John Rhee

In Character

Powers

John Rhee can draw on his ch'i, or inner spiritual energy, to increase his speed, strength, and resistance to injury. He can also manifest his ch'i as a fiery spiritual aura, usually around his hands and arms, which enables him to perform superhuman feats such as punching through reinforced concrete, blocking bladed weapons with his body, or slicing through plate steel with his bare hands. Under exceptional circumstances, requiring either extreme duress or phenomenal concentration, the aura will envelop his body completely. Even Rhee does not know the full extent of his power while in this "Dragon form."

While not a psychic or telepath, Rhee has demonstrated a certain sensitivity toward paranormal occurrences. Due to his acute self-awareness and martial arts training, he can also control many of his biorhythms and can even will himself into a state of hibernation.

Weaknesses

His powers are very sensitive to his emotional state. If he calls upon them in a state of anger, he may have difficulty controlling and containing their effects. Conversely, if he is distraught and unfocused, he may not be able to call on them at all. His powers require extraordinary discipline and control. Because the Dragon form results in a certain level of altered awareness, Rhee has avoided experimenting with it. He believes it to be as much a danger to himself and his allies as to his enemies.

Past

Born in a village outside Pyongyang, North Korea, Li Jung-Yong spent the first twelve years of his life in poverty until government agents discovered his mutation. He was quickly placed in a North Korean mutant development program, where he was subjected to intense military training for several years. Excelling in combat, he was drafted into a team of mutant super-soldiers, where his saturnine composure and traditional fighting style earned him the nickname Yong Sim Jang, or "Dragon Heart."

In his sorties, he crossed paths with many notorious organizations such as The Hand, S.H.I.E.L.D., and Ragnarok, but none of his exploits shaped his life more profoundly than his encounter with an independent team of mutants from America called the X-Men, who had come to Korea to raid a prison camp and free several mutant orphans. Tired of being used as a killing machine and moved at the sight of mutants helping others out of goodwill, Li agreed to assist them if they would help him escape his government captors. After all parties were safely across the border in South Korea, the leader of the X-Men, Ethan Daniels, offered Li a place at his mentor's institution, but Li declined, believing he would not fit in.

Li eventually found his way to a Buddhist temple in the mountains of South Korea. There the monks taught him discipline through ancient martial arts, and at last he found peace and learned to control his rage. But after a few years he found he was still restless. When he learned of Dr. Cullen's death, he contacted Ethan to find out if he could help. Two months later, he emigrated to the United States under the name of John Rhee and traveled to the late Dr. Cullen's Institute. Despite his unfamiliarity with the rest of the X-Men, he became a source of stability amid the chaos following Cullen's death, and his sensitivity and down-to-earth practicality soon made him a valued member of the team.

Rhee currently teaches physical education and self-defense classes at Dr. Cullen's Institute as well as some ethics. He is also one of the school's mutation counselors.

Out Of Character

See Kale.