im confused.

[hitokiri_]

i thought john henry irons was a construction worker. now he's a scientist and a genius.

how long have i've been gone from the dcu?

[Jeff F]

It seems like you've been gone since the Steel series first started.

Early to Mid 90's if I remember right.

Welcome back man!

[Jkid099]

You need to re-acquaint yourself with the original Steel appearances during the "Return of Superman / Reign of the Supermen" storyline. John Henry was actually originally a genius scientist / engineer who was horrified at the uses his weapons technologies were used for, and went into hiding, supposedly taking his designs with him. In his new "underground" lifestyle, he was a construction worker (who was saved by Superman), and came to become Steel after Superman's death and the discovery that his weapons designs had been used to forge weaponry which was being used on the streets of Metropolis.

[Hush Little Batman]

When you left, John used to dress up in a steel costume, well now he can turn his skin into steel (like Colossus).