JOHNNY BOONE
Real Name: Johnny Boone
Identity/Class: Human/ghost
Occupation: Pilot, aerial photographer
Group Membership: U.S. Air Force
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Death (but only because he didn't want to go)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Mobile in Moscow, U.S.S.R.
First Appearance: Chamber of Darkness#8/2 (December, 1970)
Powers/Abilities: In life, Johnny Boone was an experienced aircraft pilot. Following his death, Boone took on the characteristics of a spirit-being (immateriality, etc.).
History: (Chamber of Darkness #8) - During a stormy night, Johnny Boone was flying a routine recon mission over East Germany, somewhere near the Russian border. While trying to fly above the storm, the belly of Boone's YF-12A spy-plane was hit by a bolt of lightning. With the instruments melting and fusing, the cockpit burst into flames, and Boone ejected and parachuted down into Moscow.
Boone landed in the city and didn't see a single person in sight. After hiding his parachute, helmet, uniform, and military identification, Boone then tried to find a U.S. embassy -- but he had never seen a city so empty and quiet before, yet still he felt like he was not really alone. Suddenly, Boone saw a figure standing in the shadows, who told Boone that what happened to him was an accident, that he really didn't belong there, and that the stranger was there to help Boone. Thinking the stranger was an NKVD (Russian secret police) agent, Boone took off running.
Johnny Boone hid behind a wall, but he was shocked when he saw the stranger come walking through the solid wall. Once again, the "phantom stranger" told Boone that it had all been a mistake and that he was there to help Boone out of it; further, he told Boone that there was no reason to be afraid, to take his hand and go with him. Boone then realized who the stranger was, but refused to go because he wasn't ready. The stranger revealed to Boone the truth -- Boone had never gotten out of the fiery plane in time, and the stranger didn't want him to stay lost.
The stranger once again told Boone to take his hand and follow him, and he assured Boone that he'd find things much more peaceful on the other side. As the two of them walked through the wall, Johnny Boone was finally able to accept his fate...
Comments: Created by Bill Everett and Dan Adkins.
Regarding Johnny Boone thinking Death to be an NKVD agent: the NKVD was renamed in 1946, and eventually became the KGB. Since Boone's YF-12A spy-plane was used in the early 1970s (when this story -- "Believe It...Or Not!" -- was published), he was obviously using an antiquated term.
The All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z#3 has a complete profile on Death (which can take on any number of forms).
Profile by John Kaminski
CLARIFICATIONS:
Johnny Boone has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
Chamber of Darkness#8, p10, pan5 (main image)
Last updated: 09/09/06
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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