "Mystic Comics" #7] ] during the period fans and historians call the Golden Age of Comic Books. A costumed superhero in this incarnation, the character was created by writer Stan Lee, [ [http://lambiek.net/artists/l/lee_s.htm Lamiek Comiclopedia: Stan Lee] ] who wrote the stories under the pen name "S.T. Anley", and an unknown artist. This version of the character appeared in one story each in "Mystic" #7-9 (Dec. 1941 - May 1942).

A Timely character called The Witness also appeared, in a different costume, as the star of the eponymous comic "The Witness" #1 (Sept. 1948), in three stories written by Lee and drawn variously by Ken Bald and Syd Shores, with Charles Nicholas providing the cover. [http://www.comics.org/details.lasso?id=6994 Grand Comics Database: "The Witness" #1] ] The Grand Comics Database lists this character as a different entity than the "Mystic Comics" version, while Jess Nevins' Guide to Golden Age Marvel Characters considers them the same man. [ [http://www.geocities.com/jjnevins/witness.html Guide To Marvel's Golden Age Characters profile for the Timely Comics character] , Jess Nevins] No consensus exists, but it has been suggested that there are ties between the two Witness characters and the two Witnesses in the Biblical Book of Revelation. It has also been noted that the second Witness character bears a resemblance to the DC comics character, the Phantom Stranger.

This series lasted only one issue, but the character went on to narrate essentially anthological suspense stories in "Ideal" #4 (Jan. 1949), in a seven-page tale penciled by Gene Colan; [ [http://www.atlastales.com/sI/1145 Atlas Tales: "Ideal" #4] ] "Captain America Comics" #71-72 (March-May 1949); "Amazing Mysteries" #32 (May 1949); [ [http://www.atlastales.com/sI/212 "Amazing Mysteries" #32] ] and "Marvel Mystery Comics" #92 (June 1949).

Marvel announced in July 2007 that the "Mystic Comics" Witness would return in the 12-issue miniseries "The Twelve", by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Chris Weston. [ [http://www.newsarama.com/Comic-Con_07/Marvel/TheTwelve.html SDCC '07: Newsarama.com (no date) Marvel's "The Twelve" Revealed", by Chris Arrant] ] [ [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=123542 Newsarama.com (Aug. 1, 2007): "12 Days of "The Twelve": The Witness", by Matt Brady] ]

Fictional character biography

The Witness is a Chicago detective who accidentally shot an innocent man in the line of duty. After serving two years in prison, he attempts to commit suicide. However, a mysterious voice tells him it is not his time, and charges him with the task of seeing a tragedy about to occur beforehand. He will then watch the impending victim for several days to judge if the person deserves saving, in which case he would either try to prevent the tragedy, or simply witness the event without becoming involved. ["Mystic Comics" #7 (Dec. 1941), "The Twelve" #5 (July 2008)]

Another incarnation of the Witness was merely a passive observer of crime and humanity's foibles, which he would report on a radio program. ["The Witness" #1 (Sept. 1948) and other comics; see "Publication history"]

Other versions

The X-Men

A character called the Witness (whose real name is LeBeau) has appeared in X-Men continuity, in "XSE" #4 (Feb. 1997), "Bishop: The Last X-Man" #3 & 14 (Dec. 1999 & Nov. 2000), and "Gambit & Bishop" #2-6 (April-Aug. 2001). The character is hinted to be a future version of Gambit.

New Universe

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caption =
comic_color = background:#ff8080
character_name = The Witness
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = D.P. 7 Annual #1
creators = Mark Gruenwald
Paul Ryan
alliance_color = background:#cccccc
alter_ego = Nelson Kohler
species =
alliances =
aliases =
powers = Invisible and intangible, able to possess mindless bodies, able to detect other paranormals.

The Witness (Nelson Kohler) is a fictional character appearing in the comic books published by Marvel Comics, as part of the New Universe imprint. The Witness is a ghostly figure, an onlooker drawn to paranormal events.

Fictional character biography

Nelson Kohler was driving when the White Event occurred. He lost control of his car, crashed and was hospitalised, critically ill. He was later declared brain-dead and his life support system was switched off. His body died but his paranormal powers manifested, leaving him a bodiless ghost.

He felt an irresistible pull towards people who were developing paranormal powers, although he could not be seen or heard. Among those whose manifestations he witnessed were members of DP7 (Randy O'Brien, David Landers, Stephanie Harrington, Charlotte Beck, Lenore Fenzl, Jeff Walters, and Dennis Cuzinski). He also felt drawn to the disaster known as The Pitt, after which he had strange experiences with other ghosts and other people seemed to be able to see him.

Powers and abilities

Kohler has no physical body that can be perceived by normal humans. He himself and a few paranormals can see a body, even seeing a trenchcoat and hat, but it cannot interact with the physical world. This "body", however, is capable of flight and can pass through solid objects.

Kohler is drawn to people who are manifesting paranormal powers, and witnessed the development of the people who would later become D.P. 7. He was also drawn to what became known as the "Black Event", when Ken Connell attempted to rid himself of the Star Brand and destroyed the city of Pittsburgh in the process.

When Randy O'Brien's "anti-body" first left his sleeping body, Kohler was able to take possession of O'Brien's body. The anti-body returned, however, and Kohler's morality compelled him to leave the body. The exact nature of this ability is not expanded upon; the body was not, as Kohler assumed, "empty" as O'Brien's anti-body possessed a separate will from O'Brien himself and therefore the body was not "uninhabited."

Footnotes

References

*"Comic Book Marketplace" #27 (Sept. 1995)
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/7160/Timely5.htm Jess Nevins' The Timely Comics Story]
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/w/witnesstimely.htm International Catalogue of Superheroes: The Witness] (Timely Comics)