ANTAEUS II (Mark Antaeus)	BIOGRAPHY
Created by John Arcudi and Scot Eaton

Antaeus; Art by Scot Eaton

PERSONAL DATA

Real Name: Mark Antaeus
Identity: Public
Occupation: Adventurer
Status: Deceased
Place of Death: Kirai
Citizenship: American
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Philip Antaeus (father), Mrs. Antaeus (mother)
Base of Operation: Tripoli
Group Affiliation(s): Justice League of America
Gender: Male
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
First Appearance: JLA: Superpower (1999)
Creators: John Arcudi and Scot Eaton

OVERVIEW

Antaeus II enjoyed a short-lived stint as a member of the Justice League of America until he turned renegade. He committed suicide after a disastrous mission that led to the deaths of thousands of innocents.

HISTORY

Mark Antaeus was a small-town superhero whose exploits came to the attention of the Justice League of America, who quickly admitted him into their ranks as Antaeus. But in the end, his inexperience proved his undoing.

All his life, Antaeus had idolized Superman and strove to do the right thing, no matter what the prize for him personally might be. After failing to save some people from a fire, a depressed Antaeus disappeared for over two years and underwent cybernetic enhancement work at S.T.A.R. Labs in order to augment his already considerable powers.

The Justice League was happy to add such an enthusiastic young hero to their ranks. However, the inexperienced hero was not yet ready to handle this responsibility, as shown when he, against the decision of the League, resigned his membership, killed President Mehtan of Kirai and then overthrew this hostile foreign government. The mission was a disaster and led to the deaths of thousands of innocents in a resulting civil war. Not being able to cope with the guilt, Antaeus committed suicide. He left behind him a dark chapter in the case files of the JLA.

Other than name, there was no connection between (Mark) Antaeus and the villainous Antaeus of the New Olympians.

POWERS AND WEAPONS

During his youth, Mark Antaeus was subjected to experimental injections by his father, the scientist Philip Antaeus, in order to enhance his physical abilities. His strength, speed and stamina bordered on superhuman.

Among the cybernetic enhancements installed at STAR Labs were body armor, plasma blasters that enabled Antaeus to fire force blasts from his hands, and a electromagnetic disrupter that enabled him to fly and to levitate objects. These enhancements were powered by an internal nuclear reactor.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Antaeus in chronological order click here