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| As a result of the New 52 in 2011, the entire line of DC characters was relaunched, incorporating properties belonging to the company's imprints: Wildstorm, Milestone, and Vertigo. As such, elements of this character's history have been altered in some way from the previous incarnation. For a complete list of all versions of this character, see our disambiguation page. |
Martin Stein is a scientist who, as founder of the Department of Metahuman Affairs, is responsible for the creation of many of the United States of America's metahumans and was once one half of the hero Firestorm.
History
Origins
Professor Martin Stein was a scientist who developed an interest in metahumans after the death of his son, creating the United States Government's Department of Metahuman Affairs in the belief that his death could have been averted had the United States of America possessed metahuman operatives. Stein's work uncovered the metagene, a trait that could spontaneously produce superhuman powers in carriers when exposed to life-threatening stress—the greater the stress, the greater the powers. Stein created a number of metahuman operatives and inserted them into the superpowered community, but wished to personally infiltrate their world to learn more. As he did not possess the metagene, Stein conceived of Project Firestorm to gain powers from one who did: the emotionally vulnerable Ronald Raymond, who Stein groomed for the role before causing a seemingly-accidental nuclear power plant explosion that fused them together and created Firestorm, a gestalt hero controlled by Raymond with the professor's guidance.[1]
Stein became a member of the Justice League of America, the world's premiere superhero team, as Firestorm,[2] and apart from Raymond clandestinely created "villains" for the hero to fight. One such was David Drake, who Stein contacted with an offer to provide for his children's education in exchange for his joining the department. After the detonation of a nuclear bathysphere's core activated Drake's metagene, he was dubbed "Typhoon" by Stein and set against Firestorm on a number of occasions.[3]
The New 52
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The Supermen Theory
The truth of Stein's involvement in the origin of Firestorm was uncovered by the megalomaniacal and other-dimensional Ozymandias, who leaked the department's creation of him and other metahumans—the "Supermen Theory"—to the public, and led this Earth's heroes to believe that Doctor Manhattan, another native of his universe, was responsible for a blast of a energy attributed to Firestorm that had killed Russian civilians.[4] Stein and Raymond, split apart and left unconscious by the explosion, awoke aboard a Justice League spaceship with their fellow heroes, en route to confront Doctor Manhattan on Mars. There, however, Manhattan brought Raymond back to the moment of Firestorm's creation, exposing the truth about Stein, before easily dispatching Firestorm and the gathered heroes.[1] Stein returned to Earth, and after the end of the superhuman crisis caused by the "Supermen Theory," he was arrested because of his actions and manipulations.[5]
Despite the revelation of his crimes, however, he rejoined Raymond within the Matrix, but was kept from having control over Firestorm.[6] The gestalt hero returned to action as a reserve member of the Justice League,[7] and Stein accused the Time Masters of culpability in the history-altering Zero Hour event, though his own manipulations had damaged his credibility.[8] Firestorm was caught in a storm of Lazarus Resin rain that forced the Matrix apart, but not before altering its mechanics: to power itself, it now caused rapid aging of Firestorm's secondary component, leaving Stein invalid from age and in no condition to rejoin the Matrix.[6]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
- Genius Level Intellect
- Science
- Deception: Martin is a skilled liar and manipulator; he played on Ronald Raymond's insecurities to transform him into Firestorm and fabricated lies about Typhoon to estrange him from his family in order to control him.[3][1]
- Leadership: Martin secretly led the Department of Metahuman Affairs for years.
- Firearms: Martin owns and can shoot a shotgun.[9]
Notes
- Martin Stein was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom, first appearing in Firestorm #1. However, in the Prime Earth continuity, Martin Stein first appeared as part of the New 52 DC Universe in Fury of Firestorm: The Nuclear Men #2 by Gail Simone, Ethan Van Sciver, and Yildiray Cinar.
Trivia
- While Doomsday Clock #9 states that the origin of Firestorm took place seven years before its own events, dated to 2019,[10] Inferior Five (Volume 2) #1 establishes that Firestorm was active by 1988.
Related
- 48 Appearances of Martin Stein (Prime Earth)
- 3 Images featuring Martin Stein (Prime Earth)
- 1 Quotations by or about Martin Stein (Prime Earth)
- Character Gallery: Martin Stein (Prime Earth)
Footnotes
  This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or simply the Justice League in any of its various incarnations, sworn by a duty to act as guardians of America and the world by using their skills and/or superpowers to protect Earth from the clutches of both interstellar and domestic threats. |
 D.E.O. member |