Java is the Neanderthal servant of scientist Simon Stagg.
History
Java was first discovered by treasure hunter Rex Mason, and revived by the scientific wizardry of Stagg Enterprises. Once revived, Java was employed at Stagg Enterprises as Simon's personal bodyguard and chauffer. Java was present the day that Mason discovered the Orb of Ra inside the pyramid of Ahk-Ton in Egypt. The Orb was responsible for transforming Rex Mason into the metamorphae known as Metamorpho, the Element Man.[1]
For years, Java lusted after Simon's daughter Sapphire, but was unable to win her heart because she was in love with Metamorpho. This bred a bitter rivalry between the two; one that persisted for many years. Java even risked his life once to save Sapphire from a melting skyscraper, and was transformed into a petrified fossil for his actions. Stagg's scientific prowess saved his life and returned the Neanderthal to normal.[2]
During a time when Metamorpho was believed to be dead, Sapphire relented to Java's persistent advances and married him. Java became the father figure to Sapphire and Rex's mutant son, Joey.
Java was not an inherently evil individual, but his moral base had been compromised due to his constant exposure to the unscrupulous Simon Stagg. He was also extremely selfish when it came to his wants and desires. When Rex abducted Joey from Stagg Mansion, Java flew into a rage and was determined to kill him. Even Simon's command over him could not quell Java's emotions. Frustrated by the Neanderthal's rare act of defiance, Simon Stagg shot him in the head, seemingly killing him.
Java did not remain dead for long however, thought the means behind his resurrection are unknow. Later on, he was seen attending the funeral of Metamorpho, who was believed to be dead at the time.[3] Once Metamorpho was brought back by the Outsiders, he contacted Simon, looking for a place for his team to rest. Simon agreed, but secretly planned to have the heroes killed, and hired the mercenary Freight Train to have it done. However, Freight Train defected to the Outsiders after Simon attempted to have him killed as well. Undaunted, Simon revealed his trump card: he had placed Java's mind into the body of the unstoppable monster Shaggy Man. Java, devastated by Sapphire's death, had agreed to the experiment and engaged Freight Train in combat. After a lengthy and furious battle, Freight Train managed to defeat the creature.[4]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Transformation: Thanks to the experiments performed by Simon Stagg, Java has gained the ability to transform his body into that of the Shaggy Man, giving him the powers typical for the Shaggy man. This transformation makes Java extremely large in stature.
- Superhuman Strength: Like all Shaggy Men, Java in his transformed state had immense levels of superhuman strength. Even in his standard Neanderthal state, Java seemingly has a degree of enhanced strength.
- Regeneration: The Shaggy Man's body possesses enhanced salamander regenerative tissue and a subverted nervous system, enabling him to heal rapidly from any injury.
- Superhuman Durability
- Superhuman Stamina
- Enhanced Senses
Other Characteristics
- Diminished Intellect: Java is a Neanderthal man, and though quite articulate, his intelligence quotient is several times less than that of the average human being. This was most often illustrated by Java's penchant for speaking in the third person. Despite this however, Java has demonstrated various acts of cunning, particularly when it came to foiling the efforts of his rival, Metamorpho.
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-One era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–1986 miniseries Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been either altered or removed entirely for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and thus should be considered apocryphal.
Trivia
- His name is a reference to Java Man.
Related
- 86 Appearances of Java (New Earth)
- 7 Images featuring Java (New Earth)
- 3 Quotations by or about Java (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Java (New Earth)
Footnotes
  This character is or was from the Prehistoric Era, thousands of years in the past, including but not limited to the time of Dinosaurs and the dawning of the species of man. These stories occur traditionally before history was formally recorded, and civilization developed completely. |