Atomic Skull

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Atomic Skull
Atomic Skull (Michaels) versus Superman, artist Rich Buckler
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	(Michaels) Superman #303 September 1976 (Michaels as Atomic Skull I) Superman #323 May 1978 (Martin) Adventures of Superman #483 October 1991 (Martin as Atomic Skull II) Action Comics #670 October 1991
Created by	(Michaels) Gerry Conway Curt Swan
In-story information
Alter ego	- Albert Michaels - Joseph Martin
Team affiliations	(Michaels) SKULL S.T.A.R. Labs Secret Society of Super Villains
Abilities	(Michaels) Seizure-generated atomic "brain-blasts". (Martin) Super-strength, invulnerability, energy blasts, radioactive.

Atomic Skull is the name of two different DC Comics supervillains.

Fictional character biography

Albert Michaels

Albert Michaels was a brilliant but distinctly unfriendly scientist-administrator at S.T.A.R. Labs with a rare nervous system disorder that short-circuited the electrical impulses in his brain, creating painful and uncontrollable seizures. When he could not find a cure, he secretly contacted the criminal organization SKULL, and they implanted him with a radium-powered device designed to harness his neural disorder into deadly atomic "brain-blasts" in exchange for him becoming their agent. However, these mental blasts were difficult to control and only made his condition worse, a situation he blamed on Superman after the Man of Steel captured the only SKULL scientists that could have cured him. Swearing revenge, the evil genius donned his distinctive yellow and green costume with its visored cowl-topped skull mask and eventually became the organization's leader, flying around in a sleek skull-shaped hovercraft of his own design assisted by his similarly costumed lover Felicia who was a panther he had artificially evolved into human form.

Following Crisis on Infinite Earths, Michaels made one appearance, battling Thunder and Lightning in Teen Titans Spotlight. It is assumed 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.

The original Atomic Skull returned in 2007 in the book Birds of Prey^[1]. Michaels also appeared in the miniseries Villains United, where he joined Luthor's Society.^[2]

Joe Martin vs Superman

Joseph Martin

Student Joseph Martin was struck by an intense blast of energy from the Dominators' gene-bomb that gave him superhuman strength and caused his flesh to become invisible. Later attacked by some thugs, the resulting brain damage caused insanity, and he took on the guise of "The Atomic Skull" who was a hero from an old movie serial that he loved. He also emitted dangerous amounts of radiation, later gaining the ability to project it as energy blasts. He has plagued Superman, whom he believed to be the serial's villain Doctor Electron, and Lois Lane, whom he saw as the Skull's love interest, Zelda Wentworth.^[3]

He was later given enhanced powers by the demon Neron in exchange for his soul.^[4] Cured of his delusions, he at first intended to follow the character's example for real as a superhero, but has since appeared as a more conventional villain.

He is killed in battle by the Maximums,^[5] an alternate reality superhero team, but is later seen alive in the pages of Action Comics,^[6] assuming Mr. Mxyptlk reversed his death along with other events having to do with the Maximums.

Recently, Martin crashed a movie premiere in Hollywood, having become obsessed with an actress who was in the film. He was defeated by Manhunter ^[7].

Martin was among the villains in the ambush of the JSA led by Tapeworm.^[8]

While Superman is off-world, Atomic Skull attempts to cause trouble in downtown Metropolis, but is defeated by Mon-El.^[9]

Powers and abilities

The original Atomic Skull, Albert Michaels can deliver powerful energy bolts through the visor of his mask. The Energy blasts have been described as Powerful Brainwaves, Heat Vision, & Atomic Blasts throughout the years. Aside from his Energy attacks, Michaels is also the head of the SKULL organization and a brilliant scientist.

Joseph Martin has superhuman strength, agility and endurance, greater than that of Superboy, Conner Kent and is comparable to the likes of Superman & Mon-El. He can also produce purple atomic blasts from his hands and mouth for long range attacks and use the same energy to power up his already impressive physical strength to a higher degree.

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) 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 that, he and Zelda Wentworth, Electron's daughter (played by actress Eleanor Hart, whom Lois Lane has a passing resemblance to^[10]), 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 the pre-Crisis version.

Dominus' Reality

In a story featuring the reality-altering villain Dominus recreating various pre-Crisis Superman continuities, the supposed Golden Age Atomic Skull was first introduced. He was Lawrence Dennis, an actor and Nazi sympathizer who used his reputation as the hero of the Curse of the Atomic Skull serial as a platform to promote Nazism.

Superman: Red Son

Atomic Skull is featured in the alternate reality Superman: Red Son as one of Lex Luthor's experiments.

Flashpoint

In the alternate timeline of the Flashpoint event, Atomic Skull is imprisoned in military Doom prison.^[11]

In other media

Television

• Albert Michaels appeared in the 1988 Superman animated series episode "Fugitive from Space". He is not shown as Atomic Skull, only as a scientist at Star Labs.

Atomic Skull in Justice League Unlimited.

• The Joseph Martin version of the Atomic Skull appears in Justice League Unlimited voiced by Lex Lang. He first appears in "The Cat and the Canary" as Wildcat's main opponent at Roulette's Meta-Brawl until Green Arrow and Black Canary interrupted the match. In "I Am Legion," Atomic Skull later returns as a member of Gorilla Grodd's Secret Society. In the episodes "Alive" and "Destroyer," he sides with Luthor during the mutiny during the two-part series finale. He is found among the survivors of Darkseid's attack. He and Luthor insist that the surviving villains help the heroes during the defense of Earth against the forces of Apokolips. He fights alongside Hawkgirl and Commander Steel in Washington DC. He is last seen taking advantage of the "five-minute head start" the Justice League grants the surviving villains at the end of the final episode (notably he is the one who vocally opposes being arrested after helping save the world from Darkseid's forces).

• Atomic Skull appears in the Young Justice episode "Revelation." He is seen as a member of the Injustice League.

Miscellaneous

• The Albert Michaels version of Atomic Skull appeared as one of the primary villains in a special Free Comic Book Day day tie-in for the Young Justice cartoon. He and Psycho Pirate attack a STAR Labs facility in order to steal some plutonium, but Atomic Skull is forced to retreat after the members of Young Justice reclaim the plutonium and capture Psycho Pirate.

See also

• List of Superman enemies

References

External links

• DCU Guide: Atomic Skull (Joseph Martin)
• DCU Guide: Atomic Skull (Dr. Albert Michaels)