Atomic Skull

Atomic Skull
The Albert Michaels incarnation of Atomic Skull as depicted in Who's Who in the DC Universe #1 (March 1985). Art by Curt Swan.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance(Albert Michaels)
Superman #303 (September 1976)
(Michaels as the Atomic Skull)
Superman #323 (May 1978)
(Joseph Martin)
The Adventures of Superman #483 (October 1991)
(Martin as the Atomic Skull)
Action Comics #670 (October 1991)
Created by(Albert Michaels)
Gerry Conway
Curt Swan
(Joseph Martin)
Roger Stern
Bob McLeod
In-story information
Alter egoAlbert Michaels
Joseph Martin
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliations(Albert Michaels)
SKULL
S.T.A.R. Labs
Secret Society of Super Villains
Injustice League
(Joseph Martin)
Secret Society of Super Villains
Notable aliases(Joseph Martin)
Skull
Abilities(Both):

(Albert Michaels):

  • Resurrection
  • Genius-level intellect

(Joseph Martin):

  • Power augmentation

The Atomic Skull is a supervillain in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an enemy of Superman.[1] The character first appeared in 1978.

Publication history

[edit]

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

[edit]

Albert Michaels

[edit]

Albert Michaels is a brilliant, but unfriendly scientist-administrator at S.T.A.R. Labs with a rare nervous system disorder that short-circuits the electrical impulses in his brain, creating painful and uncontrollable seizures. After failing to find a cure, Michaels secretly contacts the criminal organization SKULL, who give him a radium-powered device designed to harness his neural disorder into deadly atomic "brain-blasts" in exchange for him becoming their agent.[3] However, these mental blasts are difficult to control and only worsen Michaels' condition, a situation that he blames on Superman after he captures the scientists who could have cured him. Swearing revenge, Michaels becomes the Atomic Skull and eventually assumes leadership of SKULL. Michaels also appears in the miniseries Villains United, where he joins Lex Luthor's Secret Society of Super Villains.[4]

Joseph Martin

[edit]

Student Joseph Martin is at S.T.A.R. Labs for a routine check-up when it was struck by an intense blast of energy from the Dominators' gene-bomb that gave him superhuman strength and the ability to generate radiation. Martin is later attacked by thugs and sustains brain damage that causes him to assume the persona of the Atomic Skull, the protagonist of a film serial that he loved. Martin battles Superman and Lois Lane, who he respectively believes to be the villain Doctor Electron and the Atomic Skull's love interest, Zelda Wentworth.[5]

During the Underworld Unleashed event, Martin is given enhanced powers by the demon Neron in exchange for his soul.[6] Cured of his delusions, he intends to become a genuine superhero, but has since returned to being a villain.

The New 52

[edit]

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Joseph Martin is re-introduced in Action Comics Annual #1, written by Max Landis.[7] This version is a S.T.A.R. Labs scientist who gained superpowers after being exposed to experimental radiation during a submarine crash. Martin is stranded on a remote island, which he eventually destroys after remembering that he murdered his wife after seeing her flirt with someone at a dance club.[8][9]

In Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #45, Martin appears as the warden of Stryker's Island Penitentiary.[10]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

Albert Michaels can deliver powerful energy bolts through the visor of his mask. These blasts have been described as unique brainwaves, heat vision, and radioactive energy throughout the years. Beside from his energy attacks, Michaels is an experienced leader of the SKULL organization and a brilliant scientist.[11]

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.[12]

Other versions

[edit]

Flashpoint

[edit]

An alternate universe variant of Joseph Martin / Atomic Skull appears in Flashpoint as an inmate of the Doom prison.[13]

Superman: Red Son

[edit]

An unidentified alternate universe variant of Red Skull appears in Superman: Red Son #3. This version was created by Lex Luthor in an unsuccessful attempt to kill Superman.[14]

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]

Film

[edit]

Video games

[edit]

The Joseph Martin incarnation of the Atomic Skull appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[17]

Miscellaneous

[edit]

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.[18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  2. ^ Eury, Michael (2006). "Martin Pasko Interview". The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 158. ISBN 9781893905610.
  3. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 11. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  4. ^ Villains United #5 (November 2005)
  5. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Atomic Skull", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 31, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
  6. ^ Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995)
  7. ^ Guerrero, Tony (October 25, 2012). "Interview: 'Chronicle' Writer Max Landis Talks Superman, Atomic Skull and His Passion for Comics". Comic Vine. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  8. ^ Action Comics (vol. 2) Annual #1 (December 2012)
  9. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  10. ^ Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #45 (July 2018)
  11. ^ Superman #323 (May 1978)
  12. ^ Action Comics #670 (October 1991)
  13. ^ Flashpoint: Legion of Doom #1 (June 2011)
  14. ^ Superman: Red Son #3 (August 2003)
  15. ^ a b c d e "Atomic Skull Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved May 1, 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.
  16. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (April 30, 2024). "Trailer: My Adventures with Superman Renews the Fight for Justice on May 25". Animation Magazine. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  17. ^ Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure - A look at every character in the game (over 2000!!), 25 September 2013, archived from the original on December 21, 2021, retrieved September 8, 2019
  18. ^ "FCBD 2011 Young Justice Batman BB Super Sampler #1 - Face Your Fears; Let Me Tell You About Bruce Wayne... (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
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