John Phoenix is a quiet and unassuming man. At 6'1" and a solid 185 pounds John is well muscled and very strong for his weight. While not as active as in his youth John still practices martial arts to keep himself fit and healthy. For balance John also studies Tai Chi and dabbles in meditation. He enjoys the feelings these arts give him but stays away from the more esoteric aspects of the arts.

His work at the University leaves him little time for anything else. He is currently on a sabbatical from teaching, an arrangement reluctantly agreed to by the university when pressure was brought to bear by his friend Sam Harrington. In exchange John provides counseling services for students and works on his Alien project with Sam.