Atomic Skull
Atomic Skull | |
---|---|
Notable aliases | (Martin) Skull |
Abilities | (Both):
(Michaels):
(Martin):
|
The Atomic Skull is a
The character first appeared in 1978.Publication history
The Albert Michaels version of the Atomic Skull first appeared in Superman #323 (May 1978), and was created by Martin Pasko and Curt Swan.[2]
The Joseph Martin version of the Atomic Skull first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #483, and was created by Roger Stern and Bob McLeod.
Fictional character biography
Albert Michaels
Albert Michaels was a brilliant, but genuinely unfriendly scientist-administrator at
Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Michaels made one appearance, battling Thunder and Lightning in Teen Titans Spotlight. It is assumed that his background has not changed, although instead of being diagnosed with a nervous disorder, it was said that his powers came because he sought immortality and presumably mutated himself. It is not known if he ever fought the Post-Crisis version of Superman before, as his first (Post-Crisis) appearance was in Captain Atom, yet his history with S.T.A.R. Labs and SKULL remained as established in The DC Comics Encyclopedia.
Michaels returned in 2007 in
Joseph Martin
Student Joseph Martin was at
He was later given enhanced powers by the demon
He is killed in battle by the Maximums,[8] an alternate reality superhero team, but is later seen alive in the pages of Action Comics,[9] assuming that Mr. Mxyzptlk reversed his death, along with other events having to do with the Maximums.
Recently, Martin crashed a movie premiere in
Martin was among the villains in the ambush of the JSA led by the Tapeworm.[11]
While Superman is
The New 52
In The New 52 reboot launched in 2011, the Joseph Martin version of the Atomic Skull is re-introduced in Action Comics vol. 2 Annual #1, penned by Chronicle writer Max Landis.[13]
When a S.T.A.R. Labs submarine crashes far below the surface of the ocean, one of its scientists is exposed to experimental radiation. He is washed to shore, with memories of the life he had, and the woman he loved and lost. Alone on a desert island, he fights to survive, eating the local, tropical vegetation. When a leopard finds and attacks him, he unexpectedly emits a blast of radiation that vaporizes the big cat's body. Eventually, he learns to use this power to his benefit, killing animals for food, and blasting away holes in the rock faces for shelter. The radiation soon takes its toll on him, as he remembers how he had caught his wife flirting with someone at a dance club and murdered her in a jealous rage. In anger, he destroys most of the island. His face, meanwhile, practically melts away, revealing his radioactive skull.[14][15]
DC Rebirth
In DC Rebirth, the Atomic Skull is seen imprisoned in Kamen Maximum Security Prison in Superwoman #1.[16]
In Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #45, the Atomic Skull is shown trying to make amends by being the warden at
Powers and abilities
Albert Michaels can deliver powerful energy bolts through the visor of his mask. These blasts have been described as unique
Joseph Martin has immense strength, stamina, and durability, comparable to that of Superboy (Kon-El), Superman, and Lar Gand. He can also project blasts of purple atomic energy from his hands or mouth for long-range attacks and use the same one to power himself up in a higher degree.[19]
Other versions
Movie serial
The Atomic Skull is the name of Joseph Martin's favorite hero from a (fictional) 12-episode movie serial made by National Film Studios in 1936. The serial stars Lawrence Dennis (according to Superman Villains Secret Files and Origins #1) as the titular character. This Atomic Skull was originally government agent Joe Martin who investigated the evil Doctor Electron and was transformed into the hideous Atomic Skull by one of Electron's inventions. Despite this, he and Zelda Wentworth, Electron's daughter (played by actress Eleanor Hart, whom Lois Lane has a passing resemblance to[20]), fell in love. Battling Electron and his minions (such as Rocketman) with his heat ray eye-blasts, the Atomic Skull eventually destroyed the mad scientist's plans and returned to normal. The fictional character from the serial is visually identical to Albert Michaels, the Pre-Crisis version of the Atomic Skull.
Dominus' reality
In a story featuring the reality-altering villain
Superman: Red Son
The Atomic Skull is featured in the alternate reality Superman: Red Son as one of Lex Luthor's experiments.[21]
Flashpoint
In the alternate timeline of the
In other media
Television
- Albert Michaels makes a non-speaking appearance in the S.T.A.R. Labsscientist.
- The Joseph Martin incarnation of the Atomic Skull appears in Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Lex Lang. Following a minor appearance in the episode "The Cat and the Canary" as a participant in Roulette's Meta-Brawl, he joins Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society as of the episode "I Am Legion". Prior to and during the episodes "Alive!" and "Destroyer", Lex Luthor takes command of the Society, but Grodd mounts a mutiny. Atomic Skull sides with the former before Darkseid attacks and kills most of the Society. Luthor, Atomic Skull, and the survivors subsequently join forces with the Justice League to repel Darkseid's invasion of Earth.
- The Albert Michaels incarnation of the Atomic Skull appears in the Injustice League.
- The Albert Michaels incarnation of the Atomic Skull appears in the opening credits of Powerless.
- A hologram of an unidentified Atomic Skull appears in Superman & Lois.
Film
- The Joseph Martin incarnation of the Atomic Skull appears in Stryker's Island until he escapes by overloading the generator. He then goes on a rampage until he is confronted and defeated by Superman and the Elite before the group's leader Manchester Blackkills him at the behest of a boy whose father the Atomic Skull killed.
- An unidentified Atomic Skull makes a cameo appearance in Justice League vs. Teen Titans, voiced by an uncredited Rick D. Wasserman.
Video games
The Joseph Martin incarnation of the Atomic Skull appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[23]
Miscellaneous
The Albert Michaels incarnation of the Atomic Skull appears in a special one-shot for the Young Justice tie-in comic book published for Free Comic Book Day.
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
- ISBN 9781893905610.
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
- ^ Birds of Prey #110
- ^ Villains United #5
- ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
- ^ Underworld Unleashed #1
- ^ Superman/Batman #21
- ^ Action Comics #853
- ^ Manhunter vol. 2 #31
- ^ Justice Society of America vol. 3 #29
- ^ Justice League of America vol. 2 #41
- ^ Guerrero, Tony (2012-10-25). "Interview: 'Chronicle' Writer Max Landis Talks Superman, Atomic Skull and His Passion for Comics". Comic Vine. Retrieved 2016-09-23.
- ^ Action Comics vol. 2 Annual #1
- ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
- ^ Deathstroke #4
- ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #45
- ^ Superman Vol. 1 #323 (May 1978)
- ^ Action Comics Vol. 1 #670 (October 1991)
- ^ Superman: The Essential Guide to the Man of Steel, p. 100
- ^ Superman: Red Son #3
- ^ Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1 (June 2011)
- ^ Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure - A look at every character in the game (over 2000!!), archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2019-09-08