Captain Atom
Captain Atom is a male comic superhero who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Charlton
Allen Adam
After a demonstration to the President, it was deemed that Captain Adams could serve as a deterrent for war and that his true identity was to be hidden. Thus, on military files he remained as Captain Adams but was given the code-name of Captain Atom. (Space Adventures v1 #33) Among his first missions was going into space to save a Russian Cosmonaut who had been trapped in his space capsule where he helped guide the ship back to the surface. (Space Adventures v1 #34) Afterwards, his colleague Sergeant Gunner Goslin revealed his child began dream-walking where his mind travelled with giant space dwelling bird-like creatures with one being named Loga with Adams in his guise as Captain Atom aiding the family. (Space Adventures v1 #35) As Captain Adam, he was set to pilot the latest rocket that was the X-44 launched into orbit when it exploded. Transforming into Captain Atom, he determined it was sabotage with explosives placed on the ship. Using his powers, he reassembled the ship and returned it back to the U.S. airbase. He then tracked down the saboteur named Gerald Mudge who he managed to capture and delivered to the authorities. Later on, he would attend a meeting at a weapon station in his secret identity where he conferred with a civilian scientist over the orbiting U.S.A.F. Planet X satellite. Foreign powers opposed the presence of the satellite and made numerous attempts to destroy it. Captain Atom would move to protect the station from destruction. Its presence was deemed vital for the coming peace conference with Captain Atom able to destroy missiles launched at it. (Space Adventures v1 #36)
Later on, he and Nightshade would respond to an incident when a giant robot was attacking the city. The two heroes managed to enter into it where they battled its numerous controllers. Damaging the robots mechanisms, they succeded in defeating it but the sudden stop in its movements resulted in Nightshade injuring her head. Looking to take her to medics, Captain Atom and her were teleported to Sunuria by the Ghost and his followers who looked to defeat the hero. Separated from Nightshade, Captain Atom was on the run where he escaped the Ghosts comrades and rendezvoused back with his comrade who had been treated for her injuries. (Charlton Bullseye v1 #1)
Adams was at the Johnson Space Center where he helped oversee the Atlantis shuttle launch of Commander Connie Matthews. The ship came to experience trouble whilst in orbit with Adams quickly changing to Captain Atom to save the crew. Whilst in orbit, he encountered fellow atomic hero Firestorm where together they tried to save the space shuttle. Radiation from the craft though affected the two heroes powers preventing them from providing aid leading to Firestorm bringing Superman to aid them. By this point, they discovered that the radiation came from a being called Rayburn who had snuck onto the ship and after years of loneliness had decided to kidnap Commander Matthews to keep him company. Superman arrived to help save the ship but it was discovered that Captain Atom and Firestorm's powers were adversely affecting one another weakening them as a result. After being separated, his powers returned where Adams continued his search for Connie only to be attacked by Rayburn whose pure radiation powers rivalled that of Captain Atom. However, his foe lacked control giving Captain Atom an advantage though Superman came to intervene where he stopped further fighting. He then revealed that the mysterious Rayburn was actually Dr. Sam Raybourne who was a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist and expert in the field of radiation. In the course of his work, he came to be exposed to radiation which forced him to be placed in isolation where he remained locked away in a building in the hills of Montana. The radiation though mutated him and gave him powers where he broke free from his isolation and search for company. By this point though, his body was emitting deadly amounts of radiation and in an effort to save everyone Rayburn came to sacrifice himself where he exploded harmlessly away from anyone with no fallout from the incident. (DC Comics Presents v1 #90)
DC
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Nathaniel Adam
During one of his missions, Captain Adams plane came to crash 30 miles inside Cambodia where he managed to survive and return a week later. (Captain Atom v2 #1)
Adams was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death but he was offered an opportunity by taking part in the Captain Atom Project. If he survived the experiment, the U.S. military had agreed to make him a free man with Nathaniel agreeing to these terms. (Captain Atom v2 #1)
He was provided a new civilian identity where he operated under the identity of Cameron Scott. (Captain Atom v2 #2) Adams thus operated now for the Captain Atom Project where he was subject to their control. Publicly, he provided the media with a fake origin story as he was promoted to being American's newest superhero. (Captain Atom v2 #3)
His superiors then dispatched him against Firestorm at a swamp where he had his third confrontation with the young hero. In the fight, he noticed that Firestorm seemed different than before with the Nuclear Man claiming to serve the Manhunters. With his quantum powers, he trapped Captain Atom within a sphere where he simply regenerated any damage done to it thus trapping Nathaniel Adams within it. At first, he attempted to reason with Firestorm by claiming the Manhunters were evil and told of his own fake backstory. Unknown to Adams at the time, Firestorm had been briefed on Captain Atom's true origins and that he was a government spy sent to infiltrate the superhuman community. It was then that Captain Atom revealed the truth with his words about his children being genuine enough that Firestorm saw him as a good man. He worked with Captain Atom in stopping a explosive from killing Nathaniel Adam's friends with the two heroes parting as allies as a result. (Captain Atom v2 #11)
Captain Atom was among the number of heroes recruited by President Luthor to stop a massive Kryptonite meteor that was heading towards Earth. He was assigned by Luthor with the task of apprehending Superman when it was believed the meteor was coming to Earth because of the Man of Steel. (Superman/Batman v1 #2) Captain Atom led a team of Metahumans in the attempt to apprehend Superman and Batman who were evading capture. Several members of his team ended up siding with the pair leading to a battle where Katana cut the arm of Major Force. This caused the energy inside of him to go out of control and threaten to kill hundreds in the city. Captain Atom decided to attempt to contain the explosion with his body vanishing in the controlled blast. (Superman/Batman v1 #4)
Upon re-emerging, he managed to had crossed over to an alternate universe where he materialised in a new body and form. He was then attacked by Mister Majestic with Captain Atom ultimately deciding to fight back whereupon he defeated his attacker. The bystanders at the scene were afraid of Captain Atom despite his claims of being a superhero with him leaving the scene. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #1)
The WildCATs later arrived on the scene where the fought Captain Atom despite his desire to simply speak to them. He managed to defeat them all before a Door took him to the Moon. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #4) This led to him encountering the Engineer who introduced him to her team known as the Wildstorm. Adams was given a tour of their headquarters known as the Carrier where the team attempted to find his home universe but were unable to do so. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #5) He was returned to his Earth where he was lonely and depressed when the Engineer came to keep him company with the two entering into a romantic relationship. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #6)
Project 7734 came to find Captain Atom and came to wipe his mind clean so that he would be a blank slate. This allowed him to be used as a weapon by Sam Lane who intended to use the hero as a weapon against the threat posed by aliens to the planet. (Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special v1 #2)
Captain Atom is recruited as part of a massive group of superheroes tasked with hunting down the JLI's founder and Ted Kord's murderer, Maxwell Lord. During an encounter with Max at the Justice League's former New York headquarters, Captain Atom is rendered unconscious alongside Fire, Ice, and Booster Gold. The former Justice League members awake to discover that Lord has used his mental abilities to erase his existence from the minds of every single human on the planet, save for those present at the embassy. and the others. (Justice League: Generation Lost v1 #1) Afterwards, Captain Atom discovers that Max has mentally influenced the US army into believing that he had betrayed them. (Justice League: Generation Lost v1 #2)
Captain Atom shares with the group that when he absorbed a nuclear bomb Max had set off, he found himself thrown through time to the future of 24th century, an Earth that had fallen into chaos through metahuman wars and backward in technology. Atom found a woman elderly and grotesque, who turned out to be an aged Power Girl, telling him it was Maxwell Lord who was responsible for all of this. Atom is then pulled back into the present, and tells the rest of the team that the world needs them to stop the instigated Max. (Justice League: Generation Lost v1 #6)
After discovering that the OMACs had dismembered a droid, Captain Atom was struck by Magog who simply scoffs at the notion and states that he has come to kill Captain Atom at the behest of Max. (Justice League: Generation Lost v1 #12) In their battle, Captain Atom manages to convince Magog he is being manipulated by Max. Magog stops the attacks as he remembers Max's existence and Captain Atom is prepared to help him. However, Max is on hand and forces Magog to kill himself with his spear. Max uses his powers to manipulate everyone into believing that Captain Atom has killed Magog before leaving. Captain Atom realizes Magog's spear is about to explode with energy. Captain Atom tries to absorb as much as he can, thrusting him into the time stream again as a crater is left behind. (Justice League: Generation Lost v1 #13) Captain Atom is propelled through time again to 112 years in the future, where a metahuman war against the OMACs had devastated the planet. Captain Atom battled for survival alongside the future versions of the Justice League, but they all are eventually contaminated by a new nanovirus version of the OMACs and one by one become OMACs themselves. As a dying Power Girl tells him that the catalyst for all this was the death of Wonder Woman by Max's hands, Captain Atom is returned into the present but not before Batman orders him to terminate the OMAC project to stop Max's plan. (Justice League: Generation Lost v1 #14)
During the final battle against the new OMAC known as OMAC Prime, Captain Atom allows OMAC Prime to absorb his energy, before reabsorbing the energy and overloading his powers, resulting in him being thrown into the time stream once again. Just before this occurred, Captain Atom grabbed Max and threatened to pull him into the time stream as well, unless Max undid the global mindwipe of his existence. Max complied and everyone on the planet had their memories of him restored before Captain Atom was pulled away to a time and space unknown. Max later released a statement onto the internet exonerating Captain Atom of the deaths in Chicago, saying far worse would have happened if he had not intervened. (Justice League: Generation Lost v1 #24)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Nathaniel Adams
He frequently returned to the Continuum so that Dr. Megala and the staff could help him further understand his abilities and occasionally so they could stabilize his body when he seemed to be having problems. The world at large looked on Captain Atom with suspicion due to uncertainty about his agenda and the nature of his abilities. Some fear that he was leaking radiation and potentially poisoning those he came into contact with. Several have remarked that the Justice League may have rejected Captain Atom for membership due to suspicion of how dangerous he was because of his powers. (Captain Atom v3 #3)
Overview
Personality and attributes
It was said that Nate was a natural-born survivor. (Captain Atom v2 #1)
Nathaniel was noted for a particular sense of humour. (Captain Atom v2 #1)
He used to be married to Angela Adams who was the blonde haired mother to his two children. It was said that after Nathaniel's presumed death that she spent 3 years mourning him. She eventually came to marry Wade Eiling and became known as Angela Eiling with her being unaware that her first husband had been displaced in time. (Captain Atom v2 #1)
One of his old friends was Jeffrey Goslin who was a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force with him and Nathaniel having served together. (Captain Atom v2 #1)
When in the Wildstorm Universe, he came to be deeply attracted to the Engineer to the point that he felt he was in love with her. The two became inseparable with Nathaniel feeling that he never had a connection with any other woman as he had with her despite having been in relationships with a number of super-powered beings back in his universe. Despite that level of intimacy, he felt that there were a number of things that they did not see eye-to-eye but he considered it part of a normal relationship. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #6)
Powers and abilities
Original : Following the explosion, he became as radioactive as U-235 with those around him being exposed to radiation which meant that initially they could not approach him for long periods. The explosion had disintegrated his body but it integrated again allowing him to reform his body. As a result, he gained powers that were beyond those of normal human beings. The radiation could be used to furnish propulsion for rocket-powered flight that allowed him to achieve speeds of 20,000 miles per hour and decelerate instantly which made it possible to travel anywhere on Earth in a matter of minutes. (Space Adventures v1 #33) He was also able to travel into space and survive without any life support. (Space Adventures v1 #34) The power allowed him to travel through space at 25,000mph without the need for air to breath or food to eat. (Space Adventures v1 #36)
After his transformation, he became super-sensitive to heat and was able to track such energy. (Space Adventures v1 #34) Following his body' reconstruction, his senses were noted to had become incredibly sharp to the point that he could see objects clearly over great distances. (Space Adventures v1 #36)
Among his other abilities included turning himself invisible. (Space Adventures v1 #34) This was achieved by bending light rays with such a feat being child's play to him. (Charlton Bullseye v1 #1)
Captain Atom was able to hurl fiery rays great enough to melt any metal known to man. (Space Adventures v1 #36)
He could convert his vast nuclear power into magnetic lines of force which he could use to aid in the repair of complex machinery. (Captain Atom v1 #78)
He was later given a special light weight metal called Diulustel that was developed to shield from radiation and he wore it around to protect others from the effects created by his body. Once worn, the shielding material converted the escaping rays into another frequency in the light spectrum. He could wear clothing over it but could burn them away by channelling additional radiation. (Space Adventures v1 #33)
It was said that his powers were affected adversely when in the process of another atomic hero such as Firestorm. This caused their powers to not work and began to weaken them when in close proximity to one another. The reason was because they each underwent complex changes in atomic structure where exposure to different radiations destroyed each other's powers. (DC Comics Presents v1 #90)
Post-Crisis : This metallic exo-shell acted like a kind of living armour. It was capable of absorbing the destructive force of any explosion and convert it to the quantum flow that made up matter and energy in the world. (Captain Atom v2 #2) This unique exo-shell was impervious to the rigors of extreme ocean depths allowing him to operate in such conditions. (Captain Atom v2 #3) The alien metal had become a part of him that served as a shell for him. This alien metal even after bonding with him retained its impervious nature. This exo-shell did not hamper Captain Atom's combat prowess allowing him to engage in hand-to-hand combat. The metallic skin absorbed all forms of energy from flames to advanced lasers where it realigned itself to the waves of energy to the rhythm of the quantum flow. It served as a conduit to the source of his power which was the Quantum Field which was the underlying essence of all matter and energy with this being present throughout the cosmos. The alien metal was also able to interact with the field of gravity enabling him to draw upon the quantum potential to redirect gravitational force for flight propulsion. It responded and attenuated itself to his aura acting as a conduit for the Quantum Field where he draw power from quantum potential. He also had quantum-powered strength that gave him superhuman strength. After gaining total symbiotic mastery over his metal exo-shell he gained the power to control his appearance at will. (Captain Atom v2 #1)
With his abilities, he could manipulate the limitless powers of the quantum field. (Captain Atom v2 #11) With his power to manipulate atoms, he was shown to temporarily depower superhuman foes. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #3) At one point, he was described as being a Quantum Elemental being that had no ties to the elementals of Earth. (Captain Atom v2 #54) Captain Atom was a living conduit to the limitless Quantum Field that comprised matter and energy. His quantum powers could be used to drain sources of radiation such as those emitted from a faulty reactor. (Captain Atom v2 #3) He could generate enough heat to weld doors shut. (Captain Atom v2 #6)
A trick he later learnt was using his powers to tap into information lines such as the internet allowing him to learn everything around the world by learning from all databases. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #2) This direct tap was greater than simply tapping information as he could input his very essence into the data as light and energy into binary of zeros and ones. As a result, this put him into direct contact with the data and he could discern information directly through computers linked in such a fashion. (Captain Atom: Armageddon v1 #3)
It was said that the Quantum Field was only limited by the means he could use it. As a military man, it manifested simply as force but had potential for so much more. Adams could fall into the Quantum Field that was said to both exist and yet not exist at the same time. Theoretically, he had the potential to recreate worlds or even universes within the scope of the Quantum Field. He could create replicas from his desires and even make people from his memories with but a thought as Captain Atom could accomplish anything he put his mind towards accomplishing with his powers. (Captain Atom v2 #54)
Though the metallic shell was able to survive most damage it was possible to pierce it with the X-Ionzier that was a device that permanently realigned the negative and positive ions of any substance. The molecular substance of a treated substance was altered to the point that the edges were hardened and sharpened beyond belief. This allowed it to be treated to objects as simple as paper or blades that could pierce the metallic shell. When breached, Captain Atom did not experience pain but energy came through the cut leading to an explosion of quantum force. (Captain Atom v2 #7) From the wound, energy could bleed from his body and it could not heal until any infection was burnt away. (Captain Atom v2 #8)
Post-Flashpoint : Captain Atom's powers were nuclear in nature allowing him to tap into Strong Nuclear Forces (S.N.F.) that was the energy that bond protons and neutrons in the nucleus. He was able to control his body on a molecular level and similarly able to alter the structure in other objects allowing him to turn metal to dust. His own body appeared to split atoms repeatedly that gave him incredible energy similar to the reactive process of an atomic bomb. Adam's physical atoms are constantly splitting apart, giving him incredible power. His body maintains integrity by instantly re-merging these atoms, but extreme use of his powers can interfere with this process and cause Captain Atom's form to become unstable. This leads to a fear that at some point Captain Atom's brain might lose its molecular stability and he won't be able to fix it before it impairs his consciousness or causes him to suffer some form of brain death. (Captain Atom v3 #1)
He came to learn that he had the ability to perceive wireless transmissions from cell phones and computers. (Captain Atom v3 #2)
Notes
- The Allen Adam version of Captain Atom was created Joe Gill and Steve Ditko where he made his first appearance in Space Adventures v1 #33 (March, 1960).
- The Nathaniel Adams version of Captain Atom was created Cary Bates and Pat Broderick (where he made his first appearance in Captain Atom v2 #1 (March, 1987).
- The character was adapted as Doctor Manhattan in the setting of Watchmen.
- Originally, the character of Breach was intended as a rebooted version of Captain Atom but became his own character.
Alternate Versions
- In Countdown: Arena v1 #1 (2008), a version of Captain Atom appeared that was shown to had existed in the Multiverse with this one residing on Earth-13. This version was Nathaniel who was also known as Brigadier Atom and was married to Eve of Shadows.
- In Countdown: Arena v1 #1 (2008), another version of Captain Atom appeared that was shown to had existed in the Multiverse with this one residing on Earth-37. This version was a Nathaniel Adam who had merged with Ronnie Raymond in the Firestorm Matrix with the pair becoming a hero known as Quantum-Storm.
- In Countdown: Arena v1 #3 (2008), a further version of Captain Atom appeared that was shown to had existed from an unknown Earth located in the Multiverse. This version was called Attum who had speech patterns and form similar to that of the Hulk from Marvel Comics.
- In Final Crisis: Superman Beyond v1 #1 (2008), Allen Adams appeared as Captain Adams in the setting of the Multiverse who existed on Earth-4.
In other media
Television
- In Justice League Unlimited, Captain Atom appeared in the animated television series set in the DC Animated Universe where he was initially voiced by actor George Eads then by actor Chris Cox.
- In Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Captain Atom guest starred in the animated television series in the episode "Powerless!" where he was voiced by actor Brian Bloom.
- In Young Justice, Captain Atom appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Michael T. Weiss.
- In The Flash, Captain Atom's cover identity as civilian Cameron Scott was mentioned in the live-action television series set in the Arrowverse.
Films
- In Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Captain Atom appeared in the animated film where he was voiced by actor Xander Berkeley.
- In Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Captain Atom appeared in the animated film where he was voiced by actor Lex Lang.
- In Injustice, Captain Atom appeared in the setting of the animated film where he was voiced by actor Fred Tatasciore.
Video games
- In DC Universe Online, players could give their characters quantum powers modelled on Captain Atom in the setting of the MMORPG video game.
Appearances
- Space Adventures v1: (1960)
- Captain Atom v1:
- DC Comics Presents v1:
- Captain Atom v2:
- Superman/Batman v1:
- Captain Atom: Armageddon v1:
- Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen Special v1:
- Justice League: Generation Lost v1: (2010)
- Captain Atom v3:
- Batman v3:
- Infinite Frontier v1:
External Links
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