I've fired my last shaft for the pack of you! I've made arrangements to buy this castle! 
- — John Hunter, the Shaft src
Calling himself "the Shaft," John Hunter used high-tech archery in the commission of a series of acts of piracy on the high seas, and in 1958 he was shut down by the Blackhawks.
History
John Hunter worked for a time as a trick archery expert at a major movie studio in Hollywood. He was surly and difficult to work with, but was extremely proficient at his craft. After the studio finished filming a remake of "Robin Hood" on an island in the Pacific Ocean, Hunter bought the island, complete with its movie-set medieval castle, and rudely retired from the film business.
To this day is is not known where or how he obtained the amazing aircraft with which he committed his crimes, but for a brief period in the late 1950s, Hunter commanded a small crew of pirates, operating an advanced flying weapon, and preying on air and surface passenger vessels. This racket was disrupted by the Blackhawks and Hunter was arrested.
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Transportation
- Hunter operated an incredible aircraft, a crossbow-shaped high-altitude observation airplane.
Weapons
- The Shaft's aircraft was armed with one or more launchers for shooting giant rocket-powered shafts. These arrow-shaped weapons could strike a steamship's hull, fly entirely through the steam dynamo, and out the other hull.
- The aircraft also packed an array of smaller-scale, defensive archery weapons.
- Hunter and his aircrew all carried personal archery equipment, and all were extremely quick and accurate archers.
Notes
- This version of the Shaft, including all history and corresponding appearances, was erased from existence following the collapse of the original Multiverse in the 1985–86 Crisis on Infinite Earths event and later restored following the rebirth of the infinite Multiverse during the Dark Crisis of 2022-2023. Even though other versions of the character may have appeared, this information does not apply to those versions.
- Hunter never claims to have built or designed his Flying Crossbow, and no explanation is made about its origins.
Related
- 1 Appearances of John Hunter (Earth-One)
- 1 Images featuring John Hunter (Earth-One)
- 1 Quotations by or about John Hunter (Earth-One)
- Character Gallery: John Hunter (Earth-One)
Footnotes
  This character, team or organization, is or was primarily an enemy of the Blackhawk Squadron. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Blackhawk Squadron Villains category." |