Who's Who in the Superman Comics

The Atomic Skull

When it was revealed that an alien genebomb detonated in Earth's orbit, it led to several tests of the human race. One man, Joseph Martin, proved to be a metahuman. While going about his daily routine, Martin was struck by an intense blast of energy. Once he was awake, he discovered himself balding, and in possession of superhuman strength.

Later, Joe Martin was battered by three hoodlums, and left with severe head injuries. This massive head trauma instantly led to psychic damage; Martin lapsed into complete insanity, and lost his grip on reality. He immediately began to act as one of his favorite characters, the hero from the old movie serial, THE ATOMIC SKULL.

Now a true menace to society, The Atomic Skull is one of Superman's deadliest villains. The Atomic Skull has maintained his superhuman strength, and its accompanying endurance. He can also emit tremendous energy blasts.

It should be noted that Joe Martin is the second person to adopt the Atomic Skull persona. Albert Michaels, the original founder of S.T.A.R. Labs, was a corrupt scientist who was stricken with a rare nervous disorder. Desperate for a cure he could not find from S.T.A.R., he turned to the criminal organization SKULL. SKULL researchers tried to use cybernetic implant to reenable the electrical impulses in Michael's brain. However, the implant malfunctioned and mutated Michaels' brainwaves into a deadly form of energy emission.

Now superhuman, Albert Michaels became The Atomic Skull, and ultimately, the leader of SKULL. Both this Atomic Skull and SKULL were major criminal forces in Superman's early days in Metropolis.

First Appearance: (current Atomic Skull) ACT #670

First Appearance: (first Atomic Skull) SUP #323



Who's Who in the Superman Comics

Introduction

This is a listing of many of the notable characters and a few places that have appeared in the Superman comics from the 1986 revamp up until around 2008.

NOTE: A new, and more current version of the Who's Who is currently being worked on and can be accessed by clicking here.

Although Superman often appears in other DC Comics, this text's information is limited mainly to what has occurred in the regular Superman comics.

Many thanks to Scotty V, Derrick Lyle Coleman, Dean Vanek, Genevieve Clemens and Benjamin Grose who all helped out at one time or another with writing and updating these Who's Who descriptions.

The listings are displayed as follows:

  • Surname, Firstname - Text describing the character, place, object, etc...

Relevant issues of the Superman comics are listed as such:
  • SUP = Superman
  • MOS = Man of Steel
  • AOS = Adventures of Superman
  • ACT = Action Comics
  • MOT = Man of Tomorrow

The Issue Number for each of these titles is written in this manner: “#000”. (e.g. SUP #123)

“First Appearance” refers to the issue since 1986 unless otherwise noted.



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