History: John Tane was the son of Mesa City sherriff Bill Tane, ho taught him that gunplay was the only way to deal with criminals, and taught him to be a quickdraw. His mother Dorothea thought that there would be less crime if children got a better education, and tried to instill her vales in her son. On her deathbed she made John promise he'd never be a laman, and that he'd become a schoolteacher to teach youth that books were more powerful than bullets. Bill still wanted John to be his deputy, but he refused. As his father aged, he realized he needed help, but couldn't break his promise to his mother. As a solution hee ordered a colorful costume, blackened his hair, and created the gunfighter identity of Johnny Thunder to keep law in Mesa City. 

(DC Comics Presents #28) - Johnny Thunder and Madame .44 were once again trying to ferret out each other’s secret identities hen they witnessed outlaw Silk Black rob a bank. They pursued him into the mountains, and a shot by Johnny caused a rockslide that tumbled him and .44 into a river. Thunder saved .44 from drowning,. And gave her mouth to mouth. He had to remove her mask, and realized that she was indeed photographer. Jeanne Walker. The river washed the black dye from his hair that he used as a disguise, and she recognized him as John Tane. After a tense standoff Johnny shot Silk Black, and they returned to Mesa City. Johnny convinced .44 to see his father the sheriff. Johnny revealed his identity to his father, who got the governor to pardon .44’s past wrongdoing. Together tThunder and .44 served as the law in Mesa City for many years. They fell in love, got married, and raised two children, Becky and Chuck.

Comments: Created by Robert Kanigher & Alex Toth.

Johnny Thunder received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #11.

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