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Quote1 I fought for my country against everybody. I fought with the League. Against everybody. As tough and rough as they make them. I've taken them on, taken them down. Quote2
Captain Atom src

Nathaniel Adam is Captain Atom, a Quantum-powered superhero, former soldier and member of the Justice League prior to its dissolution.

Origins

Nathaniel Adam volunteered to participate in an experiment conducted by a research facility called the Continuum. At this facility, Dr. Megala's research was focused on the quantum field and on "dimensional transfer through M Theory". Adam was asked to pilot the dimensional-transfer vessel but is seemingly atomized during the experiment. Soon afterwards, he reappeared, now an energy-based life form.

During the Alien Alliance's invasion of Earth, Captain Atom served with the Justice League International on the front lines of the defending forces.[2]

Captain Atom

According to Dr. Megala, Captain Atom's abilities are largely nuclear in nature and involve tapping into the strong nuclear force, the energy that binds protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Adam's physical atoms are constantly splitting apart, giving him incredible power. His body maintains integrity by instantly re-merging these atoms, but extreme use of his powers can interfere with this process and cause Captain Atom's form to become unstable. This leads to a fear that at some point Captain Atom's brain might lose its molecular stability and he won't be able to fix it before it impairs his consciousness or causes him to suffer some form of brain death.[3]

Nathaniel Adam had only been Captain Atom for a few months and was still exploring his abilities, constantly learning new facets to them such as his ability to perceive wireless transmissions from cell phones and computers.[4] He frequently returned to the Continuum so that Dr. Megala and the staff could help him further understand his abilities and occasionally so they could stabilize his body when he seemed to be having problems. The world at large looked on Captain Atom with suspicion due to uncertainty about his agenda and the nature of his abilities. Some fear that he was leaking radiation and potentially poisoning those he came into contact with. Several have remarked that the Justice League may have rejected Captain Atom for membership due to suspicion of how dangerous he was.[5] Despite this, Nathaniel chose to try and use his powers to help others on Earth, clandestinely if needed be.

DC Rebirth

Fall and Rise

 Main article: The Fall and Rise of Captain Atom Vol 1

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Crises

After Superman was framed and rendered comatose, Captain Atom joined the group of heroes heading towards Mars to confront their mysterious enemy. The heroes met and engaged Doctor Manhattan, but they were easily defeated.[6] Though he questioned its safety after Wally West's breakdown, Atom attended the rebuilt Sanctuary superhero therapy center.[7]

Captain Atom was dispatched to LexCorp Tower by the Justice League[8] to arrest Lex Luthor for an attack on the White House, but the villain seemingly killed himself before he could be taken in.[9] In violation of a presidential order, Atom entered Gotham City only to be handily defeated by the tyrannical superhero Gotham Girl, who threw him into the Gotham River. Recovered and detained with LexCorp technology, the Captain warned Tim Drake, Robin, of her power and the state of the city.[10] As a Justice League reservist, Captain Atom joined the League in battle against Perpetua[11] and Synmar Utopica.[12]

The Captain was later killed by the invading Batmen of the Dark Multiverse, the fallout from his explosive death turning the West Coast of the United States of America into the irradiated "Arkham Wasteland."[13] At the crisis' conclusion, the damage was undone and Atom was resurrected by the Hands of the Omniverse.[14]

During the Dark Crisis, he was among the heroes gathered by Nightwing to fight Pariah's Dark Army.[15] Atom was captured during the Fraction's time-slowed invasion and held in a tank later stolen by Flash Family,[16] who freed and defended the frozen hero during the conflict.[17]

Powers

Abilities

Weaknesses

  • Power Instability (Formerly): Due to being an unstable energy-based life form, Captain Atom had poor control over his powers. This also meant he couldn't touch anything without destroying it, including people. Due to his time-jump to the 1990's and back, and his subsequent transformation, Atom regained his human form. He now has complete control over his abilities as well as the ability to touch.


Related

Footnotes



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Justice League member
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This character has been a member of the Justice League of America, or 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.
This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Justice League of America members" category.

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