Simon Magus

Simon Magus © Juke Box Productions AstroFacts Status: Inactive as Simon Magus Real Name: Simon Magus? Earliest Appearance: 1972 Base of Operations: Since arriving from Europe in 1972, the Shadow Hill section of Astro City was his main center of operations Personal Data Occupation: Sorcerer Civil Status: Formerly partnered with Grimoire Eyes: Glowing green Hair: Luminous white InfoDump Appearances (in Publication Order): Astro City: The Dark Age Book One #2, 3 Astro City: The Dark Age Book Two #2, 3, 4 Event Timeline Simon Magus A European magician who came to Astro City in 1972 because a time of great strife was coming and that the city would be at the center of it. He had an assistant, Grimoire. After the casting of a tremendously powerful spell, he seemingly disappeared. In actuality, was transformed into the Green Man. History In 1973, he, alongside a few other heroes, eradicated the ancient vengeance spirit lurking within the Blue Knight. He warned Augustus Furst about the terrible implications of the Innocent Gun and explained the history of it being used at the wrong time by the wrong person in 1977. He also warned the general populace about The Continuum's likely judgment ruling of Earth following the mysterious appearance of the The Incarnate. Later stories, he cast a powerful spell that seemingly killed him but in actuality, the spell caused him to merge with the earth's biosphere and become the amnesic Green Man. Powers Simon Magus was incredibly adept in the magical arts and a formidable sorcerer. He has demonstrated levitation, telepathy, phasing, casting spells, had vast amount of mystical knowledge, and was no doubt capable of much, much more. Equipment He carries a special cane that was secretly a hidden sword with him, possibly used for gutting demons or such, he also carried an owl-stylized pentagram amulet around him, his mystical tool of choice. Observations The general populace judges him as a bit of an egotistical showman, Someone who likes publicity, being center-stage, and constantly in the spotlight. He was a consultant to the police for several years in a few notable cases involving the supernaturals. According to Kurt Busiek, Simon Magus was made to be a representative of the psychedelic and "trippy" era of the late sixties and early seventies, someone who felt like he was drawing counterculture wisdom from timeless traditions. Simon's inspirations are described by Busiek as "John Lennon as Aleister Crowley as Doctor Strange". The name Simon Magus is taken from the biblical figure in the Bible (Acts 8:9), who is also a sorcerer. Busiek stated the character took the name from the Bible because it sounded arrogant and lordly, adding to the anonymity of the character; he's described as a self-centered, sexist jerk, a chauvinist. This is shown when Simon performs sex magic with his "assistant" Grimoire and withdraws her magical abilities for himself, using her merely as lip service while he takes all the credit and has all the fun, even as far as Grimoire writing a tell-all book later in the mid-eighties after Simon's disappearance that she was the true power and source while Simon merely channeled her power.