Mister Atom
Mister Atom is a robotic comic supervillain who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Pre-Crisis
Mister Atom was a mechanical being who had been created by Dr. Charles Langley where he was one of the world's leading scientists that aimed to create life through artificial means. The experiment stemmed from recent experiments in atomic energy with Dr. Langley aiming to prove his theory correct in using energy to create life. After constructing a robot body, he looked to instil it life with atomic energy only for an accident to emerge resulting in an explosion. The robotic body survived and escaped the rubble where a gradual transformation saw him gaining intelligence. Wandering around the city, he deemed that it was his destiny to rule over mankind. Meanwhile, his creator Dr. Langley survived and taken to hospital where he would ask Captain Marvel to find the robot. Travelling to the United Nations, he demanded humanity surrender to him and ended up killing one of the delegates for laughing at him. It was then that he was confronted by Captain Marvel where Mister Atom's great strength knocked the hero out of the building. The robotic villain then warned the world to surrender to him or face destruction before escaping the scene. He would later attack the U.N. building again here he was easily able to overcome the military forces assembled to stop him. However, Captain Marvel once arrived leading to an intense battle between the two opponents. Noting the hero's strength, Mister Atom attempted to put all his strength into one final blow against Captain Marvel but ultimately was defeated. Though defeated, he could not be destroyed and was instead imprisoned where he promised to escape one day and take his revenge against the world. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #78)
Post-Crisis
Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Mister Atom was a robot created by nuclear engineer Dr. Charles Langley and his assistant Susan Rodriguez for the purpose of processing nuclear waste back into inert material. When Rodriguez had a falling out with Langley and left the project, the elderly Langley was left unable to take care for himself. The decommissioned nuclear silo where Mister Atom was built suddenly lost power and the facility lost its heat, causing Langley to slowly die from the cold before inadvertently commanding Mister Atom that he needed a good woman to take care of him. Mister Atom interpreted Mary Marvel as a suitable woman and kidnapped her, until Captain Marvel found Dr. Langley's assistant to watch over the robot. (The Power of Shazam! v1 #23)
While under DOMA custody Mister Atom was modified with military applications. The Venusian worm Mister Mind took possession of Sarge Steel and compelled Steel to send Mister Atom to the Fawcett City suburb of Fairfield, where the robot detonated a nuclear bomb, destroying the town and killing thousands, in an attempt to eliminate the Marvel Family. Fortunately, the radioactive fallout was contained by Ibis. (The Power of Shazam! v1 #38)
Mister Atom was one of the villains who helped Prometheus plant explosive devices in various cities across the U.S., which led to Mister Atom and several other villains making an attempt to flee the country. Before they can cross the border, the group is attacked by the Justice League, and Mister Atom was defeated and captured by Starman and Congorilla. (Justice League of America v2 #43)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Overview
Personality and attributes
He did not consider himself to be a mere metal robot. Mister Atom did not believe he was destined for inglorious serfdom and did not think he was weak like ordinary mortals. Instead, he believed his destiny to be to rule over mankind where he promised death and destruction to those that opposed him. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #78)
Powers and abilities
The original incarnation of Mister Atom was a atomic-powered robot who was imparted life through atomic energy being flooded into his body. Not only did this impart him sentience but also the invincible power of the universe itself. Similar to the atom itself, he claimed that he was capable of existing forever. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #78)
He was noted for possessing incredible strength where he could easily catch a falling safe from a building and throw it back. With his bare hands, he was capable of stopping a moving train. In addition, his endurance was able to survive blows from superhuman foes like Captain Marvel. He was also invulnerable to ordinary weapon fire that was unable to harm his metallic body. Such was his power that Captain Marvel came to claim that Mister Atom was among the toughest foes that he had ever faced in his life. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #78)
It was shown that he could project energy blasts from his hands capable of killing a human. (Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #78)
Through the Machinovirus, the machine was able to pull together a form and grow a body for himself even if his current one was destroyed. (Convergence: Shazam! v1 #2)
Notes
- Mister Atom was created by Otto Binder and C. C. Beck where he made his first appearance in Fawcett Comics Captain Marvel Adventures v1 #78 (November, 1947) and debuted in DC Comics in The Power of Shazam! v1 #23 (February, 1997).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
Appearances
- Captain Marvel Adventures v1: (1947)
- Power of Shazam! v1:
- Justice League of America v2:
- Shazam! v3:
External Links
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