Martin Stein

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Martin Stein
Martin Stein as depicted in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1 (March 1978). Art by Al Milgrom.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceFirestorm the Nuclear Man #1 (March 1978)
Created by
In-story information
Species
Justice League
Abilities
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Expertise in physics

Martin Stein is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. He is commonly associated with, and sometimes is, the superhero Firestorm.

Stein has made several appearances in DC-related media, such as the Arrowverse TV series The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, in which he is portrayed by Victor Garber.

Publication history

He first appeared in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #1 (March 1978), and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom.[1][2]

Fictional character biography

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Martin Stein was caught in an accident that allowed him to fuse into Firestorm the "Nuclear Man" with student Ronnie Raymond. Due to Stein being unconscious during the accident, Raymond was prominently in command of the Firestorm form with Stein a voice of reason inside his mind, able to offer Raymond advice on how to use their powers without actually having any control over their dual form. Banter between the two was a hallmark of their adventures.[1] Stein was initially completely unaware of their dual identity, leaving him concerned about his unusual disappearances and blackouts, but Ronnie was eventually able to convince him of the truth, allowing them to bond as separate individuals rather than as parts of a whole.

After the accident, Firestorm took to defending

Pittsburgh
, where Stein had been hired as a professor. Afterward, together they searched for a cure for their bond.

When Conway left the series in 1986,

atomic bomb was dropped on them. A new Firestorm resulted, a fusion of the two heroes: this new Firestorm was composed of Ronnie Raymond and the Russian Mikhail Arkadin but controlled by the disembodied amnesiac mind of Martin Stein.[7][8][9]

The Firestorm with Arkadin proved to be a transitional phase, as in 1989 Ostrander fundamentally changed the character of Firestorm by revealing that Firestorm was a "Fire Elemental". Firestorm now became something of an environmental crusader, formed from Ronnie Raymond, Mikhail Arkadin and Svarozhich, a Soviet clone of the previous Firestorm, but with a new mind. Professor Stein, no longer part of the composite at all, continued to play a role, but the focus was on this radically different character.

Obatala
, Lord of the White Cloth.

By the series' 100th issue, Stein learned that he was destined to be the true Fire Elemental and would have been were it not for Raymond also being there by circumstance. Raymond and Arkadin were returned to their old lives, and Stein as Firestorm was accidentally exiled to deep space in the process of saving the Earth. He thereafter spent many years traveling through space as a wanderer, returning to Earth only rarely.

In the 2006 miniseries Infinite Crisis, it was revealed that Martin Stein, alive in space as the "Elemental Firestorm", had sensed the presence of Jason Rusch within the Firestorm Matrix, but was unaware of Ronnie Raymond's final demise. When Jason, as Firestorm, was gravely wounded in the line of duty, Stein linked with him in a variation of the merge, promising Jason a new Firestorm body to let him return into battle, although Martin had been unable to save Mick Wong, and asking him about Ronnie's fate.

Accepting Martin's proposal, Jason asked Stein to become the permanent second member of the Firestorm Matrix. Sensing his "errors" (including Mick's death) were the result of his youth and lack of experience, he sought the experience and maturity of Stein. Stein refused at first, but later accepted Jason's request, thus ensuring both a new Firestorm body and the reconstruction of human bodies for both Rusch and Stein.[1]

It was revealed in Infinite Crisis that if the Multiverse had survived up to the present, Jason would have been a native of Earth-Eight.[10]

As the storyline jumped ahead one year (and the series itself was now retitled as Firestorm the Nuclear Man from issue #23 on), Professor Stein has mysteriously vanished, and Jason Rusch has been merging with Firehawk to become Firestorm, allowing him to use her powers as well. The two decided to look for Stein together. Stein had been kidnapped and tortured by the Pupil, a former teaching assistant of Stein's. Flanked by the D.O.L.L.I.s, a group of cyborg soldiers of limited cognitive ability, the Pupil (formerly known as Adrian Burroughs) questioned the nearly dead Stein about the secrets of the universe. Jason and Lorraine, along with the mysterious teleport-er Gehenna, freed the captured Stein and restored him to full health.

The Firestorm team of Jason and Firehawk made several appearances across the DC Universe before the search for Martin Stein ended.

Jason Rusch and Martin Stein meet

Naiad, and the Swamp Thing). Darkseid fears that the Life Equation might challenge him and the Anti-Life Equation. Orion wished to keep Professor Stein safe, and Darksied's elite wished to secure the Matrix for Darkseid.[11]
The Lord of Evil descended upon them, ripped the professor from Rusch within the Firestorm Matrix, then vanished without a trace. Jason, with Gehenna as a "hidden partner" in their fusion, began his search for the missing Dr. Stein.

He returns in 2010–2011 Brightest Day miniseries, reuniting with resurrecting Ronnie Raymond without them being fused.[12] While recovering in the hospital, Stein explains to Ronnie that it seems to be very dangerous to fuse into Firestorm again. Also, it is revealed that Ronnie, after quickly leaving the hospital and being threatened by Alvin Rusch to stay away from Jason, lied to everyone, as he seems to perfectly remember murdering Gehenna as a Black Lantern.[13]

As Firestorm, both Ronnie and Jason visit Stein in an attempt to find out what is happening to them. Stein reveals to them that the Black Lantern Firestorm still exists in the Firestorm Matrix. Firestorm is then told by the Entity that they must learn from each other and defeat the Black Lantern Firestorm before he destroys the Entity. Somehow, Jason and Ronnie trade places.[14]

After running a test, Professor Stein reveals the origin of the Firestorm Matrix. Stein believes that, during the initial experiment, he was able to capture the spark that preceded the Big Bang that created our universe, thereby making the Matrix a trigger for a new Big Bang. If the boys continue to experience emotional imbalance, they increase the likelihood of triggering a new Big Bang. After explaining this to the boys, the voice inside them speaks again. Declaring that it is not the Firestorm Matrix, a pair of black hands reaches out from inside Firestorm. Forcibly separating Jason and Ronnie, the Black Lantern Firestorm stands between them, separate from both Ronnie and Jason and apparently calling itself

Deathstorm.[15]

Deathstorm reveals its plan to Stein, stating that it intends to create enough emotional instability between Ronnie and Jason that the Matrix will trigger another Big Bang, thereby destroying all life in the universe. To help accomplish this goal, Deathstorm absorbs Stein's mind to use his knowledge of Ronnie against him.[16]

Deathstorm and the Black Lanterns teleport to an unknown location, while Firestorm (Jason and Ronnie) ultimately seek the help from the Justice League.

Boston Brand has not yet found the one who will take the Entity's place, it is Firestorm's mission to protect the Entity.[20] Meanwhile, Deathstorm and the Black Lanterns are shown on Qward delivering the White Lantern Battery to someone.[21] That someone is revealed to be the Anti-Monitor, seeking to harvest the life energy within the Lantern to grow stronger. Firestorm takes the White Lantern and attempts to fight the Anti-Monitor, but is defeated. Deathstorm then brings Professor Stein out of his Matrix to taunt the two with. Deathstorm then attempts to turn Ronnie into table salt, but the Professor takes the brunt of the attack. Angered, Ronnie decides to truly work together with Jason to avenge the Professor. The Entity then declares that Ronnie has accomplished his mission, returning him to life in a burst of white energy that obliterates the Black Lanterns, returns Alvin to his home, and deposits Firestorm in the Star City forest. Ronnie angrily attempts to make the Entity resurrect the Professor, but is refused. Deadman then arrives, demanding that he be given the White Lantern Battery.[22]

The New 52

After the events of the 2011 Flashpoint storyline, The New 52 reality altered Firestorm's personal history to the point of being completely restarted. Ronnie Raymond is now introduced as a high school senior and the captain of the football team.[23] During a terrorist attack on their school, classmate Jason Rusch produces a vial given to him by Professor Stein, which contains the "God Particle", one of Stein's creations. The God Particle transforms both Jason and Ronnie into Firestorm, and the two teens briefly battle each other before accidentally merging into a hulking creature known as the Fury.[24]

Sharing the identity of Firestorm, with Ronnie being the brawn and Jason being the brains, Firestorm is considered for recruitment into the Justice League along with several other heroes.

Other versions

Earth-3

The

Mazahs, who then steals his powers.[27]

In other media

See also: Firestorm (character) § In other media

Television

Arrowverse

See also:
Martin Stein (Arrowverse)

Martin Stein / Firestorm appears in media set in

The CW's Arrowverse, portrayed by Victor Garber.[32][33][34]

Video games

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 213309017
  2. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. If inventiveness is the fusion of ideas, then Firestorm was one of the most original characters to emerge from a comic book in years. Penned by Gerry Conway and by Al Milgrom, the Nuclear Man was a genuine sign of the times—the explosive embodiment of a nuclear world. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  3. ^ Wilson, Matt D. (July 1, 2013). "Gerry Conway Starts Blog Aimed At Fair Compensation For DC Character Creators". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Gerry Conway, the writer who co-created the character with artist Rafael Kayanan in a 1984 issue of Firestorm.
  4. ^ "Felicity Smoak" "Comicvine", Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  5. ^ Conway, Gerry. "Nuclear Reactions: Just Your Average Hot-Headed Hero," The Fury of Firestorm #1 (June 1982). DC Comics.
  6. ^ Firestorm (vol. 2) #64. DC Comics.
  7. ^ Firestorm (vol. 2) #67. DC Comics.
  8. ^ Firestorm (vol. 2) #68. DC Comics.
  9. ^ Firestorm (vol. 2) #69. DC Comics.
  10. Johns, Geoff
    . Infinite Crisis #5 (April 2006). DC Comics.
  11. ^ As seen in Firestorm the Nuclear Man #33. DC Comics.
  12. ^ Brightest Day #1 (May 2010). DC Comics.
  13. ^ Brightest Day #3 (June 2010). DC Comics.
  14. ^ Brightest Day #7 (August 2010). DC Comics.
  15. ^ Brightest Day #10 (September 2010). DC Comics.
  16. ^ Brightest Day #11 (October 2010). DC Comics.
  17. ^ Brightest Day #12 (October 2010). DC Comics.
  18. ^ Brightest Day #15 (December 2010). DC Comics.
  19. ^ Brightest Day #16 (December 2010). DC Comics.
  20. ^ Brightest Day #17 (January 2011). DC Comics.
  21. ^ Brightest Day #18 (January 2011). DC Comics.
  22. ^ Brightest Day #22 (March 2011). DC Comics.
  23. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0
    .
  24. ^ The Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Men #1 (September 2011). DC Comics.
  25. ^ Justice League (vol. 2) #23
  26. ^ Johns, Geoff (w), Reis, Ivan (p), Prado, Joe, Eber Ferreira, Rob Hunter, Andy Lanning (i), Reis, Rod, Tomeu Morey, Tony Avina (col), Napolitano, Nick J. (let). "Forever Numb" Justice League, vol. 2, no. 26 (February 2013). DC Comics.
  27. ^ Forever Evil #7
  28. ^ "The Justice League Watchtower: The Greatest Story Never Told". Jl.toonzone.net. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
  29. ^ "Martin Stein Voice - Justice League Action (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 17, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  30. ^ Paul Dini (writer); Doug Murphy (director) (November 27, 2016). "Nuclear Family Values". Justice League Action. Season 1, Episode 6. Cartoon Network.
  31. ^ Ernie Altbacker and Jennifer Muro (writers); Shaunt Nigoghossian (director) (September 2, 2017). "Nuclear Family Values". Justice League Action. Season 1, Episode 34. Cartoon Network.
  32. ^ "'The Flash' Casting: Victor Garber To Recur As Dr. Martin Stein". Deadline Hollywood. October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  33. ^ "'The Flash': Robbie Amell Cast as Firestorm". Variety. July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  34. ^ Cairns, Bryan (May 19, 2015). "Amell Teases Wedding Bells, Tragedy & Matter Manipulation in "Flash's" Season Finale". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  35. ^ Damore, Meagan (July 20, 2016). "CASSIDY'S BLACK CANARY, ATOM & MORE WILL APPEAR IN "VIXEN" SEASON 2". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  36. ^ Romano, Sal (March 13, 2017). "Injustice 2 adds Firestorm". Gematsu. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  37. ^ "Characters: Injustice 2". Injustice 2. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  38. ^ LEGO DC Game (July 19, 2018). "Official LEGO DC Super-Villains SDCC Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  39. ^ "LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS REVEALS DARKSEID'S VILLAINY IN ACTION IN NEW CLIP". mailchi.mp. Retrieved October 24, 2018.

External links

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