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Neutron is a fictional comic book supervillain in the DC Comics universe, appearing usually as an adversary of Superman. He first appeared in Action Comics #525 (November 1981), and was created by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton.
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Character history
Nathaniel Tryon was a petty thug who teamed up with two others as the TNT Trio. While on a caper at a nuclear power plant at which he worked as a security guard, Tryon was caught in the meltdown of a nuclear reactor, turning his body into sentient nuclear energy that could only be contained in a special containment suit. After learning how to control his energy, and learning that the accident was allegedly caused and covered up by the U.S. Government, Tryon killed those responsible for the accident and took up a criminal career as Neutron. Eventually, he battled Superman and was defeated and imprisoned at the research facility, S.T.A.R. Labs. He and another criminal imprisoned there, Jinx, were eventually freed when S.T.A.R. Labs was attacked by the Fearsome Five, who took the two criminals into their ranks, but Neutron subsequently left the group. Neutron eventually joined Warp and Plasmus on a mission from Conduit to assassinate Jonathan and Martha Kent, the adoptive parents of Superman. Superman intervened and the clash ended with Plasmus and Neutron colliding in a blast that obliterated them both. However, both later turned up alive, and Neutron was next seen in Slabside Island prison (aka "The Slab"), from which he was freed during the Joker’s "Last Laugh" riots. Recently, Neutron and several other villains were manipulated by Manchester Black into threatening Clark Kent’s loved ones, but as had happened before, the ensuing confrontation with Superman ended with Neutron disappearing in an atomic blast.
"One Year Later"
After the 2006 crossover miniseries Infinite Crisis, Neutron is working as a villain for hire. He and another radiation-powered villain, Radion, were hired by Intergang to kill Clark Kent. After Kent was hit by a commuter train, Neutron and Radion left, thinking him dead, though the accident actually caused Kent to regain his powers as Superman. Neutron is also a member of the Nuclear Legion alongside Professor Radium, Geiger, Mister Nitro and Reactron. The Nuclear Legion was hired by the Secret Society of Super Villains to invade Blüdhaven and assist the Nuclear Family in recovering the source of a radiation leak. While there, the group fought the new Atomic Knights. Now sporting a new containment suit, Neutron was also seen fighting Superman in the pages of Superman #654, during a storyline in which Superman discovered that Intergang was planting mysterious energy spheres, about the size of softballs, in various locations in Metropolis. Although Superman has not yet determined the nature or purpose of the spheres, he discovered that they were connected to his adversary Bruno Mannheim, as well to other mysterious allies of Manheim who have yet to be revealed.
Powers and abilities
- Neutron's body is composed of nuclear energy that grants him super strength, durability, nuclear blasts, flight at immense speed, transformation into pure energy, and radiation absorption.
Neutron in other media
In Justice League Unlimited, Neutron appears as a member of the Legion of Doom.
Bibliography
- Action Comics #525, 526, 543
- Tales of the Teen Titans #56, 58
- Adventures of Superman #523
- Green Lantern Vol. 3 #126
- Joker: Last Laugh #2
- Superman vol. 1 #654
- Superman Vol. 2 #186, 187
- Superman: The Man of Steel #131
