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Not part of Riordanverse
The following article/section is from the Tristan Strong continuity under Rick Riordan Presents and not the Riordanverse canon. |
| “ | My name is John. Not Johnny or Johnathan, not Hey, Boy or- well, you know what they called me. I was just plan John, and I wasn’t born a slave. Remember that. I wasn’t born a slave. | ” |
–John telling his story through Tristan in Tristan Strong Keeps Punching. | ||
John was a man who escaped slavery with his uncle and fought in the American Civil War in the USCT. He is also a variant of High John.
History
He was born free, but when he was heading for talulah to Vicksburg with his brothers, they encountered slave catchers who tore up his papers and sold him. He worked as a slave for years, when he and the other slaves were given time off they would sing and tell stories.
Eventually he managed to escape with his uncle. They made their way to a Union base in Vicksburg, Mississippi and became sailors in the Union Navy. The last time he saw his uncle was when he board the ironclad USS Cairo.
After the war he settled in Memphis, however his home was destroyed in the 1866 Race Riots and he was devastated by the destruction.
Tristan Strong Trilogy
Tristan Strong Keeps Punching
When Tristan Strong is fleeing Patty Roller, he is shown a vision from John's perspective. After Hogh John fades, he goes with Tristan and the others to a skatepark. He is unnoticed by all except Tristan and Chayse. When the owner, Granny Z, comes over, he and Tristan speak to her.
Soon an explosion is heard and they find a group calling themselves the redliners charging in and saying they called the police. Just then Granny Z comes over and orders them to leave. Soon Patty Roller arrives on a talking horse haint, Twennymiles. When Granny demands they leave, the lights go out and the children start screaming. Patty and Twennymiles get away with a child, Chayse, as he, Tristan, Ayanna, and Gum Baby chase after her in Old Familiar. As they follow the haints, they go into a distorted world to follow them. They eventually find themselves at an outlet mall twenty miles outside of Memphis and Tristan remembers the horse from a story his grandmother told him. Everyone has a bad feeling, but Tristan believes they are hiding in one of the stores and he gets out. He stays behind as the others follow Tristan into a store called Patty Roller's Wig Emporium. After the rescue mission backfires and they lose Gum Baby, he goes with them to the River Queen. After the Redliners block the Mississippi River, he goes with Tristan, Ayanna, and Thamdiwe on a flying raft as Tristan thinks he knows where cotton is and that John knows where it is. Tristan tells Ayanna and Thandiwe his story, the boy subconsciously takes control of the raft and flies them to the middle of nowhere. They use Gum Baby's phone to find that they are over a place called National City, but only see fields. After the girls question how he could find Cotton, Tristan realizes Cotton is hiding them in a different realm. The girls take Tristan's hands and they see a city being built out in fire. They find the train station and discover the missing children with pieces of Alke in them being herded on to a train. They spot Old Angola, having almost tripled in size, as they plot their next move. After deciding to take out the plantation monster, he stands up. They evade the plantation monster to the best of their abilities as the train with the spirits departs. Thinking quickly, Tristan tries to read the stories of all the persecuted at one. He succeeds for the most part, but becomes a target for Old Angola. The plantation monster attacks the raft and the three living black out. He finds Tristan imprisoned on King Cotton's train and helps him realize Tristan has a piece of Alke in him. After the boy breaks free, they decide to trash the train.
He and Tristan free the kidnapped children, one of them being Junior, as Tristan makes contact with the River Queen and discovers they are heading to Chicago. After Tristan sends him and Junior to safety, he and Junior meet up with Tristan on the lakefront just as Ayanna and Thandiwe arrive and they figure out a plan to stop Old Angola. They head to Oakland Beach when a group of Redliners blocks them. They tell the children to turn around as members of Rolling Thunder and residents of Bronzeville come out and rally against the Redliners. As the hate group retreats, Tristan and the others advice, but he gives John High John's pouch and tells him to stay behind.
Appearance
John is a young African American in his late teens or early twenties with dark hair and eyes and a dark complexion.
Personality
John values his freedom.
| Tristan Strong Trilogy | |
| Books: | Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Tristan Strong Destroys the World | Tristan Strong Keeps Punching |
| Main Characters: | Tristan Strong | Ayanna | Gum Baby | Anansi |
| Secondary Characters: | Thandiwe | King Cotton | John Henry | Eddie Garvey | Maafa | Chestnutt | Nana Strong | Junior | Patty Roller | Granny Z |
| Minor Characters: | Alvin Strong | Jessica Strong | Walter Strong | Fezile | Netta | Old Familiar | Mr. Richardson | Reggie Janson | DJ Kulture | Big Big | Terence Strong | Memphis Jones | Harold | Darla |
| African American Gods: | Brer Rabbit | Brer Fox | Brer Bear | Sarah | Rose | High John | Tarrypin | Sis Crow | Keelboat Annie | Mami Wata | Lady Night |
| West African Gods: | Anansi | Nyame |
| Creatures: | Haint | Fetterling | Hullbeast | Brand Fly | Leopard Statue | Python Statue | Abiyoyo | Mmoatia | Plat-eye | River Spirit | Talking Skull | Boo Hag | Coffle | Twennymiles | Breakers |
| Related Content: | Kwame Mbalia | Rick Riordan Presents | The Gum Baby Files |