Johann Kraus

Johann Kraus
Publication information
Publisher	Dark Horse Comics
First appearance	B.P.R.D. - Hollow Earth and Other Stories (2003))
Created by	Mike Mignola
In-story information
Alter ego	Johann Kraus
Team affiliations	B.P.R.D.
Abilities	Physical medium, Ectoplasmic abilities

Johann Kraus is a fictional character in the Hellboy universe, featured in B.P.R.D. comic books published by Dark Horse Comics. He is a disembodied ectoplasmic spirit with psychic abilities who maintains a tangible form via a containment suit. Without the suit, his body would eventually dissipate and he would be lost forever.

Fictional character biography and powers

In early 2003, an exceptionally gifted psychic medium named Johann Kraus was hosting a séance for a small group. While he was partially on the ethereal plane, the Chengdou disaster struck. No one knows the specifics, but it involved an ancient terra cotta statuette in the care of the Chinese government. The result was essentially a psychic Chernobyl. Everyone within a hundred miles of the disaster itself had their souls "consumed", reducing them to mindless husks. On the ethereal plane, however, the disaster was much greater-everyone not physically in their body within three thousand miles of the incident was instantly incinerated.

The only survivor was Kraus, and some would argue that he died as well. His ectoplasmic form survived when his body was incinerated, and knowing he would soon dissipate without a physical body, he sought out the best paranormal minds on the planet for help-the B.P.R.D.. At first he persisted in a bizarre transparent tank apparatus developed by the B.P.R.D for other purposes, and eventually the technology was sized down into the distinctive containment suit. Kate Corrigan has said of him that, "He's not dead. He just doesn't have a body anymore."

After the loss of Hellboy, Kraus was hired to replenish the Bureau's pool of 'enhanced talents'. Kraus soon proved an invaluable member of the team. His talents are better than ever, a situation similar to a musician who has lost his eyesight. Where once he could speak with the dead, now he can give them temporary physical form. He no longer requires rest. He works constantly and is, as of the Garden of Souls storyline, researching the files culled from the sub-basement of the Bureau's Colorado mountain base.

Kraus is also a capable shot with most conventional firearms, as seen in The Black Flame.

B.P.R.D.: Killing Ground

Following the events of The Garden of Souls, a soulless body was recovered from Indonesia. In the opening chapter of Killing Ground, it is revealed that Kraus has imbued the body with his essence, regaining a mortal form. Kraus' new form was that of a gigantic Caucasian male; he described the body as having 'the strength of ten men'. Kraus soon engaged a transformed Ben Daimio in combat in Killing Ground #4; the beastly Daimio (who had become a jaguar-like monster) tore Johann's jaw off. As his body slumped to the ground, Kraus's ectoplasmic form rose from his body. Instead of assuming the form of Johann, the ectoplasm instead became the ghost of the pulp hero Lobster Johnson.

Vulnerabilities

Johann Kraus

Because Johann is made of ectoplasm and has no physical body, he requires neither sleep nor food. However, the extreme sensitivity of his psychic powers makes him vulnerable to psychic attack. His physical ectoplasm can be overtaken by stronger spirits, who are then made corporeal. (This can be either dangerous or helpful, depending on the spirit's nature.)

The only protection Johann has from dissipation is his B.P.R.D.-built containment suit; once the suit is breached, he must find a new container for his essence as soon as possible or he will cease to be. Whether or not the suit is affected by temperature is unclear; during a mission to Canada (during B.P.R.D.:The Black Flame) Johann wore a parka over his suit, although it is possible that he wore it to either fit in with the other members or because his containment suit lacks pockets, as he makes a reference in an earlier story that he said that he thought that he would never be warm again.

In other media

File:Johannkraus.jpg

Johann Kraus in Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

• Johann was one of four characters that appeared in 2006 as part of Mezco Toyz' Hellboy Comic action figure line. Along with Johann, Series Two included Hellboy with a rocket pack, Roger the Homunculus, and an Alien from Conqueror Worm.

• Johann Kraus will appear in the upcoming movie Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. His movements will be supplied by British actors John Alexander and James Dodd, and his voice will be performed by Thomas Kretschmann.