- He was a disembodied alien intelligence ... He was an air force lieutenant ... He was an ancient spirit ... It didn't much matter. He was here. He was power incarnate. And he was perfect.
- --Irene Merryweather[src]
Atomicus is a brief, yet powerful hero, of Astro City. There are many tales which purport to be of his true origins, however no one really knows where he came from.
History[]
What is known is that Atomicus was "born" from Fort Kanigher's Atomic Research Lab when an experiment went wrong while on of the site's leading doctors was being accosted. Atomicus had arrived with a strong sense of justice and the need to be human. He eventually met a young reporter, Irene Merryweather, and the two began an on-and-off relationship in which Irene would chase Atomicus throughout Astro City in order to prove he was her coworker Adam Peterson. She was under the impression that he saw it as "a game", and wanted her to uncover his secret identity so that she could prove she was worthy of his love--however, she was gravely mistaken, as he instead saw her attempts as a further source of stress and a betrayal of their trust. When she finally managed to unmask him, he snapped, denouncing her and humanity as a whole before leaving the planet forever.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Transformation: Atomicus is naturally a large amount of powerful nuclear energy which is housed in a human male's body. Atomicus can switch from his true atomic form to that of a normal adult man within only a few seconds.
- Flight: Atomicus naturally hovers through his own power and when pressed can soar through the sky with full control, leaving only a trail of atomic particles in his wake.
- Superhuman Strength: Atomicus can pick up and lift a few people at a time with no problem and has punched through machines and armored personal with atomic force.
- Atomic Duplicates: Atomicus can split himself into many versions of himself which all function independently, but within the same mind. As such, Atomicus and Adam Peterson can be at two places in one time.
- Energy Projection: Atomicus can fire, ignite and manipulate nuclear energy. Though his power is rarely seen it is the fuel within the furnace of his body and is only used for raw output of damage.
Weaknesses[]
- Vulnerability to Energy Absorption: Atomicus seems impervious, however, he can be disrupted when his nuclear energy is sapped. Irene Merryweather found this out when she used a Nucli-Glove to try and expose Adam Peterson as Atomicus.
- Undeveloped Mind: Despite his adult appearance and above-average intellect, Atomicus is actually fairly immature mentally. He is impressionable, tends to react childishly, and does not handle his own feelings or outside affections well.
Notes[]
- The true origin of Atomicus is never stated and most likely will never be exposed to ensure the mysteriousness of the character.
Trivia[]
- Atomicus dated Irene Merryweather while on Earth. Irene is the mother of another hero named the Flying Fox.
Appearances[]
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Gallery[]
References[]
External links[]
Kurt Busiek's Astro City |
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Heroes |
Air Ace • All-American • Alligator • Altar Boy • American Chibi • Aquarina • Arthro • Assemblyman • Astra Furst • Astro-Naut • Atomicus • Augustus Furst • Barrier • Beautie • Black Badge • Black Rapier • Black Velvet • Blue Knight • Bouncing Beatnik • Bravo • Broadsword • Cleopatra • Cloak of Night • Commando K • Commander One • Confessor • Coyotl • Crackerjack • Dame Progress • Daniel • David • Encephalon • Energy Brown • Flying Fox • Gas Giant • Gentleman • Gloo • Grimoire • Hanged Man • Hawk of the Alleyways • Hellhound • El Hombre • Homegirl • Hummingbird • Ichthyos • Ironhorse • Jack-in-the-Box • Johnny Lightfoot • Joshua • Juice • Julius Furst • Kahoutek • Karl Furst • Kitkat • Lamplighter • Larkspur • Leopardman • LGM • Lightning Kid • Lion • Lonestar • M.P.H. • Mary • Max O'Millions • Mermaid • Mirage • Nadia • Natalia Furst • N-Forcer • Nightingale • Nihil • Nikolai Furst • Noah • Old Soldier • Orphan • Pale Horseman • Palmetto • Palomino • Peter • Point Man • Popstar • Quark • Quarrel • Rex • El Robo • Roustabout • Ruby • Samaritan • Sasha Furst • Shrff • Silver Agent • Silversmith • Simon Magus • Skitter • Slugger • Starfighter • Starwoman • Stonecold • Stormhawk • Stray • Strangeling • Street Angel • Supersonic • Sunbird • Sunshrike • Switchblade • Umbra • Unicorn • Winged Victory • Wolfspider • Young Gentleman |
Villains |
Andrew Tugliewski • Anti-Bodies • Assemblyman • Aunt Acid • Bamboo • Birdman • Bishop • Black Mask Killer • Block • Box • Braintrust • Brass Monkey • Bridwell • Chain • Clever Dick • Conquerlord • Conquistador • Cutlass • Deacon • Demolitia • Derelikt • Devil's Own • Deuce • Doctor Dominax • Doctor Toxic • Doctor Deezer • Doctor Ganss • Doctor Gearbox • Doctor Nautilus • Doctor Saturday • Dragon Shogun • Drama Queen • Donnelly Ferguson • Ersatz Ed • Fever • Flamethrower • Fog • Getaway • Glue Gun • Glowworm • Gnomicron • Goldenboy • Goldenglove • Gunslinger • Handgun • Headmaster of Crime • Los Hermanos • Hollowpoint • Human Weasel • Infidel • Insectra • Jackdaw • Jackson • Jitterjack • Junkman • Karnazon • Karnus • Kaspian • King Missile • Kirlian Man • Korrga • Kratorr • L.S.Deviant • Lady Lethal • Living Nightmare • Longhorn • Lord Sovereign • Lord Volcanus • Lummox • Mad Maharajah • Madame Majestrix • Mechanimator • Microplex • Middleman • Mock Turtle • Morningstar • Mister Cakewalk • Mister Drama • Mister Manta • Mister Teleport • Muscleman • Myth-Master • Nostradamien • Omniac • Omnius Rex • Otter • Platinum Blonde • Platypus • Popinjay • Praetor • Professor Borzoi • Prospero • Quarrel • Red Dahlia • Red Queen • Padraig Daniel Rourke • Sagra • Slaughter Shaw • Scarlet Snake • Sekhmet Stone • Sean Hanrahan • Senhor Technico • Shadow Hill Killer • Shirak the Devourer • Silver Brain • Slamburger • Spice • Steel Devil • Steel Scimitar • Strangematter • Sugar • Supreme Commandrix • Tackle • Temblor • Tidal Waif • Time-Keeper • Toff • Tommy Gunn • Ugly Max • Underlord • White Lightning • Wolfhound • Wotan • Wrestla • Xenoform • Zzardo |
Groups |
Apollo Eleven • Astro City Irregulars • Balloon Bandits • Barnstormers • Birdmen • Birds of Paradise • Blackout Bandits • Blasphemy Boys • Brothers of Trouble • Chessmen • Computermen • Crazy Eight • Crossbreed • Dominos • Dopple Gang • Disastroids • Dynamoids • E.A.G.L.E. • E.N.G.I.N.E. • Experimentals • First Family • Five Fists • Frigians • Gorilla Swarm • Gorilla Troops • Gunbirds • Guilloteam • Honor Guard • Howling Dead • Iron Horde • Iron Legion • Jade Dragons • Legions of Midnight • Menagerie Gang • Omega Rangers • PYRAMID • Queen's Men • Ravagers • Shaders • Sideliners • Skullcrushers • Smoke & Mirrors • Special Incarceration Squad • Team Carnivore • Techsperts • Tempus Fugitives • Terrifying Three • Thermians • Trouble Boys • Unclean • Unholy Alliance • Worst Family |
Civilians |
Cammie Aarons • Maria Luisa Alvarado • Darcy Conroy • Marella Cowper • Danielle • Irene Costello • Johnny Crash • Barry Daniels • Tamra Dixon • Marta Dobrescu • Marcy Doerr • Pete Donacek • Rosa Vlacek Donewicz • Caroleen Enright • Sara-Lynne Felton • Elaine Girbachs • Jedson Godfrey • Cherry Goldstein • Mitch Goodman • Enzio Grandenetti • Gerald Greenwald • Peter Hanlan • Gretchen Hastings • Roscoe James • Jerome Johnson • Mick Keneally • Margaret Isles Kinney • Thomas William Kinney • Steve McAnn • Dirk McCallum • Jose Manziano • Corliss McBride • Gordon Meadows • Irene Merriwether • Elliot Mills • Manny Monkton • Aggie Morisi • Nadia • Vincent Oleck • Doctor Prochnow • Ben Pullam • Faith Pullman • Maggie Pullman • Carl Donewicz • Martha Sullivan • Michael Tenicek • Miranda Tenicek • Stanley Tripp • Anders Van Rupert • Ramon Vega • Charles Raymond Williams • Royal James Williams • Eyes |
Others |
Anansi • Broken Man • Bullroarer • Colonial • Crimson Cougar • Dark Centurion • El Guerrero • Enelsians • Eterneon • Helia • Incarnate • Insiders • Iron Cross • Kookaburra • Krunch • Looney Leo • Mister Smartie • Mordecai Chalk • Mountain Gnomes • Night Creatures • Rockslide • Scavenger Peoples • Sledgehammer • Skrek • Tentacus • Teusz • Thunderhead • Torori • Tourist • Trenchers • Trolls • Untouchable • Zonn |
Locations |
Astro City • Old Town • Shadow Hill • Patterson Heights • Goldwater Heights • Kanewood • Derbyfield • Center City • Gainesville • Hartley • Biro Island • Torres Island • Chesler • District Hill • Bakerville • Memorial Park • Mount Kirby Observatory • Romeyn Falls Historical Center • Wildenberg Center • Fox-Broome University • Schwartz Field • Dedication Park • Centennial Park • Rosenberger Jr. High School • Founders Park • Robinson Prep School • AstroBank Tower • Binderbeck Plaza • Fort Kanigher • Fisher Garden • Grandenetti Cathedral • Kiefer Square • Iger Square • Bruiser's Bar & Grill • Caniff International Airport • Classic Hotel • Berrill Stadium • Goodman-Donenfeld Industries • Craig Avenue Bar & Grill • Gottfredson Bridge • Gleason Bridge • Westside Highway • Hughes Bridge • Martin Lieber Tunnel • Calkins Bridge • Outcault Bridge |
Comics |
Homage Studios Astro City (Volume 1) • Astro City (Volume 2) • Astro City 3D Special #1 |
Wildstorm Astro City: Local Heroes • Astro City/Arrowsmith #1 • Astro City Special: Supersonic #1 • Astro City: A Vistor's Guide #1 • Astro City: The Dark Age (Volume 1) • Astro City Special: Samaritan #1 • Astro City: The Dark Age (Volume 2) • Astro City: Beautie #1 • Astro City: The Dark Age (Volume 3) • Astro City Special: Astra #1 • Astro City: The Dark Age (Volume 4) • Astro City: Silver Agent • Astro City: Shining Stars |
Vertigo Astro City (Volume 3) |
Creators |
Kurt Busiek • Brent Anderson • Alex Ross |