History
Terry Curtis (born Terrence Kurtzberger) was a nuclear scientist and later villain under the name Cyclotron. In the past, Curtis had a brief romantic relationship with Dannette Reilly, the second Firebrand. Curtis was eventually kidnapped by the villainous Ultra-Humanite who sought to make use of the scientist's expertise with atomic energy. He was subjected to the Humanite's experiments and exposed to radiation which granted him superhuman abilities.
Used as a pawn by the villain, Curtis was forced to go up against the heroic All-Star Squadron. In the process, he waged battle with the original Atom, exposing the hero to powerful radiation. This later became the source of the Atom's own superhuman abilities. Cyclotron died trying to be a hero by taking the Humanite into the atmosphere and allowing himself to blow up. Inspired by this selfless sacrifice (and the super-power left in its wake), the Atom would later adopt a costume patterned after Cyclotron's own.
Curtis' daughter, similarly named Terri, entered the custody of Firebrand and the Atom. The two served as godparents to Terry's baby, with Curtis' ex-lover Firebrand raising the child herself. Though cured of any potential radiation poisoning, Terri had evidently absorbed a large dose of her father's energy and passed the side-effects to her son Albert who became the hero Nuklon (later Atom Smasher).
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Unique Physiology
- Atomic Energy Projection
- Atomic Explosion: Cyclotron can release all his energies in a powerful explosion, with similar power of a WWII-era atomic bomb. However, he cannot, and did not, survive that explosion.[1]
- Energy Negation: Cyclotron can sap an opponent's strength by touching him/her.[2]
- Flight
- Limited Matter Manipulation
- Superhuman Strength
Abilities
Notes
- Although this character was originally introduced during DC's Earth-Two era of publication, their existence following the events of the 1985–86 limited series Crisis on Infinite Earths remains intact. However, some elements of the character's Pre-Crisis history may have been altered or removed for Post-Crisis New Earth continuity, and no longer apply.
Related
- 13 Appearances of Terrence Kurtzberger (New Earth)
- 2 Images featuring Terrence Kurtzberger (New Earth)
- Quotations by or about Terrence Kurtzberger (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Terrence Kurtzberger (New Earth)
Footnotes
